Teresa Garcia: A Will Scott Mystery, #2

By Douglas Roff

The mystery in Central and Van Buren has been solved and the worlds of Will Scott and his son Josh are returning back to normal a year later.  Their house mother, Maria Garcia, has watched as the deck re-shuffles in their lives; her daughter and Will's part-time girlfriend, Teresa Garcia, has left for Washington, DC to get away from her past.  There she meets and falls in love with a wealthy British diplomat from an old European family.  She decides to come home on assignment one last time, and that's when her story and her background begin to unravel.

At the same time, Carol Simmons, Will's experiment in unrequited love, also returns to Phoenix at the same time.  Will thinks she's finally come home and, more importantly, come home to him.  However, she also returns home to Phoenix with a new friend, the beautiful and exotic Erica Xue.  Have wires been crossed, signals mixed and wrong messages sent?  What should have been a homecoming to remember soon turns sour.  

As the players begin their courtship anew, new players enter as old players exit.  Why did the women show up when they did?  Is there a connection between Carol and her friend and an FBI investigation headed up by Teresa Garcia?

Mystery and intrigue build as new revelations come to light.  Angela di Benedetto has also reappeared and, with the approval of her grandfather, Frank Scarlatti, has taken up with Will.  The aging mobster has gone straight and has become great friends and a client of Will Scott.

Will also became an instant billionaire when both his friend Jack Peterson, and his wife, Marla, died and left everything to him.  As more and more characters get involved in the intrigue, the CIA suddenly makes an appearance and Will becomes a target of international intrigue. 

Always wanting to protect the family he loves, Will gets involved with the FBI, the CIA, the mob and … Russians.  

The novel is beautifully set in Phoenix, Arizona in the mid-nineties at the end of the Cold War.

Teresa Garcia is a thriller of epic proportions.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Douglas Roff
• Release date: Apr 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215823620

Douglas Roff

Douglas Roff is a retired corporate executive. He has lived around the world working in various capacities for government and industry.  Doug has written twenty-nine novels to date, mostly in the mystery, paranormal and fantasy genres, but not exclusively.  He currently resides in Latin America, speaks Spanish, and is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.  

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Carol Simmons was finally home.

The welcome was effusive and long; Will Scott couldn’t wait to be alone with the woman he loved and had missed for the past five years. She left on a journey of self-discovery and kept a promise always believed was implied but never made; that she would eventually come home to her family, the family she knew and loved.

They met again at the secret place to talk, to see if there was something left in all that they both thought they felt about each other before she left and about family. Carol danced around Will’s questions at first, then remembering her guy was a lawyer and could detect dissembling a mile away, she decided to be incrementally as honest as she was going to be in the moment. Unpacking too much too quickly was not going to work with Will. She was excited to be home, just not for the same reasons as Will.

Will said, I’ve never asked about your past, and I won’t begin now if that’s what’s worrying you. When you left, we couldn’t be sure about how things would be between us when you returned, if you returned. You needed to explore the world and find yourself, including whether I was going to be a part of it. I always understood your need to find yourself, and that your journey, in the end, might lead us away from each other. If you’re back here permanently, then I hope some of those questions have been answered.

Carol said, They have. Most of them and this place, Phoenix, is where I want to be. With you and Josh and Maria. Maybe others one day.

Will was hopeful.

Carol continued, But if it were that simple, we would be in Las Vegas right now. I would share my life, my entire life with you; it’s how much I love and trust you. And if it were as simple as saying ‘let’s move past the last five years and keep our experiences, our memories to ourselves,’ I would do so. Gladly, willingly. But I cannot do that. There are other considerations.

I’m lost. You’re here, but you’re not here. What am I missing?

You remember when you helped me in Court?

Clearly.

Did you read my arrest reports?

No. Just your probation recommendations. Time was pressing; I had to act. I didn’t have time to read everything. Should I have read more?

Under the circumstances, yes. I was arrested three times for the same behavior. Misdemeanors all, but, nonetheless, a fact of my former life.

So?

