One to Love Read online

“My, my, lots of tension with a capital T between you and Biceps over there.” Dana bounced along behind the group with her.

  Belinda didn’t bother responding to Dana’s teasing. Instead, her focus was on Portia with the svelte figure, who maneuvered herself next to Jesse.

  “I hope you’re not letting the socialite get to you. But she is attractive, if you’re into the perfect-doll look.”

  “Shut up.” Belinda couldn’t compete with perfection. In his former world, Jesse must have had his pick of the perfect females who fawned over him. She shoved her hands, which were badly in need of a manicure, into her pockets.

  “You know, I didn’t realize that soccer players had such fantastic bodies.”

  “What do you care? You have the British hunk all wrapped up and neatly whipped.”

  “Yeah, I do. Don’t I?” Dana cocked her head and sized up Jesse. “If you play your cards right, you can nab him, too.”

  “He doesn’t want to be nabbed.” She didn’t mean to sound disappointed. “And neither do I.”

  “Yeah, right.” Dana gave her a one-arm hug and rubbed her arm. “Cheer up. We Meadows women are made from hearty stock. Now I know why you turned down working for Kent. Time spent away from that cutie would not be recovered.” She released her and joined the others.

  Belinda didn’t have time to linger on her thoughts. Ronald stood facing her with his intense brooding stare. “How soon do you plan to work with adults?”

  “Right now, I’m focusing on children. I’m hoping that in a couple years we can expand. I don’t want to rush things.”

  He nodded. In the same tight-lipped voice, he continued, “Our mother suffered from multiple sclerosis. She had various treatments, some drugs and rehabilitation. But she would have loved this. At the time, we were too young to know about this. Our father was focused parenting from afar.” For the first time, a smile, sad and dreamy, appeared. “Our mother died on this day, last year.”

  Everything that Ronald said about his mother pierced her heart with the profound sadness around a lingering illness and the inevitable loss.

  “We want to donate enough for you to open it up for the adults.”

  “I appreciate that. Let me think about it.” When he didn’t budge, she added, “Please.”

  He nodded. Then he turned and headed off in his own direction for his quiet inspection.

  The one thing that was clear about the people drawn to the riding program was the common bond of knowing someone who needed the service. Of course, her connection with Maritza led her to Isabella and Dimitri’s riding program. Given the large number of people in need, whether they had physical or emotional challenges, there weren’t enough programs in existence. But that didn’t mean that she should run out and build a program that was too large for her to manage. Plus she knew there would be a learning curve. No matter how much she planned, there would be potholes of various sizes and depths that would test her commitment. She had to go at her own pace.

  At the end of the tour, Milton huddled with his siblings outside of the stable. Belinda had offered her office, but the urgency of their discussion couldn’t seem to wait until they got back to the barn.

  “Is there a problem?” the familiar deep voice asked behind her. “I did answer all their questions.”

  Belinda spun around, a bit rattled from Jesse’s sudden comment, but also from his proximity. She licked her lips. She sorely needed water for the sudden dryness.

  “They liked what they saw. Thank you.” Belinda walked away, dismissing him with a flip of her hair.

  “That was cold,” Dana remarked, sounding like an annoying voice of conscience.

  “Not really. Call it businesslike.”

  “That’s what you’re going to pretend is going on.” Dana snorted. “Both of you are circling each other, testing each other’s limits, pretend snarling, so attracted to each other that you can’t stand it.”

  Belinda waved her off. Even if the siblings weren’t done talking among themselves, they were now her target. It was either that or listen to more of Dana’s unwanted advice.

  “Ah...Belinda, we were going to talk to you.” Milton took up the lead position for the family.

  Belinda secretly hoped that the O’Hares mutually felt Ronald’s excitement to be a donor.

  “We are definitely interested in the program. We will donate our funds through the foundation in our mother’s name. An official amount and the details with the donations will be forthcoming.”

