Troublemaker

by Heather Beck

  Trying to push all the negative, worried thoughts out of her mind, Ava got up off her bed and headed into the shower, getting ready for her date with Javier. Despite everything that was going on, he could still make her smile, and when she’d told him about her parents’ divorce and the police’s decision not to prosecute Miguel, he’d been so kind, listening on the phone as she talked about how she was feeling.

  Ava stepped out of the shower, quickly dried herself off, and then pulled on the black romper she’d picked out this morning. She accessorized with diamond stud earrings, a black choker, and a tennis bracelet, and then looked at herself in the mirror. Satisfied with what she saw, she headed out of her room, only taking a few steps down the hallway when she heard her sister’s voice. She turned around to see Tessa standing outside her bedroom door, almost like she’d been waiting for Ava.

  “So, you’ve finally emerged,” Tessa teased. “It’s not like you to lock yourself in your room all day. Like, literally lock your door. I was starting to think you had Javier in there with you.”

  Ava forced herself to be playful. “I wish. I was actually doing homework all day, and now it’s time for my reward. I’m having dinner with Javier at his place.”

  “I can tell. You look gorgeous.”

  “Thanks, Tess.” She gave her sister a smile and then turned around, preparing to leave, but before she could go anywhere, her sister’s voice stopped her again.

  “I can also tell that you’re avoiding me, so fess up. What’s going on?”

  Ava faced her sister, pretending to be confused. “What are you talking about?”

  “Oh, come on, Ava. I know you better than anyone else. You’ve been acting differently, and I want to know why.”

  “Well, if I am acting differently, I haven’t been doing it on purpose. I guess I’m caught up in this thing with Javier. I really like him, you know.”

  “Are you sure that’s all it is?” Tessa looked straight at Ava, as if trying to figure out if she was lying or not.

  “Of course.”

  Tessa was silent for several moments until finally, she sighed. “Okay, so you guys are in the love-at-first-sight phase – I get it,” she said, obviously believing Ava’s excuse. “Just don’t forget about me completely. It’s not like I have any other people around here to talk to, you know.”

  “Never,” Ava said, going to her sister and giving her a hug. “I promise we’ll spend time together soon. We’ll order some take-out food and watch a movie, okay?”

  “Okay,” Tessa replied, brightening up.

  Ava cast her sister a smile before turning around and hurrying to leave. She knew she was getting way too good at lying, and she absolutely hated it.

  Twenty minutes later, Ava pulled onto a street called Centro Antiguo Avenida, taking the directions Javier had given her. As she followed the increasing house numbers, looking for 164, she couldn’t help but notice that this was an older part of town and that the rowhouses lining the street needed some repairs. Still, it was a lively neighborhood, with kids playing soccer on the street and women chatting to neighbors in their front yards.

  Ava came to a stop in front of Javier’s house, parking behind his car on the street since there didn’t seem to be a driveway. Getting out of the car, which she’d prearranged to borrow days ago, she made her way to his front door and knocked.

  She waited for a few moments, the seconds ticking by slowly, and was just about to knock again when the door opened, revealing Javier wearing a man’s apron, an oven mitt on his hand. “Hey, sorry to keep you waiting,” he said. “Work ran late tonight, which means I’m running late.”

  “Not a problem, chef,” she said teasingly, gesturing toward the apron and oven mitt as he took them off. “I’m glad to see that you’re taking this seriously.”

  “Just wait until I get my own cooking show,” he teased back, stepping aside so she could come in. “I hope you’re not too hungry. Dinner will probably be another twenty-five minutes, but I do have appetizers.”

  “That sounds perfect,” she said, stepping into the narrow but neatly organized hallway. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “No, I’ve taken care of it.” The words had hardly left his mouth when a tan-colored short-haired chihuahua came running into the hallway, followed by another one, who was a little slower because of a missing back leg. Both dogs jumped up on Ava, begging for attention.

  “Down,” Javier instructed the dogs, but it did little to curb their enthusiasm.

  “I don’t mind,” Ava said, bending down to pet them. “I love dogs, especially ones as precious as these guys.”

  “An animal lover, I remember.” Javier looked enamored by the affection Ava had for his dogs, and likewise, the affection his dogs had for her. They ran circles around her and yelped happily, stopping every few seconds to lick her hand.

  “What are their names?” Ava asked.

  “This is Taco,” he said, bending down to pet the chihuahua who wore a red collar, “and this is Tequila.” He picked up the chihuahua who wore a green collar, the one who was missing a leg. Tequila calmed down in Javier’s arms and nestled happily into his chest. Ava knew how he felt.

  “What happened to this little guy?” Ava asked as she stroked Tequila’s head, his big eyes starting to close sleepily.

  “The staff at the animal shelter said it was a birth defect. That’s where I got Tequila and Taco, too. Supposedly, they were abused and abandoned by some asshole and had been at the shelter for months.”

