King Solomon's Journey (The Dominguez Adventures) (29 page)

            “How was your trip, Josh?”

            "Look, I do not want to seem like a jerk, but this is not a '
family
' reunion. Where is my mother?”

            Antonio could not help but notice the emphasis Josh had placed on the word family. Well, he had a firm grasp on the importance of family himself, thought Antonio. He would cut the guy a little slack for the rudeness, and just keep his distance until he knew where he stood.    

            "Like I said, she will be here in a minute. You know your Mom; she likes to look her best all the time."

            "That's right I do know my Mom, and that is why I am here. She does not disappear without a word for days on end, and she always asks our opinion. My brothers and I are concerned about this situation. Until we are satisfied she is where she wants to be; you have me in your face."

            Josh nodded. Amanda came around the corner.

            “Josh.”

            “Mom...” The big guy leaned over so his mother would not have to stretch as she hugged and kissed him.

            “Mom, I don’t want to upset you, but I needed to see you… make sure you were all right.”

            “You’re fine, honey. I understand. I guess you met Antonio.”

            “Yes, we’ve met.”

            Antonio took the opportunity to jump in, “I’m going to go grab some drinks, how about a snack?”

            “Sure, no doubt he starved on the trip up here. Thanks, Antonio.”

            “No problem.”

            It was uncomfortable, but not too bad. Antonio reminded himself to accommodate and be hospitable. He grabbed drinks first, and noticed the tension as soon as he walked into the room.

            “Do you drink tea, Josh? If not, I’ll get something you like.”

            “Yes, I drink tea.” With a look, Amanda reminded him of his manners.

             "Thanks," Josh added.           

            “Great, I’ll be right back.” He grabbed the platter and thought of Maria, he needed her right now to order him about and serve better food. His mind raced as reality hit him. She really is a Mom. The revelation struck him like an atom bomb as he approached with the snack platter.

            “Antonio, please sit down.” Amanda ordered.

            “It’s ironic. Your mother and I recently discussed the idea of you, and your brothers, coming for a visit during her stay in New Mexico.”

            Amanda added, “That is true.”

            Josh nodded.

            “Antonio and I are seeing one another, and working on a huge project. Honestly honey, I don’t know which came first.”

            Antonio could not believe that Amanda just dove in to the deep end with those two sensitive subjects in the same statement.

            Josh was silent. Thinking to lighten the moment Amanda interjected.

             “Antonio restored and renovated this house, Josh.”

            Josh just looked around the Great Room, and nodded.

            Antonio wanted to leave the room. Then, they were saved by the bell.

            “I hope you two can excuse me, I need to go. Someone is here.” Even that sounded stupid. At the intercom, he released the gate.

            “Amanda, its Ruger. I need to go outside and talk with him.”

            “Go ahead, we will be fine, Antonio. Thank you.”

            “Sure.” Thanks for what? He thought as he nodded to Josh. The way the guy looked at him… Antonio hated the awkwardness.      

            He was a great son, watching out for his mom. That made it worse.

            He met Ruger outside.

            “Mom, what’s going on here?”

            Amanda tried not to be offended, “Josh, I was honest with you.”

            “It doesn’t look as if he needs money.” Josh accused.

            “That is an awful thing for you to say. No, he doesn’t need money; do you think I need to pay a man for attention?”

            Josh ignored his mother's response. “What does he want?”

            “What everyone wants, the right person.” She remained calm.

            “Did he recently get a divorce?”

            “No, he has never married.”

            “That’s weird, Mom. Why not? What's wrong with the guy? Does he have a hidden past? A criminal record we cannot find? He stays out of the country, more than he stays in it. What's he going to do now, strap you on his back and take you around the world?”

            His rude attack on Antonio made Amanda angry. She stood up and looked down at this giant of a man, her idiotic son, and gave him hell. “Listen here. I will discuss this with you as long as you are respectful. Do you understand?”

            “Yes.”

            "Number one, I am your mother, but I am also a woman who is now living her life. I raised you and your brothers to be strong, independent men, and I will not sit idly by and be dictated to by you or your brothers. Number two, do you think me weird? Yes, he’s traveled the world, Josh. Marriages do not work well under those conditions. It was a choice he made.” She borrowed Antonio’s very own line. Josh tried to interrupt, but Amanda was on a roll, and she was not finished.

            "Number three; no he does not have anything wrong with him. The man is brilliant, thoughtful, gentle and caring far beyond any level I have ever encountered before in the male species.

             As to your statement about a criminal record, that leads me to believe you have had him checked out. That makes me angry. None of you have the right to dig into the past of anyone I care for. I am woman who understands far more than you will ever realize the importance of trust. How dare you question my ability to have a relationship with a man, just because you do not know him?"

            Josh was feeling rather bad about his attitude and realized he had just made a huge mistake in his relationship with his Mom. While it had been done out of worry and love, he was beginning to think he was in big trouble.

            "Mom, it was not just me. Chase felt this trip was in your best interest, and Sam even thought it was strange he had not heard from you like usual." The look on his Mom's face at the mention of Sam's name, made Josh wince.

            "You discussed this with Sam?"

            "Not all of it. Mom we were worried and since you talk to Sam more than us, we thought he might have a clue about why you were acting so strange."

            Amanda sat down. "Josh, I love all of you with a deepness you will never understand until a child of your own is placed in your presence. You have to let this go. I made the mistake of not staying in contact, but it was because for once I felt free and safe with a man. You will like him a lot, that I promise, but you have to give him a fair chance. You have to give us a chance.”

            “Are you going to give up everything for him?”

            “No, Antonio knows that. I do not have all the answers, nor do I believe I have to give anything up. Yet, I do know that he is now a part of my life.”