  “Thank you.” She was still blown away at the ease of getting the donation, although she wasn’t sure what it meant, that they would provide her details with the donation. She or her program weren’t for sale.

  Dana hugged her after they wrapped up additional details. Belinda headed back in the stables and went into the stall for her favorite horse, Lucky Ducky. She led him out of the stall, saddled him for the ride and put on her helmet. She stuck her left foot into the stirrup and hoisted herself up as her right foot sailed over the back of the horse into the other waiting stirrup.

  “Will you need to talk to me? I’m planning to leave at four thirty.” It was Jesse.

  Belinda leaned forward and stroked the horse’s neck. It jiggled its long neck at her touch. The skin rippled under her strokes and her strong pats earned her a nod.

  “Belinda, don’t ignore me.”

  “Ignore? You’re a fine one to bring up ignoring.” The horse sidestepped toward the gate. Its eagerness to get out and into the ring increased its excitability. “What do you want from me, Jesse? It’s pretty damn obvious that you’re stalling in this game.”

  “Stalling? This may be a game to you, but it never was for me. And I didn’t think you had a problem with the rules. You put them out there. So let me know exactly what part of the rules you want to change. I’m getting whiplash from my status of worker to lover and back to worker.”

  “I haven’t changed a thing.” She tempered her voice to keep the nervous horse in check. “But you could call. Text.”

  “Like a boyfriend would do.” He held her wrist, stopping her in midstroke of the horse’s neck. “Is that what I am to you? Maybe you should think about changing a few things.” He stepped back, his mouth grimly set.

  Belinda heard and felt the challenge. The pressure set her pulse racing. Fight or flight?

  She clicked her tongue and squeezed her heels for the horse to go. Once the horse walked past Jesse and into the bright outdoors, Belinda continued into the ring for a warm-up before changing her cues, at which point Lucky Ducky responded, shifting into a gallop. She settled in to enjoy the rigorous ride. Her admission had been coerced by those gray eyes that pinned her for an answer that she really didn’t want to give.

  Now her wish had to come out in the open. But then what?

  She gave Lucky Ducky the freedom to leave the ring and to head for the open field. The horse widened its stride and pushed forward. He wanted to be in the open, to run hard and burn off the energy. Belinda understood the feeling. The harsh pounding of the hooves vibrated throughout her body. Every part of her had to be engaged to stay on the horse and to participate in its exercise. In life, every part of her was scared to engage. And yet, a tiny yes wanted to escape out of her mouth. The admission released pent-up anxiety, a natural signal also to Lucky Ducky to shift down to a trot. Her cheeks stung with exhilaration.

  Jesse hadn’t left. He leaned against the fence of the riding ring, waiting for her return. His face was partially shaded under a hat, but she could feel his gaze locked on her movements. She aimed the horse toward him.

  “Yes, Jesse Santiago, I want you to be my boyfriend,” she said.

  * * *

  Belinda greeted her cousins with big hugs and kisses on their cheeks. Getting together was difficult. When they called her to come over, eat pizza and get he
r nails done, she jumped on it.

  “Did you put a tint in your hair?” Belinda was truly amazed at Dana’s transformation that didn’t seem to slow down.

  “Yes. Like it? Kind of auburn.”

  “Looks more golden brown than red brown.” Fiona circled her, looking and touching Dana’s new do.

  “I like it,” Dana declared. “Brings out my eyes.”

  “Sounds like something Kent said,” Fiona teased.

  “Where is The Man?”

  “Behind you.” A familiar British accent shocked them into silence. “Maybe if I’d stayed quiet a tad longer, I would have heard what you really thought of me.” He chuckled at their obvious discomfort.

  Belinda’s ears were hot. “Sorry.”

  “Nothing to apologize for.” He hugged her and Fiona. “But I’m not going to stick around because I don’t want to make you feel that you can’t talk about me or my gender.” He kissed Dana fully on the mouth. “Although my presence may not stop you.”

