In talking with Marina, I knew her parent’s routine. They ate dinner like clockwork at 6:00 pm, so I needed to either call them before dinner or after. I decided that it would be best to call early.
Promptly at 5:40 pm I called the Flores. When Molly answered I made some small talk before I asked if she could get her husband on the second phone. After Jorge was on the phone, I again made small talk before launching into my well-rehearsed pitch. “Mr. and Mrs. Flores, my parents and I would love to host you at the family ranch in Lodi for a three-day weekend, assuming you can get a Friday off work.”
We spoke for about fifteen minutes in total and discussed the idea of a trip, the logistics, and how they both needed to check their work calendars. I told them I’d call back the next night.
Twenty minutes later Marina called, well before our usual 8:00 pm call. “My parents were so impressed that you called to invite them yourself. It meant far more to them than if I had asked, or if your parents had called.”
Quite frankly, I already knew that if I called Jorge would think highly of me. He’s a “man’s man” who expects the man to lead and be in charge. He’s old school just like my father. And I believe I am too. “Good. I can’t wait to hear their answer tomorrow.”
Marina broke in as I tried to start another sentence. “Oh, they’re coming. They were thrilled at the idea to see Lodi, the ranch, and to see your parents again. I hope it’s OK, I gave them your phone number and your parents’.”
“Of course, it is OK,” I said.
“Dad was more worried about logistics. He was wondering if they should fly to SFO or to Sacramento, what do you think?”
“Well, as I recall, your dad said he hates being stuck in traffic. Sacramento might be a better idea since it is less than a one-hour drive. Palo Alto is two plus, depending on the time of day,” I told her. “Don’t worry, I’ll talk with them tomorrow and see what weekend works best for them and if they can fly up on a Thursday night or Friday morning.”
Marina laughed. “Oh, it will be an early Friday morning flight. One less night away from home for my dad. Remember, they didn’t want to stay at the Del for Jeanette’s wedding.”
“Oh, that is right,” I said.
I called the Flores again on Tuesday evening and, much to my surprise, Jorge told me that due to the Columbus Day holiday they could come Friday thru Monday in just two weeks, ten days really. He said he had spoken with Rina earlier and that they would fly to Sacramento early on Friday and take a Monday afternoon flight home.
After I hung up with Jorge, I instantly called my folks with the news. They were excited and wanted to send the Flores some tourist info on Lodi, so I gave Christie their address. Mom said she’d FedEx it to their house in a few days.
Fast forward to the big weekend and I flew into SFO late Thursday. Knowing that Rina and I would not have much time to be intimate while in Lodi, we spent the evening kissing, licking, sucking, and fucking throughout her home.
Knowing that her folks would be arriving in Lodi about 10:00 am, we got on the road about seven-thirty that morning. Thankfully we were going against most of the commute traffic but once we got to Pleasanton it was an easy drive.
We arrived at Sunset Farms just after 9:30 am. My parents were so excited, well at least my mom was. Dad had twisted an ankle earlier in the week in the vineyard, so he was walking with a slight limp.
Rina and I put our stuff in “my” room, allowing the Flores to stay in “Jenny’s room” since it was bigger. In all honesty, Jenny’s room was designed to have room for a crib and rocker on top of the king bed and barrel chairs. When my folks remodeled the house, they eliminated the former master room and two bedrooms and the hall bath. That wing of the house now has three rooms, all with their own bathrooms. The other room would have a crib in the future, two single beds, and features a bathtub while the other two rooms have large walk-in showers. All have a pair of french doors out to the backyard patio and pool.
My mom had been busy during the ten days and had created an itinerary for each day. Friday would be a day in Lodi with dinner at Murdaca’s Italian. In speaking with Molly, mom learned that the Flores had never been to Lake Tahoe so a day trip was planned for Saturday. Sunday was in Lodi and dinner at the Woodbridge Inn.
The weekend had been going great as Marina’s parents loved seeing Lodi and Tahoe. Sunday, they went to St Anne’s Church, being devout Catholics. We were waiting for them to return as mom and Marina had been making a nice brunch for the six of us. Finally, they returned about thirty minutes after we had expected them.
Molly apologized for being so late. “We had a nice chat with the Priest, and he introduced a few couples to us. We were very impressed with the church.” She continued, “And Christie, one couple, the Manna’s, said they know you two.” She looked at my parents. “They had nothing but great things to say about you two, and your father, Christie. Mr. Manna said your father gave his dad his first ag loan at the local bank.”
Marina interjected, “Yes, I want to hear about your dad’s banking experience. Your son told me to ask you.”
Ever the modest woman, mom downplayed her father’s achievements. “He was recruited to the bank based on his ag business skills. He was great with numbers and had a sterling reputation. He continued to farm this land as he constantly bought up his neighbor’s land. He was instrumental in expanding the bank beyond Lodi and his ag connections were key. He’d get influential farmers in other cities to move their accounts and that would lure others who wanted a “local” bank versus a large national bank. He opened offices throughout the valley and would represent the bank in Washington DC with the elected officials.”
“Wow,” said Rina. “Now I understand why Scott uses the word legacy when describing his grandfather and the ranch.”
A man of few words, Jorge replied, “Very impressive.”
As we sat down for brunch, we continued to chat about various topics from our past two days and the Flores asked more questions about Lodi.
“Papi, now do you understand why I told you that I thought Lodi was a great community?” Marina said.
Laughing, he replied, “Si, Mejia.” Taking a short pause, he added, “I am not a fool. I see where this is going.”
“Jorge!” snapped Molly.
“It is OK, Molly,” I said. “Yes, I invited you two here to see my hometown, to see Sunset Farms, and to see what kind of life your daughter and I could have if we were to get married and decided to move to Lodi. But that is not set in stone.”
