Love's Harvest, page 13
part #1 of A Salmon Run Novel Series
Damn! She hoped everything was all right. “Hi Gayle! How’s it going?”
“Lucky for you Barb gave me all the information I needed to catch up on the news from the winery. I guess everything turned out better than we feared. How are you doing?”
Julia could hear through the receiver a crowd of noisy children laughing and chattering up a storm. “Oh, God, I’m so sorry I didn’t call you right away, Gayle. I closed my eyes for a few seconds and didn’t wake up until now. How are the children? Any problems? Emergencies?”
Gayle laughed. “Of course not. They’re lovely children and so well behaved. We here at the church hardly notice them. But I think they’re getting a little weary and some of them are concerned about their parents.”
Julia’s sense of responsibility kicked in. “Do you want me to send their parents to pick them up, or can you or someone at the church bus them back home?”
“As a matter of fact, we’re on our way there now. Vera’s driving the bus, and I’m teaching the children every Sunday school song I can think of or remember. I swear I stink at this, but I’m having a great time. We all are!”
Julia marveled at Gayle’s energy and fortitude. How many people would take on thirty to forty children of varying English skills and treat them to the kind of day they were so deserving of?
Not Julia, that was for sure! Although the thought of working with children did spark something within her she’d long thought was dead or at the very least impossible.
“Vera? As in Vera Knudson our minister’s wife? This I gotta see!”
Julia slipped on her shoes and gave her hair a last-minute look in the mirror.
“Go ahead and bring the children all the way down the hill to the compound. I know their parents’ll be thrilled to see them arrive in that big old school bus.”
Julia listened as Gayle’s attention was momentarily diverted as one of the children told her she was carsick. “Look, Julia, we’ll be there shortly. I need to help this child before she upchucks her lunch and assorted snacks all over my shoes. Bye!” And she hung up before Julia could squeeze in a last word.
~
Julia took off down the hill, excited to tell Rafael and Mariela their children were on their way home. As soon as she rounded the corner in the road, a shout rose up out of the crowd and everyone stopped what they were doing to look her way.
Applause then erupted, along with whistles and cheers. “Brava La Señora!” “Hooray for the Nooksack Valley Winery and Vineyard!” “Viva Julia Reynolds!”
Julia’s face grew hot. She blushed but also smiled, for she was proud of what she, her workers, and her friends had accomplished that morning, and without a single person becoming seriously hurt.
As she neared, she could see each and every worker were up on their feet, gifting her with their deepest respect and admiration. She applauded back at them, mouthing the words Gracias mi Amigos y Amigas with each step. Elbowing her way through the crowd, she at last fell into the waiting arms of Mariela.
As the two of them embraced, Julia whispered into the woman’s ear, “Gracias Señora Pasqual. I owe you my life!”
“And I owe you mine as well, Señora Reynolds!” she replied.
The music started up again, and as many people as could danced for joy. Mariela gave Julia a few fancy turns and then went back to tending her tamales. As Julia surveyed the many happy workers enjoying their time together, she spotted Diego staring at her from near the soccer field.
He was leaning up against a makeshift bleacher, his arms folded and his hat pushed back from his forehead. He wasn’t handsome in the same way Robert had been, but Diego had a strong face, made all the more powerful in its masculinity from the intensity of his quiet soul.
Julia yearned to cross to him and kiss his full, inviting lips. This was perhaps the time, but certainly not the place. Now was the time to party, and to let her people know her deepest appreciation.
She quickly turned her head and walked instead toward Joaquin who was celebrating with his daughter, Gabby. Very little was known about Joaquin’s past and even less about that of his daughter. They were both hard workers, and ultimately that was what truly counted.
“Hello, Joaquin. Gabriela. I wanted to thank you personally for everything you both did this morning. I know it wasn’t pleasant, but at least we avoided what could’ve been a potentially dangerous situation.”
Joaquin smiled back at her. “You’re very welcome, Señora. We felt we had no other choice. Isn’t that right, Gabby?”
Gabriela didn’t answer but merely nodded at Julia with a serious look on her face. Julia was about to say something when she felt Diego grab her arm and turn her gently around to face him.
“Are you avoiding me, Señora Julia? Have I said or done something to upset you? You seem angry at me, and I’m not sure why.”
Julia trembled at both his touch and the discomfort of his words. She tried to avoid his eyes, but to no avail. Diego searched as hard for an answer as Julia struggled to avoid one.
At last she opened her mouth, but still nothing came out. Instead she licked her lips, and Diego felt his body respond. They stood for several seconds in silence, interrupted only when they heard the sound of the church bus as it made its way down the hill. Everyone but the two of them ran to welcome Gayle and the children. All, that was, except for the band who continued to play even faster and louder in celebration.
Diego then whispered barely loud enough for Julia to hear, “We need to talk.”
“Yes, I know, but not now. Later this evening after things die down. Okay?”
~
Diego merely nodded and then turned to greet the children as they emerged from the bus. As orchard manager, he needed to demonstrate his leadership and connection to his fellow workers and their families. Yes, something niggled inside his head. Was I reading her wrong? Isn’t she feeling the same thing I am?
