Twenty Wishes (Blossom Street #5)(97)

She’d regained her emotional equilibrium walking along the beach. Every morning, she’d strolled in the sand, letting the waves lap against her bare feet, thinking, meditating, praying. After a while, the ache would gradually diminish as she was reminded that her worth as a woman, as a human being, didn’t depend on David. His actions couldn’t demean her. Her husband, sad though it was to admit, was a man without honor.

When she returned from the ocean, Lillie carefully sorted through the mail, searching for a response from Hector. There was none. She’d hoped he’d answer her note, although she hadn’t really expected it.

On Monday, the twelfth of May, Lillie spent the morning working in her garden. She loved her Martha Washington geraniums, and with the rhododendrons in full bloom and the azaleas as well, her garden had never looked better. Her neighbors hired landscape specialists and Lillie had a company that performed the more demanding physical tasks, such as mowing. The flower beds, however, were her domain. Her personal joy.

At noon, she took a break and went inside for a glass of iced tea. The mail had been delivered and, as she drank, she leafed through the few advertisements and set the bills aside. A hand-addressed envelope caught her attention.

She didn’t immediately recognize the writing. Curious, she opened it to discover an invitation to a retirement party for Hector Silva.

Lillie read it twice.

The party was planned for that very evening and when she studied the handwriting a second time, she realized the envelope had been personally addressed to her by Hector. She recognized his penmanship from the work order on her car.

All the necessary details were there. Date. Time. Place.

Lillie inhaled sharply. The party would be held at the dealership at seven that night, and she had every intention of attending.

By six forty-five, Lillie was dressed in a semiformal knee-length linen dress with a cropped jacket. Barbie phoned just as she was about to walk out the door and Lillie explained where she was going.

“I was sure Hector would be in touch,” her daughter said in that gleeful way of hers when she knew she was right. “Have a wonderful evening, Mom.”

“I will,” Lillie promised.

They spoke for a few more minutes and then it was time for Lillie to go. Although she was nervous, she had a strong intuition that this was going to be one of the most magical evenings of her life. Happiness spread through her and she felt so light it was as though she could float.

When Lillie arrived at the dealership, the retirement party was in full swing. The showroom floor was decorated with banners and balloons, the counters spread with bottles of champagne and trays of lovely hors d’oeuvres. Surrounded by his children, customers and coworkers, Hector didn’t see her right away. As soon as he did, his eyes flew wide open and he said something to his daughter, whom Lillie recognized from the photographs she’d seen in his home. Hector broke away from the group and hurried toward her.

“Lillie.” He held out both hands.

“Hello, Hector.”

“I’m so pleased you came.” His gaze seemed to devour her, and she couldn’t doubt the sincerity of his words.

Her own eyes were equally hungry for him. “Thank you for the invitation, and congratulations on your retirement.” Words hardly seemed necessary. All she wanted to do was stare at him.

“Thank you.” His hands firmly clasped hers. Then, as if he’d forgotten himself, he asked, “Can I get you some champagne?”

“I’d like that.”

But Hector didn’t need to leave her. Rita, his daughter, brought over a champagne flute and offered it to Lillie.

“I’m Rita,” she said unnecessarily.

“You’re as lovely as your pictures,” Lillie said as she accepted the flute and impulsively hugged his daughter. Rita hugged her back, her expression welcoming.

“This is Andy, my fiancé,” she said, introducing the man at her side. “Dad wasn’t sure you’d come. I told him you would.”

“I don’t think I could’ve stayed away if I’d tried,” Lillie confessed.

Hector stood close by as his two sons, Manuel and Luis, walked toward them, their progress hindered by the crowd. Manuel studied Lillie, his eyes devoid of emotion; that, to her way of thinking, was an improvement over the hostility he’d shown at their previous meeting. A lovely red-haired young woman—obviously pregnant—was with him.

“You came,” Manuel said, not bothering with any form of greeting.

“Manuel,” Hector warned in low tones. “I won’t have you disrespecting Lillie.”

His oldest son conceded with a nod. “Welcome, Ms. Higgins,” he said. He introduced his wife, Colleen.

“Thank you, Manuel. Nice to meet you, Colleen. Both of you, please call me Lillie.”

“This is my son Luis,” Hector said, gesturing toward the second young man.

Luis and Lillie exchanged a friendly greeting under Hector’s watchful eye—and Manuel’s.

“You made my father very happy by accepting his invitation,” Manuel told her when Luis had drifted off to talk to someone else.

“He made me happy by sending it to me.”

Manuel gave her a tentative smile.

Lillie smiled back. She hoped that in time the two of them could be friends.

“We’re all going to dinner after the party,” Hector said, leaning closer. “Can you join us?”