Kirk set down his teacup and stood. “I’d better get back to the station,” he said. Then, surprisingly, he took my hand. “I must apologize again, Elena. I should have paid more attention to your… tidbits of information. Ah, can I call on you in the future?”
“For what?” I asked.
He grinned. “More tidbits. Or just some good conversation.”
“Of course.” I glanced at Carlos and saw a flicker of annoyance cross his face. He stepped forward and took my hand as soon as Kirk let go of it.
“And we must have a conversation about the museum,” he said. “Perhaps over dinner tomorrow. I’ll call you in the morning.”‘ Then he gave Kirk a smug look that made me want to laugh.
Mama led the two men through the house to the front door. I poured more tea and sat there, contemplating the sun through the gnarled branches of the old pepper tree. Mama came back and sat beside me.
“I think they’re both interested in you,” she said.
“Oh, do you?”
“Yes. I have this feeling, you know.”
“You and your feelings!”
“Don’t laugh. Didn’t I have one the night that Frank-”
“Yes, Mama.” I sipped more tea. “Okay, since your feelings are always so accurate, tell me this: Which one of them is going to be the love of my life?”
“Neither of them, Elena. Neither.” Then she grinned wickedly. “But they’ll both be fun while they last.”
Marcia Muller
