Chapter 2
The last thing Zita felt like doing was going out. She was exhausted from the session with Shelly, and Teresa was still upset. But she’d promised her friend Rebecca weeks ago that she would go out with her cousin. She hated blind dates, but Rebecca knew which buttons to push. Give her a sob story and Zita always tried to make it better. Sometimes she wished she wasn’t so empathetic.
She should give the guy a chance. He might be great.
She dressed quickly, choosing flared red jeans and a knitted aqua sweater, and then hurried downstairs to check if her mother needed any help with dinner. Zita disliked going out on a weeknight because she was leaving her with too much work with the six foster girls.
“Mama, can I help with anything?” she asked, walking into the kitchen.
“You look gorgeous,niñita,” Carmen said as she stirred a pot, the rich smells of beef and beans wafting out. “I’ve got this covered. You don’t want to spill anything on your top.”
“You sure?” She took a seat at the breakfast bar.
“Of course. Now, we haven’t had a chance to talk about where you’re going tonight.”
Zita sighed. She should have known the inquisition was coming. “It’s a blind date with Rebecca’s cousin. I think we’re going to the steakhouse.”
“Can’t he find his own woman?”
Zita smiled. “He’s just moved to Houston and doesn’t know many people.”
“So you’re expected to show him a good time?” Carmen raised an eyebrow.
“It’s only dinner.”
“What happened with the lovely David?”
“David?” His name made her more alert. “He’s only interested in learning more about the immigration issue.” Which was kind of a shame. He was very attractive and she’d like to spend more time with him.
“Really? A gorgeous man like that not interested in my baby? Is he gay?”
Zita coughed. “I don’t know. We’ve only spoken a couple of times.”
Her dogs, Bess and Saint, started barking at the front door. Relieved to end the conversation, Zita got to her feet. “That will be my ride. I’ll see you later, Mama.”
“Have fun.”
Zita called goodnight to her foster sisters who were in the living room watching television, grabbed her purse and headed outside. Rebecca’s small green hatchback pulled up with a guy behind the wheel.
“Hi!” Zita said as she opened the door. “You must be Chad.” He was probably mid-twenties, and dressed casually in jeans and a black hoodie that had seen better days. Not quite what she thought of as date attire, but maybe she’d got it wrong and this was supposed to be a casual night out.
“Yeah. Zita, right?”
She nodded, getting in and doing up her seat belt.
“I hear there’s a steakhouse near here,” he said.
“There sure is.” Zita wasn’t particularly keen on it, but Rebecca had said her cousin didn’t do any kind of fancy food. As she gave him directions, she checked him out. His seat was pulled quite far forward, which meant he had to be shorter than her, maybe five foot five. His dark hair stuck out in different angles, but looked more like he’d forgotten to brush it than by design.
They pulled into the parking lot, and after finding a table, she asked, “What brings you to Houston?”
His eyes welled up. “Broken heart. Needed a change of scenery.” His voice was gruff.
“I’m sorry.” She relaxed. He wasn’t looking for a relationship.
“It was nice to be needed,” Chad said a little wistfully.
Zita’s heart went out to him. “I’m sure it was.”
