King Solomon's Journey (The Dominguez Adventures) (32 page)

            Antonio found her admission to his astonishment. He tried to come up with a response, but everything was lame.

            “Amanda, maybe no one gets over the hump alone. Perhaps, it’s part of the mystery in your yin-yang theory, and together we may discover the answer.”

            “I hope so, Antonio.”

            He thought they should move beyond this issue, for the time being.

            “King Solomon isn’t what he seems, right?”

            “He is, and was, what he seems. Only, he is much more and never tried to hide it.”

            “We misunderstood, right?”

            “Yes.”

            “The implications are huge, aren’t they, Amanda? Besides the obvious, whose toes are we stepping on?”

Chapter 34

“It is the difference between men and women, not the sameness that creates the tension and the delight.” 
Edward Abbey

             “Don’t you dare, just bring lots of yogurt. Hell, we’ll even stop and buy more yogurts; maybe we should buy a yogurt store. I can see it now, Organic yogurt, Bulgarian yogurt, Greek yogurt, and even drinkable yogurt. We’ll have the best good-bacteria in the whole damn country.”

            She walked over with her hands full of yogurt.

            “Antonio, that’s a fabulous idea. I love it.”

            “Get in the car. No, yogurt store, I’m not operating a store for good-bacteria.”

            “It was a good idea.”

            “Amanda, here, let me open the door. The world isn’t going to run out of yogurt.”

            He threw her purse in the car and put her sunglasses on her, then drove off towards Santa Fe, they were going to meet with John Bear before continuing their trip to Albuquerque, and so far the morning had been one delay after another. What with Amanda searching for the right undergarments to try on a dress with, the right shoes to judge the length, and a quick look at a color chart of some kind to favor the occasion…hell, maybe the chart was to buy a dress based on the longitude of Miami!

            Antonio had not lived with a woman since he had reached adulthood, and he was beginning to think he needed some sort of guidebook on cohabiting.        

            “Antonio, you would feel much better if you increased your yogurt intake.”

            Groaning inwardly, he gave a smile, and a wink, he was not going to argue with her, but he was damned if he was going to live on yogurt all the time! Maybe he could sneak off for a gyro when she was in the dress shop later?

            Pulling Raven into a spot near John’s corner shop, he opened the car door for Amanda. Just a few paces from the shop door he instructed her, “Stay here for a minute, Amanda.”

            “I have not been so bad that I should have to stay outside.” She marched forward and waited for him to open the door.

            He opened the door to find John. He wasn’t busy; in fact it was as if he was waiting for him.

            “Antonio, how are you?”

            “Fine, John, I wanted to make sure you weren’t busy.”

            Amanda walked in as Antonio stepped aside. “Amanda, you are here.”

            “John, it is an honor to meet you.”

            “We’ve been waiting Amanda, what took you so long?”

            “Just time, John, it is a time thing.”

            “Our boy, he took a while.”

            “Yes, he did.”

            “John, the Cognac Diamond is perfect. You are a masterful craftsman.”

            “It was its time.”

            Antonio thought, what in the hell are they talking about? He was clueless.

            “Antonio, let me show you your niece’s gift.”

            “Great, John.”

            “I’ll be back.” John walked into the backroom.

            “Amanda, when did you meet John?”

            “I didn’t until now,” she told him.

            “Antonio, here it is.” John returned.

            “Wow, John it’s amazing.” He was stunned, “it’s exactly what we wanted.”

            “I’m glad you both are happy with it.”

            “John this is perfect for Rosie. I’ll get a picture for you.”

            “Do please, Antonio.”

            “You did a fabulous job.”

            “You okay, Antonio?”

            “I’m great John. Look at her I’m the luckiest man ever.”

            “You are lucky.”

            “We were waiting for her to come to you.”

            “I still don’t get that, John.”

            “You will. She’s here you will get it.”

            Antonio paid him.

            “Antonio, I have a gift from me to Amanda. Okay?”

            “Sure.” John took a piece of cloth out of his shirt pocket, walked over to Amanda, and unrolled it. He presented a bracelet.

            Amanda held out her arm, and John placed the glowing turquoise bracelet around her wrist. "It is made of stones found throughout the Pueblos, and will I think perform its duty quite well." John explained.

            “John, this is gorgeous. Thank you so much.” She kissed him on the cheek.

            “I made it for you.”

            “I know I will keep it always.” She put her hand on her heart and said, “I am touched and honored, I am feeling this in my heart.”

            John beamed, thankful for the opportunity to offer a protection by way of a gift.

            “John, I will come see you again soon. Antonio will bring me. Would you share a meal with us soon and some of your infinite knowledge?”

            “Amanda, say when.” She turned to Antonio, but he was dazed. “Will you come as soon as we get back from Miami?”

            “Amanda, you touch my heart.”

            “Thank you, John.”

            Antonio walked over to the old man, and hugged him hard himself. After all these years of talking to him, he had never once offered the man a meal. It was a huge gesture to a man like him.      

             Antonio had absorbed all of John’s precious knowledge without ever giving any real return.

            Antonio hugged the man again and left saying nothing more. The couple walked to the car in silence. They climbed into the car.

            “Amanda tell me the truth, have I been mean? Have I insulted that old man for years?”

            “No Antonio, just the opposite, that man loves you like a son. You are their prodigy. The others know you. You have talked with the others, haven’t you?”

            “Yes, several… prodigy, I don’t get it. I don’t want them thinking I’m prodigy material.”

            “You will understand that you do not have a choice. You are their prodigy.”

            “You mean they talked to God, and I have some predestined job?”

            “I don’t know if it was God, or they thought you were the one and you became it. You see, it does not matter because there is no difference. It is true now. Veritas omnia vincit.”

