Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

practicing, but I'm not ready to work as an orchestral musician again."
    "When you feel ready, I'm sure Diego can help you, he has contacts from his time as a concertmaster."
    "He isn't playing anymore?"
    "Not often, only for special events like fundraising for charities. You might also find work with him too."
    "Work? With Diego?"
    Before Esteban could say more, Raul intervened. "Are you sure, Esteban? I don't think Diego is good company for someone like Javier."
    Raul's voice was similar to his brother's, but there was no tenderness in it, and his Jersey accent was deeper. Still, in spite of finding him somewhat aggressive, Javier liked the guy.
    Esteban surprised Javier when he said almost between teeth. "Save it, Raul. Let Javier decide for himself."
    "By the time he meets the real Diego it could be too late," Raul warned.
    "Too late for what?" Esteban asked.
    "He could end up perverted by Diego," Raul fumed.
    "Raul!"
    For a second Javier thought he didn't hear right, but Esteban's expression proved the contrary. He breathed deeply and turned to face Javier. "Don't pay attention Javier, because Raul and Diego hate each other. You will hear a similar version from Diego about Raul's immorality."
    Before Javier could say anything, a cell phone rang. It was Raul's mobile, which was docked in the dashboard mount. He answered it in what sounded to Javier like Italian, but he spoke so fast it could have been Spanish. Both languages sounded similar to him. His parents always spoke English, so his Spanish was very limited and his Italian consisted mostly of musical terms. He distinguished the word speakerphone and Esteban saying.
    "Hi, Mom. I'm okay. Listen, we're in Raul's car, and like he said, you're on the speaker, and we have a friend with us, so be polite and speak English."
    A female voice asked, "A friend? What kind of friend? A girl?"
    "No, Mom. A man. Actually, he used to be Mauricio's roommate. He's coming with us to visit Diego."
    "Oh, I know who he is. I met him once. Hey! This is Doña Vibi!"
    Of course, Javier remembered her. She had come with Diego one day to visit Mauricio, but Javier didn't remember anybody saying she was Esteban's mother. Mauricio had introduced her as his godmother, and explained to Javier that don or Doña meant different things in Spanish than Italian. The term in front of an elder's name meant respect.
    "Hello, Doña Vibi, this is Javier Lozano."
    "Yeah, Javier, how are you doing, handsome?"
    Jesus! Yes, that was Doña Vibi. The woman had been impressed by the way he looked, and said it very clearly, not in a lustful way though. She seemed to be the kind of person who simply expressed her mind, and was affable to everyone. Esteban came to his rescue.
    "Mom, you're embarrassing Javier."
    "Oh, I'm sorry, but he's cute, you know."
    After that, Esteban whispered to Javier. "I didn't know you met my mom."
    He answered in the same tone. "Yeah, she visited Mauricio once."
    She heard that in spite of the whispering.
    "Oh, my poor Mauricio, I miss him so much."
    "We all miss him, Mom."
    Esteban had said that patiently, but Javier felt his own pain coming back at once. She added, "Javier, Mauricio was my godson, you know?"
    "Yes, I know, he told me when you were coming over."
    Esteban interrupted her, "Mom, we can talk about this when we get there."
    "Oh, Esteban, you can't come over."
    "Why not?"
    "Your cousin Antolin said the town is full of journalists asking about you."
    "Fuck!"
    Raul blurted as soon as she talked, so she asked more quietly, in a tone that reminded Javier of Esteban's.
    "That was Raul, right?"
    The culprit sighed and said, "I'm sorry, Mom. What else can I say in a situation like this, eh?"
    She ignored him and asked, "Esteban, what happened? Why are these people so interested in you?"
    "Mom, I'm leaving the church, that's what happened, and I'm no longer working with the case I was."
    "I'm glad you're not involved in that awful matter. Oh, Esteban. You're quitting the church?"
    "Yes. Don't tell Dad until I can talk to him."
    "Too late, I am listening too." A deep male voice said on the other side.
    "Damn!"
    "That was Esteban!" Raul announced and Javier held a grin.
    Esteban was leaving the priesthood. That was all Javier cared about in that moment, he refused to question why he liked the news so much.
    "Dad, this time nothing is going to stop me."
    "We'll see about that. Like your mother said, you can't come home right now."
    Esteban replied to his father, "Maybe if we