Raquel's Abel (17 page)

Thinking about going out with Mitch, I ate even less this week, hoping I’d fit into something really tiny by week’s end. On Thursday, I went shopping and I picked out a pair of tight-fitting lavender slacks with a glittery poncho top to go over it. As I dressed for dinner the following evening, I looked at the rolls of skin that had no fat underneath to hold them up. If the wind blew too strongly, my extra skin might act as a sail.

I walked down to the first floor wondering where Abel was. I hadn’t seen him in a few days, and if he’d hidden things from me, I hadn’t noticed. I already missed his impromptu visits and the way he praised me with his archaic speech. He’d been so thoughtful that day we’d gone on the picnic, and his protectiveness over my grandmother was touching. Still, I needed a real man.

The doorbell rang. Mitch was standing there with a bright red shirt over black slacks and shiny black shoes.

A whiff of his expensive cologne made me smile.

“You’re ready, I see.” Mitch didn’t drawl when he spoke so I assumed he wasn’t a native Richmonder.

“Yes, just let me get my purse.” I walked into the living room where I’d left my evening bag. I glanced around fully expecting Abel to show up brandishing bowls full of salad to dump on Mitch’s head.

Mitch was driving a navy blue BMW with little gray stripes up the side. “Let me get that for you.” He pulled the door open and I smelled brand new leather.

As we headed down the driveway of old pines and magnolias, he asked me about the house and I told him the story of how I’d inherited it and how much money it was costing to keep it up. He laughed and told me about his modern condo he’d purchased downtown and how much he liked being adjacent to everything—restaurants, cafes, and nightlife.

Mitch parked on a cobblestone street right across from the restaurant he’d chosen. As I waited for him to open the door, I pulled the visor down to repaint my lips. Someone was in the back seat!

I turned around. “What are you doing here?” I whispered angrily hoping Mitch wouldn’t hear me.

Abel raised his eyebrows. “I thought I’d come along for the ride.”

“Did it occur to you that you weren’t invited?”

“An oversight, I’m sure.” He leaned forward in the seat. “You know this chap isn’t good enough to wipe your boots.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to ask him to wipe my boots.”

The car door opened and Mitch reached for my hand and helped me walk across the round-topped cobblestones. I refused to turn around for fear Abel was behind us. I was so angry I could scream at him, but never before had I had two men interested in me.

Mitch had made reservations at a trendy restaurant that had a large brass elevator to take us up to the first floor. As we rode up, I saw Abel’s reflection in the glass. He was standing behind Mitch with a Cheshire cat grin on his face. What was he going to do?

The waitress sat us at a table right beside the balcony, which gave us a bird’s eye view of the large oak bar and two musicians who strummed guitars and sang country rock.

“Great place, huh?” Mitch said as he opened the menu.

I nodded then looked down at the menu. I wondered what the restaurant had that would be all right for my tiny stomach. The waiter poured water in my glass. I raised my head to say thank you and saw Abel sitting next to me.

I felt my temperature rise. I must have blushed because Mitch let his menu fall.

“Is it too hot in here? I’ll have them turn the air conditioning up.”

“No, I’m fine really.”

Mitch raised his menu again.

I pinched my lips together trying to give Abel the nastiest look I could.

He spread his lips out in a sarcastic smirk and reached over knocking my fork to the floor.

I lifted up the tablecloth.

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ll have the waiter…” Mitch waved.

“It’s right here.” I knelt down to get it.

Abel was on his hands and knees. He put his forehead up against mine. “You shouldn’t be so clumsy.”

“You,” I hissed. “You see how you’re always trying to control my life.”

“I am merely acting as your chaperone.” His eyebrows lifted. He was actually enjoying this.

“You need to leave.” I let the tablecloth drop over his face.

Mitch put his arm across the back of my chair. “I have this idea that you don’t like this place.”

“No, I…”

“If you don’t like it, we can go somewhere else.”

“I insist. I really like it here.”

“Good, because after we order, I want to tell you about my new idea for a book.”

“It’s a good thing you’re a good listener.” Abel was back in his seat with his top hat on. He had laid his cane and gloves across the table.

I ignored Abel and told Mitch what I was going to eat.

The waiter came and Mitch told him our orders.

“I guess he assumes you couldn’t possibly order for yourself.”

I refused to look at Abel.

Mitch handed the menus back to the waiter and turned back to me. “So, tell me, are you into racquetball or tennis or jogging?”