So, I’d like you to read them now. I brought them. I need to know what you see, what you understand about me from reading these reports. Is there anything in these reports that causes you to worry?

Will read the reports, then read them again.

OK. Done. Now, what are you trying to say that you don’t want to say out loud?

First, do you understand what the reports say about me?

I never thought about it before, but I can see that you’re trying to tell me it was no accident the type of client you were with. And, you’re correct, I never gave it a second thought at the time. Not sure what I’m supposed to make of it now. I never looked more carefully; I never thought I needed to.

And you’re right. You shouldn’t have had to analyze this; what you did, you did for me, and you never, ever took advantage. You never tried, and I was always relieved that you made the choices you did. But now I think I was being dishonest and have betrayed you. I should have said something earlier, something that might have stopped you from waiting for me; for having any hope for ‘us.’ I always knew how you felt; Josh and Maria too. If it’s any comfort now, I felt exactly the same way. I was learning, experimenting with my life in the total safety and gentle confines of the Scott residence and the warmth of our family. Then at some point in my third year here, I realized that I needed to say something; I couldn’t keep quiet any longer.

But you didn’t say a word to me about anything important that I recall. You said nothing.

When I said it was a journey of self-discovery, I meant it. Maybe I didn’t tell you what I was in search of. I was confused, scared, and mortified that you and the family would reject me, hate me, and make me leave.

Will asked, Because of this? Because of these arrest reports?

What else? I never contemplated going home to my birth family, my mother and my father. This is why.

It wouldn’t have mattered. If you don’t know that about our family and me, then you really don’t know any of us at all.

Will paused, You could have called me to discuss this curveball; that’s not why we’re talking, though, is it? It isn’t police reports and cute stories of your experiences during the past five years in Seattle. What else aren’t you telling me?

A little.

Carol and Will walked back separately to the home that Will still shared with Josh and Maria after talking through what Carol had to say. He was cold with emotions, not knowing what to think or feel. He knew he had to get away from the scene and try to think through what these new revelations meant, to him, to Carol, and to his family. Why come back? Why not just fade to black and stay in Seattle or go elsewhere; America is a big country, in a big world?

It was now a year after the events of the Jack Peterson murder investigation, Josh was seventeen and planning to take his SAT’s and ACT’s for college. Not that admission to college or tuition was ever in doubt; Josh had chosen his Dad’s Alma Mater, the University of Arizona in Tucson. He had earned an academic scholarship that would provide free tuition for four years if he kept his grades up. But it was also getting closer for him to leave home in a year and explore the world on his own. He was ready, he was certain; then suddenly something changed, and maybe ASU didn’t look so bad.

Will thought Josh’s nerves and his friends would ultimately determine where he’d go; maybe he wasn’t totally ready to leave home just yet. There was time to decide, and he’d probably change his mind a million times.

Maria tried to make it easy on Josh, but each time she thought about him leaving, she cried. Then she went to her room and refused to come out.

By the time Carol arrived, it seemed as though everything was finally settled. Teresa Garcia had already left for Washington, DC to work for a Foundation, met a guy, and was planning a June wedding – in London. It was a short courtship and engagement; Maria wondered if it was a ‘rebound’ relationship that happened a little too quickly.

The original plan, Will’s original plan, was for Carol and Will to take a quick trip to Las Vegas, have a quickie marriage and then return to Phoenix, settle down, maybe have a kid or two and then resume their lives, the ones they had always wanted and planned before she left.

Will and Carol had that walk and talk at the secret place, and, in the short time it took to discuss what was new in their lives, the discussion ended abruptly, and Will walked home alone feeling stupid and blindsided. Carol joined him a little later, and the two sat in different parts of the house, thinking about what they had been planning except the trip together to Las Vegas.

Maria knew right away that something was dreadfully wrong. There would be no quickie marriage.  Something happened; something that was not supposed to be happening in Will's fantasy world.  Josh too soon discovered that things had changed. Not what, but something. How bad could it be?

