Page 5 of Dimitri
Scooting forward, she caught his eyes. "Here's the deal. You've had a rough life. Shit happens," she acknowledged his smirk at the word she used. "Deal with it. Life does not come with guarantees. Your parents were lousy, big deal. Make something of your life for you. Prove the system wrong. Go to that farm and work your ass off and earn some money. You'll be getting room and board. If you feel like you want to go back to school, then go back to school. You have a choice, make the right ones."
He picked up a limp fry and slathered it with ketchup before popping it into his mouth. "Will you come and see me?"
"Yeah. I will." Hiding the relief that she was getting through to him, she picked up her burger and took a huge bite. "Now finish eating, I promised the McKenzies I would be along shortly."
*****
He tried not to show his awe as they swept through the double wrought iron gates that bore the sign 'Welcome to Willow Farm.' Allison had told him the place was huge, but he never dreamed it was this massive. Snow dripped from palm fronds, dotting both sides of the two-mile-long driveway. A huge fountain stood to one corner, pouring water into a bowl shaped like a swan. To the left there was what Allison explained was a pergola, a beautiful wooden structure with padded seats inside it and a table.
A lake. Holy crap! He inched forward, his eyes wide as he stared at the lake with ducks swimming lazily on the almost calm surface. And there was a paddock with horses. Somewhere he could hear cows or cattle lowing. The house itself was a mansion. A single-story building with weathered and faded pink blocks stood on a hill overlooking the vast grounds. There were other smaller buildings dotting the grounds. Smoke was coming from the chimney, and for the first time in his life, Jaime felt a longing to belong.
Making her way towards the front of the house, Allison glanced at the boy and had to smile. Gone was the arrogance that had been stamped on his thin face. It was replaced by a yearning she recognized. She had brought other boys here, and that was exactly the expression she had seen.
Bringing the vehicle to a stop in front of the wraparound porch, she switched off the engine and turned to face him.
"Well? What do you think?"
Struggling to appear nonchalant, he angled his head and jutted his chin. "It's okay, I guess."
Hiding her smile, she nodded. "It is. Let's go meet your sponsors. Their names are Alvin and Elizabeth McKenzie. They happen to be the best people I've ever met. You'll address them as Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie unless otherwise instructed. And you'll be respectful. They're cool and understanding, but also no-nonsense. Respect goes a long way into making a relationship work." Her eyes hardened. "And if you're thinking of robbing them, think again. They might be in their eighties, but they're no pushovers."
"They're pretty old."
Allison grinned. "I suppose they are." Pushing the door open, she stepped into the cold and wrapped her jacket around her. "Leave your things, we'll get them later. Come on."
As soon as they stepped into the lofty foyer, Elizabeth McKenzie greeted them. She might be in her eighties but did not look a day over sixty. Graceful and fine boned, she had that classical look that defied age. Her face was narrow, skin alabaster white, a legacy from her Irish descendants. Her hair had turned completely white and was styled in a chic bob that swung against her sharp cheekbones. Her eyes were bottle green and very intelligent.
Moving forward quickly, she wrapped her hands around Allison and hugged her tight.
Kissing her on both cheeks, she turned her attention to the boy who was trying hard not to appear awed at the soaring ceiling and the shiny hardwood floors.
"This must be Jaime."
"Yes ma'am." Not sure what to do with his hands, he stuck them into the pockets of his faded jeans and tried not to shift from one foot to the other.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Linking her hand through Allison's arm, she surprised him by taking his arm. "My husband is in the salon, and we have refreshments."
"We just ate," he blurted out, making her laugh.
"You're a growing boy, which means the junk food Allison fed you is probably out of your system by now. Here. Ah, Mabel," she beamed at the woman who appeared. "Perfect timing. You may bring in the tray. I'll pour."
She guided them into a room that reminded Jaime of a garden he had once visited. There were different shades of green and flowers everywhere. A man, tall, with white hair caught back into a ponytail, trained his laser sharp blue eyes on them as they approached. His eyes touched on the boy before zeroing in on Allison. A smile broke over his face and he was hurrying over to tug her into his arms.
"We haven't seen you in weeks," he accused her in a deep gravelly voice.
"Work. Hey Alvin." Going on her toes, she kissed him on the lips, allowing him to cradle her for a few seconds. "Meet Jaime."
With his arm still around her waist, he held out a hand in greeting. "Welcome to our home."
"Thank you, sir." Jaime clasped his hand, startled at the strong grip and the calluses he felt.
"Sit."
"We want to hear all about you. Thanks, Mabel." Elizabeth, always the perfect host, took over the tray and started serving coffee and hot chocolate. Jaime eyed the tiny sandwiches andsugary pastries in curious fascination and realized that he was starving.
Recognizing the expression on his face, Elizabeth piled his plate high and handed it to him. "Dig in." She winked at him before taking up her cup of tea and taking a sip.
*****
