Evenings at the Argentine Club (20 page)

Victoria carried one suitcase at a time into Eric’s home. He wasn’t there. She could tell men had been working in the kitchen
today. The cabinets had arrived and been placed like a jigsaw puzzle where they would sit, but they hadn’t been screwed together
or attached to the wall.

In the bedroom that Eric had offered her, everything had been completed. The carpet was new, the walls and ceiling had been
painted, the lighting she’d chosen had been installed. The awesome closet organizer made the previous plain closet with a
wooden pole look like a hole in the wall. She unzipped her suitcases and began emptying her clothes, finding places in the
closet to fill up.

But as she worked she became increasingly more depressed. Her clothes might fill the closet, but a coldness filled her spirit.
She felt truly alone. So she sat in the center of the empty bedroom and wondered where her father was, what Carmen was up
to, and if her mother was cooking for herself tonight. Jaqueline would.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Eric stood at her door.

Victoria hadn’t even heard him walk in. “Moving in.”

He took a seat on the middle of the floor next to her. “Is this like a meditation-moving-in thing?”

She smiled. “Maybe. I was trying to make this room feel like mine, which is kind of stupid. I’m only going to be here for
a few weeks.”

“You asked me a few weeks ago where I went when I left home. Remember?”

“Yes.”

“The first place I stayed in was a dump. Well, the first place was my car, actually. But then I found this run-down shack.
It had one bedroom, a tiny bathroom, and a kitchen covered in roaches.”

“Ugh,” Victoria said. “And you stayed there?”

“I started cleaning it up, then called an exterminator. We took out all the drywall and found roaches even inside the walls
and in the insulation.”

“Eric!” She shuddered, imagining crawling things running up and down her back. “You’re creeping me out.”

“It was gross.” He smiled like a little boy. “I’d sit in my car at night, sometimes shivering and close to tears. I wondered
what the hell I’d gotten myself into. I missed my mom’s great meals, and my bed, and I started to think I should have stayed
where I was and figured out how to finish school, and like it.”

Victoria listened.

“But I stuck it out. Within a couple of weeks we had the entire house clean. I laid the flooring, got the drywall back up
and painted, and finally moved into the place. I made a whole ten grand off the place in the end. It wasn’t much, but it was
like gold to me. I was so proud of the way it turned out. I’d taken a dump and made it a nice place to live.”

She smiled.

“Being on your own is sort of scary. Even without the cockroaches.”

“I’m not scared. Just sort of sad that my life as I knew it is over.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“Yes and no.”

Eric leaned forward. “Let me help you finish unpacking. Then let’s meditate over the roasted chicken and salad I brought.
Hungry?”

“A little.”

He got on his feet opened one of her suitcases, and began gathering shorts, T-shirts, socks, bras, and underwear.

Victoria pulled the items out of his hands. “I’ll do it.”

He shrugged. “Sure you don’t want my help?”

“I’m sure. Actually, let’s go eat. I’ll do more of this later.”

“Good.” He put everything down and headed to the living room. On a card table was a bag from the grocery store. He pulled
out the delicious-smelling chicken and prepared salad. Then he dug some paper plates out of another paper bag.

“Is this the way you’re used to living?”

He nodded and pulled out a French bread.

She smiled. His mother apparently had some influence over him, Argentines ate bread with every meal. She loved it but would
have to control herself and limit her portion to one slice.

“The kitchen will be finished this week, and we’ll be able to cook then. But I’m used to making do without a kitchen or furniture.
The second a house gets livable I sell it and start over.” He tore a piece of bread off and handed it to her, then took a
chunk for himself and bit into it.

“I tell you, Eric, I don’t think I could get used to this.” She took a napkin and placed her bread on it.

He cut the chicken and served a leg and breast on each plate, then spooned the salad beside the chicken. “It gets tiring.
I’m ready for something more permanent, but the problem is that you have to work wherever you find a house.”

“You found this one. Why can’t you find more and establish a home base?”

He took his plastic fork and knife and began eating, but he watched her with sort of a crooked smile. “Has my mom hired you?
She makes the same argument.”

Victoria took a bite of chicken. It was tender and garlicky with a hint of rosemary. Delicious. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my
business.”

“No problem. I would like to find a great house, fix it up, and actually keep it someday.” He held up his fork. “Have real
silverware and a real dining table.”

“How about real mortgage payments? Those are the ones that worry me.”

“I don’t plan on having those. I’ll pay cash for my house.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Really? I’m impressed.”

He chuckled. “Not having anything allows me to save a lot.” He finished his food and put his plate and utensils in a plastic
bag he was using for trash. Victoria gave him her plate. She’d had enough.

He stood and took the bag outside, where they had a large can to toss construction debris. Then he returned. “Okay, now we
can go back to your room and unpack your undies?”

She shook her head. “I wondered when you were going to mention those.”

“I’ll let you see mine, if you’d like.”

She stood, still feeling completely inadequate with Eric. She looked… well, the way she did. And he looked like he had just
walked out of a workingman’s calendar. “I don’t play that game,” she joked.

“Ah.” He looked amused. “Too bad for me.” He turned away, then paused. “Although, you do play some games. You forget that
I know some of the guys you dated in high school, which was why you surprised me with that comment about being shy. I know
you weren’t such an angel.”

What did he mean by that? “I wasn’t?” she asked with surprise.

“Evan Greene and Saul Anaya.”

Victoria frowned and followed Eric into her bedroom. “What about them?”

“Spin the bottle?” Eric said, raising an eyebrow.

