The Romance Report (12 page)

Chapter Twenty-Five

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The Romance Report

A blog dedicated to the pursuit of love and happiness.

Thursday, September 26, 7:49 p.m.

It’s a distinctly different Thursday here at The
Romance Report headquarters. My friend, Shawna, believed that I was living
under a curse. In her mind, this curse was sapping my love life and my luck.
The cure? A visit to the local
curandera
. For those of you dear readers
not familiar with the term, it is the Spanish word for healer. Yes, that’s correct,
dear readers, I went to a healer to have my unlucky in love curse removed.

I know what you are all thinking, Quinn’s lost her
ever loving mind! But I beg to differ. Let me describe the evening to you and
maybe you will change your mind.

Shawna picked me up in her sassy Mini Cooper that
I love to ride in with her. We zipped through traffic until we arrived at our
destination. I was momentarily taken aback by the location. It wasn’t a house.
It wasn’t a hut high on a mountain top. Nope. It was a neon-signed storefront
in a strip mall with a K-Mart next door. Healings are now twenty-first century
and commercialized.

Shawna’s cousin, Angie, met us at the door since
we arrived after hours. No turban. No crystal balls. Just a front desk with a
small room behind it with chairs and something like a doctor’s examining table
covered by a sheet. She did have one corner with candles, cups, fruit and
feathers, but I didn’t pay that close attention. Now I wish I had because it’s
fascinating!

As soon as I walked in, she said she could sense a
heavy burden on me. She told me that I was at a crossroads. Was she an
intuitive woman or did Shawna spill the beans about me beforehand? I’ll never
know for sure, but Shawna swears she didn’t tell her anything besides my name
and that I was suffering from bad luck.

Angie had me sit down and she sat opposite of me.
She asked me a few questions about my health. She asked me what brought me to
see her and I told her about all of the bad luck I had with men and with my
job. She held both my hands while we spoke. I might have imagined it, but I a
warmth spread from her hands into mine and into my arms. As we spoke, a sense
of calmness settled over me.

When we were done, Angie said she would perform a
limpia
or cleansing. She had me lie on the table. I heard her say a few words of
prayer in Spanish and she lit a candle. Then she picked up an egg and sprinkled
some water from a glass container on it. She started at the top of my head and
skimmed it downward over every part of my body while saying words I didn’t
understand (hopefully, it was for luck and love). It was weird. I felt
incredibly awkward as she cleansed me with an egg. To be honest, dear readers,
I almost jumped up and ran out of the building.

After she was done rubbing the egg all over me
like a bar of soap. She cracked the egg into a bowl filled with water and had
me come look at it with her. It didn’t really float, and it didn’t really sink.
My egg was wishy-washy (kind of like I’ve been feeling myself lately.) It also
had some web-like things coming from the yolk. Angie said I was trapped at this
point in my life due to something holding me back. Angie felt like it was due
to my own self-doubt. (Great! Like I didn’t already know I was filled with
doubts…sheesh!)

She had me sit back down next to her. She said
that my bad luck in love was not due to outside forces, but my own lack of
self-worth. My spirit was ill. She said I had to know my own value before
anyone else could value me. She could have been channeling Grandma Rose because
she said the same thing to me! Angie said that the
limpia
should have
removed the bad luck or
mal de ojo
, but if I continued to have problems
to back and see her.

Here’s the odd thing. Before I left, she grabbed
ahold of my hand and said that she had a vision of me with lightning or
electricity all around me and a man whose face she couldn’t see (dang it!) She
wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but she believed that my true love would have
electricity with me. Weird.

Anyway, dear readers, this ends my tale of
cleansing by egg. I’m not sure I’m a believer, but I’m also a person who is
starting to believe that anything is possible.

Comments:

Shawnalovesboys: Glad you
got cleansed, girlfriend. You never know when someone has given you the evil eye.
Maybe an ex?

QuinnieBee:
My exes don’t have enough gumption to bother with cursing me.

Chica411:
My grandma was an old-school
curandera
and I’m a believer. I promise
that you will see a change in your life. Just make sure you go back and see her
if it doesn’t. You might need to be uncrossed.

QuinnieBee:
I did feel some kind of energy that I couldn’t quite put my finger on when I
was there. I’ll keep you updated via The Romance Report if it works!

Dreambuilder: I think
you’re already making your own luck. Believe in yourself and anything is
possible.