Will said, Carol and I decided to take some excellent advice to chill for a while and adjust to being home. She’ll be staying with us for a while then finding a place of her own. She’ll be working for a bank; the job starts in two weeks. We canceled our trip to Las Vegas, and we think we should dial it down a notch for now.

For Maria and Josh, this sounded more like the legal-speak Will tried on them occasionally – a toneless, emotionless plausible explanation for a change in plans that no one believed. Neither Carol nor Will seemed happy and went their separate ways into the house and to their bedrooms. Five minutes later, Will was back in his car, his bat and batting glove in hand, and he sped away saying nothing to no one.

Carol cried for hours, wanting to be left alone. Then, after days of quiet and reserve, Carol began looking for an apartment. She found a beautiful two-bedroom condo a couple of days later in Scottsdale and moved in with her furniture that had arrived from Seattle a week later.

Weeks after Carol moved into her new condo, Josh decided to visit and bring her flowers and a welcome home gift for the new place. He rang the doorbell.

A beautiful Asian woman answered the door, peeking her head out from behind the door. It was not Carol.

She asked, May I help you?

I’m sorry, I must have the wrong place. I’m looking for Carol Simmons.

Carol called out, You found us, Josh. Good job; it’s tricky getting to the right spot in this master-planned monstrosity. I’m glad you made it.

Us?

Carol said, Oh, you haven’t met my roommate. This is Erica Xue. We were roommates in Seattle. She moved here with me; we’re going to be roomies here too.

Oh, no, sorry to bother. I hadn’t heard, not about that anyway. I’m still the little kid, last to know about the world of the big kids. Anyway, I stopped by to drop this off for you and see what you’re up to. I thought we could kick back and chat about your time in Seattle. But I can see you’re busy with moving in. I’ll call ahead next time. Sorry to bother.

Josh knew that something was definitely up. As the door swung open for Carol to talk to Josh, both women were wearing matching short silk robes and seemed more ready for bed than for cleaning and unloading boxes. It was a Saturday morning.

Josh?

Yeah, Carol.

Call me. We really need to talk.

Josh said, I kinda think we don’t. You and Dad should figure out your stuff; the rest of us will go along with whatever you two decide. You know where I live. You have my number.

His tone changed, We’ve hardly spoken a word to each other in the six weeks since you left the house and moved into your condo. It’s pretty clear now why. I guess you're busy.

Josh, it’s not what you think.

I’m pretty sure it’s exactly what I think. Like I said, let me know if we need to chat, otherwise, welcome home ... I mean back to Phoenix.

I’ll call. I promise.

Yeah, I know. When you find the time.

He was sure she wouldn't call, at least no time soon, and he was sad about that. He would need to chat with Maria and his dad to find out if what was really going on is what he thought was going on. Carol and his dad were not together; that much was clear. But the why of it was less clear; now it seemed much clearer. But if that was the case, why did Carol bother to come back to Phoenix at all? Carol hated the summers here and wasn’t wild about the desert. Surely there were bank jobs everywhere; there had to be tons in Seattle.

This was bad. Unexpected, unwelcome, and from the blind-side. It was reality, an adult reality Josh had never contemplated that had just crashed through the doors of his personal world. A child’s simple understanding of the complexities of life, bearing no resemblance to the world he lived in.

As he left, he turned to look back. Carol had her arms around Erica with a look in her face that Josh had seen many times before.

It was when Teresa was kissing his father, and they both thought they were in love with each other.

Wow, Josh thought, never saw any of this comin’.

AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR

Things around the Scott household were relatively muted in the months that followed. Will heard nothing from Carol; neither did he try to contact her. If there was ever any intention to introduce Erica Xue to the family, it was long in the planning. The pair had both been in Phoenix now for months but were apparently too busy to stop by or call.

Will and Maria were hurt but talked it over and decided to move on. While they failed to understand the real Carol Simmons before she left five years earlier, they were still unable to grasp the Carol Simmons that had suddenly reappeared in Phoenix.

Josh was hurt and angry. Carol had come home to family, the family who loved her, and to her little brother who had missed every moment of every day she had been away. He imagined a blockbuster reunion, happiness in every corner, and things finally set right just before he’d go off to college.

