Summer Visiting [co-write with Jessica Hayles' author] Jessica would never admit it to anyone but herself, but she was secretly relieved to have her academic program for the summer (a desperate, self-paced, Internet-based, do-or-die attempt to make up for her lost year of school) interrupted by Daddy’s annual invitation to accompany him on one of his Latin America trips. There were levels on which she found the frenetic pace stimulating, plus she found the stars and ribbons which cascaded across the screen when she passed ‘tests’ or levels and the accompanying praise of her parents very gratifying, but it was also exhausting. There just weren’t enough hours in the day, but she had to make hours, and had to do it all alone, without even a real tutor beyond the speakers in the video lessons. Worst of all, she couldn’t write; in real school, she had always found time to write in the snatched moments after finishing her assigned tasks, but now she felt obliged to throw herself into the next lesson as quickly as possible. She had even done lessons on the jet while Daddy had napped or made phone calls.
Seeing wizards was not something she would have ever thought she’d want to do during her precious vacation time, but by the time Daddy got them on the way to Los Jardines de Plata, she realized she was actually looking forward to it. At least with Felipe and his family, she wouldn’t have to stay shut away by herself all the time, or else have to go through all sorts of efforts to make herself look bad on purpose to help sell the idea that she was in delicate health, just in case anyone was watching.
Instead, in reaction, she had spent extra time preparing herself for the meeting, wanting to look her very best while she had the chance. She had curled her hair and brushed it into glamorous waves, wheedled permission out of Daddy to wear tinted moisturizer with SPF in it instead of just regular sunscreen, pencilled in her brows extremely carefully, and then smudged the pencil along the very edges of her eyeline, just enough to define her eyes a little without doing so to the point that Daddy would have to notice and say something. She wore a teal sundress with white flowers on it, and had pinched a sample-sized highlighter powder to dust her collarbones and the edges of her shoulders with. With her tall straw platform sandals and namesake tinted lip balm inside her little straw summer handbag, she felt as good as she thought was possible under the circumstances.
Her handbag also held a small sealed box of half-sized balms, less attractively packaged than Jessica Rose and Summer Rose, clearly marketed at tweens and young teenagers - a gift for Felipe’s sister. Those balms were things she was still getting used to. Summer Rose was purely a commercial product (if, she had to grudgingly admit, a pretty one), but the whole concept of the This One’s For The Girls line was a touch unsettling. Anna Apricot, Becca Blush, Chloe Cherry, Rachel Raspberry, Sarah Sheer, and Hannah Honey…and then Daddy had slipped Lola Lavender and Mara Mauvellous (that alone, she thought, proved she must have gotten poetry entirely from Mommy’s side of the family) into the mix, acknowledging- even if very few people knew it - his other two daughters as much as Jessica, even if it was in another product line.
This shouldn’t have bothered her. She had always known Daddy also loved her sisters just as much as he did her. She loved her sisters, too, and hated it when they couldn’t have her things she did. Except, it seemed, tinted lip balms semi-named after them, in a whole line developed mainly because Mara had asked for it. She tried not to think about it all too much.
She looked around curiously as they entered Felipe’s estate, taking in the grand white buildings and graceful arches all around her as though this would allow her to get an idea of what life here was like. She did not have much time to observe uninterrupted, however, before they beheld their hosts.
“Hola,” said Jessica, smiling at Felipe, slightly surprised to realize she was kind of glad to see him. “Señor y Señora,” she added to his parents, folding her hands politely at her waist out of habit at the sight of adults. “Gracias por invitarnos a su casa.” Thank you for the invitation to your house.
“Good to see you both again,” added her father. “I hope your samples arrived in good condition, Señora?”
Felipe was not used to guests arriving at Los Jardines de Plata, as it was too remote for most people to make their way here. The fact that the Hayles family was willing was something indeed, and the fact that they were not the only summer guests this year was even stranger. Still, he was comfortable at home, whether in the library or in the orchards, and he took to summer with the ease of a much older man.
His white cotton shirt was tucked loosely into brown pants that came only to the middle of his calves, the most appropriate attire for either walking the estate, visiting their people, or riding horses, all of which Felipe had been doing before Jessica and her family arrived.
