by Carolynn Bjorkman
In the ensuing days, Jenna took Diego on various excursions. They went to SeaWorld, a baseball game, and various restaurants of different ethnic cuisines. They both enjoyed the Greek restaurant the most, with its flaming cheese and the live music and dance. Jenna was pulled up from her chair to join in the festive line dance, and Diego, in turn, joined her, unable to resist the fun. Bouzouki music was a favorite of Jenna’s, but she enjoyed a lot of ethnic music. A carnival was going on down the way from the restaurant, and Jenna found an instant photo booth where she and Diego both sat and posed. It’d make nice keepsakes, she’d suggested. She’d also managed to find clothes that resembled those that he’d ruined in the mineral pool when they’d met. The boots, however, were not easy to replace. Brand new leather boots were expensive. And he couldn’t exactly go back in polyurethane boots. She called around to second-hand tack dealers and eventually found some that were leather and in his size. She paid the extra amount for overnight delivery.
One day, Jenna had taken Diego on an Amtrak train. Since he’d mentioned Monterey, she decided to head there with him. As expected, there was nothing familiar about it. What would be unchanged in over 150 years? Jenna had to explain to him that California was no longer under Spanish rule. She began to truly feel sorry for Diego for the cultural shocks he was facing. Although some he found amusing, he genuinely felt inwardly devastated from others. And it showed in his face. Jenna started wondering if this was really such a good idea. But, she thought, we all take our worlds for granted. He probably felt very secure in his time that it would always be a part of Spain. Jenna imagined the shock and pain and was feeling a bit guilty.
To cheer them both up, Jenna thought some good music and dancing might help. She had a favorite nightspot where the music was good, it was open-air, along the coast, and the atmosphere was impossible to be sad in. Or so she thought. It seemed every song being played reflected her mood. “If I Fell”, “Ooh Baby Baby”, were a couple that began tugging at her heartstrings.
“Jenna?” she heard Diego say her name. “What is the matter? You look so far away and almost…sad,” he observed. She looked up and straight into his deep, hazel eyes. The emotions causing havoc with her were near to overflowing. If she didn’t act quickly, she’d be a basket case real soon.
“Nothing! Nothing, Diego. I’m fine. I was just thinking about making a request or two. And then, I feel like dancing, if you don’t mind.” She knew it was a lousy attempt to cover up what was really going on inside of her, but she didn’t want to bring him down, too. She got up quickly, made her way to the disc jockey, and requested some of her never-fail favorites. There were several she’d requested, but she had to wait her turn. There was an ABBA fan somewhere in the crowd, Jenna deduced, from the next couple of back-to-back songs that were announced. She went over and got Diego to his feet. He, of course, wasn’t very familiar with the style of dancing going on around him, but Jenna found he was a quick study. In fact, “Fernando” seemed to help Diego relax a bit and smile. Must be the Latin flavor of the song. She hated to disappoint him by telling him the singers weren’t even of Spanish background, but Swedish. He seemed amazed by it. Suddenly, Richie Valens’ “La Bamba” burst forth, and the entire crowd was up, moving to the beat. It was a crowd pleaser. And it improved both Jenna’s and Diego’s moods. Jenna kept him out on the floor for a rousing group participation of “YMCA”. Diego’s struggle to keep up with it added to the craziness and fun, but he drew the line when the Macarena. He enjoyed watching but there was absolutely no way to keep up so many moves. Jenna’s spirits began soaring even more with her request following it up next. “Going to a Go-Go” never failed to grab Jenna with its Motown beat, and she nearly always lip-synced to it. Diego watched in pure delight. He hadn’t ever experienced this strange caliber of fun and entertainment. But he was having the time of his life.
When the song ended, Jenna let out an excited whoop, saw Diego smiling at her and threw her arms around his neck, sending them into a spin, laughing. When it was over, they decided to sit some songs out and have some wine.
“I will assume you like that last song, eh?” Diego asked, only half joking.
“Oh, you think?” Jenna answered, laughing. “I don’t recall hearing it on the radio when I was growing up, but I can definitely see myself making up for lost time! I love that song. When I’m feeling my absolute worst, that song will pull me back up.”
“It shows. Your face is glowing. How far did you have to be pulled up?” he asked, curiosity in his voice. He had seen, earlier, that something was troubling her. Maybe he shouldn’t ask. That sad, far away look might return.
Jenna clenched her teeth to maintain a smile and good mood. She was feeling too good now to let his astute observation bring her back down. Before she could answer, she heard a familiar voice.
“Hello, Jenna. I knew by that last number that you had to be here. You’re the only one I know who requests it like a mantra.”
Jenna was felt her skin start to crawl.
“Brad”. She barely raised her eyes to acknowledge him. “I hope it’s okay with you if I feel good. I mean, is there a problem with that?”
