As Rob crossed the foot bridge across the creek, Alex and Gerald emerged from the barn and started for the house. They met in the field and talked for a few minutes and then separated - Rob continuing toward the guest house and Alex and Gerald angled toward the footbridge. By the time Carmen retrieved the table cloths from the house, Gerald and Alex had crossed the footbridge and were on the path up the hill to the house. Gerald offered to help Carmen with the table cloths and Alex went inside to work in his office until the guests arrived.
Gerald shook the table cloth out and held it down in the breeze while Carmen clipped it to the table one-handed.
"How's the shoulder," he asked as she fastened a clip.
"It's getting better all the time. The doctor says I can take it out of the sling when I'm resting. He wants me to wear it while I'm working, though. He says it will remind me not to use it. Actually, it reminds me that I can't use it."
Gerald chuckled. "Isn't that the same thing?"
Carmen wrinkled her nose at him. "Probably, but what good does it do me to take the sling off if I can't use the shoulder?"
They moved to the next table and Carmen concentrated on the clips, contemplating how to bring up the subject and finally deciding there was no best way, so she simply asked.
"Does Aaron know that Felipa's father has money?"
When Gerald didn't respond, she looked up to see why. He was leaning on the table, watching her. He shook his head.
"I'm not sure where you're going with this, but yes, he knows she's a Medena. A lot of people from the Huston area have reason to know the Medena's - some even have reason to dislike them."
Warmth raced up her neck. Was he talking about Alex? But then, Candice didn't like them either. She placed another clip and came to the point.
"Rob suggested Aaron was gold digging."
For a moment he studied her face, and then he shrugged.
"I doubt that. Aaron isn't loaded, but he isn't hurting, either. Besides that, he doesn't exhibit any of the typical signals of one. He's responsible about how he saves and spends his money and I've never known him to be influenced by money or power. Felipa is a nice girl. Why wouldn't he be interested in her?"
It was a good point. She smiled. "That was my observation."