With Jonathan out of school and back from camp, it made a spontaneous trip possible. Alex contacted his father and then made flight arrangements. Within a week, they were back at the hacienda. This time Señor Medena greeted Carmen with a hug. Alex was more amiable - possibly because he initiated the trip. Dulce wasn’t friendly, but she wasn’t hostile either. Felipa was her usual bubbly self. Alondra was the biggest surprise. She greeted them with a big smile, hugging each of them as if they were old friends she hadn’t seen in a decade.
As it turned out, Señor Medena had the same perspective on the situation as Carmen did. He stipulated to Tessa that there would be no money from his side without a DNA test. That should have been no big surprise, but Carmen would have thought he would welcome the idea of a willing heir. At any rate, Alex joined forces with his father in the request for a DNA test. He said he felt bad about it, but conceded that Tessa had been less than honest with him on more than one occasion. Probably so, but the most impressive thing was that he and his father openly agreed on something.
Three days later the issue was settled. Tessa admitted that the boy belonged to her husband. She said he had kicked her out, but refused to say why. When Alex approached Carmen about giving Tessa some money, she said it was up to him, but keep in mind that the issue could have been something like drugs. He said he wouldn’t offer her any money until he had more facts.
Being able to discuss such things with him was as comforting as it was new. She had always claimed that he would listen if she presented an opposing opinion. If it hadn’t been for Katie, she might not have discovered that she was right. Maybe the last situation was what gave her the courage to speak up when the inheritance tension came back. Then again, maybe she was simply weary of listening to it.
Alex was sitting in their room the last night they were at the hacienda. He was expounding over the fact that his father had approached the inheritance issue again.
“I’m not surprised,” she said. “You weren’t very receptive last time. Maybe he figured you had softened some on the issue. I can’t really blame him.”
Alex frowned. “I would have thought a gender oriented decision would upset you, but you seem to be on his side.”
“First of all,” Carmen said, trying to keep her voice conversational. “I am on your side – 100%. I believe you don’t want this lifestyle.” She hesitated, drawing a deep breath before continuing. “Second, I don’t think it’s a gender based decision – not at this point, anyway.”
Alex stared at her. “How can you say that?” His tone was incredulous.
“Think about it,” she answered. “Which of the girls do you think is most qualified to run the ranch?”
He frowned, his gaze slipping away in contemplation. When it finally came back to her, the frown was still there, but his expression was cognitive.
She sighed. “You have the education, the experience in business and the personality. The men admire you.” She paused, allowing him to assimilate the information. “He wants you because you would do a good job, and because you are his son. He loves you, Alex.”
Alex snorted. “What makes you think that?”
“It hurts him when you say . . . things. I can see it in his eyes. If he didn’t love you, he wouldn’t care.”
His gaze traveled over her face in that familiar way, his expression reflective.
“You’re qualified to run the ranch,” he said.
Carmen caught her breath and stared at him. “I have no experience.”
His smile was wry. “Don’t you?”
She shook her head. “No . . . and it’s irrelevant anyway. I’m not an heir.”
He nodded, his expression reflective again.
“You’re right. I can’t see any of the girls running the ranch . . . or wanting to, for that matter. Even Dulce isn’t interested in that part.” His gaze came back to her. “But you would be.”
Carmen frowned. “We’ve already established that I’m not an heir.”
What was this sudden obsession with her ability to run the ranch, and what made him think she was qualified? The only business experience she had was the goat dairy, the non-functional farm and a horse ranch that had been in the fetal stage for years. As for the interest, it had never crossed her mind. That was a pretty good indication of interest – or lack thereof. In any case, she would never be a social fit.
Finally she shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to me one way or another, but I wish you would at least make an effort at seeing his side of it.”
He didn’t comment, but several times that evening she caught him watching her with a reflective expression. Hopefully he would eventually develop at least a civil relationship with his father.
At breakfast the next morning Alex was especially quiet. Señor Medena kept watching him, and finally spoke.
“You are quiet this morning, son. You have thought much about what we discussed yesterday?”
Alex glanced up at him and then his expression turned sour. “Not much. You know how I feel.”
Señor Medena nodded. “Yes, you have not forgiven me. Why do you not take my offer? Take everything from me. That would show me, yes?”
Alex gave him a sour look. “Everything is a show of force for you, isn’t it? Did it ever occur to you that I might simply want to live my life without your constant interference?”
Señor Medena’s gaze was stern, but his voice was calm. “While you are under my roof, you will treat me with respect.”
Alex glared at him. “That’s one thing I would be glad to oblige you with.”
Everyone at the table was staring at them. Like two bull Elk, they were each so focused on pushing the other back that they had forgotten anyone else existed.
“Enough!” Carmen said sharply. She looked at Señor Medena.
“Is being in control so important that you’re willing to sacrifice the happiness of your only son - or do you love him enough to let him go?”
Alex pointed his fork at her and opened his mouth to speak, but Carmen cut him off.
“Don’t you wag that fork at me,” she warned.
Color crawled up his neck as he carefully placed the fork across his plate.
Carmen set her jaw and challenged them each with a stern look.
“The biggest thing you two have against each other is that you’re so much alike. You’re so stubborn . . . neither one of you is willing to give an inch. You know you love each other, but you aren’t about to admit it. Well, time is a precious commodity and it’s ticking away for both of you.”
She paused, sucking in a deep breath, and then threw her hands in the air in defeat.
“Grow up!” She said in exasperation.
Everyone was watching her with a horrified expression - even Jonathan and Destiny. She shrank back into her chair. What felt good a minute ago now sounded like suicide. It was all true though.
Seconds literally ticked away on the old grandfather clock in the next room. Finally Señor Medena started to chuckle. He clapped his hands slowly.
“Bravo!”
Alex’s mouth twisted into a wry smile and the dark eyes that sought hers held a trace of humor.
“Are you done?”
She grimaced as she picked up her fork.
“Probably not.”
His smile broadened until the dimple appeared. He retrieved his fork.
“Well, I guess we were making everyone else feel uncomfortable.”
Everyone relaxed and the conversation did a one-eighty. The issue didn’t come up again. Alex was civil to Señor Medena, if not friendly. Maybe they would both think about it before they jumped at each other next time – especially in front of the children.