But she ignored him. Carol Simmons, the big sister he looked up to, didn’t even have time to call.

Will was stoic; Maria cried. Josh was confused.

The doorbell rang early one evening on a school night; standing at the doorstep, dressed impeccably from head to toe, was Teresa Garcia.

Surprise! I’m back!

The house was thrown into full-blown turmoil, the good kind, as the taxi drove off, and Teresa stepped inside with her luggage and bags. She was as beautiful as ever, perhaps more so as she seemed to have fewer worry lines and many more happy lines, otherwise known as smiles.

I hope there’s room at the inn? You wouldn’t send a poor waif like me away to suffer in the elements on a cold, dark, rainy, and windy evening, would you?

Will smiled. "It’s eighty degrees, the sun is shining, and the weather is just perfect to welcome you home. Welcome home, we’re sooooo delighted. Are you staying a while? A long while, we hope?"

A while.

With us?

If the rates are reasonable.

They’re sky-high, but you get the one hundred percent family discount.

Will turned to his extremely delighted only son, Josh, go find Maria; I think she’s in the backyard gardening.

Josh left, still smiling, looking back over his shoulders.

Will asked, Teresa, does your mom know ...?

No. And we need to talk soon without Mom and Josh around. We need to be all smiles for Mom and Josh when they join us, but I’m dying inside; I’m crying every day, miserable and sad, and don’t know what to do. I’m a mess, and I’m in the middle of a mess trying to fix a mess. I tried to work everything out on my own; then I tried to get help back in DC. But whoever I speak to gives me the same advice, and I can’t follow that advice, not now. Not until I’m fully read in on what’s going on with my fiancé and what any of his troubles have to do with me.

What ...?

I’m in trouble. My fiancé is in bigger trouble, and we need your help.

I ...

Will, I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important. Please, I need you. This is such a mess for now; when it’s over, we’ll have things to work out, you and me.

We will?

We can’t talk now; there’s no time, but a lot is going on, and it involves your friend Carol Simmons. Or at least someone close to Carol, I think.

Let’s get you inside and hugging it out with your mom; she’ll be crazy through the roof to see you like this. Then the family will be called. Then parties and a lot of drunk folk saying how happy they are that you've come for a visit.

Teresa looked at Will oddly, then down to the ground.

You are staying a little while for a visit, aren’t you?

"Maybe longer. Maybe much longer. As I said, we need to talk. Seriously and not a word to Mom or Josh. And especially not to Carol Simmons."

We can talk anytime, but with Josh and your mom getting all crazy excited, tomorrow morning early may be the earliest open slot. They’ll hog all your time. Of course, if you handle them as always, maybe we can sneak away later today, right before dinner, if they let us. They’re a little gun shy lately. Some bad stuff is going on.

What?

The Carol thing didn’t work out. She returned here for some unknown reason. With someone.

You always knew that was a possibility. She’s bright, funny, and beautiful. Guys notice her; five years is a long time to wait.

Plus, three.

Oh, I assumed ...

Everyone, even your mom and Josh, assumed something. But I made a promise, and I kept it.

Have you met him?

"No, because the ‘someone’ is a her, not a he. And since she came home, Carol’s fallen off the edge of the planet. No communication with her at all. Maria is upset; Josh is crushed. The mood has not been happy around here for a while. It’s not like anyone’s mad at her; she never promised anything, but we’re just completely confused by her. And, we’ve never met the ‘other woman.’ Well, Josh has once. He won’t talk about it."

I’m sorry to hear that.

She wasn’t. Teresa was actually delighted.

Her own situation with her fiancé, Jeremiah Stuart was challenging, but Will would get things back on track; she was certain he could. She trusted him; Will got the job done. He always slipped into his don’t worry, be happy laid back mode whenever things got tense, but that act was more for others than for him. No, Will would just need some time to think, think alone, and without interruption.

In the Scott family, that wasn’t always easy.

