As You Wish (The Summerhouse 3)

Where was Alejandro? she wondered. In just a few more days, he’d leave to return to his own country. Would he fall in love with some beautiful girl with black hair and a red rose behind her ear? Would he return in the spring or stay there? If Diego had his way, by this time next year, Alejandro would have a new bride and a baby on the way.

She could hear Kent inside the house as he opened drawers and slammed them. He wasn’t used to having to serve himself.

“I have to do something about my life,” she whispered. “Really and truly do something.” Before she was married, she thought that by this time she’d have a child to care for. She’d be one of those dedicated mothers who arranged playdates. She’d be head of the PTA and make sure the other mothers showed up when they were supposed to. She’d—

There were tears running down her cheeks. No children; no job; a husband who could barely stand her. Yet she was constantly being told that she had “everything.”

That night she slept in the second bedroom. She had a fantasy that Kent would come to her and apologize for being “such a beast.” Then he’d make love to her. And in the morning some deep intuition would tell her that she was pregnant.

But he didn’t so much as tap on the door. The next morning she stayed in the room until she heard him leave. He was going to be away for the night and he banged his overnight case against the door frame. It was the first time that she hadn’t packed for him.

When the house was quiet, she left the room and dressed carefully. She put on dark linen pants, a white blouse, and ballet flats. She got the little shopping bag out of the drawer and opened it.

Inside was a gold Cartier watch. It was simple but elegant. When she’d seen it in the shop window, she thought it was like Alejandro. He may seem like an ordinary man, but to her, he was pure gold. She knew she had to give it to him. Something to remember her by. When he wore it, she wanted him to think of her, to close his eyes and remember the laughter they’d shared. Digging together, sitting in her closet while she tossed clothes at his feet, being at the nurseries and pulling wagons full of plants. She wanted to give him something so beautiful that he never forgot her. Even if he married someone else and she never saw him again, she wanted a tiny bit of her heart to be his.

When she left the house with the box bulging in her pocket, she didn’t have to look far for him. He always seemed to stay nearby. In case she fell apart again and was crying? He’d run to rescue her?

First, she went to Diego and invited them to her house at three for a thank-you party.

She didn’t want to keep them after five

so they could go home on time.

Diego said they’d be there but he looked cautious, as though he thought she was up to something—which she was. Elise wanted more time with Alejandro. As much time as she could get.

Finally, she went to Alejandro. “Hi,” she said. He stopped shoveling mulch and smiled at her.

She hadn’t seen him since the dinner party, the night they’d all had so much fun. The night Kent had sulked like a spoiled child. The night that Elise had not played her role of being less than he was.

She looked around to make sure they were alone. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did for me. The party went very well.”

“They liked the food?”

“Very much.”

She sat down on the grass near him and watched as he went back to work. The sun hit his golden-toned skin, glistening off the coal black of his hair.

After a while, he stopped shoveling and turned to her. He didn’t say anything but there was such longing in his eyes that it made her breath catch.

She wanted to go to him, slide into his arms, and never let go. But her whole life of doing what she should and not what she wanted to held her back.

He saw what she was thinking, gave a nod, then he put his shovel into the mulch and withdrew a scoop.

Elise got up and went to stand by him. “I know you’re leaving soon.” She stepped closer. “My Spanish teacher and her grandchildren—mostly the kids—taught me how to cook some Mexican dishes. I told Diego that he and the men are invited to a little party at my house today. At three. Is that all right?”

He put down his shovel and faced her. “Of course. That’s very kind of you.”

His voice was so formal, so distant that it felt as though he’d already left. “I wanted to give you a gift, something special. From me.”

His eyebrows drew together. “A gift?”

She pulled the box out of her pocket and handed it to him.

Taking it, he frowned deeper. He opened the box, barely glanced inside, closed the lid, then shoved it back into her hands. With his shoulders straight, he swiftly walked away from her.

For a moment, Elise just stood there. He looked as if he was angry at her. But how could that be?

She hurried after him, but he was moving so fast that she had to run. When she was close, she grabbed his forearm, but he jerked away and kept going.