"Well, it looks like you've succeeded," Louise replied. "Actually, it looks as though you've succeed quite a bit."
"Thank you," said Frank. "But I can't take the credit. My father is very successful in the oil business."
"In South America?" Louise asked.
"Venezuela, mostly."
"Is that where you're from?"
"I have lived in many places," Frank continued. "I was born in Argentina. My grandparents came there from Italy."
"Is that home?" Louise inquired. "Argentina?"
"The USA is my home," Frank explained. "I came here to attend university and decided that this is where I wanted to stay. This is why I always introduce myself as Frank."
"You introduced yourself to Walter as 'Francisco'."
"That was different," Frank explained.
"Because you were trying to seem impressive," Louise prodded him slyly.
"Because I was representing my business," Frank clarified.
"Ah, yes," Louise noted, "because Walter owns so many horses!"
Frank laughed. "Good point!" he conceded. "I notice, by the way," Frank continued, "that your Walter introduces himself as 'Walt'."
"Oh, don't go there!"
"Because that's different?"
She noticed how deftly he had turned the tables. "Yeah, that's different."
They looked at each other for a moment and then laughed at the general banality of small talk.
"So, why do you raise horses?" Louise asked, changing the subject.
"They are one of my passions - horses, wine, fast cars."
"Women," Louise suggested.
"Is that the impression that I give?" Frank asked smiling.
"It crossed my mind," Louise confessed.
"I hear that sometimes," Frank admitted. "And what about you?"
"No, I'm not into women," Louise answered dryly.
"I like your sense of humor!"
"Oh, my life is not interesting," Louise said. "I don't race cars or horses."
"Such things are of no importance unless you love them," Frank professed sagely. "What are your true passions? How do you like to spend your time?"
"Oh, hiking. Running. I used to run a lot. Exercise."
"Riding?" Frank asked.
"I haven't had the pleasure," she confirmed.
"We'll have to change that. What else?"
"Being with my friends. Some dancing," Louise continued.
"Dancing?" Frank picked up on this detail.
"Yeah, I had a friend who was kind of a good tango dancer - something you Argentine men can appreciate, I'm sure."
"You HAD a friend," Frank noted. "And now I think that perhaps that you are missing this friend."
"I miss his dancing," Louise admitted, staring off into the distance.
"And your new man, he is a dancer as well?"
"No! Walter doesn't dance."
"In that case, I am guessing perhaps that he does not know about your tango friend."
Frank was disarmingly perceptive.
"This Walter, he is a good fellow." Frank changed the subject gracefully. "Strong, handsome, very bright."
"Very bright," Louise confirmed. "He's an engineer - smart, successful."
"And I foresee a day when he is a complete gentleman. We just need to give him some riding lessons," Francisco suggested.
Louise laughed out loud. "Oh, I would like to see that."
"So, I'll make you a deal," Francisco continued. "If I can teach your man to ride, perhaps you will consider inviting me to your wedding."
"Oh boy!" Louise exclaimed. "No wedding plans as of yet."
"Or name one of your children Francisco."
"Stop it!" Louise was becoming annoyed with this personal turn in the conversation.
"I am just kidding, or course," Frank said gently.
"Louise, I am very impressed that you brought your man with you today. You could have come here with certain pretenses, but you did not."
"I didn't have a choice," Louise confessed.
"There is always a choice," Francisco offered. "But you are here and he is here, or maybe he is still out on the road with your friend."
"Yes, that's just a little awkward," Louise noted. "But thanks for letting him drive your super-expensive car. That was a nice gesture."
"My pleasure!" Francisco assured her. "I am fully insured."
Louise laughed. "That's good!"
Francisco continued, "The fact that you brought this man today tells me one of two things."
"What?"
"It tells me that either you are very committed to your life together, or he is a jealous maniac."
Louise laughed again. "He is NOT a jealous maniac, I can assure you."
"Bueno!" Francisco continued, "But I would never feel right coming between two people in a committed relationship, jealous or not jealous, does not matter. Do you understand what I am saying?"
"I understand," said Louise, thinking over Frank's words carefully.
"Good! And then I hope that you will please enjoy some more of my champagne and that you will remember El Corazon Stables when you are ready to teach your gentleman the fine art of riding."
"Thank you!" Louise said with emotion. She was still processing the implications of the conversation. "Thank you so much for having us. All of us."
"It is my pleasure," said Francisco. He shook Louise's hand, kissed her on the cheek, and walked away.
Terri rejoined her. "So... How did it go?"
"Ah, not so good," Louise replied. "I think I just got dumped."
"Really?"
"Yeah, he said that he would never come between me and Walter, something like that."
"Oh, that sucks?"
"How was your stroll with Riccardo?"
"Nice! You should see that pool!"
"You'll excuse me if I'm not exactly in the mood," Louise said.
"Oh, and he invited me to the ballet on Friday."
"Since when do you go to the ballet?"
"Hey! I'm very cultured," Terri protested.
"What was the last ballet that you actually saw live?" Louise interrogated. "And 'The Nutcracker' doesn't count."
"I could LEARN to like the ballet," Terri suggested.
The Ferrari made its way up the driveway with a potent rumble. Jo jumped out shrieking. "Woo hoo!"
"That was amazing!" Walter said, gushing.
"Oh, my God! You've got to go for a ride!" Jo insisted.
"Sounds good!" Terri said.
"Yeah, sounds great!" Louise said without enthusiasm.
"I'm hungry," Walter stated.
"Yeah," Jo continued, "Let's get something to eat!"
They made their way to the food tents.
"I guess we'll let the kids eat, and then we'll take them home and put them to bed," Terri joked.
"Yeah," groaned Louise. "Because this party is over."
'The Horse Farm'
Copyright © 2013 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
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