Teresa reminded herself that Will had solved the Jack Peterson murder almost by himself; Marla Peterson was dead, and the police had moved on to other homicide cases. The conclusion of that adventure had caused a rift between Teresa and Will at the time, but she was sure no rift existed now. They were family, and with family, time heals all wounds.

Will looked good, really good to Teresa, and now Will said that Carol Simmons was out of the picture. She wasn’t surprised that Carol had moved back with her new friend Erica Xue; Teresa had long known Carol Simmons’ sexual preference and had never said anything about it. But she was curious. Teresa didn’t know that Will hadn’t known, though Maria must have seen the obvious. That the two, Carol and Will, could ever hook up like Will and Josh thought Carol wanted to, was nothing more than pure fantasy. Carol Simmons was hooking up regularly in Phoenix with power women after moving in with the Scott family; the only thing that mattered to Teresa was that Carol was finally open about her gender preference. Back then, Teresa knew that Carol would eventually move on; she expected that Carol’s proclivities would eventually come to light and cement a permanent rift with Will. Back then, Teresa understood that Carol Simmons needed to make a move, get out of town, and plausibly claim she would eventually be back. Teresa assumed that Carol was just letting the family down softly; that she showed up again in Phoenix was completely unexpected. Teresa also thought Will, Josh, and her Mom were now in danger of becoming collateral damage, not from Carol, but from whoever was running Carol and Erica from Seattle.

Did the family know what Carol Simmons and Erica Xue were really up to? Who they really work for?

As to the news that Carol was out of the romantic picture was just too much good news. There is a God in heaven, she thought. Maybe I’ll attend Mass with Mom this Sunday to give thanks for small miracles.

Will, before Mom gets here, I just want to say how much I missed you. I missed everything about this place, and I’m sorry to say I’m bringing you more problems and complications. If I knew anyone else to turn to who I could trust, I would have. When it comes to things like this, you’re the only one who can make this right.

Make what, right?

In flew Maria, Teresa’s mom, and all hell broke loose.

The good kind.

"Ay Dios mio, ay Dios mio, you’ve come home! My prayers have been answered."

Maria hugged Teresa, not even knowing or caring why she was home, how long she’d stay, or where she’d be staying. Was her boyfriend with her? Would they stay at one of the resorts in Scottsdale? To be honest, neither Josh nor his dad cared.

Teresa was home.

After things settled down, and Maria was off making coffee and snacks for what would be a lengthy interrogation by each family member, Teresa pulled Will off to the side. She feigned the need to retrieve something out of her luggage and needed Will’s help.

When they were alone, Teresa put her arms around him and said, I’ve come back to you for help. The messes in my life are looming large, and I need your help with all of that; so does my boyfriend.

Boyfriend? I thought you just said ...

I did. The boyfriend will be jettisoned while I’m here if he even shows up. I’ll do that face to face. If he does show up, he’s going to be arrested by the FBI.

You know I don’t do criminal law.

And you were just terrible in the Jack Peterson murder investigation.

I got lucky. The stars aligned.

Will, I may be involved in this particular mess, but I honestly don’t know how or why.

Have you been contacted by the authorities?

Yes. Many times. And I’m certain I’m being watched.

Why?

My soon-to-be-ex boyfriend has disappeared. Vanished. The Feds are looking for him; so are the Brits.

You know why?

Not a clue.

Is that why they’re watching you? The only reason, I mean?

Teresa looked surprised as if she wasn’t expecting that question from Will. Not right away, anyway.

Maybe not. There’s more; it’s all wrapped up in the work I do at the Foundation, the connection to the Brits, and therefore to Jeremiah Stuart, my ex, and his company.

Company? I thought he was a diplomat? Black passport and all that stuff.

Me too. I mean he was when I met him, then about three months after we met, he suddenly resigned his post in DC, asked to be relieved of duties and sent home. He went home briefly, then returned to DC and formed a company. In Delaware.

Not unusual. Maybe he decided the private sector was where the action was? The Brits are famous for their landed gentry falling onto hard times. Maybe the family fortune has dwindled.

