The sad music swam around Adrienne. She was so caught up, she didn’t notice the tears washing her cheeks until Nick stopped playing. She sniffed and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. “That was beautiful. I’m not the only one who thinks so,” she said, nodding at the dog.
Nick smiled. “It’s nice to be appreciated.”
Someone behind her applauded.
Adrienne twisted around so she could see the groundskeeper. He had his wide straw hat pushed back off his forehead and a grin on his face. “Encantadora!”
Nick stood and gave a little bow.
Adrienne wagged her finger between the two men. “You had this set up, didn’t you? All that ‘they may send us to jail for trespassing’ business wasn’t true, was it?”
“Would you like me to hold you captive in my gardening shed?” the man asked.
Adrienne held up her hand. “No, of course not.” She balled her fists and planted them on her hips. “But you lied to me,” she said to Nick.
“I was teasing,” Nick said.
But this still bothered her and she tried to understand it.
“Do you know who owns this dog?” Nick asked the gardener.
“The Lord, for God made all creatures, no?” The gardener frowned at the dog. “This dog is one of the many who live on the streets and fend for themselves.”
How sad not to have a home and someone to care for you, Adrienne thought. She froze when she realized the same could be said of her. She had a home, but no one was there, and Seb, who should have been there, had proved himself incapable of caring for her the way she had cared for him. Was this Seb’s fault, or her own for expecting too much from him? Not that loving just one person was too much to ask of most people, but maybe it was too much to ask of Seb. Maybe she’d been wrong to assume that he could keep his vows. Maybe he was incapable of devotion.
“I know someone who will love him,” Nick said. “He just needs to be cleaned up.”
“Tio Jose?” Adrienne dropped to her knees beside the creature. “She’s a girl. Aren’t you beautiful.” She stroked the fur between the dog’s ears. “You should name her Ximena.”
“Why’s that?” Nick asked.
“It’s the Spanish female equivalent of Simon, which means ‘listener’ and she was listening to you.” She addressed the dog. “That’s what everyone loves to do, huh, sweetie? It’s not just you. By the time we’re through, everyone is going to be listening to Nick.”
“Let’s go. I want to clean Ximena up and maybe take her to a vet before giving her to Tio Jose.”
“I want to come,” Adrienne said.
“Of course,” Nick said as he scooped the dog into his arms. Ximena snuggled against him.
“Well, no one asked me, but I would love to come, too,” the groundskeeper announced. “But, sadly, I must stay here and protect the Recoleta from trespassing musicians and stray dogs.”
#
“You’re doing what?” Aubrey’s trowel froze midair and she stared at Adrienne.
“It’s going to be like a musical tour of Latin America,” Adrienne explained as she went for her suitcase in the bedroom she shared with the plants.
“And Nick agreed to this?” Aubrey trailed after Adrienne and sat on the bed to watch Adrienne fill her bag.
“Amazing, right?” Adrienne frowned at all her warm-weather clothes. It would technically be summer in Patagonia, but it would still be chilly. She hugged herself briefly, thinking of the penguin preserve and the midnight sun. She would need to buy some rugged shoes for hiking, a jacket, and a couple of sweaters.
“Something’s not right,” Aubrey murmured.
“Why do you say that?”
A scowl settled over Aubrey’s brow. “Why would Nick do this? It’s so out of his character.”
“But it’s good for business.” Adrienne finished her packing and studied her sister. Aubrey wore the same expression she always wore while playing chess and considering her next move.