“If you say no, do we get to go home?” Abel slid next to me so I could feel his breath on my cheek.

I thought quickly. “Well, I have a pool.”

“Right, yeah, I love doing laps.” He raised his hand as if he were going to continue, but the waiter came with a beer and placed it in front of him. “Sure you won’t have a drink?” He asked as he took a swig. I watched the bubbles move upward in the yellowish liquid.

“He wants to get you drunk and have his way with you.”

Mitch laid his hand across my hand. “Let me tell you about my new book.” The tip of his index finger ran across my nail.

“I hope he doesn’t have anything. Some things are very contagious, especially when you associate with vermin.”

“Has the publisher voiced interest yet?” I asked.

He leaned back in the chair and squeezed my fingers. “Of course they’ll be interested.”

“This chap’s got the world by the tail, he has.”

I took the spiky heel of my new shoe and smacked it down on top of Abel’s foot.

“What happened?” Mitch stood up and looked over at the floor. “Don’t tell me you saw a roach. If you did, I’ll tell them we’re out of here.”

“No,” I gestured for him to sit back down. “They’re just new shoes, you know, a little uncomfortable.”

Abel doubled over on the table in pain. I must have gotten him good.

Mitch sat back down and took my hand back. “My book’ll be a best seller, I know it.”

Abel shot up out of his chair. “If you prefer this braggart to me, then so be it.” I looked up at his face and saw him melt into hot metal, then boil away.

Mitch was so busy telling me about his new book he didn’t even notice I wasn’t looking at him.

Last night had been very nice. Mitch and I had talked—correction, Mitch told me about his book, down to each and every chapter. He’d brought me home at a reasonable hour and he’d behaved like a perfect gentleman. Before asking permission to call me for another date, he gave me a peck on the lips when he left.

As I was on the way to the kitchen, the front door opened. Maria Elena and Grandmother were still asleep, so it had to be my sister. The second I saw Regina’s shiny black head, I knew Barry had called her.

“We’re going to Aruba.”

I watched her walk in her glittery sandals to the living room. Her skin was glowing as if she’d just put on a lot of self-tanning lotion and her shorts outfit was skintight.

“He’s signing those divorce papers this week and he’s only getting the kids every other weekend.” She sat on the sofa and crossed her legs seductively, even though I was the only one there.

It was very clear she’d forgotten completely about having Grandmother institutionalized. I’d known it was just her bad mood that had made her suggest that.

“I know why you’re so quiet,” Regina said

“I’m not quiet. I’m just listening to your good news.”

“You’re wondering if I’m still mad about you and Maria Elena throwing that salad at me.”

I couldn’t think of a reply. If I were her, I wouldn’t believe a story about a ghost. My heart throbbed painfully just thinking about Abel. He’d been a royal pain last night, but I shouldn’t have hurt him.

“Well, I’m not really mad any more…” Regina looked at me as if she expected an apology.

I opened my mouth about to apologize when I realized how much she’d deserved Abel throwing the salad on her head.

She raised her finger. “Wait. There’s something different about you.” She studied me. “Yes. There is.” She waived her finger again. “Is there a man in your life?’

I felt my cheeks flush. “I met someone.” I felt a sad twinge deep inside. The man I really cared about was Abel, but how could I be in love with a man no one else could see?

“Oh, losing that weight has done wonders for you.”

Abel liked me when I was fat, but Mitch…

“This is your first boyfriend, isn’t it?” She got a satisfied look on her face.

I didn’t respond.

“What’s his name?” Regina said in a quipped tone. She was used to being the only one with beaus.

“Mitch Draughan. You might have heard of him. He’s a writer.” That was silly. Regina had probably never finished a single book in her life.

“Sounds nice. A writer. Probably has some money.”

“I don’t know.”

She leaned over as if wanting to tell me a secret. “But tell me, have you told him you used to be, well, you know, bigger than a house?” She looked down at her watch. “I’ve really got to go. I just stopped by here on the way to the mall. I’ve got to get some things to wear in Aruba.”

She was always able to make me feel bad, no matter what was going on in my life. I sat in the living room thinking after Regina had left.

“Regina always saying bad things to you, Señorita Raquel.”

I looked up to see Maria Elena walking into the room. “You no should letting her speaking to you like that.” She was scowling and her copper-colored skin puckered around her mouth.

“I feel guilty that my father completely ignored Regina.”