Chapter 6

No, I had no idea. I didn’t even know how to react. I just played it by ear and went from the gut.

“Alicia, I love you. Cindy, you love Alicia. Elaine, you love Alicia. Consuela, where do you fit in here?”

“Personally, I think you are the best thing that has happened to the Broderick girls since I’ve known them. I came onto the scene just before Alicia lost her father, Allan. That being said, I love Elaine. She’s never heard that before, by the way, and until now, I would imagine she had no idea. I’ve been in love with her since she hired me to help them out so many years ago. OK, I’ve said it. Elaine, I love you. There.”

Elaine broke out crying, again, but this time it was with happiness, not the weight of Malone’s death on her shoulders. She opened her arms up to Consuela who happily filled them. The two sat in an embrace, just smiling at one another. It was quite cute.

“Well, that answers that,” I said, not at all flippantly. This was serious. Heart attack serious. “Cindy, what does any of this mean to you? Be honest. Open and honest, please.”

“I was looking for a man when I found your girlfriend. I was still looking for a man, but I didn’t really need one anymore. I want to think that with Alicia’s help, I may have found one. Open and honest, right?” I nodded. “Charlie, I’m falling in love with you.” I shook my head, smiling so they wouldn’t think I was being negative.

“Alicia?”

“I love you. I fell in love with you on the plane an hour into our first flight together when you took me home. It was magic. I won’t give you up easily. I want you. I think I may need you. I have no problems sharing you with Cindy, though. As long as we can be together, I’m fine.”

I was starting to feel as though I was falling down into a rabbit hole. A bit like I felt when Frank Sulley showed up to help them out just a few days ago. “I love you, too, Alicia. I love your mother’s cooking, and I think Cindy is a charm...” Alicia interrupted me.

“But, honey, could you love her? If not, we have options, up to and including pretending this conversation never took place. And the thing about my mother’s cooking ... She taught me a lot, you know. I just haven’t had a chance to show you.”

Cindy decided to help her out. “Your girlfriend can cook, Charlie. Trust me. I’ve eaten her food before, and I dare say, she can cook her little ass off. She’s hell on wheels with a dead chicken in her hands.” The four of them started another giggle fest.

“Cindy, enough. We’re trying to be serious here.” Alicia chastised her as gently as she could. Cindy nodded and took Alicia’s hand then looked back at me like the others were doing.

“OK then, Alicia,” I asked openly, “Where are we and where are we going with this whole thing? This relationship of ours?”

“Like I said, Charlie, I love you and want you. If you fall in love with Cindy along the way, you can add her to our relationship. If you want me to yourself, Cindy will understand. We’ve had that discussion.”

I looked at Cindy. She nodded and volunteered, “But, Charlie, I am falling in love with you, too, so if there is any chance you could find it in your heart to love me in return, I’d be flattered, honored, and will make sure you’re never sorry you did.”

“Okay, then. Here’s how I see it. I love Alicia. That is my center point. My world view revolves around her. Whatever happens after that, happens. Period. If her being the center of my universe bothers anyone, say so now, because if that’s out, I might be, too.”

“Charlie, don’t say that!” Alicia was adamant. “There is no reason for that not to be. I feel the same way. I think we can be the anchor and let all these boats float around us in whatever way they want. That’s what I want, anyway. Cindy?”

“Completely. I don’t need the drama. I just want some love in my life. Someone to curl up with and talk to when I’m hurt or lonely. I don’t need the rest of it, and certainly not the control crap. I’ll be more than happy to just float around with y’all.”

“Mom?” she asked, looking at Elaine.

“I’m happy being me. It looks like Consuela and I will be talking, and if I have additional needs, such as last night, or today on the boat, I would like to think I could approach Charlie for help. I can tell you this, sweetie, your boyfriend’s hand on my breast and stomach today made me absolutely gush inside. His hand is huge and ... Let’s just say I’m glad he’s around. I have no problems with any of this, and I certainly don’t want another man in my personal life.”

“Consuela?” Alicia asked the olive-skinned woman with the biggest smile in the room.

“Yes, Alicia, this is all possible, but I can assure you my relationship with your mother, if she allows it, will be my goal.” Elaine pulled her face up and kissed her on the nose. “My world will revolve around your mother just as yours will revolve around Charlie. Whatever else happens, I’m sure, will be natural, organic, and comfortable. One other thing, for all of you to understand, I, like Elaine, need another man in my personal life like a fish needs a bicycle. I have a story, but I don’t want to share it anytime soon. Maybe someday, but not now during happy times. Charlie has proven he is not like the others. Let’s leave it at that.” Elaine pulled her closer into an embrace and kissed her forehead.

Consuela’s smile was captivating. As fun to be around and as happy as she always seemed at the ranch, what I had known of her was overshadowed by the way she looked and acted at that very moment. She regressed years in age and took on the demeanor of a younger girl, happily being held by the older woman whose arms were holding her. If she was older than thirty-five, I’d be surprised, which would make her about fifteen years Elaine’s junior, but looking at her there, she seemed to be about seventeen.

She, too, was height challenged, at about the same height as Cindy. Five-two maybe. Her skin was a darker olive color giving clues of her more indigenous heritage vice the Hispanic influence. She was a beautiful woman with dark, almost black, hair flowing down her back, a slim physique with a shapely waist and bottom, and fairly small breasts. Her legs were beautiful as well, with slim ankles, slightly curved calves, smooth knees, and taut thighs. Prior to this trip, and seeing her in a conservative two-piece swimsuit, I’d only been exposed to her legs while she was wearing shorts, not too awfully short, and one- or two-inch wedgie loafers while she worked around the ranch house. Needless to say, even at that, her legs did catch my attention. I’m a leg guy. What can I say? Her complexion was as smooth as a baby’s bottom, flawless, and her big brown eyes just made her a wonderful example of womanhood. A very attractive woman.