QuinnieBee:
I think you’re right! I plan to start living my life with or without a man. If
the right guy comes along, I’ll know he’s the one when he remembers how I drink
my coffee and doesn’t mind my love of B-grade horror films.

Dreambuilder:
Good to know.

Chapter Twenty-Six

“Your grandmother’s birthday party is next
weekend,” Quinn’s mother said. “I sent out invitations yesterday. I need you to
come shopping with me for her present today.”

“I can’t. I have a date with Doug this afternoon,”
Quinn said. She carefully applied polish to her toes. She wiggled them. Bright
blue was actually pretty on toes. She should have ventured beyond shell pink a
long time ago.

“He can meet you downtown and pick you up after
you’re done shopping. We can have lunch.”

“Mother, I don’t want to ask Doug to come
downtown. It’s only our second date.”

“Fine. Where are you two planning to go? We can
shop in the nearby stores. The party is a week away and I have to be in D.C.
all next week. This is our last chance to buy a family gift for Ma.”

Quinn sighed. She wasn’t going to win this battle,
so she might as well wave the white flag. “Fine. I’ll have Doug meet us. We’re
going to the movies at Short Pump.”

“Perfect! I like the shops there better than
downtown anyway. He can pick you up at three o’clock. I’ll be there at eleven
to get you.” She disconnected before Quinn could respond.

“Sure, Mom. Whatever you say, Mom. Change my day’s
plans, Mother. Augh!” Quinn shouted to her empty apartment. Fat Panther,
startled by the loud sound, jumped down and hid underneath her couch.

Quinn dialed Doug’s number. “Hi, Doug. It’s Quinn.
I’m calling about our date this afternoon.”

“You’re not calling to cancel are you?” Doug
sounded disappointed.

“No! It’s just that my mother wants me to go
shopping for my Grandma Rose’s birthday present. Can you meet me at the theater
rather than pick me up here at my apartment?”

“That’s not a problem at all. It will give me a
chance to meet your mom,” Doug said.

“I wouldn’t get too excited. My mother can be a
little…how can I say this without scaring you…interrogating.”

“She’s a reporter, isn’t she? I wouldn’t expect
anything else. I’ll prepare my best sound bites for her report.”

“You’re the best. I’ll see you at three?”

“On the dot. Bye.”

Quinn tossed the cell phone on the coffee table
and finished polishing her toenails. Pleased with the look, she hobbled into
the kitchen to pour herself another cup of coffee. She and Indie had gone to
Hello! Sailor to watch Sean’s latest show. Quinn still hadn’t figured out how
someone with Sean’s masculine good looks transformed into a gorgeous woman four
nights a week. He could sing, too. Quinn hummed one of Shawna’s tunes from the
night before.

“Hey, big spender, spend a little time with me.”
Quinn gave a high kick with one leg like a Vegas showgirl. Unfortunately, she
overshot and lost her balance. She landed with a loud thump on her butt and
sent her into paroxysms of laughter. “Fat Panther, you think I’d better stick
with the day job?”

A moment later, she heard a loud knock on her
door. “Quinn, you okay? I heard something crash.”

“I’m okay, Zach,” Quinn called out from her spot
on the floor. “Give me a second.”

Quinn got up from her spot on the floor. Thank
goodness her toes were still perfect. She hobbled to the door. “Hey, Zach. Come
on in.” She wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He grasped her arm
and checked her over from head to toe, concern in his eyes.

“I’m fine. A klutz, but fine. I’m laughing, not
crying.” Quinn hiccupped.

“Thank goodness. I was worried for a second.” Zach
wore a pair of ripped blue jeans spattered with different colors of paint and
an old faded black t-shirt. “I was coming up to see you anyway. I promised to
paint your bathroom. Is today okay?”

“You don’t mind doing it while I’m not here, do
you? I have to go shopping with my mother, then I have a date with Doug.”

“Doug? Is that the college friend?”

“Yes. We’re off to the movies this afternoon,” Quinn
said. She felt a little self-conscious talking to Zach about Doug and she
wasn’t exactly sure why.

“Second date?”

“Yep. You’re okay painting the bathroom today?”
Quinn asked, changing the subject.

“Point me to a paintbrush and I’ll get started,”
Zach said with more enthusiasm than Quinn could ever muster for household
improvement projects.

“I have everything right there.” She pointed to
the can of paint, roller and brush stashed in her living room corner.

