Serial: Down the River – Chapter Fifty

I’m finally revisiting the characters from The River City Chronicles nine years after their original timeline. I’ll be running the series weekly here on my blog, and then will release it in book form at the end of the run. Hope you enjoy catching up with all your faves and all their new secrets!

Today, Marcos has some big news to share. But he’ll have to deal with Marissa’s news first…

< Read Chapter 49

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Chapter Fifty
Big News

Marcos sniffed the simmering pot’s contents. It smelled divine—the perfect harmony of chicken broth, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and zucchini. 

Calabacitas. The dish that had brought him and Dave together, the one they’d been having that fateful night when Carmelina showed up all upset, when Marcos had realized how much he loved this beautiful man.

He’d made his regular Sunday morning run down to the farmer’s market on X Street, the one under the freeway. Only in Sactown. He’d traded some of his balcony-grown basil for the fresh vegetables he’d need for the dish. Rodrigo was always happy to make the exchange.

Marcos wanted this evening to be perfect, just like that other one had been. Or had become, after he’d gotten over Carmelina’s unexpected interruption.

He had news to share, and it was vibrating inside of him, dying to come out. He’d invited Marissa and her new person over—Ainsley seemed lovely. Maybe she would help rekindle the fire in Marissa’s heart.

There was a knock at the door, and then it swung open as if of its own accord. Speak of the devil.

“We’re here!” Marissa looked around the condo where she had come to live with him all those years ago. A smile transformed her face. “Oh my God ,is that calabacitas?”

“Calabawhat?” Ainsley crossed the space between them confidently to shake Marcos’s hand. “Hello, Mr. Ramirez. It’s great to see you again.”

“Good to see you too. And it’s called calabacitas. It’s a traditional Mexican dish made with zucchini, chicken broth, and other vegetables.”

Marissa grinned, pushing a lock of blond hair behind her ear. “It’s our family’s version of casserole.”

Comprehension dawned on Ainsley’s face. “Ah, like Bulgogi or Bibimbap! Can I have a taste?”

Marcos laughed. “I’ll take your word for it. And here you go. Blow on it first, it’s hot.”

She did as she was told, and then took a quick sip. “Oh my God, that’s delicious.”

“Just wait until he puts the cheese in it.” Marissa took one of the four seats around the dining table. “Where’s Dave?”

“Not sure. He turned his find off.”

Marissa frowned. “Is that normal?”

Lately, yes. “Not all the time, but sometimes he just wants some alone time. I choose to think of it as healthy.” He turned off the burner. He had some tortillas ready to go in a Ziploc bag, an old trick Dave had taught him—thirty seconds in the microwave and they would be as fresh and soft as when they were first made. “We’ve been practicing spending more time on our own, for when I get a job.”

For a long time, that it seemed like an unlikely event. The job market was rough, and no one wanted to hire an aging entrepreneur. And then just today… Well, he couldn’t say anything about it just yet. Not until he had Dave there and everyone was seated for dinner.

As if he’d been summoned, Dave walked through the front door. “Something smells wonderful. Is that calabacitas?” Then he noticed Marissa and Ainsley and blinked furiously. “Were we expecting company? Is… is something wrong?”

“Well not exactly. And no, nothing’s wrong” Marcos dropped a couple potholders in the table and brought the still very hot pot over to sit down on one of them while Dave leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Grab a seat. Dinner is on.”

Dave sat down next to the girls and shook out his napkin.

Marissa reached over and pulled something out of his hair. “Where have you been? It looks like you’ve been hacking your way through the jungle.” She held up a twig with a small leaf still attached.

Dave laughed, and Marcos turned to stare at him, astonished. He hadn’t heard Dave laugh like that for a long time.

“I was at the Arboretum. I like to go there when I need some time to think.”

Marcos pulled down now warm and pliable tortillas out of the microwave and put them into their terracotta tortillero to keep them warm. They joined the pot on the table, and dinner was served.

He brought out the traditional tablecloth they used for special occasions which they’d bought on a trip to Mexico City a few years before. It was white with blue swirly designs on it and reminded him of the ceramic painted animals he’d often seen in little shops there. It was probably a super touristy thing, but he treasured it and the memory of their time there together.

He poured each of them a glass of agua fresca, and sat down to dinner with his family. “Dig in.”

Marissa wasted no time. She sprinkled a generous handful of Mexican cheese blend into each of the bowls, and then picked up the ladle and started pouring the soup over the top of it. “The secret is all the melty cheese at the bottom.”

Ainsley rubbed her hands together, a wide grin splitting her face.

Soon all of their bowls were full. They each took a sip.

“Oh my God, babe, this is delicious.” Dave leaned over to kiss him on the cheek agan.