  “We speak the truth.” Fiona wasn’t going to do the backpedal like Belinda.

  “Yeah, sure you do.” Kent winked at Dana who gushed over his remarks like a schoolgirl.

  “See you later.” Her young cousin escorted her man to the door.

  “I know they are committed to each other and all that, but I really do think that they’re together...like forever.”

  Belinda nodded. “Feels good, doesn’t it? We’re growing up.” The next phase of life about settling down, marriage and children seemed far away for Belinda. Her focus was now firmly homed in on her career as an equine-therapy specialist and all that it involved.

  Dana returned and flopped into a nearby chair. “We’re actually together...in the flesh.”

  “Can’t believe it. Why are we so busy?” Belinda asked, already aware of the answer. They were all knee-or waist-deep in their careers. They had jobs that demanded more than the regular workday or workweek.

  “I can’t wait for us to have a spa day,” Fiona moaned.

  “We need to set the day and do it before we keel over from exhaustion.” Belinda suffered more sleepless nights as the project got under way and she and Jesse never returned to their weekday arm’s length and then weekend lovers-in-bed routine. Now her phone pinged throughout the day with their flirtatious texts, so at least that was something. Tonight, after she had let him know that she’d be with her cousins, she had turned off her phone. Otherwise, her cousins would forcibly take it from her and proceed to text on her behalf.

  They threw out possible dates and discussed the merits of each as they divided the pizza and chomped on every juicy piece.

  “You know, I have to say this.” Dana finished chewing. “I’m proud that you are on the verge of opening the center.”

  It had been three weeks since Dana escorted the O’Hares, who not only wrote a starter check, but also pledged to donate a generous amount each year. In return, the stable would bear the name of their mother, while the Dreamweaver Riding Program name would remain intact. Belinda had no problem with that proposal.

  However, she had to remain steadfast to her goals to service children, and later to expand to adults. Thankfully, Ronald accepted her plans, both short-term and long-term.

  “Yeah. It’s cool that opening day is around the corner,” Fiona agreed.

  “Stop making me sad,” Belinda protested, although her heart was full of joy. Her cousins’ approval meant so much to her because they knew each other so well.

  Dana polished off a second slice before holding up a sauce-stained finger. “Now, don’t get mad. But I don’t think that you should have the grand opening without inviting Maritza.”

  “What?” Belinda almost choked on her pizza. “Maritza? I don’t talk... She doesn’t talk to me.” She looked over to Fiona for help.

  “I agree with Dana.”

  “Lately, you’ve been a real pain,” Belinda groused.

  “That’s my new job in our happy trio. Listen, you always said Maritza inspired you to open the center.” Fiona paused for Belinda’s nod. “Then how can you not have her at the opening?”

  “Did you both forget that Maritza isn’t talking to me? She’s mad at me. Hell, I’m mad at me.”

  “Time heals. If she doesn’t make the first move, then you should.” Fiona wasn’t letting up.

  “You suck.” Belinda pointed at Fiona. “And you.” She jabbed her finger at Dana.

  “Now that you’ve got that out of your system, I did some digging and found her.”

  Belinda grabbed a slice of pizza and shoved her mouth full. The simple act stopped her from cursing.

  “She’s on this site. You can friend her. I did.”

  “You!”

  “Me, too.” Dana also helped herself with another slice. “She doesn’t say much online. Lots of motivational quotes.”

  “Anything on forgiveness?” Belinda snipped. She hung her head, ashamed those words came out of her mouth. Her friend had every reason to be angry and to hold on to the beast.

  Dana tapped her computer tablet and brought up the site. Their heads huddled together as the latest status updates popped into view. With a few more touches to the screen, the face of Maritza Carnegie smiled back at her. “We can take a look at her photos.”

  “Why did she accept your friend request? Does she know you’re my cousin?” Belinda scanned the small number of photos. Could the measure of a life be held down to several photos? What she saw didn’t tell her much, except that Maritza had emerged online in the past six months.