Diego watched Jenna’s face change from beautiful and full of life, to one instantly drained. He kept his eyes on the situation and decided this man was causing her discomfort. She needed support. He knew it intuitively.
“Senor, may I suggest you leave the senorita alone? It is clear you are not welcome here and it is causing her to feel uneasy.”
Brad looked at Diego as if he had horns sprouting from his head. “I’ll talk to Jenna if I want, amigo.” His voice laced with disdain. “C’mon, Jen, let’s dance and talk some,” he directed at her and started to take her hand to lead her away. Diego’s strong hand grabbed his wrist to prevent him from doing so.
“Senor, I do not believe Jenna is interested in dancing with you, now or ever. She is here with me tonight and has reserved all her dances for me. Now I suggest, again, you think otherwise about the lady’s wishes and feelings and go about your business.” There was an edge to Diego’s voice that spoke clearly
that he meant business and would not be defied.
Brad kept his gaze on Diego and let go as if Jenna’s wrist had suddenly become a hot coal. “Later, then, Jenna. We’ll talk later,” he remarked, his eyes never leaving those of her companion. “I think there’s some unfinished business between us.”
“Brad there is no business between us, unfinished or otherwise. Just go away and leave me alone,” she demanded coldly. Without looking up at him, Jenna felt him standing beside her for a moment before he walked away defeated. Jenna let out a cleansing breath and put her hands over her face, feeling drained. Her emotions already in overdrive, she didn’t need any more. Suddenly she felt her hands being gently pulled away. Diego was smiling at her in that devastating way that made her toes curl.
“How about a walk along the ocean, hmm?” he asked quietly. He knew it was the perfect medicine for what ailed her. Jenna just nodded, and Diego led her out of the disco like he’d been around it for ages or belonged here. He was comfort personified, she thought.
Out in the fresh ocean air, Jenna breathed deep. The suffocating air of the disco and Brad’s appearance was already starting to dissipate. Diego reached out his hand to her and just before taking it, Jenna kicked off her shoes. Neither said a word for several minutes. It was deja vue, thought Jenna, of the first day Diego had entered her life.
Finally, Diego spoke. “Shall we sit down?”
Jenna was still too wound up to speak. She merely nodded and let Diego lead her to a grassy knoll. He sat behind her with his legs straddling her and held her close. Jenna felt like she was melting. And at the same time, she felt comfortable and at home like this with Diego. The sounds of just the waves around them had a calming effect on her taught nerves.
Diego spoke quietly to break the silence. “Jenna, perhaps there is something I should know about Brad? Are you betrothed? What is he to you? I feel like I’m in between the two of you, somehow.”
Slowly, Jenna turned. She had a pained look on her face. “Diego, will you just hold me close first? I’ll spill my guts…”
“You’ll what??” he asked, confused.
Jenna managed a soft, snicker. “It’s just an expression that means ‘I’ll tell you everything’.”
Diego pulled her closer and Jenna held on as if she were holding on to life itself. “You aren’t in the middle of anything, Diego. I promise you that. Brad and I were dating…we liked each other and went places,” she began explaining with clarification, “and I suppose I was under the impression we had a future together. Eva never liked him and tried to tell me over and over what a yutz he was…an idiot! His mother seemed to fill his head with unfavorable ideas about me. She was always very unsociable to me. The day I met you, I’d learned Brad had listened to his mother’s opinions of me. I was way beneath his standing. We never seemed to get a wedding planned. Finally it was cancelled. I needed to get away, so I threw my things together, drove to the caves, and the rest is history.” She pulled away and looked directly at him, but she had tears welling up. “I swear to you, Diego, I am not trying to make him jealous or anything. Since meeting you, I haven’t given him a second thought.” To keep a sense of humor, she added, “I’m Ruth, and that’s the truth, bubela.”
Diego awarded her one of his million watt smiles. He didn’t understand the ‘Ruth’ bit, but her attempt to be funny was endearing. He took her hands in his and kissed them. Then he cupped her face and kissed her. It took on a deeper tone that threatened to consume them both. Diego broke away and lay back on the sand, looking up at the stars, holding Jenna close. He began thinking how he needed to get back to his own time, and soon. Things seemed so complicated here. If they were back in his time frame, he knew that what was developing between Jenna and himself would constitute an engagement. How could he get involved this far in his future with someone and walk away? Diego was feeling guilty, knowing that he’d cause as much pain, if not more, to Jenna than that arrogant jackass, Brad. This senorita had become very special to him. So much so that it struck a pain through his heart.
“Diego, let’s go home,” she suggested.
‘Home’, he thought. It was as if she knew what he’d been thinking. But she didn’t realize which home it had been. The walk back to the car was quiet, but they held on to each other tightly.
They were both contemplating a long sleepless night.
