CHAPTER 30

On their way to see the fifth restaurant/home for sale Grace tried not to think about how lightheaded she’d begun to feel.

“Luckily this area has a lot of these restaurants with living quarters. So many of the families that come over the border are used to that. In Mexico, there are tons of families who make a living out of cooking and serving in their own kitchen. If their food is a hit, they usually start building onto their own homes and expanding it into a more restaurant like atmosphere.” The real estate agent that was showing them around talked non stop. “Unfortunately, on this side of the border, there are regulations that need to be followed. So a lot of these restaurant slash homes are not permitted and you’d need a miracle worker and a ton of money to get them up to code. I won’t even bother showing you those.”

Grace leaned against Rose. She was as tall as Grace now so they were shoulder to shoulder in the back seat of the agents car. Their mom sat in the front with the agent.

“Are you okay?”

Grace nodded but didn’t lift her head from Rose’s shoulder. “I think I might be getting a little car sick. After this one, we should call it a day.”

Rose stroked Grace’s hair. “Okay.”

As much as Grace had been playing the part of being back to normal now, she still wasn’t feeling it. But for the sake of everyone not worrying about her anymore she’d told them all she was. She even agreed to partnering up with Frank to get her restaurant going. It was her mothers idea to find one where they could live as well. Her mother had always hated that tiny apartment of theirs.

Most importantly, Grace suspected that once settled in to their new place her mom was giving Ruben the boot. That was the only ray of light she’d come across in the sea of black she’d been swimming in these days.

After walking through another restaurant with a couple of rooms in the back and a tiny bathroom that doubled as a shower, they called it a day. The agent drove them back to his office where they all jumped into Frank’s Cadillac—another thing that under normal circumstances Grace would have never agreed to. Since Frank had bought himself a sportier, more extravagant car, he’d offered to lend them his Cadillac until the restaurant was up and running and they could afford to purchase their own car.

Of course her mother had jumped on it the instant he offered it, explaining later when they were alone that he was only looking out for them because he was a good man. Grace wasn’t naïve. No man would be willing to offer so much in exchange for nothing. She’d seen the way he looked at her when she extended her invitation of him and her mother joining them in the Jacuzzi. There was a definite expectation of something more than just shared profits of her restaurant.

The only reason she’d given in without much of a fight is because that was one thing even her mother had to know. There was no way that anyone would be persuading Grace to open up her heart to anyone for a very long time, if ever.

On top of everything that was happening now in her life she had yet another thing to worry about. Since Vincent’s texts were the one thing that kept Rose so distracted she hardly noticed that Grace was far from being well, Grace had insisted she didn’t have to cut him off on her account. Now that he was in a much closer proximity, Rose had begun to ask about the possibility of her hanging out with him. It was funny that Rose didn’t bother to ask her mother. That woman had zero parental instincts. She’d say yes to Rose in a heartbeat, no questions asked, if it meant getting Rose out of her hair. But Grace was worried enough for the both of them. Sal had stressed about Rose keeping her distance from Vincent.

Grace lay on her bed now, fighting an incredible fatigue again while Rose pled her case. “Have you ever known me to be a bad judge of character? None of my friends are bad. I would never hang out with anyone I thought might be trouble.”

Grace’s eyelids were so heavy now she could barely keep them open, and the last few nights she’d finally slept like a rock. She rolled to her side in an effort to stay awake. “Rosie you have to understand—”

“He’s under strict warning, Grace, that if he screws up even once, they send him back home. He really really wants to be here all summer. Do you honestly think he’d risk being sent home?”

Frustrated that she didn’t have the energy to give Rose a good argument she was afraid she was losing this battle. “Where would you hang out?”

Rose smiled and sat down next to Grace, then her smile suddenly vanished. “You’re still not feeling well are you?” Rose stroked Grace’s hair again.

“No, I am. I’m just feeling a little tired.” She sat up, unwilling to let Rose see just how lifeless she really felt. “So where would you hang out?”

The smile crept back onto Rose’s face. “Well, if they even let him drive all the way out here—he’s gonna ask today. But nowhere far. Outside in the playground area or I can make us sandwiches and we can have a picnic where the barbeques are at. It doesn’t matter.”

Her little sister’s eyes sparkled, reminding her of how she once felt so excited to just be around Sal. Rose was too young to be feeling this. It scared Grace to death. What she was going through, she didn’t wish on even her worst enemy, but especially not Rose. She reached over and took her hand. “Rosie, you know you’re too young for a boyfriend right? You said he was just a friend. Promise me that that’s all this is going to be. He’s going back at the end of summer. I don’t want you to be heartbroken when he leaves.”