  “Months? That’s so sad. I thought a purebred would have no trouble getting adopted.”

  “The thing is, lots of people wanted to adopt Taco but not Tequila. Since they were a bonded pair, the staff didn’t want to separate them. It was getting to the point where they were thinking about it, though, and that meant Tequila would probably be put down.”

  “But he wasn’t because you gave him a home. You gave them both a home.”

  “Well, I like having them around,” Javier said bashfully. “I have to admit it was pretty hard at first. They were really timid and would bark like crazy if you tried to pick them up, especially Taco. It took almost a year, but they’ve really warmed up to people. It’s like they’re completely different dogs.”

  “I can see that,” Ava said, thinking it was sexy how much he cared about his pets.

  “Now, if I could only get them to listen to my commands,” Javier joked. He put Tequila back down on the ground and then gestured down the hall. “Let’s go to the living room. It’s much more comfortable there.”

  Ava followed Javier into the living room, Taco and Tequila at their heels. It was a small room with only one couch, a round coffee table, a TV in the corner, and a couple of bookcases that held knickknacks and lots of religious artifacts. Ava had never been in a house like this before, but she found it cozy and thought that all the old family photographs on the walls gave it a very special touch.

  “Churro?” Javier asked, offering her a small bowl filled with a snack that looked like a cross between a donut and a cinnamon stick.

  “Gracias,” Ava said, taking a couple of churros in a napkin.

  They settled down together on the comfortable couch, Taco and Tequila curling up at their feet. “So, how are you feeling?” Javier asked, his tone soft and caring as he put an arm around her shoulders.

  “Honestly? I’m feeling kind of frustrated, angry, upset – like I want to run away from all my problems.”

  “I’ve been there a few times before.”

  “Only, running away doesn’t help, does it? Because if you don’t deal with the problems, they just follow you wherever you go, at least mentally.” She sighed. “Sorry, I don’t mean to unload on you.”

  “Are you kidding me? After the shit I’ve put you through because of my anger issues? I want to help you, Ava. I’d do anything to help you.”

  “Can you tell me what to do about Tess and my parents’ divorce? I don’t want to keep this from her for much longe
r, but with my mom telling me that I have to, I feel like I don’t have a choice.”

  “You don’t think Tessa suspects a thing?”

  “Definitely not something like this. I mean, why would she? I would have no clue if I hadn’t walked in on my mom and Rowan in a loving embrace.” She shuddered at the memory.

  “That was an awful way to find out,” Javier said softly.

  “Yeah, tell me about it.”

  Javier was silent for a moment as he soothingly rubbed Ava’s shoulder. “I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but I think your mom is just trying to protect Tessa.”

  “By lying to her? By making me lie to her? It will just hurt Tess more in the end.”

  “Maybe, but your mom probably feels trapped, like she’s damned if she tells her and damned if she doesn’t. The way I see it, your mom tried to protect you from the truth, but she failed, and she sees how much it’s hurt you. She doesn’t want the same thing happening to Tessa, too, even if it just means prolonging the inevitable.”

  “I get what you’re saying, but she’s going about it the wrong way.”

  “You’re right. She’s wrong, but I bet her heart’s in the right place.”

  “Deep down, I know it is. I just wish she’d listen to me and tell Tessa before it’s too late.”

  “Then you got to try to convince her.”

  “Yeah, but that means talking to her, and I just don’t feel ready for that. The wound is still so fresh.” Sighing for the second time that night, Ava bit into one of the forgotten churros in her napkin. “It’s good,” she said, taking another bite.

  “It’s one of the best comfort foods Mexico has to offer.”

  “Then you better pass me the whole bowl,” Ava joked, even though she wasn’t laughing. In need of some comfort, she placed her head on Javier’s chest, listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat. He didn’t say a word, instead holding her tight, and that was exactly what she needed. She gazed up at him, more grateful than ever that he was in her life.

  “What is it?” he asked gently.

  Ava opened her mouth, about to tell him what he meant to her when her phone rang. “Sorry,” she said, reaching for her purse, which she’d left over the side of the couch. She took out her phone and looked at the screen, but she made no attempt to answer it.

  “Everything alright?” Javier asked.

  “It’s my mom.”

  “Do you want me to give you some privacy?”

  “No,” Ava said, pressing the ignore button. “All I want to concentrate on right now is you and me.” She settled back into his arms, but then her phone beeped with a text message.

  “You should probably check that,” Javier said.

  Ava knew he was right, so she opened the text and read.

  I tried calling, but I couldn’t get hold of you. I guess you were busy, or maybe you were driving. I just wanted to let you know that we have an appointment with a lawyer. It’s on Monday at ten. He’s supposed to be one of the best in Mexico. Anyway, it’s been a couple of days since we’ve talked, and I’d really like to change that. I miss you and hope you’re doing okay. XOXO Mom.

  “Is it from her?” Javier asked after Ava had put down her phone.