Victoria laughed. She and Evan had dated a couple of months until her father had put his foot down. She could see him at school
but no dating. At sixteen, she wasn’t about to listen to that nonsense. So when she spent the night at her best friend’s house,
the guys came over and they played spin the bottle. “That was an innocent kid game.”

Eric reached back into her suitcase, but instead of pulling out panties he took some of her tops and placed them in a drawer
in the closet. “Not what Evan said.”

She rolled her eyes. “He never got past… second base.” She laughed.

He laughed too. “And Saul?”

“No comment.” She dated him for a year and a half, until they graduated and he joined the navy. He was her first real boyfriend.

“Hmm,” Eric said, and handed her a pile of shorts.

She put away her shorts. “My dad hated him.”

Finally he pulled out her bras and panties, and handed them to her. “And if you and I started dating. Seriously. Would he
hate me, too?”

“You’re Argentine.”

He stepped closer. “That makes a difference?”

“To him.”

“And to you?”

“No difference at all.”

Eric leaned closer, and he placed a hand on her waist. “Being with you makes me happy, Vicki. Do you think it’s because you
remind me of when I was a kid and still innocent?”

She couldn’t answer that. “It’s because I let you touch my underwear,” she whispered.

He smiled. “That must be it.” He kissed her cheek. “You going to be okay sleeping in here all by yourself?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Too bad.” He eased back. “Good night, then.”

Victoria’s heart was beating a little too fast. Whatever she was doing, it gave her a rush she found irresistible. Out of
all the risks she was taking lately, spending time with Eric was probably the most dangerous, but also the most enjoyable.

V
ictoria officially enrolled in the Institute of Design the following week. She planned to attend twice a week during the fall
quarter. That gave her plenty of time to complete work on Eric’s property, put in some hours at the boutique, and look for
more design work. Eric wouldn’t be paying her until he sold the house—that was their agreement. And that was fine. She didn’t
need the money. Her expenses had been so minimal while living with her parents that she had enough money saved to last her
a long time. So that didn’t worry her, but she was excited to begin building her business.

As part of her registration process, she had a counseling session. Victoria spent a couple of hours discussing her goals and
planning her courses.

The counselor tapped his notepad. “I pointed out your reference, Douglas Glen, to one of our instructors, Mrs. Hendrickson.
They used to teach together at Burbank High.”

Victoria smiled. “Douglas is the one who recommended I get my degree. He’s my cheerleader and my friend. He’s right about
absolutely everything.”

“Mrs. Hendrickson would like to speak with you when we finish here—and we
are
actually done. Unless you have any questions.”

She had a plan for next year, and it all looked doable and exciting. So she didn’t have any questions. She closed her notebook
and slipped it into her canvas bag. “I’m all set.”

He wrote on a sticky pad. “This is Mrs. Hendrickson’s office number.”

Victoria took it. “Thank you.”

She stopped by the woman’s office next. Mrs. Hendrickson was one of the few older people she’d met here—even the professors
seemed young and stylish—although she looked amazing. She invited Victoria into her office.

“I don’t remember you from Burbank High,” Victoria said.

“I worked there ages ago. Douglas was suited for that environment. I’m afraid I didn’t enjoy dealing with teen hormones half
as much.”

Victoria smiled. “I don’t think I would, either.”

“Victoria, I spoke with Douglas earlier and he thinks a lot of you.”

Victoria loved Douglas.

“Would you be interested in being paired up with a design company this quarter and getting some work experience?”

Sounded like working for free. “Ah, I don’t know.”

“Occasionally we manage to put some of our students into prestigious firms. The experience you get working with these professionals
is worth gold, I assure you. If you’re interested, Victoria, I can recommend you as a possible candidate. We’ll arrange everything.
I’ll talk to the counseling office, and you’ll get credit as well as a paycheck while you learn.”

Course credit
and
a paycheck? Now
that
sounded good. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Learn, and represent us well.” She took a few notes. Then stood and held out a hand. “A pleasure, Victoria. I’ll be in touch.”

“Thank you.” Taking her cue, she stood and left her office.

Beyond excited, she flew from the university to see Douglas. Even though a few customers were milling around the store, she
went around the counter and wrapped her arms around him.

“Hey.” He chuckled and held his arms up in the air. “What’s this about?”

“I just love you. I registered at the university today, and I’m so excited I can barely stand it.” She squeezed him tight
one more time, then let him go.

He smiled down at her. “Wonderful.”

“And I spoke with a colleague of yours who is going to help place me with a design firm.”

“Andrea. Yes, she called me. It’s a great opportunity for you, kiddo.”

“I know. It’s amazing. Thank you so much, Douglas.”

He nodded and shrugged as if it were no big deal. “It’s time for you to move on.”

“Move on?”

“Sure.” He sat on the stool he kept behind the counter for the few times when things got slow and he had a chance to sit.
“I’ve watched you prepare for this for the last five years, Victoria. Some people know what they want right away. And they
charge after it. Others, like you, sit with things a long time and then make their move. You’re ready, and I’m excited for
you.”

“I feel like I am ready.”

“So I accept your resignation. We should go out for celebratory drinks when I close tonight.”

“Resignation?” Victoria’s bubbling happiness fizzed away.

“Isn’t that what you came to tell me? That you’ll be busy studying and working on your ID career? And you quit?”

“Of course not.”

“Sure you did. And don’t feel bad. I support your decision one hundred percent.”

“But, Douglas, that wasn’t what—”

He stood and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Yes. It was.”

“I love working here,” she said softly. It was the one part of her day she’d always loved. She suffered through the hours
at the restaurant. But working at the boutique was like playtime.