A Sweet and Spicy Kind Of Love by Minx Charmer Page A

attempted to explain. “I am just, just um, visiting a bit to talk to Molly about, um, actually…”
     
    Yolanda would have none of it. She pointed her finger to the door and stamped her feet “You sir are nothing but trouble, so kindly remove yourself and leave my friend alone. Can’t you see she is distressed? It wouldn’t take a Harvard education to figure that one out. Molly does not want you here and neither do I. Be gone, oh insolent one.”
     
    With a reluctant glimmer of admiration, Julian inclined his head. “I see she has a great ally in you. I remember the scandal you made when that horse ran away with her so many years ago. It seems you are still the same.”
     
    Yolanda nodded and stuck her nose into the air “Don’t you ever forget it. Now scram and let me fix whatever mess you have caused. Go now…shoo, shoo.”
     
    When Julian left rather reluctantly, Molly ran to her friend and fell into her arms as her body shook with sobs. It took five minutes for Yolanda to calm her down. “There, there now girl. Stop all that. It can’t be that bad so dry that face and tell me what that arrogant nerd has been telling you.”
     
    Molly sputtered, as she murmured through tears “Don’t call him that. He is not a nerd.”
     
    Yolanda sighed in relief “Still defending him hmmm? You must be feeling better. Now tell me all about it and let me know what I can do to help.”
     
    ~~~
     
    Valeria could not break Julian’s icy silence. With worried lines across her brow she tried every trick to catch his attention even offering to wash his feet, but nothing worked. He was in the blackest mood she had ever seen and she couldn’t figure out what was going on. Still she would not give up that easily. With the softest voice she could muster she tried to get some reaction from his impassive face “Julian, love talk to me. What is happening with you and why are you so upset? Surely it can’t be that bad? Is it your father? Are you remembering your mother? Do you want to visit her grave and unburden yourself? I could take you. I am a much better driver now and I promise we won’t end up in a ditch.”
     
    Julian looked at her sideways but refused to respond. Valeria gave up and left him alone. Why he was in such a state was obviously beyond her capacities to figure out, so she would leave him to his own devices. Perhaps the black mood would pass by quickly. At least she hoped so.
     
    ~~~
     
    Lionel’s curiosity was piqued. Rose had told him something was wrong with Julian, but he hadn’t believed she was right. However, at the evening meal, Lionel came to conclusion that Rose could be correct. Something was wrong with his son. The sullen silence and dark clouds that hung over Julian’s head pointed to something out of the ordinary. Perhaps he and Valeria had gotten into a fight. If so, Lionel needed to fix things as soon as possible. It was his plan that Julian should announce the engagement to Ms. Trenton at the house warming party for the new neighbors on Saturday. That would give the community plenty of news to talk about in the upcoming days.
     
    With deliberate nonchalance he directed his attention to his son “Julian my boy…how is Valeria these days?”
     
    “Fine Father.”
     
    “Hmmm…I am glad to hear it, but she hasn’t been here in a few days. Perhaps you should invite her again, don’t you think?’
     
    “I don’t think so Father. I am not going to see her anymore and I will tell her parents that any future plans are permanently off.”
     
    Lionel choked on his sautéed, chicken breast and took a few moments to collect himself. Good gracious! Things were much worse than he previously thought. And yet, something in Julian’s tone pointed to the finality of the matter, which was more troubling than anything Lionel had imagined. “But son, all of the arrangements have been made. We are men of honor, you and I. Surely you do not wish to dash a young lady’s hopes.”
     
    With a