            Josh was willing to meet his mother halfway, and knew he had behaved horribly. He apologized for his rudeness, his behavior, his snooping and his judgment calls. With a swift hug and soft words from his Mom, he once more he felt that he was on safe and solid ground.

            Antonio grabbed the truck keys in the kitchen. He and Ruger had finished discussing security preparations and were now going to drive the property, scoping the perimeters. After concluding their business, he shared his dilemma with Ruger.

            Ruger suggested they invite the kid to ride the property with them. A ‘guy-thing’ may help break the ice. Without intending to overhear the mother/son conversation, he had heard Amanda say he was part of her life. It felt awesome.

            “Hey, Josh. Ruger and I are going to drive some of the property…  Come with us.”

            Amanda thought it was a great idea, “Josh…  Go on, you’ll like it.”

            “Okay,” he got up and started out with Antonio.

            “Go ahead, Josh. I put the keys down in the other room. I’ll grab ‘em and be right out.” He had purposefully put them down. Giving Amanda a quick hug, he kissed her before grabbing the keys and leaving.

            He smiled all the way to the truck.

            “Josh Monroe meet Brian Goldberg, AKA Ruger - Marksman Extraordinaire, compliments of the Navy SEALS. We went to the University of Florida together.”

            Antonio suspected the two would hit it off.

Chapter 30

“Destiny is not a matter of chance, but of choice. Not something to wish for, but to attain.”

— William Jennings Bryan

            Amanda did not know what to do while they were gone. The idea was great. Waiting for the outcome was not. She decided to retreat to the bedroom, relax, and meditate awhile.    Perhaps it was due to her argument with Josh, but a few of her worries over her relationship with Antonio had crept in. She sat down and began her breathing techniques, and within 15 minutes she had entered into a state of superconscious awareness. Here she let her heightened mental clarity and intuition meld in order to find solutions for issues that were separate but equal in relation to any problem she had.

            Holding onto a clear mental picture of Antonio as she had first seen him, she searched for answers, and hopefully affirmation of her feelings.

            As her mind worked, the picture she held in her mind kept changing to one she did not know. Why? Was it a future event or a past one? As she concentrated on the image, her mind suddenly swirled with vivid blue light, and soft tones rang throughout her being. She saw Antonio lying on the floor of a dark place, his head bleeding, his hands reaching out, and his face wore a look of such happiness for a moment before it changed to absolute despair. Then she felt peace, for now she was seeing and feeling what Antonio had felt when he saw her in his vision in Hidden Mountain.

            Just as quickly her vision changed to another scene, this one of the Priest in the Pueblo. As he spoke she looked away from his eyes and did as George had instructed; look beyond what she saw that day, to the events surrounding him.

            There on the edges she could see the outline of a room. As her vision cleared, the scent of cedar permeated the air, and then she knew what was before her, The 'Hall of Judgment' in the 'House of the Forest of Lebanon'; the home of King Solomon! Giant shields hung from the cedar paneled walls and the floors huge stones shone to perfection beneath the cascading light of dozens of windows; was it any wonder Isaiah called it an armory. The shadow of a man stood near an ornate throne, there just out of sight, and as she focused on him, the vision faded….

            The tears were pouring down her cheeks, and she knew she had been given not only a vision, but a direct affirmation of all she felt for Antonio, and all he had said in regard to his feelings when he first saw her, and the mission they were on was real!

Chapter 31

"Minor things can become moments of great revelation when encountered for the first time."
Margot Fonteyn

            Towards the end of their inspection, Antonio decided that seeking suggestions from Josh could benefit both of them.

            “Hey, Josh, maybe you wouldn’t mind giving me some advice. I don’t understand these food issues with your mom. About 90% of what she has eaten since she arrived has been yogurt. I understand she will eat certain meats, but not often. Either she is going to starve or end up starving me. Help me out man.”

            “Yeah, she is afraid of chemicals and hormones. At home, she knows where to get organic, chemical-free food.”

            “You’re saying she doesn’t feel comfortable with the food quality here?” Antonio rubbed his head.

            “Right, but she’s not all crazy with it. She doesn’t know where you should get it. Usually all the sources have websites. Just look, it’s easy to find.”

            “That helps a lot, thanks. Has she always been so concerned with food?”

            “Some, but when she got sick, she made it a priority.”

            “She got sick?”

            "Yeah, you know the tumor. Since then she has focused on holistic healing and using food and natural herbs to counteract the symptoms, especially with her feelings about not having the surgery."

            “She has a tumor in her head and won’t get the surgery. What type of tumor?” Antonio had stopped and was now almost yelling in panic.

            “Didn’t she tell you? It’s not cancer. Ah man, Antonio…she’s gonna kill me.”

            “No, I’m gonna kill her.”

            “Antonio, it’s not that bad….”

            “Why won’t she have the surgery?”

            “The surgeon at home has only done two or three, and it is close to vital portions of her brain. He could mess up.”

            “Why not use another surgeon, someplace else.”

            “I think she could and it’s not the money, but because her insurance denied her, she's making it a point, since others are unable to pay.”

            “She would do that, you’re telling the truth. That is precisely what she would do. Damn it all.”

            “Really, Antonio, she’ll kill me.”

            “No, Josh. Excuse me for being rude, but I’m going to go have a talk with your mother now. I won’t take even the smallest chance of her dying on me. Not on my watch, my friend.” Antonio stormed into the house, leaving Ruger and Josh in the yard.

            He found Amanda relaxed on the bed. Closing the door behind him, he paced, fidgeting until he yelled. “Damn you, Amanda.”

            Amanda belted out of her trance.

            “What happened?”

            “You’re sick, and you didn’t tell me.”

            “I am not sick.”

            “You have a tumor in your head. That qualifies.”