She looked so odd there in the Mexican sun. Normally, Felipe hated tourism-based industries, but this particular visitor was more friendly than that and Felipe hoped she was glad to see him as well. The odd thing was that their parents seemed to be more eager to see each other than the children were. He wondered whether that was a matter of principle - he and Jessica had certainly bonded but hadn’t actually spoken much - or because it was how businessmen demonstrated their civility.
“Hola,” Ilefonso returned, beaming down at Jessica. He was dressed basically the same as his son, although Ilefonso had taken the time to tuck his button-up into his black pants a little more neatly. Both De Matteo men wore brown hats, the sort that Felipe had seen in American western stories. He wondered whether that’s what Jessica thought of when she saw them, and wasn’t sure he wanted to be compared to a “cowboy.”
“They did,” Julieta said, notably wearing a select few of them. Her black hair was braided down her back, and her simply cut white dress stood out remarkably against her coloring. It was a good, comfortable look for her. “I’ve enjoyed trying them for different occasions. And you make these without any magic? They’re really very good.”
Ilefonso smiled, proud of his wife’s praises. He’d originally been worried that he’d never find a wife as concerned about kindness as he was, but he’d managed to find not only that, but also a partner in an empire and a ruler. He was truly a lucky man.
“Completely non-magic products, yes,” said Arthur, with a trace of pride in something he had never expected to need to take pride in. “Just chemistry and a lot of research and experimentation. Our labs are some of the best in the country.”
Jessica’s face automatically assumed her mother’s indulgent smile, in miniature, at the boasting. “Daddy is very proud of them,” she said. “We all are.”
“As he should be,” Felipe smiled, nodding at Jessica’s father in appreciation of his work. Jessica flashed him an appreciative smile. Neither Arvale nor her father really needed favors from anyone, but it was nice to have someone be nice about them.
Leonor greeted their guests more quietly, although she was much better behaved today than she’d been at the concert. Her own dress was navy blue, but just as simple, and her hair was pulled into two braids along the back of her head. She grinned up at Jessica and her father as though she’d just met her new best friend.
“I’m glad you were able to come,” Felipe told Jessica in quiet English, aware that he was as much her host as his father was hers. “I hope your trip was pleasant?”
“Yes,” said Jessica. “We came down on the jet, and Daddy took a house, so I’ve been able to swim a lot.” She couldn’t help beaming as she talked about that. Her red hair was a problem when it came to making sure nobody recognized her and saw her obviously not sick at a hotel, and her rather fair skin and hair were sure to make her stand out in the company of her rather obviously Hispanic sisters and even more obviously Hispanic nanny, but the problem had had a nice solution: Daddy had simply rented a house, vaguely hinting to those who supposedly knew that it was kind of something related to her supposed health issues.
Plus, well, there was the fact she had managed to get to Mexico without blowing up the jet. That was a silly thing to be proud of, but since when did life make sense these days?
“I hope you’ve been having a good summer,” she added, and then smiled at his sister. “And you, too, Leonor,” she added, switching back into Spanish for Leonor’s comfort. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Jessica.” To her relief, the little girl looked about the same size as Mara; she wasn’t dealing with an infant who wasn’t Lola and so didn’t have to worry about being too condescending or talking over Leonor’s head. She opened her handbag and took out the tinted lip balm discovery kit. “This is for you,” she added, proffering it with both hands.
Her tinted balm was in a pretty, sleek little silver tube. These bullets were slightly thicker, in more colorful plastic tubes meant to appeal to people their age. Jessica was not sure if she would find it appealing if she wasn’t used to her own things or not - Mara seemed to like them well enough - but she would stand by the formula, which was moisturizing, slightly minty, and had a nice sheer tint in all its shades.
Leonor’s eyes widened but she accepted the gift with quiet excitement after only a quiet look towards her parents for confirmation that it was allowed. “Es tan hermoso,” she whispered in quiet reverence. “Thank you.”
“I’m guessing you don’t want tinted lip balms,” Jessica added to Felipe with another smile. “But I can get you some SPF clear balm crayons from our skincare lines if you like.” These were generally bought by women as well, but the packaging was pretty unisex in her opinion. “I’m guessing from the hat you’re spending a lot of time outside? Nice hat, by the way.”
Felipe smirked at his friend, glad to see a little more positivity leaking out of her. “Well, I would’ve taken some but only if it were blue or something,” he told her as sincerely as he could manage through his own playful expression. “I’m ah . . . “ He wasn’t sure how to tell her that there were natural remedies his people had used for years, not to mention the magic topicals they could use. “I’d like to try that,” he decided.