And then the condemnation began. You idiot! You’ve embarrassed the Señora! Now she may not even turn to you as a friend.
Within seconds he realized the sour look on his face wasn’t what his people needed at this moment, so he quickly covered up the internal gnawing in his gut and plastered on a convivial smile. He wasn’t about to let others see what was going on.
He could feel his insides turn over as his heart pounded within his chest. It’d been some years since he’d felt this kind of desperation. Immediately, he recognized it for what it undoubtedly signaled. Diego was falling in love with the Señora, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.
“Uncle Diego!” Felicia called out as she ran toward him. “Look what I made at Vacation Bible School!”
In her hands she held a plethora of colored pictures, plaster-of-Paris handprints, and an entire population of holy land paper dolls. Diego struggled to take it all in yet smiled even more broadly.
“That’s very nice, Felicia. It looks like you were very busy.”
Felicia smiled back at him. “Yes, and Eduardo and I didn’t argue once!” she declared as she ran toward her father to show him her artwork.
Eduardo then made his way over to his uncle. “Yo, Uncle Diego! Is everyone all right? Did the man come today to throw us out?”
Diego put his hand on Eduardo’s shoulder. “Yes, he came. But then he went away without causing trouble, so everything is okay for now.”
Eduardo smiled, obviously relieved. Diego noted for the first time that Eduardo was growing up before his eyes into a fine young man, so of course he was worried about Diego and his parents, and no doubt as well for himself.
“We gonna play some soccer later?” Eduardo asked.
Diego felt a genuine smile come to his lips. “You got it!”
A smile on his face, Eduardo spun around and ran to catch up with his friends.
~
During the party, Julia once again went from worker to worker and thanked each of them personally for their support of the winery. Even with a nap she was feeling a bit tired, and so when Diego took the children after they ate to the field to play soccer, Julia decided to come along and watch for a while. Sitting in the bleachers, she marveled at how well Diego managed the children—especially the boys. He was a good listener, and looked each child in the eye when they conversed. Diego treated them like real people. Individuals, not merely a group of kids.
She was also amazed at how well he maneuvered his body as he charged the soccer ball up and down the field, as if he was a professional himself.
Julia smiled as she noticed how much fun Diego appeared to be having while he instructed and then teased the children. He was nothing more than a big kid himself. During the day, he seemed like such a quiet man, but this evening out on this makeshift field he personified pure joy.
After an hour or so the party winded down and people moseyed toward their different homes and various places of rest. Julia always wondered where the many laborers at the winery lived, since the winery was only able to provide a minimum of housing units for the full-time working staff. She wished she could do more, but these were a proud people who would rather work overtime than take charity.
They were lucky here in Salmon Run. By the end of each summer’s day a light breeze would stir among the trees and move the air, making it feel much cooler than it probably was.
Julia closed her eyes for a brief moment to take in the last gust of wind foretelling a pleasant night’s sleep ahead. When she opened them, Mariela was seated next to her.
“I always love this time of the evening. Especially in the summer,” said Mariela. “It’s as if the earth embraces itself and all living things—to let the universe know everything’s as it should be and that it is good.”
Julia breathed in deeply and released the air slowly through her mouth. “Even the bad things like people dying and others trying to cheat you out of what’s yours?”
Mariela opened her eyes and gazed up at Julia. “Especially those things. You will see. Just give it some time.”
Julia smiled and took Mariela’s hand. “I hope you’re right.”
“I know I’m right.”
Both women sat in silence.
Finally, Mariela continued. “I’ve seen a change in Diego these last few days. I’ve waited six long years for him to show even the slightest hint of opening up and allowing himself to be free of his sadness. I think it’s because of his feelings for you, Señora.”
Julia swallowed hard.
“Oh, I’m not sure that’s exactly …”
“I know my brother,” Mariela interrupted. “He doesn’t often show his feelings, but when he does, it’s clear. At least to me it is. He’s falling in love with you.”
“In love with me?” Julia wanted it to be true but was afraid to admit it to anyone else, especially Mariela.
“Be careful with his heart, Julia. It was broken once, and so badly I thought he’d never find a way to put the pieces together. He respects you and knows you respect him as well. That kind of mutual understanding is the strongest medicine of all.”
Julia took Mariela’s words into her heart and whispered back a simple oath. “I will, Mariela. I truly will.”
~
Diego watched as Julia excused herself, but instead of walking up the hill toward her home, she took off into the vineyard itself. His first instinct was to follow her, but he still had a few children left at the soccer field waiting for their parents to call them in for the night. He knew he was being given the brush off, but at the same time he remembered she’d said she wanted to speak with him after the party. About what, he didn’t have a clue. Whatever it was, Diego had a sinking feeling he wasn’t going to like it.
~
The sun, as it set, painted the sky in bright colors of violet, apricot, and turquoise, allowing Julia to have some alone time in the comfort of the lush yellow-tinged greenery of the grape fields.
Since the beginning of time this must be exactly what God had in mind for this small corner of the world.
