Page 48 of Gulfside Girls
“I’m not serving it up. I am legitimately innocent of whatever it is you’re accusing me of.”
“I’m just watching you dance around the question that Ali has about who pays us, the name of the management company, and the basics.”
“I want to help her.”
“I know.”
Didi felt defeated, tired, and bowled over by the mere fact that Jorge was right. She was dancing around the question that Ali had every right to ask.
“What’s wrong?” Jorge put down the hose and picked up Didi’s hands. He guided her to spots on two pool lounges. She helped him sit in one, and she did the same.
He was still handsome, her amazing, strong husband. They’d been through so much and more than they’d bargained for the last six months with his health.
They were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now though. He was getting stronger. Trying to help clean the pool deck was proof of that.
But now that Ali had showed up, it might all come crashing down.
“What are you worried about?”
“The truth.”
“You’ve never shied away from the truth since I met you.”
Jorge knew most of the story. He’d have never retired with her here if he hadn’t known exactly how it was going to work. Well, he knewmostof the story.
“She owns it. There’s no two ways about it.”
“Ali has her head on straight,” Jorge said, trying to reassure her. “I don’t think it’s a bad thing that she’s here.”
“No, it’s not. I’ve wanted this. Very much. But now I have to try to unravel it. Try to explain.”
“You can do it.”
“Not yet, Jorge, not yet.”
“What?”
“I’m going to get her to stay. She has to stay.”
“What?”
“Oh, nothing. Nothing. Keep working with the hose. I’ll stop nagging you. But don’t work too hard. Listen to your body.”
“What are you up to?”
“Never mind.”
“Didi, you have to tell her the truth. She’s not going to continue to be put off by this story that you don’t know who pays us, for crying out loud!”
“Just hush. And trust me.”
“Didi, the truth.”
“I will. I will. As soon as I’ve got her. I had her pretty good last night at the Grand Finale. A little more nudge from the ocean and this place, and we’ll have her.”
“Retirement isn’t a bad word.”
Didi paused in her fevered plans and looked at Jorge. He’d never really wanted to retire. He’d never wanted to admit he couldn’t do all the things needed here. In the beginning, this place was nothing compared to the big complex that he’d managed. But here they were, celebrating a victory because he had the energy to wash the cement.