Zach picked up the paint supplies while Quinn
tidied up her pedicure tools. No guy wanted to see a pumice stone and toenail
clippers on a girl’s living room floor. She stashed them in her basket of
clothes she had folded that morning and carried it all into her bedroom.

“I like the color you painted your bedroom walls,”
Zach said behind her.

Quinn jumped a foot into the air from surprise.
“Holy cow! Don’t sneak up on me like that! I nearly had a heart attack.”

“A heart attack at your age is unlikely,” Zach
joked. “I’m glad you’re moving away from the zebra austerity phase of
decorating. These colors suit your personality better. What about the kitchen?”

“I was thinking about a dark blue or wine shade. I
still haven’t decided.”

“I think dark blue would look great with your
cabinets,” Zach said. “I did one class in interior decorating so that I could
help clients who restored historical homes with their interiors as well.”

“You are an interesting man, Zach Taylor.” Quinn
gave him an appraising look. “I got lucky when you moved into the building.”

“I’m glad you think so. Let me get started. I’ll
have your bathroom done before you get back from your date.”

“I need to run downstairs and give Mrs. Garza my
check for rent. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Quinn said. She slipped on her
shoes and grabbed her checkbook.

“Go ahead. I’ll be busy taping,” Zach said in a
distracted voice. He was already setting up to paint.

Quinn headed to Mrs. Garza. She knocked on her
landlady’s door. Sean answered, his eyes red and swollen. “What’s wrong? Are
you okay?” Quinn asked him.

“I’m screwed six days to Sunday,” Sean wailed. He
turned and left the door open for Quinn to follow him,

“Nothing can be that bad,” Quinn said. She closed
the door behind her and followed Sean into the living room where he sat with
tears in his eyes.

“Yes it can. Ricardo told
abuela
about me.
He came this morning and woke her up. I walked into the kitchen as he described
my current job in detail to her.”

“What did she do?” Quinn asked. She couldn’t
imagine being in Sean’s shoes right now. His grandmother was old-fashioned and
very devout in her faith.

“She got up, told Ricardo she would talk to him
later and got ready for Mass like she always does. She didn’t speak one word to
me,” Sean sobbed. “She’s never going to forgive me and my family will disown
me.”

“Oh, Sean! I’m so sorry.” Quinn sat down on the
couch and wrapped her arms around him. His shoulders shook as he quietly cried.

Quinn heard a key rattle in the door and a moment
later, Reyna Garza walked into the living room. When she saw Sean crying,
concern filled her eyes and she rushed over to the couch. “
M’hijo
!
What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Sean looked up at his grandmother. “I broke your
heart. I’m not the good grandson you thought I was.”

“Really? When I fell and needed someone to take me
back and forth to physical therapy three times a week, who took me?”

“I did,” Sean responded in a small voice.

“When I was scared to stay on my own anymore, who
gave up their privacy and their own place to come stay with a foolish old
woman?”

“Me, but you aren’t foolish…”

“Don’t interrupt. I am a foolish old woman because
I’ve known all along and I let you continue with this charade.”

“What? You knew? How come you didn’t say
anything?” Sean asked, his tears drying up.

“Because you didn’t want me to know, so I thought
you were ashamed. Ashamed of your heritage, ashamed of who you are. You’re
young and I knew eventually you would work through it and come to realize what
I’ve known all along.”

“What?” Quinn said. “Oops. Sorry. I got caught up
in the moment.”

Quinn’s interruption caused Sean and Mrs. Garza to
both laugh.

“Yes, what?” Sean sniffled.

“I know that you are a handsome gay Mexican man
who loves his family and his friends. I’m proud of you, Juan Carlos. You need
to be proud of who you are and quit hiding your authentic self. Ricardo has
always had
mamitis aguda,
and everyone knows it.”

“He is definitely a mama’s boy. You still love me?
You’re not ashamed of me?” Sean asked. Quinn could see he still held back as if
he still didn’t believe his grandmother would accept him.

“Of course I still love you.” She sat down on the
other side of Sean. “I loved you from the moment your mother brought you and
your brother Julian home from the hospital,
mi principito
.”

Sean sniffled then kissed his grandmother on her
wrinkled cheek. “I was so worried that I’d broken your heart. I would have told
you years ago, but I was ashamed of who I was. I mean, I love being Shawna on
stage because it’s the only time I feel that I’m being me.”