To imagine this land destroyed for high priced condominiums or a golf resort made her stomach turn. The Nooksack Valley Winery and Vineyard would once again flourish as it did when Robert first took it over for his father. It had to. She‘d be the one to make sure of that.
In this moment more than ever before an overwhelming feeling of gratitude surged through her body. She felt a quiet intimacy between her and the land, leaving her emotionally raw. Knowing she was blessed to be responsible not only for herself but for all those who worked for her made her feel both humble and vulnerable at the same time.
Before today, she’d never seen herself as particularly tender hearted, but that was exactly how she felt. She’d also never been much of a crier, always having to keep up the façade of being a strong, independent, and unshakable woman. In some ways she was all that, but now she felt a part of something larger than herself, her music, her marriage, and her career.
Julia was now part of an even more substantial community of honest people doing real work for not only themselves but for each other. She smiled as she remembered what Mariela said earlier to James and his men. Julia was now an honorary wetback, part of this community of displaced and hardworking people trying to make their lives better for themselves, their families and for their fellow laborers. Julia was happy for the first time in a long time, and the tenderness of that thought caused her to weep.
~
It took Diego a few moments to find Julia, but once he spotted her, he cleared his throat before speaking so as not to frighten her. “Julia?”
“Diego,” she said softly as she turned around to face him, tears and all. “I’ve so much to say, I hardly know where to start.”
Diego took her into his embrace. “I know, Julia. I sensed all afternoon you had something important on your mind.”
Julia continued to gently cry onto his shoulder.
“I can’t thank you enough for what you did for me this morning. Without your help and that of the many workers, I would’ve lost all of this to a very short-sighted and greedy man. All of you could’ve lost your jobs, been sent back to Mexico or what’s worse, been hurt or killed. I feel so undeserving and yet grateful at the same time.”
Diego tenderly held her while feeling the heart-pounding rush of wanting to take her right where they stood.
“Shh, Julia. No need to cry. We did it for ourselves as much as for you. You’re also our friend as much as you’re our employer. Mariela, Rafael, and I never leave a friend shorthanded when our help is needed.”
He pulled back and placed his fingers under her chin and lifted her gaze to face him. Diego smiled down into her tear-stained face. “I know it isn’t easy for you, Julia, to accept you have a community of people who see you as their own. I know what it feels like when you think you’re all alone against the world.”
His fingers gently touched the loose tangles of her silky blonde hair.
“I’ve come to understand that one doesn’t have to lose oneself completely merely to be part of a large family, even if it’s not what they may’ve been used to in the past. You’ve been alone for a long time. But you need to know you’re not alone anymore.”
Julia looked up into his dangerous and comforting eyes. “Why then do I feel so lonely?”
Before he could answer, Diego took her lips with this own. At first gently and then with the full rush of passion. Julia didn’t even try to resist. She responded with an equal yearning. When he heard her moan in response, Diego nearly lost his mind.
A small still voice was telling him to slow down and let Julia take the lead, yet his body screamed for a chance to take this woman and make her his own. Julia’s body reacted in kind as he deepened his kiss. She opened her mouth and let his tongue taste the warmth and urgency of her desire.
He felt Julia’s legs weaken as they surrendered to the intimacy of the moment. “Let yourself go, Julia. Don’t think, just feel.”
All at once she became aware that her legs no longer held her upright, that Diego’s strength was the only thing keeping her from falling to the ground. Gradually, he and Julia took to the grassy floor as he kissed her not only on her lips, but on her forehead, cheeks, and neck as well.
His mouth then moved to one of her ears and Julia thought she was going to explode. Diego’s erection throbbed, urging him to grind into her softness, but he held back. He knew better than to be a servant to his carnal desires, but by God, this fabulous, sexy woman was finally in his arms—right where for the last few days he had imagined her to be.
With Julia lying on the grass, Diego was now free to use his hands to touch, caress, and squeeze. He leaned over her and studied her half-lidded eyes. She was no less aroused than he.
He lightly stroked her face with his fingertips. “You’re so beautiful, Julia. Your skin, your eyes and hair, and your heart.” He soon moved his hand down to her breast and molded it within his warm palm.
“Diego,” was the only thing she said before she once again let out a moan. He kissed her ravenously as his hands explored her back, hip, and upper leg.
“Don’t stop, Diego.”
The last thing he wanted to do was stop. He wanted her, so badly he thought he’d die if he didn’t soon put himself into the wet warmth of her womanhood. Yet, the voice in his head resurfaced, forcing him to hesitate. This isn’t the time or place, you idiot. Quit acting like an animal and take her into a place as beautiful and sophisticated as she is. Not here on the vineyard floor.
He abruptly stopped what he was doing and laid his sweaty forehead on her chest. “Forgive me, Julia. You’re so lovely, for a moment I nearly forgot myself.”
Julia was breathing as hard as he was. “Don’t you dare apologize, Diego. I wanted this moment to happen as much as you did.”
Diego grinned and before they both knew it, they were laughing at each other’s mutual awkwardness. “I feel like a young boy on a first date.” He chuckled. “You make me think of all the wonderful things I could do with you if I wasn’t your employee.”