Marcos grinned. “I’m glad you think so.” This was it. “I’m so glad you could all make it—”

“We have some news!” Marissa squeezed Ainsley’s hand, and her eyes were shining.

Marcos closed his mouth. Guess my news can wait. “Good news, I hope?” We could use a bit of good news, after the last few months.

“I’m quitting my job, and Ainsley is dropping out of school.”

“What?” He was on his feet before he realized it. Dave tried pulling him back down, but he shook Dave’s hand away. “You can’t quit your job. How are you going to pay for your…” He was going to say mortgage, but she hadn’t been able to afford a house. “You rent? You’re not moving back in here. Have you thought this through?”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m not a kid anymore, Marcos. I have a fair amount saved up. I’ll be fine for a few months.”

He growled at the pointed use of his first name. “This sounds like a bad idea—”

Dave shushed him with a gesture. “Let her speak. She’s obviously thought this through.”

Marcos stared at Dave, confused. Why aren’t you backing me up here?

Marissa flashed Dave a grateful smile. “I haven’t been happy for a long time. I got my degree and then got a job, but everything has been… gray. Then I met Ainsley, and there was color again.”

Marcos glared at their guest. “She’s a bad influence—”

“Marcos!” Dave stared at him, a sharp frown on his face.

“Sorry.” He sank back down into his chair meekly. “Go on.”

“Thank you.” She took a deep breath, exhaled, and went on. “I started thinking about when I was last really happy. It was when I was in the kitchen, at Ragazzi. I loved cooking. I always have. I think that’s what I want to do with my life.”

Marcos frowned. It made no sense. She had a stable job. He didn’t have to worry about her, which was such a relief, especially while he was worrying about their own finances. Why would she give it up? “That’s a big step. Maybe you could take some cooking classes at night again at the restaurant…ease into it.” 

Dave nudged him. “Look at her. Really look at her.”

So he did. And then he saw it. She wasn’t just happy, she was almost glowing. She had a light in her that he hadn’t seen for years. She was a grown woman—when had that happened? And she knew what she wanted. Jesus Christ, I’m an idiot. Still, he couldn’t help it. “Are you sure…?”

Marissa frowned. “Honestly, no. It’s scary as hell.” She took Ainsley’s hand and squeezed it. “How much longer should I go on doing something that makes me sad? That leaves me feeling gray and lonely?”

Marcos looked from her to Dave and back again. She could make her own choices, good or bad, and she would, no matter what he said. She’s stubborn, like me. “If it’ll make you happy—” That was all he managed to get out before she squealed, threw her arms around him, and hugged him tightly.

He hugged her back. He’d find a way to get behind this, to support her, even if the whole idea scared him to death.

At last, she let go, sat down and looked at him appraisingly. “So, what’s your big news?”

He laughed. “How do you know I have news?”

“Because this is your classic Dad move. Gather the whole family, make us our special family meal, then tell us something big. So come on. Spill it. What’s the news?” Her eyes sparkled. “I hope it’s good news.”

Touché. “Well… I got a voicemail on Friday. I didn’t take much of it at the time. I’ve been looking for a new job for so long that sometimes it seems like nothing will ever come my way.”

Dave leaned forward. “And…?”

“And I called them back this morning. They answered—on a Sunday! Remember when I interviewed to run the PRIDE Center at Sacramento State last month?”

Dave nodded. “I remember.”

“They offered me the job!” His heart was racing again, just like it did when he first got the news/.

Now it was Dave’s turn to grin. “Oh babe, that’s amazing!”

“Apparently Brad sent a them a letter of recommendation that swung the whole thing in my favor. I start in two weeks!” The last thing Brad had done for him before he’d passed away. As the former head of the LGBT Center, his words must have carried some weight. For just a second, he thought he saw Brad standing behind Dave, nodding and smiling.

“Magnifico!” It was Dave’s turn to hug him. “I am so proud of you, mi corazón.”

“They have great benefits for spouses—you’ll be taken care of.” That too had been a great relief, with Dave’s macular degeneration.

Dave drew back, and picked up his napkin to dab at his eyes. “I’ll be all right. I had a bit of a revelation myself, today.”

Marcos raised an eyebrow.

“I’ll tell you later.”

There’s a story there. “Well, don’t let your calabcitas get cold! Marissa, tell me more about this crazy plan of yours.” He dug into the bowl with his spoon, pulling out a steaming batch of zucchini and gooey, melted cheese.

“I’ll give my notice tomorrow…” As she launched into her plan, he sat back and watched the people he loved most sharing a meal together. And he knew he’d done at least one thing right with his life.

Mia familia elegida. My chosen family.

He was the luckiest man alive.

< Read Chapter 49

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Like what you read? if you haven’t tried it yet, check out book one, The River City Chronicles, here.