Rose smiled and hugged her. “Don’t worry. We’re just friends. I promise.”

Grace prayed she wasn’t making a mistake agreeing to this. When Rose pulled away, Grace looked at her very seriously. “If I get wind that it’s become anything more than just a friendship, I’m gonna have to put a end to it, okay? I don’t want you to be angry with me. I’d only be doing it for your own good.”

Rose nodded, grinning way too big for Grace’s liking, then hugged her again in a near squeal, before jumping off the bed to grab her phone from the desk. Yeah, a teenage girl got that excited about being able to hang out with a boy who was just a friend.

The bad feeling she’d had in her stomach throughout the entire conversation just got worse. As if she needed this added to her plate right now. Grace made herself comfortable in her bed, lying back down again, and dozed off within minutes.

~*~

Romero was still there when Vincent arrived. Sal had agreed to let Vincent drive the Jetta to and from work. He walked out into the bar area still tying his busboy apron on. “Hey, Vince.”

Vincent looked up at all of them and smiled.

“Is Rose still in Laughlin?” Sal asked, getting right to it.

“Nah, they got back a few days ago, but she’s been busy packing for uh…” He glanced away from Sal, finishing tying on his apron and walked over to them. “You think maybe it’s okay for me to drive out tonight and see her for a couple hours after my shift?”

Sal barely heard the second part of Vincent’s response. He was still hung up on the first part. “You mean unpacking, right?” Sal eyed him until Vince’s eyes met his again.

“You and Grace’s sister, uh?” Romero asked, crumpling his napkin and throwing it on his now empty plate then burped. “She’s straight jail bait, man.” Romero shook his head. “I couldn’t believe it when Grace said she was only fifteen.”

Vince’s face screwed up. “Jail bait? What the hell does that mean?”

Romero smirked, obviously amused at Vincent’s annoyance. “Means you’re gonna have your hands full, fighting off older guys who might mistake her for an eighteen-year-old.”

Sal saw Vincent’s eyes light up but not in a good way—one thing about his young cousin that had always reminded him of his brothers. “No I won’t. ‘Cause she’s not like that.”

Romero lifted his hands in the air, still smirking. “You wanted to know what I meant. I was just explaining.”

Sal decided to play into Vincent’s already ruffled feathers to try and get more out of him. “Romero is right. She did already get asked to that prom by an older boy.” Sal smirked adding, “I dunno you really think she was busy for days unpacking? That’s kind of odd. Isn’t it? You sure maybe her prom date wasn’t keeping her busy?”

The second Vincent turned to him, Sal saw it. Bingo—he hit just the right nerve. “She was packing, okay? I wasn’t supposed to say anything but they’re moving.”

The smug feeling from having Vincent fall right into his trap, was replaced with an icy panic down Sal’s spine. “Moving where?”

“They’re not sure yet. That’s another thing that’s kept her busy, Sal.” If Sal wasn’t so suddenly uptight he might of laughed at his cousin’s irritation over his insinuation about Rose. “They’ve been busy looking for a new place, too. But all we do is text so she can’t write it all down.” He stopped a slow grin appearing across his lips and lifted an eyebrow. “If I see her tonight. I’ll finally get to talk to her. I can get the whole scoop for you.”

Normally Sal would’ve said hell no to his less than trust worthy, barely-old-enough-to-drive cousin about driving all the way to Chula Vista. But the morning’s eye-opener had changed his outlook on more than a few things. “Sure you can go see Rose, Vin.” Vincent’s grin got even bigger. “But I have a few conditions.”

His cousin’s grin turned into a suspicious stare. “What kind of conditions?”

“Well, for starters the obvious. Rose is only fifteen and a very sweet girl. Do not let me hear that you’ve gotten her into any trouble or that you’ve disrespected her in any way.” Sal saw Vincent’s eyes roll up and he frowned. “I’m serious, Vin. I swear to God, I get even one complaint about you, and your ass will be back in La Puente so fast you won’t even know what happened.”

“I’m not gonna get her in any trouble.” He turned and glared at Romero who was smirking again. “And like I said, she’s not like that, so you can count on me not disrespecting her either.”

“All right, all right!” Sal interceded as Romero laughed, walking away. It was one thing to rile Vincent up, he didn’t want him so mad he wouldn’t be willing to agree to the rest of Sal’s conditions. “He’s just messing with you, Vin. You’re right he doesn’t know anything about her. She’s a very nice girl.” He turned to Romero who was already halfway to the door but still laughing and looking back at them. “Get out of here, ass. And don’t forget to call me as soon you know anything.”

