In unison they clanged their beers as they yelled, “Oo-Rah!”
Getting up from his chair, Bill said, “Come on over here, Son. I’ll show you how to make the meanest steak that ever crossed those lips of yours. And you can call me Red.”
Bill and Martinez hammed it up as they finished the steaks while Marta and Elizabeth set the table and brought out the side dishes. When they finally sat down to eat, in the middle of the table was a smorgasbord of homemade pasta salad, in season sweet corn, grilled asparagus and steak grilled to perfection.
They all feasted as the men shared stories of their time in the Corps, talked about war, and manning up while the women spoke of sweet memories of time gone past and Elizabeth’s favorite subject; her parents. Bill and Marta were special. They weren’t just neighbors and good friends of her family. They were family. The only family she had now.
After cleaning up, they all said their good byes. “Thank you so much for having us,” said Elizabeth as she hugged Marta tight.
“Martinez, you take care of her. I don’t wanna have to get my pistol out.” Bill winked. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of each other. Lot more stories to tell.”
“I have no doubt. Red, it’s been a pleasure,” he said as he shook Bill’s hand once more.
They walked the kids to the door and made them promise to come back soon. Elizabeth and Martinez waved one last time as they headed back toward her house down the wooded trail. Squeezing his hand, Elizabeth smiled. “Well, it seems you made quite an impression.”
“Hey, you get two Marines in a room together and it’s like a family reunion. They’re nice people. I had a really good time. I didn’t know you were related to them.”
“Not technically. They’re my Godparents. Bill and my dad went to law school together and remained friends ever since. Marta and my mom were practically inseparable. I’ve always called Bill my uncle. Marta has always wanted me to call her by her first name but she’s more like a second mom to me than an aunt. They took care of everything after my parents died. I mean, they always consulted me but I left a lot to them. They’re also my Trustees, until my next birthday anyway.”
“Trustees? Sounds fancy. So you’re a trust fund baby, huh?”
Loosening her grip on his hand and shooting him an offended look, she shot back at his words, “It’s not as extravagant as it sounds.”
“Whoa, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.” He grabbed her hand and stopped them both in their tracks. Looking into her heavyhearted blue eyes he promised, “I’m sorry. Really. That was a stupid thing to say.”
Trying to brush off his insensitivity, she turned away from him and began walking again. “Don’t worry about it.”
He hesitated before asking, “So, can I ask what happened to your parents? If it’s an inappropriate question, just say so.”
Knowing the question was inevitable she was prepared for it. “Well, when I should have been starting my second year in college, I was going through a trial. It actually went much faster than I expected from his arrest to the jury selection. But my dad had to keep putting off work and taking time off to make sure the prosecutor did ‘her job correctly’.”
“Marilyn?”
She sighed. “Yeah. I mean I understood, I guess. He was an attorney. Hell, he would have tried the case himself if he could’ve. Anyway, Steve was convicted and sent away in September of that year. My dad had this huge business trip planned right before the holidays and his partners warned if he didn’t take care of things, they would begin the process of pushing him out.
I insisted he and my mom go. They both needed a break, you know? I did too. I mean, I had Marta and Bill here and I planned on going back to school the next semester. We all just needed a break. Plus, I didn’t want to see everything my dad worked for his entire life just disappear because of me. I had caused enough problems for everyone - ”
Martinez cut her off like a mad driver in morning traffic. Grabbing her shoulders, he squeezed her hard but lovingly. “Liz, none of that was your fault.”
Tears welled in her eyes and began to trickle down her cheeks. “If they hadn’t gone away... if I didn’t insist...” she sniffled, “they wouldn’t have been driving – I tried to make things better and they just got worse.” She was almost embarrassed for breaking down the way she did.
He wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear yet again, “It wasn’t your fault, Liz.” He cupped her face in his hands, wiping away tears with his thumbs.
His brown eyes screamed safety and his lips parted invitingly. Elizabeth couldn’t resist a perfect moment to kiss him. Angel Martinez was by all accounts, heavenly. She pulled back and smiled, a tear hung in the corner of her eye before she swiped it with her forefinger.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled herself together. “Well then. Come on, our desert awaits.” Grabbing his hand again they walked until they reached her house. She led him down the embankment to the edge of the dock where two over sized pillows and a picnic basket awaited them. The sun was just beginning to set on the horizon giving the lake the most beautiful glow.
They sat down on the pillows and Elizabeth opened the chilled bottle of wine, pouring each of them a glass. Martinez looked back at the house, the screened in porch facing them. “Man, Liz. You have it made out here. Close neighbors but not too close. Lake view. Close enough to the city but again, not too close. It’s so peaceful here.”
“Yeah, it’s home.” She raised her glass, “Cheers,” she said with a smile. She turned her gaze to the setting sun. “I’ve always loved the
