Page 7 of Escape To Paradise
“We’re sorry. This is not how he usually behaves. He is our co-worker. He’s usually very quiet,” one of the man’s friends said.
“Well, get him out of here,” Laura ordered.
“Sorry again, ladies. We’ll just take him home. He’s had too much to drink.”
“For Chrissakes, it’s not even noon. Get your friend sobered up,” Laura barked; she looked intimidating.
The men had no recourse but to take their friends with them, grabbing him by the arm, and walked with him out of the event.
“I’m sorry about those assholes, girls. You know, they serve alcohol at these events. And some idiots just can’t control themselves.” Laura turned to me and asked,” Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
Laura tapped on my shoulder. “You guys should just go sit with me over there.”
We tried to forget the incident and ended up staying at the event until 4 p.m. The kids were tired, so when we headed home, they were already ready to take a nap. By five, I started cooking dinner; Lisa helped cut the onions and garlic. We had spaghetti and meatballs.
“That was certainly an exciting time we had earlier,” Lisa recalled. She had opened a new bottle of red wine and poured me a drink.
“Yeah, unfortunately.” I was forming the meatballs with my hands.
“Can you imagine, insulting you and your mother, too?”
“I can’t imagine what was going on in his head. But he was drunk.”
“I’m sorry, though, that happened.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.” I formed more meatballs with the palms of my hands. I was very OCD about making sure they were the right size, so I measured them.
“Anyway, thanks for cooking dinner. As always. You certainly spoiled the boys with your delicious cooking.”
“That’s the least I could do. You gave me a roof over my head.”
“You’re welcome anytime. Hopefully, when summer comes, me and the boys can visit you in the Caribbean.” Lisa seemed pleased by this idea.
“Of course. I don’t know where I’ll be staying there exactly. But sure, I’ll let you know.”
“You have to write to us.”
Lisa set up the table while I cooked the meatballs. After twenty minutes, everything was ready. The boys woke up from their nap and sat at the table.
Lisa proceeded to lead a prayer. She wasn’t religious, but this occasion seemed like an opportune time for it. We held hands and joined her.
“Thank you to the Universal Intelligence for this meal, the gift of friendship with Harper and this family.”
***
Two weeks had passed, and I had finished my application for the job. James was very thorough and made sure I had gotten the work visa. He had connections, and he was good at his job. So, everything went smoothly.
I had some trepidations about leaving America. The last trip I had was five years ago with Benoit. We visited his family in France. We spent three weeks in Paris and the French countryside. It was our honeymoon, of sorts. But since our restaurant business started booming, everything just got busy. Suddenly, Benoit and I were too busy to travel.
Lisa and the boys dropped me off at Denver International Airport. I hugged the boys tightly, and they started crying, which I didn’t expect. I never knew I could get attached to them.
I bent down and told them, “Don’t worry, boys. We’ll see each other again. If things work out over there, you guys can come visit me during the summer.”
They both nodded their heads.
Lisa gave me a bear hug. “Don’t forget to send us a postcard!”