Sal waited for Romero to walk out before turning back to a still very irritated looking Vincent. Sofia had gone into the back room but was on her way out again holding her purse. “I’ll be back to close, Sal. I gotta drop off Eric at the airport.”

“Where’s he going?”

“Conference in New York.” She mussed Vincent’s hair as she walked by him. “You be good you hear?”

Vincent rolled his eyes again but his glower brought on by Romero’s remarks was now replaced with a smirk. “I’m always good.” He looked back at Sal once Sofia had left. “So what other conditions are there?”
“I need a favor,” Sal gave Vincent a very serious stare. “And I don’t want you mentioning any of this to Rose.”

Vincent’s eyebrows pinched and Sal had a feeling his cousin might not be too keen about this. He almost felt bad that he’d have to use Vincent’s obvious longing to see Rose as leverage. But he had no choice. “Have a seat Vince.” He pointed at the barstool. “We need to talk.”

~*~

In a deep fog, Grace felt suddenly unable to breathe and she sat up, realizing she was choking on her own saliva. She hacked uncontrollably, trying to catch her breathe in between, tasting the horrific acidic spew that attacked her throat. This was the second time this week it happened. Waking up because she was choking was decidedly the worst way to wake up ever.

She made it out of her room and into the restroom where she placed her hand under the faucet and brought it to her mouth. After a few drinks she felt slightly better. The coughing subsided slowly as she wiped her face down with a towel. Just as she walked back into her room it dawned on her that Rose wasn’t in bed with her. Starting to panic she remembered she’d fallen asleep in the day. She glanced at the small digital clock on her nightstand and saw it was only seven in the evening.

With her breathing finally back to normal she picked up her phone and saw she had two texts. One from Joey and one from Rose. She read the one from Joey first.

Hey, sweetie. I talked to Rose and she told me you’re taking a nap… in the day...AGAIN. You’re not fooling anyone. You’re still not well. Call me when you wake up!

Graces eyes were still leaking from her cough attack, and her throat burned, but she still had to smile. She clicked over to her next text, from Rose.

Vince is here! =) We’re downstairs in the bbq area and we’re not going anywhere I promise so don’t worry. He could only stay until 7:30 I’ll be up when he leaves. Thanks again sissy! Love you!

Grace frowned. That text was a little too syrupy for someone who was just spending time with a friend. And to think, he’d be here all summer. As if she didn’t have enough on her mind to deal with already. She walked over and peeked out the window. She had a perfect view of them sitting on one of the picnic tables with their feet on the bench, talking. Grace wondered if Rose had done that on purpose—sit in plain view of their bedroom window so that Grace could see they were doing nothing wrong.

She watched them until Vincent laughed, his smile reminding her so much of Sal it nearly choked her. Clearing her throat, she walked away from the window and decided she’d call Joey.

Before she could, there was a soft tap at her door then it opened and her mom stuck her head in. “Oh Good, you’re awake, mija.”

Grace waited as her mother stepped all the way in closing the door behind her without responding. The word mija from her mother’s lips was never a good thing.

“Ever since we got back from Laughlin, unless we’re out looking at real estate, you’ve done nothing but mope around and sleep. You need to get out. It does you no good to be locked up in here.” She sat down next to Grace on the bed and put her hand on her knee. “There is a new place that just opened up, over by the marina. It’s supposed to be really neat. My friend said it’s all Mardi Gras style. What do you say we go there this Friday night? You can invite Joey and Taylor.”

Grace began to shake her head. She just wasn’t ready for going out yet—wasn’t sure she’d ever be. “I don’t really feel like doing anything like that.”

Her mother frowned. “Now Grace I’m not taking no for an answer. Besides.” She cleared her throat. “Frank is going to be here this weekend—”

“No mom.” Grace turned to her with a scowl. She knew it. Her mother’s concern about her wellbeing should’ve been her second clue after the word mija. “I’m not doing anything—”

“Graciela.” Her mom squeezed Grace’s knee. “He is our business partner now. He’s putting a lot of money into this restaurant not to mention our new home. The least we can do is show a little gratitude.” She stood up as if there was nothing more to discuss. “We were his guest when we went out to Laughlin now he’ll be ours.”

“He’s staying here?” Her mother was beyond ridiculous.

“No. Don’t be silly. But he’ll be in town and I agreed we’d entertain him while he was here.” Her mother stopped at the door before walking out. “This really will do you some good, Grace.”

She walked out closing the door. Grace took a deep breath and made that call to Joey. No way was she spending the evening on a double date with her mom, Ruben and Frank. This might actually work to convince Joey she was feeling better, even though she wasn’t. “You don’t have any plans for Friday night do you?”