The way his eyes turned icy for an instant at her words set my hackles on high alert.
Perhaps there was far more to these two than I’d initially thought.
“The sweetest rewards often await at the end of the greatest challenges.” I could hear Santiago and his dog outside, still shrieking and yipping.
Carmelita set a fresh bowl of piping hot rice and chicken in front of the old guy. But before she was out of his reach, he wrapped a thick arm around her, pulling her into his lap and tickling her with both hands. She giggled, cheeks pinking as he grunted softly in her ear. “You know I help you as much as I’m able,mi pajarita.”
I watched nearly stunned as they carried on like teenagers…in love.
Carmelita seemed to catch herself then, tearing out of the old man’s arms, his hand goosing her behind one last time before she was out of his grasp.
“Older you get, the more you need someone to control you.” She wagged a finger at him, smile still lifting her cheeks as she sat down again.
They exchanged a meaningful moment before I cleared my throat. “Looks like a lifetime of friendship exists between you two.”
“Feels like a lifetime.” The old guy grunted.
“If only!” Carmelita burst into a cackle. “Truth is it’s only been since Padre Juan was assigned to Santa Maria’s before he retired.”
A priest.
How had I missed that? Usually, I had an eye for picking out fellow seminarians.
“Assigned to Santa Maria’s, then, eh?” I took my chance at a rib back. “How’d you manage that?”
He looked at me, stately dark eyes trained on mine.
“I expect, the same as you.”