It was his father’s satisfied nod that made him bristle, and he was as proud of himself as he hated himself. He hated that he worked so hard for that little sign of approval. At the same time, he was just glad to be receiving it.
***
Felipe’s parents were doing their very best impression of proper hosts - an apt impression indeed as it was more of a revelation of self to their guest than a facade - and Leonor had taken to playing with her toys nearby enough to eavesdrop. The tutors were taking time off for the day, as Ilefonso De Matteo looked for as many opportunities as possible to thank them for all their work and a day with visitors, where the kids would not be needing tutoring services anyway, was just such an occasion.
In turn, Felipe had taken to showing his guest, since that’s what Jessica was meant to be after all, around Los Jardines de Plata. He’d begun as he always did with the outsides, showing her the sun-bleached stone paths and patios, the creeping plants that looked like they could have been in Barcelona if not here, the orchards and crops that went on forever it seemed, and the stables. He wasn’t too sure how she felt about horses, but would’ve been remiss not to introduce her to his favorite mare, Peca, the freckled riding companion he spent so much of his time with.
They walked the insides of Los Jardines de Plata, too, but that was much less interesting to him on such a beautiful day. The courtyard was just as it always was; a bubbling fountain of crystal clear water, complete with its koi, turtle, and frog inhabitants, sat in the middle of the stone area, a straw shade protecting it from the magnification of the sun through the surface. This was one of Felipe’s favorite places to sit, but not the place he had in mind to show his friend. They weren’t yet close enough for him to reveal his love of the quiet moments where a good piece of charcoal and a piece of paper brought to life the diagrams and equations in his head.
Leading the way through the courtyard, through the main lobby of the house, and out through the kitchen, Felipe took a small door into the back lot. Here, kitchen staff, tutors, visitors, and even the De Matteos themselves when they were fulfilling any of those roles could come to relax. It was a simple area, with a dirt floor and a straw woven shade. The view, though, was incredible.
With Los Jardines de Plata’s place perched atop a hill, the entire valley and all of their people who lived in it were visible from this place. Small homes, small lives, and small dreams came together here and a well worn bench indicated just how often somebody came out here to look upon it all. Felipe took a seat their first, finding it familiar, and looked at Jessica with guarded eyes.
“This, more than anything else, reminds me of who I am meant to be. It’s nice to remember why it’s all so important,” he told her quietly before patting the space beside him for her to sit as well.
“It’s beautiful,” said Jessica, taking the offered spot and looking out over the view. “Your family owns all this?”
“Not exactly. We own all of the plantation area, but the families and the people own their own land out there.” He waved his arm, pointing to some of the homes and small shops. “They depend on us, though. Our people are . . . they are not wealthy people in the sense of gold or belongings, but they are rich of heart.”
Jessica smiled at Felipe describing the people as ‘their’ people. “I know Daddy always says we couldn’t do anything we do without our employees,” she said. “It’s different from this, of course, I get that,” she added quickly, “but he’s always talked about how we have as much of a responsibility to everyone because of the business as we have benefits from the business - we owe the consumers good products, since they’re trusting us with, well, their bodies, and we owe the employees, since we wouldn’t make any products without them.” She looked around the valley again. “Does it bother you?” she asked. “Knowing what you’re meant to be?”
It wasn’t an easy question, and Felipe wasn’t entirely sure how honest he should be. More than that, he wasn’t entirely sure of the answer. It was multi-faceted, but he supposed Jessica probably understood that. Of course, her barriers were not in her control.
“No,” he finally decided, speaking very softly. “I can’t think of anything better to be. What bothers me,” he added, looking down; the sight of his people was just too much right now. “Is that they deserve much better. I’m meant to be something that I am not yet. That bothers me.” His head shot up and he cocked an eyebrow playfully at his friend, pointedly dropping his vulnerability. “But if you tell my family that, I’ll have to hex you of course,” he teased, eyes gleaming to make sure she knew he was joking.
