“Let’s go sit over there.” He pointed to a patio with outdoor furniture and lots of planted pots. There was even a small pond and fountain.
“Wow, this is like a little oasis.” She flopped down on a wooden chair with a pillow cushion on it.
“I’ll go get the tea.”
After he went inside, she looked around. Someone had clearly put some time and effort into creating this sweet spot.
“Hola,” a woman’s voice said from behind her. “Who are you?”
Jewel turned to see a small woman with gray hair poking out from under a big straw hat. She was cautiously approaching with a bewildered expression. In her hands was a watering can. Jewel stood and smiled. “I’m Jewel McKerry. My parents own the property over there.”
“Oh, sí. Your mama has told me about you.”
Jewel nodded. “You must be Mrs. Orosco.”
“Sí, you call me Marta.” She set down the watering can and peeled off garden gloves. “It is warm today.” She fanned herself and sat down.
“Are you the one responsible for this beautiful garden?” Jewel waved to the flowering pots.
“Oh, sí. I love my flowers.”
“They’re beautiful.” Jewel sat back down as Miguel came out with two glasses of iced tea.
“Just in time, mijo.” Marta eagerly reached for a glass. “I am so thirsty.”
He handed the second glass to Jewel. “I’ll go back for another.”
“He is a good boy,” Marta said as she sipped.
“But he forgets to take off his dirty boots?” Jewel teased.
“He told you about that?” Marta waved a hand. “I like clean floors.”
“So does my mother.”
“How is your mama? Is her head better now?”
“Yes. She claims she’s fine, but I’m trying to keep her from doing too much.”
Marta frowned. “But you are here?”
“I needed a break. My daughter’s there to help Mom if needed.”
“Oh, sí. Miguel says you have a girl about Anna’s age, no?”
“A tiny bit younger.”
“Anna ... she says she is bored.” Marta shook her head. “Bored? How do you get bored with so much to do? But she is young. Like a filly. She wants to run around.”
“That sounds pretty normal. Cooper is always telling me she’s bored.”
“Our Anna should meet your Cooper. They can be bored together.” Marta laughed.
Miguel came back out with his tea and took the chair next to Jewel. “So you ladies are getting acquainted?”
“Comparing notes on teenage girls,” Jewel said.
“Anna should go see this Cooper girl,” Marta told him. “They could make a friendship together.”