His family is chock full of diplomats. They have family wealth from businesses still owned, though, anymore, the family only sits on Boards; they’re not involved in the day-to-day operation of anything. Apparently, it’s beneath them. And they have a huge Estate south of London near Salisbury, and with tours and the like, the place pays for itself; they still have tenant farmers who raise cattle and plant crops. They’re well off.

Cash poor?

Trust fund kids all of them. They don’t need money; Jeremiah doesn’t need money. They have tons of it.

Josh poked his head out the front door.

Are you coming in or eloping? I vote door #2.

Teresa smiled at her baby brother, who was all grown up.

Give us ten more minutes, and then I’ll be your hot step-mom. Then on Orientation Day at U of A ...

Take your time. Not too much; I think our Mom is about to pee her pants. And Dad?

Son?

There’s only one correct answer. Don’t let us down.

Will said to Teresa, Where do we start? I’m almost completely retired now; I’m fortyish and bored most days. Tell me what you need, and I’ll do anything for you. First, where are you staying? I mean here for now, but is Jeremiah coming to town?

"He is, at least I think he is. But we’re so done. I’ll explain that later but I want to hide out here for now. Nobody in DC knows anything about my family here, who you are, where you are, or that my mom lives here. You’re my safe house."

You have another place you can go if you need to flee the family. It’s a surprise but a good one, I hope.

Where?

Your old condo.

I sold it. Along with everything inside.

You did. But it was a lowball offer, all cash and anonymously submitted to you directly.

So? Is it up for rent?

No, Josh and I bought it.

You what?

Josh will need a place of his own when he toddles off to college, but we hoped you’d come home one day. If you did, you’d need a place, your place. Even if we weren’t together, we still wanted you in our lives. We thought you ran away from home for ... whatever your reasons.

Teresa put her arms around Will, looking up to him with sad eyes.

I might have run away. It was silly to leave everyone I loved because of a temper tantrum. I couldn’t have what I wanted, so I took my marbles and went elsewhere.

"So you wanted that stupid snow globe you gave me for Christmas that bad? It’s yours if you’ll stay."

Yeah, the snow globe, that’s what it was. I thought I could go away, find someone ... better, and show you, Josh, and the world that I’m Teresa Garcia, and nothing gets me down. Then I met Jeremiah Stuart, rich, sophisticated and available, and, truth be told, he was only ever Mr. Right Now, never the real thing. I wanted you to be jealous.

I was if it makes you feel any better. When Carol got here, I realized what a colossal idiot I’d been, that I was living a fantasy that had virtually no chance of success and that everything I ever needed was right here in front of me. That was you. I was an idiot and thought for sure I lost you. Now you’re here. Am I getting a second chance to make a first impression? A mulligan?

As many as you need. I came back because I need you, and I want to start over again, a mulligan, for both of us. I love you, Will; I have forever. I couldn’t fight the fantasy that was Carol Simmons, but I can now. I’m in a scrape for sure, and I don’t know what to do, but I know if you’re on my side, anything is possible.

Will smiled, I’m not very good in bed according to ... some.

A vicious rumor I started to keep the girl competition away from you in my absence. I thought your skills were middling, and, with a little practice maybe two, three times a day, I was sure your skills would improve.

I used to have a good teacher, part-time. She left for DC.

Her loss, my gain.

Do I sign something now?

Not yet. But soon. I want us official and no more aspirants for the job of wife for a very poor choice in husbands.

Not like I get applications every day. Or every month. Well, maybe none at all, but I’m still hopeful.

Let’s visit with Mom and Josh; I may have to fib a little for now. Please play along. Then when Mom starts cooking, and Josh goes out shopping for her, we’ll sneak down to Sumida Park down by Aunt Chilada’s and talk. There’s so much to say. And there’s a part you won’t like. But everything I will tell you is connected to me, this family, Jeremiah Stuart, and Carol Simmons.

Carol? How ...

Later. For now, we have people who love us waiting inside. I owe them an explanation, as much as I can give them anyway, but I don’t want them in the line of fire.