“Of course,” said Jessica, completely straight-faced, other than a quirk of her own eyebrows to show she was in on the joke. “And I’ll do the same if you tell Daddy I...kind of feel the same way.” She rubbed her left shoulder, feeling a muscle there which tended to twist painfully when she was under stress. It didn’t hurt now, but it never felt quite relaxed, either. “People always think I should...want to be something else just because Mommy and Daddy have always had plans for me, but I always liked it, knowing. It’s just now that I don’t know if I can be what I should, now. It’s nice to see more of...this...than just the school.”
Felipe cocked his head, showing once again how unthinking he was that he'd never considered that before. “I think my parents have been trying to use less magic so they don't scare you guys, but if you want to see how people use magic everyday, I can ask them to be more demonstrative,” he offered before addressing the rest of what she'd said. “It is hard, I think, to love your family and what they stand for, and then ever wanting to do anything else. I don't think that's wrong; other people shouldn't assume. And you can do it.” His words were emphatic. “You saw how excited mamá was for the makeup. You can do that for all kinds of magical people.”
Jessica half-smiled at the assurance of her capability, from someone who had mostly only ever seen her making a mess of things. “I won’t say that I think making make-up is the very best thing you can possible do or be,” she said. “Or even that being an executive is. It just...is.” She re-crossed her ankles. “What you do looks a little more noble, but I guess the world has room for both of us, yeah?”
Felipe's chest had closed itself firmly around his heart, refusing to let it beat. The problem was that the patriarch of the De Matteo family would've turned that into a marriage proposal right then and there. He would've loved to bring Jessica into the family. Of course, he would also love to bring Zara in, a thought which made Felipe more fidgety and confused. But what should Felipe himself do?
He wasn't convinced that finding a bride was likely at this point in his life, even if he was ready to think about it. Besides, how could you tell if someone was an apt fit for a dynasty when they weren't even a teenager yet? Of course, that was how he'd been chosen.
“You could do this,” Felipe said, swallowing his nerves. For his family. “You could-- you could do anything you want. If you want to be a sponsor for local communities, you can do that too. If you wanted to be part of this community-- Well, the world is your shellfish, ah, oyster.”
Jessica smiled at the notion of the world as her shellfish. “Shrimp taste better, but oysters are the ones with pearls,” she agreed. “And mussels, sometimes,” she added, her brow momentarily creasing as she remembered that tidbit. “I think I read that once. But shrimp taste better than mussels too. I’m sure there’s something smart-sounding about that,” she laughed.
Her expression turned pensive. “Anything I want,” she repeated. “That’s a lot to think about. I - I really appreciate you and your family being so nice to us. I know it’s helped Daddy feel a little more comfortable with all this - and me, too. It’s nice to see it’s not all - ‘do as we say or you’ll die!’ I’m sorry, I guess I already said that…”
Relieved not to have made a complete fool of himself, Felipe relaxed. He smiled a little more easily and brushed off his friend's apology. “No need to worry. This has been a lot for you. I'm glad to be able to help,” he told her. And he meant it.
He had the sudden urge to wrap her in a best hug the way he would for Leonor, but was interrupted by exactly that. Speak of the devil and all that.
“What are you doing?” Leonor said, both innocently curious and eager to find them doing something wrong. Finding nothing of punishable offense happening -- she never did, as Felipe was too much of a rule-follower for that -- she shrugged. “Papá dice que la cena está lista y pregunta si Jessica prefiere la leche o el té con la de ella.” Dad says dinner is ready and asks if Jessica prefers milk or tea with hers.
“Tea’s fine,” said Jessica, never thinking of the possibility this might mean anything other than the sweet iced tea she was accustomed to. “Let’s see how Los Jardines de Plata compares to Atlanta there - I’m pretty sure you’ll beat us at Mexican food, but we might be able to compete at tea,” she joked.
Felipe smiled, wrinkling his face in some confusion. “I don’t think of it as Mexican food,” he said. “Do you call it American food when your mom makes dinner?”
Jessica laughed, acknowledging the point. “I think I’d just call it scary,” she said. “I would be amazed if Mommy ever cooked anything in her entire life.”
Hopping to his feet, he offered her his hand. “M’lady,” he smirked. “May I accompany you to the dining room?”
She took the proffered hand and stood, too. “Lead the way, Senor De Matteo,” she said. Their conversation had been surprisingly...something not bad - she was not entirely sure what the feeling in her chest and stomach was, but it was definitely not bad - but she was happy to move back to lighter, safer ground.