“You be proud of all of you. Juan Carlos, Sean and
Shawna. I may not agree with all of your choices, but I will stand by your side
as long as you are honest and a good person,” Mrs. Garza said. She squeezed
Sean’s hand then turned to Quinn. “Young lady, when are you going to start being
true to yourself. I see you dating these mala personas…bad guys. You wear
another person’s face to please the world when you need to realize that you are
fine just being Quinn Daniels.”

“I’m trying, Mrs. Garza,” Quinn stammered, “but
it’s hard with family…”

“Your family’s a whole lot easier to deal with
than mine!” Sean interrupted her. “Try being Mexican and gay in my family then
come crying to me about your mother.”

“I’m trying. Baby steps, Sean. I’m taking baby
steps, but soon I’ll be ready to take that giant leap for Quinnkind,” Quinn
joked, trying to lighten the mood. “Oh crap! I better get upstairs. My mother’s
probably already here and Zach’s in my apartment painting.”

“Zach is a good man,” Reyna Garza said. “He is a
man who lives his life the way he wants to live it. Honesty in a man is a good
quality. You could do worse.”

“I…he…uh…he and I are friends,” Quinn finished
weakly. “Here’s my rent check. I’d better get going.” Quinn thrust her check
into Sean’s hands and darted out of the apartment before they probed and pushed
her anymore.

She flew up the stairs. She reached to open her
apartment door, but she stopped when she heard her mother’s laugh. Steeling her
nerves, she turned the doorknob and walked inside to see her mother sitting at
her kitchen table with a cup of coffee, and Zach sitting opposite her.

“Honey, there you are. I was getting ready to send
out a search party, but Zach said he would call in the Mounties and handle it,”
Anne said then proceeded to giggle like a schoolgirl.

“Anne, I keep a close eye on Quinn,” Zach said.

“Quinn, you didn’t tell me your new neighbor was
so charming,” Anne admonished her. “I’ll sit here and finish my coffee while
you get changed.”

“I wasn’t going to change. I’m wearing this,”
Quinn said. She wore her favorite pair of indigo blue jeans with a long-sleeved
cream t-shirt and a deep blue scarf tied the look together.

“You’re awfully casual for a date,” Anne said,
casting a critical eye over Quinn’s clothes, “but if you’re ready, let’s get
going. Zach, it was a pleasure to meet you.”

Zach grasped Anne’s outstretched hand. “It was
such an honor to meet you. I’ve been reading your news stories for years. I’ll
see you at the party next weekend.”

Quinn shook her head, not sure she’d heard hi
correctly. Her mother had been viciously slashing the guest list to make sure
they stayed under seventy-five guests, yet she clearly had invited Zach to the
party. “You’re coming to Grandma Rose’s party?”

“Your mother invited me. I’m excited to meet your
uncle. I told your mother I eat at Hanrahan’s at least once a week.”

“Quinn, why don’t you have Zach bring you to Ma’s
party? You know I worry about you driving that wreck of a car of yours and you
don’t want to take the bus in a nice dress and heels.”

“We’ll see. Let’s get going.” Quinn grabbed her
purse and tried to herd her mother towards the door. “Zach, thanks for painting
my bathroom. I appreciate it.”

“See you later. Have fun at the movies,” Zach
called after her.

Anne drove them to the stores near Short Pump. Quinn
and her mother zipped from store to store looking for the perfect present. They
finally found the perfect gift at a small jewelry store with an in-store
jeweler. He helped them pick out a ring which would hold Grandma Rose’s
birthstone surrounded by smaller stones with Anne’s, Patrick’s and Quinn’s
different birthstones. The setting would be white gold. Fortunately, Anne and
her mother wore the same size ring, so the jeweler could size it correctly.
Anne paid for it and the jeweler promised it would be ready the day before the
party.

“Whew! My feet are killing me,” Quinn’s mom said,
“and I’m starving. Why don’t we hit the little bistro we like near the theater
and then I can take you to meet your date.”

“His name is Doug,” Quinn said. Her mother had a great
memory for names, so she knew it was a deliberate oversight. “Sure. They have a
great portabella mushroom sandwich.”

Quinn and her mom ordered lunch. They were
enjoying an appetizer of spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips when Quinn’s
phone pinged to notify her that she had a text. It was Indie.

“I need you to go on a date with Marty and me. He
has a friend who tries to tag along and hang out with us wherever we go. You
have to go with us to this festival so he’s not a third wheel. You owe me.”