Huh? That’s figurative, right?

I forgot to mention. There have been a couple, well a few, attempts on my life. I have twenty-four hour round the clock protection in DC. The FBI keeps an eye on me too. They know I’m here and want to see me down at their offices. I’d like you to come with me. Just thought I’d mention it.

Yeah. Here we go again. Am I your lawyer, friend, or other?

Lawyer. And best friend.

Will looked at her sideways.

I know. It’s a mess, but if you tell me you love me like you did before, everything will be alright. It will, won’t it?

It’ll be better. New and improved. And, yes, I love you. I never stopped. I just wasn’t in my right mind then.

Locoweed?

Loco fantasy world. Even worse.

They’re waiting inside. They’ll hunt us if we stay out here much longer and keep them in the dark. They’ll spy on us. We can’t have that.

Teresa paused.

Follow my lead, please. I promise not to lie to them too much. Just a little for their own good.

For the record, when they find out, I’ll be horrified and swear I knew nothing of your deception. How could you do such a thing? And to your very own mother. Shocking, I say.

Thanks, bud. That’s very helpful.

Your mom can be very mean, and she scares me.

A little Mexican woman, barely five feet tall?

She has ‘the look.’ Josh knows ‘the look.’ Unless she puts it away, we don’t feel safe.

What a baby.

What’s your point?

A WALK TO SUMIDA PARK

The family sat around the living room in their regular spots peppering Teresa with question after question. Teresa was now curled up, lying next to Will, stretched out like a feline and comfortable talking to everyone, answering questions but not saying much. She nestled in close and stared at the ceiling as she spoke. Will was surprised.

His recent life hadn’t been the joy he expected; he acutely felt the aftermath and despair of his recent troubles with Carol Simmons. He had gotten his first communication of any sort in months from Carol Simmons early that morning. It was a fax sent to his offices at the Pointe, a fax he almost missed in his haste to get in and out of his office early on a weekend morning.

It read:

I must see you when you have time. My branch of Troika Bank is at the Esplanade; maybe we could have lunch one day. Or dinner after work. Just the two of us. Let me know. I’ll understand if you want to ignore this invitation and move on with your life, given the situation. But whether you believe me or not, I miss you and never stopped loving you. I still do. Now, I’ve made my pitch, and I hope you’ll still feel just enough affection and even the tiniest bit of love you used to feel for me that you will do me this one little favor.

Will called Carol and replied, Just us?

Just us, I promise. We can have dinner out in North Scottsdale if you’d prefer. No one knows us out there. We can say I’m your client. I was once, you know.

Will decided not to share the fax or the conversation with Josh or Maria. Then Teresa arrived, and everything got complicated; his calculation was infinity times infinity plus infinity more complicated.

Maria said, first in Spanish, then English, "So why have you come, mi hija? Have you any news to share?"

I do, said Teresa. Lots of news but some things I want to share with you later. Surprises. You know I’m engaged to Jeremiah Stuart, and I wanted to discuss the plans for the engagement party here and the wedding, which will, of course, be in London. I want everyone to come over to the Stuart Estate in Edinburgh and relax before we say our vows in London. And I want you to meet Jeremiah’s family and friends. All Foreign Service and very hush-hush.

Maria was surprised, As the bride, should not the wedding take place here in Phoenix where you are among family. Who will plan the day? The parties? England is so far away, and your extended family will not be able to attend. You know most will not be able to afford this.

We can discuss that later, mama. Maybe we can have two ceremonies; one here, one there. Everyone gets to attend that way.

In the Church?

Of course.

He’s Catholic?

No mama, Church of England. Kinda Catholic.

I see.

What Maria meant was that the first wedding would have to take place in Phoenix in the Parrish, where Teresa attended church and where she first received Holy Communion. Maria would make arrangements with the archbishop, and the greater extended family would make all the necessary plans for a Mexican wedding.

If Teresa got her way, the plans would be carried out, just with a substitute groom.

When are we going to meet this man?

"Soon. He’s home in England on business and will come