Chapter 5

“Prima, I don’t know if I can do this.” Looking at how she was dressed, Lupe shook her head. She was wearing a simple black skirt that fell a few inches below her knees, and black wedge sandals lifted her slightly, giving her lags a well turned curve. No makeup was needed to highlight her face, as she had lovely eyes and dimples on each cheek. Her black hair hung loose around her shoulders, flowing down and covering the top of a yellow blouse with silver threads running the seams. This completed her wholesome, and lovely look. Standing at 5’6” tall, most of Brandi’s clothes wouldn’t properly fit her, so the idea of swapping clothes was not a realistic option. Luckily, she had brought nice clothes with her when she left Tempe, and they had been placed in the dresser or closet.

Offering a hug, Brandi answered; “Yes you can. You are brave, you are strong, and I believe in you. Since you are planning on staying here for a while, I want you to come out with me. Meet some people. Get to know the town and how wonderful it is. Besides, I don’t have many Sundays off and I think you will love Padre and his sermons. He is a very wise man.” Turning to the mirror, Brandi studied her reflection. She wore a navy blue skirt that went to the knee and a white short sleeved top with a ‘Peter Pan’ collar. She puckered up and added a quick swipe of lip gloss. Black ‘kitten heel’ shoes added 2 inches and completed the look. “Lets go!” she held her hand out.

“For you. I do this for you.”

“Ah, Miss Winters, it is so good to see you again. We miss you when you can’t be here. And I see you brought a friend?”

“Please, just call me ‘Brandi’, Padre. This is Lupe. She is visiting for a bit.”

Father Xavier turned to the second woman, thinking she was a friend from Weed. “Good morning and welcome, Miss Lupe. How long will you be staying here?”

“I’m ... not very sure. Many things to think about.”

Father Xavier nodded. In the time that he had been in Lodi, he had counseled numerous people and helped out ‘behind the scenes’ in more ways that most people would imagine. He suspected there was a story here. One that the two women might one day be comfortable to share the details with him. “Well, if you need someone to talk with, feel free to come to me. Go with God, my child.”

As they pulled out of the parking lot, Brandi wondered if they would be able to get all of the items on the extensive shopping list that Lupe had made, into the car.

During the commercial break, each of the girls got up. Brandi went off to the bathroom, while Lupe refreshed their drinks. When she came out, she noticed that Brandi had plopped down on the sofa where she had previously been. Quoting the character of Sheldon, from the Big Bang Theory episode they were watching, she stated; “You’re in my spot.”

“Move your feet, lose your seat!”

Lupe put the two glasses of soda down on the coffee table and rolled her eyes. “Fine!” She sat down in the middle, grabbed a small end pillow and then lay down so her head was in Brandi’s lap, resting on the pillow. “Sorry, but I like the view of the TV from this spot. If you don’t like it, you can move.”

Brandi just smiled and as the commercials ended and the show started again. Without thinking, started to traced a finger along Lupe’s hairline and alongside her ear, down to the jaw and neck. Lupe closed her eyes and sighed a little. “That feels so nice,” she thought to herself. Gripping Brandi’s hand, she brought it down to softly kiss the palm. Clutching the hand to her breast to hug it to her, she continued, “You know, the view looks even better from this direction.”