“Okay then, you’ve got”—she twisted her wrist to check her watch—“about an hour to relax, go over the songs, and get ready to wow this crowd. I’m going to run, but I’ll swing by in a bit to check on you.”
She wiggled her fingers in a good-bye wave, then swung toward the door. Only then, with her back to the kids, did a tiny V of concern crease between her brows. Without even glancing at him, she hurried by.
Ben turned to follow, hoping it was nothing more than typical pre-event stress rather than her mother’s appearance that had Julia troubled.
* * *
“Once again, we appreciate your attendance tonight,” Ben told the audience, scanning the hall and making eye contact with donors throughout the dining area. “Now, we hope you enjoy the savory meal Chef Salcedo has whipped up to give us a taste of Puerto Rico’s delicious cuisine. Afterward, we have a special performance in store for you. But first, buen provecho!”
On his “enjoy” cue, a trail of servers in white dress shirts with black pants and ties marched into the hall carrying trays of roast pork, fried plantains, and pigeon pea rice. Between the table chatter and the tinkling of forks and knives on china plates, the din in the room increased.
Ben left the stage to rejoin Sherman and Laura Taylor, Julia, her mother, and several donors at their table.
Julia sat beside him on his left, and while for all intents and purposes she appeared her usually poised, confident self, her right leg jiggled nonstop with what seemed to Ben like nervous energy. Occasionally her knee knocked his, then she’d wince, sit still for a few seconds, only to start jittering again in seconds.
He wanted to place his hand on her thigh, intending to offer calm or comfort. But even with the cover provided by the table linens, he kept his hands to himself, unsure how she would react to such an intimate touch. Especially with her mom next to her.
Midway through the meal, the discussion took a natural turn to the Chicago Youth Organization and the Humboldt Park Center’s mission. Eventually it circled back to Julia’s involvement in the fund-raiser.
“So have you fallen in love with our city and decided to move here yet?” Sherman asked her.
“Um, well, it’s been busy, but I’ve certainly enjoyed my time in Chicago.” Julia’s gaze cut to her mother before she flashed a wobbly smile.
“And she’s doing amazing work, as you can see.” Laura raised her hand, palm up, indicating their surroundings. “I have been waiting for the perfect moment to sit down with her so we can discuss making her stay here permanent.”
Both Julia and her mother gasped at Laura’s comment.
Paula glanced back and forth between her daughter and Laura, a question flashing in her dark brown eyes.
“Mami, no he decidido nada,” Julia rushed to assure her mom.
Ben blinked in surprise. He would have said the opposite, that her decision had already been made. She’d told him from the beginning that her goal was to land a job here so she could stay.
What he hadn’t known was that, apparently, her family still remained in the dark.
“I know this would be a big change. For Julia and for you, Paula,” Laura continued. “While I believe Julia is interested, when Ben first proposed the idea of inviting you to Chicago, my hope was that by meeting me and witnessing the fabulous opportunities here for your daughter, you would feel reassured about my offer.”
“Gracias, I am thankful to be here. We are very proud of our nena.” Paula patted Julia’s hand on the table. “But her place is at home. On the Island. Right, Julia?”
Like a thief caught in the glaring lights from a cop car, Julia froze. Pained indecision stamped her features. Then she turned her gaze on him.
Ben sucked in a swift breath at the accusation burning in her hazel eyes.
Suddenly, his earlier dread rose up to grab a choke hold on him. Somehow he had miscalculated.
“Do you know what? I realized that we never went over that last minute script change for the second part of the evening.” Pushing back his chair, Ben tipped his head to the others at their table. “If you’ll excuse us. I need to make sure I have the correct sponsor information from Julia.”
Without waiting for anyone else’s response, Ben set his napkin on the table and gently grasped Julia’s elbow. “We should talk, right?”
Her lips pressed in a thin, angry line, Julia nodded. Stony-faced, she rose from her seat.
Chapter Ten
“How could you?” The words burst from Julia, threatening to drag the tears clogging her throat along with them.
Agitated, she pressed a hand to her forehead and paced the length of the room. Dios mío, she’d made a complete fool of herself in front of the whole table.
“Julia, I had no idea your mother was unaware of your plans.”
“Well, she knows now after that debacle.” Julia flung out her arm in the direction of the hall in frustration—with herself for her inability to level with her parents and with Ben for initiating her arrival at this crossroads.
“Is that a bad thing? That she knows?” Ben asked.
His question had Julia spinning around to glare at him. He stood near the closed door, hands deep in his pants pockets, his handsome face scrunched in a frown.
“Are you kidding me?” she cried. “This is terrible!”
“Why?”
“Why?” she mimicked, her frustration rising. “It’s bad that you forced my hand. That by . . . by interfering with my family life, I feel like you’ve forced me into a corner. Tonight of all nights!”
He took a step toward her, right hand outstretched in supplication. “You have to believe that wasn’t my intent.”
“Sí, I’m sure it wasn’t, but that does no good now. You promised not to push for more
