And with that, it appeared her decision had been made. She didn’t regret it. After all, Maggie was delightful company, and she was certainly getting paid well to do very little. She’d thought she could take the time to decide if she wanted to return to her ER position in Los Angeles, but her mind was still muddled. She snorted. I was muddled after my tour with the Army. Still muddled with my job in California. I have no idea when I’m going to be un-muddled.
Stepping out of the shower, she moisturized and pulled on her nursing scrubs. Maggie had assured her there was no reason to wear the scrubs, but when Jeannie came to Mexico, she hadn’t brought many casual clothes, not thinking she’d need them. Plus, while she couldn’t explain the reason why, the scrubs gave her a sense of armor while at the Garzas’ estate. She was thankful they were installed in the one-story guesthouse so that Maggie could maneuver instead of being in the family mansion.
Bending over at the waist, she quickly dried her hair before pulling it up into a ponytail. With a hint of blush and a dash of color on her lips, she hurried out of her bedroom and softly knocked on Maggie’s door before peeking inside to see Maggie’s smiling face as she sat up in bed, her hair still wrapped in a silk scarf.
Rushing in, Jeannie gushed, “I hope you haven’t been waiting on me too long!”
“No, no! I truly just woke up.”
She stood nearby while Maggie got out of bed with the assistance of her walker. Beaming with pride, Maggie said, “Look at me. I’ll be ready to run races soon.”
“You’ll soon be running circles around me!”
She continued to stay close as Maggie pushed her walker into the large, master bathroom. While Maggie took care of her business, Jeannie started the water in the shower, making sure the sturdy shower chair was in place.
Soon, Maggie was showered and dressed in comfortable pants and a colorful blouse, her silver hair fluffed and sprayed into place just the way she liked it. After the two of them made their way into the kitchen, they chatted while Jeannie fixed breakfast and Maggie sat in one of the comfortable dining chairs.
“I don’t know why you didn’t let Alonzo have their staff keep fixing our food so that you wouldn’t have to,” Maggie said. “Not that I don’t like your cooking because I do. But I hate for you to have to take on that task.”
“Oh, it’s hardly a task to cook for us,” she said. “Anyway, I liked the idea of it just being the two of us. Whenever their cooks or housekeepers come in, I always feel like…” Her voice trailed off, hating to say aloud the ungracious thoughts that were in her mind.
“Feel like?” Maggie prodded.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “I’m just not used to having servants, that’s all.”
“You and me both!”
Maggie’s words surprised her, and she held the older woman’s gaze as she placed their breakfast plates onto the table.
“Oh, I do like your breakfast! Eggs, bacon, and toast, along with fruit. I think this is perfect!”
Jeannie grinned, sitting across from Maggie at the small round table. “My mom used to make breakfast food for dinner sometimes.”
“I used to do the same thing. Of course, now, I’m not sure that Cheryl would find that appropriate.”
Cheryl was Maggie’s niece and the reason Maggie was even in Mexico, much less at the Garzas’ estate. As though following her thoughts, Maggie continued, “You know, my dear, I’m so lucky Cheryl found you.”
Patting Maggie’s hand, she smiled. “Well, considering I only had a week left on my Red Cross schedule and am still on leave from my hospital job, the timing was perfect.” She waved her hand toward the window overlooking the winery, lush with vines growing in straight rows on the flat land with small mountains in the background. The sun was already beaming down from the blue sky, creating one of the pictures she’d seen advertising the Garza Winery. “After all, what a paradise I get to spend time in.” She hoped her words conveyed more excitement than she felt, hating the guards that patrolled the area, their weapons slung casually over their shoulders. She’d visited many wineries over the years but never one like this. Maggie eyed her, and Jeannie tried not to squirm.
Maggie simply nodded, then shifted her gaze out the window, looking over the Mexican vista as well. “Yes, yes,” she sighed. “This is beautiful. Of course, this is simply Cheryl’s brother-in-law’s place, but her and her husband’s winery in California is just as nice.”
Jeannie said nothing, but her thoughts weren’t entirely charitable as she thought of Cheryl’s family. Cheryl had been loving to Maggie and certainly very nice to Jeannie. And Vincent has been very polite to me, as well. But it was Vincent’s two adult children by his first wife that gave her the willies. Juan’s eyes always managed to linger on her breasts, and Maria barely looked at her as though a nurse was too lowly for her to converse with.
They finished breakfast, and it didn’t take Jeannie long to have the plates washed and the kitchen clean. Turning toward Maggie, she asked, “Do you want to take a walk this morning before it gets too hot?”
“I think that sounds like a lovely idea. I know I’m used to the California heat, but I confess I positively wilt down here.”
Making sure Maggie had her sturdy walking shoes on, Jeannie walked along with her as Maggie pushed her walker. “You are so much steadier than a week ago.”
“The doctor said that I should be able to move with much more ease in another week. I’ve already told Cheryl that’s when I’ll be ready to fly back to the States.”
She nodded, then noticed Maggie staring at her. Cocking her head to the side, she waited.
“Are you going to be able to stay that long with me?” Maggie asked. “I know you originally said you could, but I don’t want to take you away from your life for too long. Perhaps taking you away from your young man?”
She barked out a laugh, snorting at the same time. Clapping her hand over her face, she blushed. “I hate snorting!” she said as Maggie burst out laughing.
“Well, I love it! I think it’s endearing!”
“Probably why I don’t have a life,” she joked. “And no, there’s no man waiting for me, young or otherwise.” Hoping Maggie would keep laughing, she held her smile a little too long as Maggie turned her sharp gaze her way.
“You, my dear, have a life. Now, whether or not it’s the life you want… well, that’s a different story.”
They walked in silence as they made their way toward the large main house. Few people were milling around, and they barely gave the two women a second glance. Passing by several armed guards, Jeannie waited until they were out of hearing range and leaned over to Maggie. “Why does Alonzo need guards at a winery?”
Maggie pursed her lips, her brow crinkling. “I once asked Cheryl why her husband hired security for his winery. She told me that even in the States, there can be competitors who want to ruin another winery’s crops. Or steal their secrets. I suppose it might be worse here.”
Blinking, Jeannie forced back another snort. “Wine secrets? Wine espionage? Seriously?”
“Well, I know there can be thefts of the crops. And since most wines are made of various blends of grapes, I suppose others can be jealous of a successful winery’s blend secrets. I understand that Alonzo and Vincent combine the different grapes from their two vineyards for some of their wines.” Finally shrugging, Maggie shook her head. “To be completely truthful, Jeannie, I don’t know the whole reason. This was my first visit to Alonzo’s winery, but the guns make me uncomfortable.”