            “The truth conquers all.”

            “Antonio, what would you say about your Dad as a lawyer?”

            “The best, a champion for the wronged, he’s the most ethical man I know. Why?”

            “I suspected as much.”

            “Do you know something about Pop? What is it, Amanda?”

            “I don’t know your Pop, what about Jose? What is he like?”

            “He is the perfect father and husband. He’s a good, successful lawyer, and the ultimate big brother. He’s Pop’s shadow, perfect.”

            “You said he is a good lawyer, not great like your Pop?”

            “No, he’s not great like Pop.”

            “How about the others, what kind of attorney’s are they?”

            “They’re all good, better than most. Except for Xavier, he’s young still, he may even surpass Pop.”

            “They’re not like your Pop?”

            “Some…but not a mirror image or anything.”

            “What about your other siblings? Is anyone like Pop? Really like him?”

            “Not really. Why, Amanda?”

            “Stay with me here.”

            “Okay.”

            “Was your Pop fair, or was he harder on some of you? Tell me.”

            “He was harder on me than the others.”

            “Are you answering me fairly, Antonio?”

            “Yes, Amanda. I swear.”

            “Did your Pop ever discuss the law as a means to reach the truth?”

            “All of the time.”

            “If he was going someplace and he took one child, who would he take?”

            “Amanda, you know, don’t you?”

            “Who would he take?”

            “Me.”

            “What child did he talk about things with the most?”

            “Me.”

            “Who tells Jose what to do?”

             “Well Pop is the final word on everything with the practice.”

            “What is your Pop, besides a Judge, Dad, and attorney? What else is he?”

            “He’s a…damn pain in the ass know it all.”

            "Antonio!"

            "Okay, he knows a great deal about the world, and seems to have a great ability for forecasting the future, and alleviating problems before they happen."

            “Bingo. What did he know, long ago, about this favorite son? The son with the most potential, you were the only one out of eight like him.”

            “Amanda, that can’t be true.”

            “You believe the Natives could know, but not your own Pop?”

            “What do I do?”

            “You walk into Rosie’s party, you greet her first, and then you greet everyone in the family. You go to your father, as a son, as a man who loves and understands his father. You hug him with meaning, and you tell him he is the one person you have loved the most, but you only say it, if it is true.”

            He said nothing. He didn’t need to say anything, they both knew.

Chapter 35

"If men liked shopping, they'd call it research."

Cynthia Nelms (1846-1911)

            The Boutique, perfected in a Zen design, served as the subtle backdrop for the rich display of elegant gowns and dresses. A gorgeous crystal chandelier was the only ornate piece incorporated into the décor. The rest of the room took on shades of grey, tone on tone, without deviating from the overall monotone result.

            An attractive, middle-aged lady greeted Amanda and Antonio. “Good morning, my name is Patricia. How can I help you?”

            Amanda explained the fiesta de quince they would attend in Miami and showed Patricia the Cognac Diamond necklace Antonio gave her. She intended to wear it to the party.

            Patricia offered the couple a seat and something to drink, while she put together some appropriate choices for Amanda.

            Amanda felt sure Antonio had never done this before.

            He whispered, “Amanda, I don’t see too many dresses to choose from.”

            She tried to explain, “They’re in the back.”

            He looked at her as if she reminded him of the most demented person ever. “Granted, I’m not in the retail business, but that doesn’t make sense. Shouldn’t you pick out what you want to try on?”

            “Well, I will do so in the back, if I am not fond of the choices she brings. There is a full-service etiquette involved with this quality of dress.”

            “The miracle dress comes with a service package?” He smiled.

            “Ms. Messenger, if you want to come back, I prepared a gorgeous collection of dresses.”

            Amanda noticed Antonio tried not to laugh. Walking towards the back, Patricia stumbled on her words. “Mr. Messenger...”

            Antonio was flattered, but shocked. Amanda interrupted, “Dr. Dominguez.”

            “I apologize, Dr. Dominguez, there is a place back here for you to sit if you want to join us.         "Hmm…if it's all the same with you Amanda, I would like to take a walk and find a gift for my father.

            "Oh Antonio, that is a marvelous idea. I am quite sure that Patricia and I can find the right dress. Why do we not meet in 3 hours at that lovely restaurant on the corner? I read where they grow all their own feed."

            Backing towards the door, Antonio assured her that would be perfect. 3 Hours to try on a dress? Hell, he bought an entire wardrobe for a 3 week excursion to Egypt in 30 minutes! He quickly went through the door, and breathed free as he walked to Raven and drove to one of his favorites Greek restaurants.

***

            After visiting a local tobacco store, Antonio left with a humidor that he believed his Pop would love.  José had let slip in one of their conversations that Pop had cut back on his smoking, but still enjoyed a good cigar every evening after dinner. He drove back to the dress shop, parked and started for the door.

            Just as he reached for the handle, a familiar voice halted him in his tracks.

            "Hello again Doctor."

            Antonio turned and placed his back to the door. It was the guy from Vegas. "Since its broad daylight, are you sure you're in the right place? What do you want?

            "I have a message for you."

            "Really, a message? Sorry but I'm all full in the message department at the moment."

            "Be that as it may, you need to listen to this one."

            "Be that as it may?" Antonio mocked the man in the blue suit. "What? Did you go to a Thug Charm School?"

            While the guys' nostrils flared, he just smiled.

            "Tsk, tsk…Not this time Doc. No irrational moves in broad daylight. I am just the messenger."

            "Well get on with the damn thing then. I have plans, and they do not include you or the sender of this message."

            "Drop the Scrolls Doc. Drop everything to do with them. If you do, this is the last you will hear from us. If not, then you, your family, the red-head and all you care about will be in a position of extreme discomfort."