“Which part?” asked Molly. As she smiled, she looked at my mom. “You two are in love. Personally, I would be shocked if you two did not get married. Right, Christie?”
The two mothers laughed, and as if planned, in unison said, “A mother knows.”
This of course got laughs from our fathers, but Rina and I just shook our heads.
Marina looked at her mother, “I understand what you mean, but please don’t rush us. Two years if all goes well.”
“IF!” said Molly. “Mejia put your walls down. This young man loves you. I see the way he looks at you. I see how you look at him. It is the same way your father and I looked at each other thirty years ago.”
“Just like we did too,” said dad.
Thankfully the subject was changed, and we finished brunch. As my dad and I cleaned the table, Jorge jumped up to help out. “Are you two trying to make me look bad in front of Molly?” he joked.
As the three of us loaded the dishwasher, my dad said, “I think the men should go for a drive so we can show Jorge some of our other plots of land. This will give the ladies a chance to chat by themselves too.”
As we drove around showing Jorge some of the other pieces of land we farm, we arrived the Victor Ranch on the east side of town. We got out of dad’s truck and walked around a bit as dad said he wanted to check on the fuel tank level.
While I had Jorge alone, I stopped him. “Mister Flores, I do love your daughter. She is everything any man would want in a wife. She’s prettier than a perfect rose and smarter than anyone I know. I do not have a plan, but since we are together, in person, I want to ask for your permission to ask for Marina’s hand in marriage. I promise to let you know a few hours before I ask her.”
Jorge’s face was expressionless. “While I appreciate your gesture, I will not give you my blessing today. If you’re the man I think you are, the man that Bob Williams raised, you will come back to me again when you are one hundred percent sure you want to ask for Marina’s hand. Do you understand?”
I did. I had overplayed my hand. I should have known this old-school man would have done exactly as he did, and I was internally screaming at myself. “Yes, I understand Mr. Flores. I apologize. I should have known better.”
“Son,” Jorge said, “slow down. Do not rush into anything. You kids are young. You will know when the timing is right. But thank you for asking. I’d expect nothing less from you.”
“Yes, sir,” I said.
“As you get older you will have certain events in your life that you look forward to and others that you will remember forever,” he said. “The day I graduated college. The day I asked Molly to marry me. The day we got married. The day Marina was born. Those were all big days in my life. But I look forward to the day I walk her down the aisle for her wedding. The day Molly and I become grandparents is another. I’m fifty-five, I can wait a few more years for those last two.”
“Yes, sir,” I said, understanding his point. Take my time.
“And don’t let Molly and Christie push you with that ‘A mother knows’ bullshit,” he said laughing.
Chuckling, I replied, “Yes, sir.”
I could see dad approaching from the corner of my eye. “What are you two whispering about?”
Throwing me under the bus, Jorge told my dad, “Well, your son doesn’t know when he wants to ask my daughter to marry him, but he had the ‘huevos rancheros’ to ask me for my blessing. I told him no.”
“Good,” said my dad.
“I told him that if he was the man that Bob Williams raised, he would ask me when he is sure, and only a few days before he asks Marina,” Jorge said, not taking his eyes off me.
Dad shook his head. “Scott, you fucked up. When you ask Jorge again you damn well better do it like a Williams man. And I know you will ask again,” he said smirking. “And very soon.”
This caused Jorge to crack up, laughing, “Bob, what is our new line?”
“A father knows,” they said mockingly as they shook hands.
“Scotty, I’m sorry, but you’re in love,” said my dad. “You’re in love bad. C’mon, back in the truck, let’s get home and have a beer.”
“Yes, a cerveza would be excellent!” said Jorge.
As the men returned to the ranch, we grabbed beers from the garage fridge and entered the house. We could hear the ladies out back near the pool. As we sat down with them, dad asked what they had been talking about.
Without missing a beat Molly said, “Wedding plans.”
The look on Rina’s face was priceless. Shock. Anger. Frustration. “There was no talk of wedding plans,” she said.
Jorge couldn’t resist, chuckling, “We did.”
After the laughing stopped, the six of us briefly discussed dinner and plans for Monday morning. Molly said she wanted to see Lodi Lake while Jorge said he wanted to go to the Ag Museum.
Sunday’s dinner at Woodbridge Inn went well, and Jorge insisted on picking up the tab. “Bob and Christie, thank you for your hospitality. Molly and I now see why Marina raved about your small town.”
“We look forward to having you two visit again,” said Christie.
The Monday morning excursions to the lake and museum went as planned. Upon returning to the ranch Marina and Molly made the group chicken taco salads before everyone needed to leave.
As the four of us packed up our cars for the drives to the airports my parents joined us in the circular drive. “Jorge and Molly, it has been great to see you again,” said Dad. “Maybe we can do something over the holidays?”
Molly quickly said, “I was thinking the same thing. Maybe for Thanksgiving in San Diego?”
The next thing I knew, the ladies were babbling about all of the possibilities. Paul and Jovita were mentioned, as were Allen and Jeanette of course. And Bud and Laura.
Said Molly, “I’ll talk to Jo and Laura. We’ll figure it all out in the next week or so.”
Rina looked at me and whispered, “Thanksgiving in San Diego? Is this too much?”
“No, I think it will be great. Plus, we can spend time with Jeanette and Allen,” I told her.
Soon we were in Rina’s car heading through the vineyards with Jorge and Molly following us back out to the highway.
At SFO, Rina and I said our goodbyes and held each other tightly, knowing it would be another two weeks before we saw each other. I gave her a short passionate kiss and looked her in the eyes. “I love you.”
She had a tear running down her cheek. “I’m going to miss you. I love you so much.”
“I’ll call you tonight when I get home,” I said.
End Chapter 9.
