"Why are we here?" asked Terri.
"This is the restaurant that I told you about," said Francisco. "It's quite good!"
"You're taking me to the same place where you took your ex-wife?"
Francisco replied calmly but firmly. "Ilsa and I had lunch here, not an affair. I promised that I would tell you everything that we discussed here that day. If you'll come inside, we can talk about it."
"What if she's here?" Terri protested.
"Ilsa? No. She had to fly back to her embassy. Something urgent required her attention."
Terri climbed out of the Ferrari and walked into the hotel lobby with Francisco. "You have a lot of balls, Frank!"
"Thank you!" Francisco said playfully.
"It wasn't a compliment, and you know it!"
The Maître d'Hôtel approached. "Ah, Monsieur Mela! Mademoiselle! Bienvenue! Your table is ready."
"Merci, Charles!"
The Maître d' nodded to a well-dressed gentleman with white gloves. He led the way without explanation. They all seemed to know Frank and where he preferred to sit.
"Nice place!" Terri noted. Her reluctance was beginning to abate.
Francisco gave Terri an overview of the situation. He had asked Ilsa to come to town when their son, the younger Francisco, announced that he no longer wanted to go to college. They had a series of discussions together, but the boy wouldn't budge and wouldn't explain his change of plans. His attitude was evasive and his answers vague.
As Frank talked, Terri noticed Walter walking into the restaurant with a pretty young woman. Walter didn't see them.
At one point, Terri excused herself and went to the restroom where she engaged in a text conversation with Louise.
Terri: "At lunch with Frank. FYI Walter just walked in with some chick."
Louise: "What does she look like?"
Terri: "Cute, petite, bangs, big smile."
Louise: "Asian?"
Terri: "Yeah"
Louise: "OMG that's HER!! The hot pants chick!"
Terri: "Really?"
Louise: "What are they doing?"
Terri: "I don't know. In bathroom. Going back out. I'll report back after lunch."
Louise: "ok"
--
"Wow! This is a nice place!" Walter remarked.
"It's getting great reviews," Susan said. "I'm glad we're trying it."
"I'm not sure I can afford a place this fancy," Walter said with a smile.
"You don't have to," Susan said. "I'm paying."
"Oh, no!" Walter protested.
"Oh, yes!"
"No!"
"It's for your promotion," Susan explained.
"I can't let you do that," Walter argued.
"I want to."
"No, either we're doing this Dutch, or I'm walking out and we can pick up a bagel somewhere."
"Okay, you win!" Susan conceded. "Dutch it is!"
"I appreciate the gesture," Walter said earnestly.
"I appreciate you taking the time," she said. "How's the new job working out?"
"Good," Walter said. "Busy. I have to go to Houston next Monday."
"Already?"
"Yeah, that's going to be a monthly trip at the very least," he said. "And then I'll be in Colorado the following week."
"The week of the Fifteenth?" Susan asked.
"Yeah."
"That's cool," she said. "I'm actually going to be visiting my parents that weekend."
"When are you coming back?"
"Sunday."
"I'll be flying out on Sunday," Walter said. "We'll just miss each other."
"I could fly back on Monday," Susan offered. "Maybe we could have dinner."
"Oh, I don't want you to change your ticket," Walter said.
"Oh, it's no problem," she assured him. "I'm doing it all on miles. I can change my flight any time."
"Really?"
"Yeah," she said. "In my last job as a consultant, I flew all over the place. I've got tons of miles."
"Well, I still don't think you should change your plans unless you really want to stay the extra day," Walter said. "But if it works out, yeah, sure! We can catch up."
"Great!"
--
"So, anyway, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you," said Francisco.
"That's okay," Terri said. "It's a family thing. I understand."
"If you have any suggestions..."
"I ... guess ... you should just keep talking with him," Terri suggested. "Listen to him. He'll tell you what's on his mind eventually."
"You're right."
The waiter approached the table nervously. "Monsieur Mela, I'm so sorry, but your credit card was declined."
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry!" Francisco pulled a one-hundred dollar bill and a fifty from his wallet. "Please keep the change. My apologies."
"Wow!" said Terri. "If that happens to YOU, I don't feel so bad!"
"Must be a clerical error with the account," Francisco said with a calm smile. "I'll sort it out later."
'The Horse Farm'
Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
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