  “She doesn’t know.” Fiona shrugged. “If she did, well, it’s even better. Means that she’s found her happy place.”

  “There is no happy place. She’s in a wheelchair.” Belinda held up her hand. “I did not just say it.”

  “Yeah, you did.” Dana leaned over and popped her on the forehead. “Now I am more than certain that what we are doing is the right thing.”

  “Self-pity. Self-righteous. Patronizing.” Fiona counted off on her fingers. “You need to get that taken care of before you open any center for people with challenges.” She opened her pocketbook and pulled out a small piece of paper. “Here. Your assignment.”

  “And you can’t say no,” Dana ordered. Her hand poised for another forehead slap. “If you haven’t figured it out, this is an intervention.”

  “What is my assignment?” Belinda took the paper and read Fiona’s scrawl. “This is an address. You got her address.”

  “Wasn’t hard.” Fiona’s smile had all her pride.

  “Go to her, Belinda. Listen. Talk. Share. Forgive.”

  “She wasn’t feeling me after the accident. I wrote. I called. I even visited for several years. Then the letters started coming back to me with a note from her parents that I was upsetting Maritza. That I was reminding her of her loss.” Belinda stopped as the emotions surged with a full onward dive to sorrow.

  “That’s even more to talk about.” Fiona scooted over and rested her arm on her shoulders.

  “I’m not going to meet her.” Belinda held up the paper. She scrunched it and set it down next to her dirty napkins.

  “Can’t believe your heart is so hard.” Dana pulled the almost-empty pizza box from her reach. “She’s local. Go today.”

  “I know you want to see her. You must want to catch up and reminisce.”

  “Between you and her, you’ve got the world all figured.” Belinda stood. “I hope this scenario was one that you figured on, because I’m leaving.” She pushed away from the table. Without another word or a backward glance, she got her pocketbook and retrieved the keys. “I’m going home.”

  “Stubborn.” Both cousins echoed their exact thoughts.

  Belinda didn’t like being blindsided. This wasn’t a prank. This was her life. Hers. They just
couldn’t go marching into her life, trying to rearrange what they felt was broken. She jingled her keys and finished, “Let’s take a break from the next meet-up. You all have killed the buzz for a while.”

  Thankfully, neither one reached out to stop her. She got in her car and sat for a few seconds. Maritza had returned to their hometown. How long ago had she been right under her nose? She banged the heel of her hand against the steering wheel. What the heck did she care where Maritza lived?

  The drive home couldn’t be fast enough. The cousins could wish for her to go to Maritza’s house all they wanted, but she wasn’t going on the hunt for her former friend. She had gotten used to saying that their friendship was over. But to reach out meant revisiting and revealing how hurt she had been that Maritza and her family had shut her out. Motivational quotes posted online on a status bar didn’t mean there would be a thaw in their relationship.

  Her hands curled tightly around the steering wheel. Tears seared her lids, both hot and angry. One day she was going to fix this. One day. The cousins had a knack for causing chaos. But she wasn’t about to let it happen. She pulled into her driveway and parked in the garage.

  Home. That’s where she planned to be. Not on a mission to the unknown. She exited the car and stormed into the house, dropping her keys on the side table near the door. She reached in her pockets to empty the contents. A small, tightly balled paper came out with the loose change. Slowly, she unfurled the paper and saw Fiona’s familiar handwriting.

  Once again, she studied the address. Fiona must have slipped the paper in her pocket. She set down the paper on the counter and headed for the fridge to get water. Regardless of what Fiona or Dana said, she wasn’t going anywhere today. Or tomorrow.

  Unfortunately, an hour later, she couldn’t stop thinking about that paper. Maritza. Their last conversation. She lay across the bed, staring at the small framed picture of her friend. This one was of them at a college fraternity dance. Its place was on the second shelf of the bookcase. Tucked away but still visible to her eye. A constant reminder of a friend that had walked out the door of her life and never returned.