A hostess opened the door and peeked out. “Cruz, party of two?”
“That’s us.” I patted Steve’s arm and said, “We can talk another time,” and told Hope, “I’m going to Santa Rosa tomorrow. I’ll call when I’m back in town.”
I was on my way back to Santa Fe when I got an idea. The mountains grew bigger in my windshield while I pulled together a working group. We met at my place, worked late over pizza and drinks, and hammered together a bill that would defund any effort by the Land Office to enforce their new rules. Maybe it would be leverage, but that’s all it could be.
It was the next afternoon, when I was sitting in the mess left over, before I thought to call Hope. “I’m meeting a friend at the Starbucks by the plaza,” she said. “Can you meet us there? About four?” Even remembered to shave before I left.
Hope looked up from her conversation when I walked in. I tipped my hat, and she waved without getting up. She looked like the school marm from some old western movie. Her blouse was white. Her dress was long and black.
Ordered an Americano before I pulled up a chair and hooked my hat on the back. Hope gestured to the woman across from her and said, “This is DeeDee Durante. We’ve been talking about you.”
“Oh? Good stuff, I imagine.” DeeDee had a bright smile and enough cleavage to make it hard to pull my eyes up. I didn’t like the feeling that I was set up to meet her. My interest was in Hope.
“All interesting,” DeeDee said and looked back to Hope. “Then why Steve?” It took me a moment to realize they were talking about sex. Of course, they were talking about sex.
The barista called, “Order up for Adam,” and I left to get my coffee.
I sat again with the coffee in front of me, and I listened to Hope. “There was a time when I thought Steve cared. Maybe I was inexperienced, but the sex felt good, too. Now, sex seems like the only thing we ever had in common.”
Hope glanced at me and lowered her voice. “He’s still familiar. There’s still something attractive about him. That makes it easy for me to get back in his bed even though I know he’s poison for my soul.”
A little jealousy raised the hair on my neck, but it passed—mostly. Wasn’t my place to be jealous of Hope’s partners.
DeeDee picked her phone off the table and looked at the time. “I need to go.” She set her phone down again and leaned toward Hope to whisper. “I think you’re being complicated. You should just get laid and enjoy it.”
Hope laughed out loud. “Maybe you’re right.”
DeeDee stood up from the table and smiled. “It was good meeting you, Mr. Cruz.”
I did what I thought they expected. I stood and tucked my hand under DeeDee’s elbow. “You could give me your number, and we can find a time to get to know each other.”
We traded numbers and I watched the pleasant sway of DeeDee’s hips as she left. “Is that why you wanted me here?” I sat in front of my coffee again. “To set me up with DeeDee?”
Hope peeked over her latte to answer. “No, but that isn’t a bad idea is it? How was your Christmas?”
“My nieces and nephews grow like weeds, Mom and Dad are a little older, and we’re selling cattle short because the range is dry. How was yours?”
She gave me a smile that quickly faded away. “I spent it in bed at Steve’s hotel. It wasted the day.” She saw me flinch. Maybe I was being too transparent. “You were with a girl the last time I saw you—Susan? How’d that go?”
“From the way you sound, better than your time with Steve. Took her to the ballet.”
Hope raised her eyebrows. “And?”
I watched my coffee while I rolled the cup between my palms. “And why do you girls talk about sex so much?”
“Don’t you think sex is important?” Hope leaned closer with her elbows on the table. “Why don’t men talk about sex more?”
“Dunno. Respect for women? Don’t want to advertise what we have? Don’t want to talk about what we don’t know?” She laughed at that. “Why do you need to know about Susan?”
“If you don’t think it’s interesting, then don’t tell me.”
The tone in her voice told me she wanted to know. “We went to her place after the ballet because she has cuffs and shackles, and I don’t.”
“What?” Hope sat back, covered her mouth, and laughed.
“Some boyfriend got them for her, and she kept them. Tied down is about the only way she gets off.”
Hope looked around to see if anyone might be listening. “I guess we’re all different.”
“Some of y’all are real different.” My coffee had cooled, and I took a big gulp and swished it around my mouth. “Is work busy now?”
Hope pushed her cup away. “Work is slow. Some of my clients close their doors this time of year, but it’s a chance to get my reports and sketches together. I have time to let my mind wander. How about you?”
“It’s going to be a short session. We drafted a bill last night to get us some leverage with the Land Office, and I think the Governor’s Office will go for it.” I caught Hope’s hand and held it. “Things are gettin’ crazy. I have a little time, and I’d like to spend it with you.”
A smile crossed Hope’s face. “My mind has wandered there. Barfy’s taken care of, so you could show me your place.”
Streetlamps were coming on, and the temperature was dropping. Hope adjusted her bag on her shoulder and pulled her sweater close around her on our way to the garage where I’d parked. I watched her for a moment and said, “I’ve never seen you carry a bag before.”
Hope glanced at me when we stopped by the passenger door. “I brought that edible lotion and a change of underwear.”
Made me laugh. I opened her door and helped her in. “So this wasn’t really my idea, right?”
“I was planning ahead.”
My condo was off West Zia, It wasn’t as fashionable as Hope’s little house, and I somehow forgot that it was still a mess.
I followed Hope past the serving tray on the coffee table and the dirty glasses on the end table, and I took her sweater when she stopped to look at the 120-year-old map of New Mexico Territory that hung over the sofa.
She stepped from map-to-map around the room while I hung her sweater and put my hat and jacket away. “Santa Fe, 1880,” she said. “Bernalillo County, 1917. The Village of Taos, 1927. These are like museum pieces. Where do you get them?”
“Where-ever I can. They’re all history. I love history.” I picked up the serving tray and stacked it with glasses and napkins. Hope dropped her bag and followed me to the kitchen where I left the tray, and I leaned back against the counter. “What do you want to order in?”
“I’m craving enchiladas.”
I called Maria’s and settled on the sofa where Hope was poking at the TV remote. “You know, I’m almost surprised you have a TV,” she said. “Mine’s usually covered so I don’t see it.”
Hope clicked from channel to channel without stopping long for anything, and I was hungry before the doorbell rang. They delivered enchiladas for Hope and carne adovada for me.
Hope fell back into the sofa when she was done. “And now I’m cold,” she said and wrapped her arms around herself.
“We can fix that.” I dropped dinner’s refuse into the trash, settled down beside Hope, and wrapped a blanket from the hall closet around our shoulders. “Better now?”