  Ava nodded. “She says we have an appointment with a lawyer on Monday.”

  “That’s good. Someone needs to make Miguel finally pay for his sins.”

  “Yeah, but I really don’t want to talk about it right now. Tonight’s about you and me, remember?”

  “That’s a hard thing to forget.”

  Javier gave Ava a sexy smile as he ran his fingers along her cheek, making her skin tingle. He brought his face closer to hers and kissed her, gentle at first, but then harder, with more passion. He ran his hands along her back and then around her waist, and with one strong sweep, he brought her body against his. Ava’s fingers traveled under his shirt, feeling his toned chest. Unable to resist him any longer, she started to pull his shirt off over his head when the sound of someone unlocking the front door drifted into the living room.

  “Shit,” they said in unison, jumping apart.

  “Is that your mom?” Ava asked.

  “Yeah,” Javier said as he pulled his shirt back down.

  “I thought you said we’d have the place to ourselves?” It wasn’t like Ava minded meeting his mom. In fact, she was happy to. It was just that the timing was really bad.

  “I thought so, too,” Javier said, casting her an apologetic look.

  “Javier, estás aquí?” his mom called.

  “Sí,” Javier called back. “And I have someone I’d like you to meet.”

  His mom walked into the living room, and when she saw Ava, a wide smile spread across her face. “You must be Ava, my son’s girlfriend,” she said in a thick accent as she hugged Ava, who – along with the chihuahuas – had gotten up to greet her. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, too, Mrs. de la Cruz,” Ava said.

  “Please, call me Esmeralda.” She took a step back and looked at Ava, her eyes sparkling. “I hope you don’t mind me saying, but my son was right – you’re absolutely gorgeous! I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen such a pretty face.”

  “Ava might not mind, but I do,” Javier joked, even though he did look a little embarrassed.

  Ava laughed lightly. “That’s sweet of you to say, Esmeralda, but I’m sure it’s not true.”

  “Sí, my dear, it is.”

  As Esmeralda gave Ava another one of her warm smiles, Ava couldn’t help but think that Esmeralda was the gorgeous one. Probably in her early forties, she was tall, slender, and toned. She had hazel eyes just like Javier’s, perfect teeth, and long, silky dark brown hair that fell in a braid over her shoulder. More beautiful than all of that, though, was her friendly demeanor.

  “Dinner should be about ready,” Javier said as he glanced at the clock on the wall. “Mom, would you like me to set a place for you?”

  “Only if you’re sure you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not,” Javier said, Ava nodding in agreement.

  As Javier went into the kitchen, Esmeralda turned to Ava. “I’m really sorry to interrupt your date like this. Javier told me you were coming over for dinner, but it slipped my mind. Work was just so busy. One of the families I clean for decided to have a party at the last minute, and that meant their villa – their very large villa – had to shine from top to bottom. They let me leave early, as soon as I had finished, so I really shouldn’t complain.”

  “I wouldn’t blame you if you did complain. Housekeeping must be hard work. How long have you done it for?”

  “I took some time off five years ago, but apart from that, I’ve been doing it since I was fifteen.”

  Ava was about to ask her another question when Javier came back into the living room. “Dinner’s on the table,” he announced.

  They went into the dining room, where a cloth-covered table held two large dishes filled with delicious-looking food and a beautiful place setting for two – the third one thrown together much quicker. Javier pulled out Ava’s chair before sitting down across from her, Esmeralda taking the head of the table, almost as if to give them a little space.

  “Thanks,” Ava said as Javier handed her the serving cutlery. She took a chicken enchilada and a few scoops of a colorful vegetable side dish and then passed the cutlery to Esmeralda.

  “Gracias,” Esmeralda said to Ava. “And if it’s okay with you, I’d like to say grace.”

  “Of course,” Ava replied, even though she’d never said grace in her life.

  Esmeralda lowered her head, closed her eyes, and started speaking fast in Spanish.

  Javier mouthed, sorry, to Ava, and in response she mouthed, it’s fine. She then lowered her head and closed her eyes, too.

  Grace went on for almost a minute, with Ava picking up on a few words and the name Mateo, realizing that must have been Javier’s dad. When Esmeralda reached the end of the prayer, she added in English,
“May you bless Ava and her family and keep them safe. Let their time in Mexico be fruitful, their lives long and happy, and may you always smile upon them. Amen.”

  “Amen,” Javier and Ava echoed, opening their eyes.

  “Thank you for being so understanding,” Esmeralda said to Ava as they began to eat. “Saying grace is a tradition for us. It has been since Javier was a young boy, since Mateo and I were first married, actually. It makes me feel like he’s still here with us.”

  “I think it’s beautiful,” Ava said, truly meaning it. She thought it was super sweet that Esmeralda had included her family in the prayer, too. “Javier, um, told me about what happened with his father. I’m really sorry. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for the both of you.”

  “We got through it – not without a few bumps in the road, of course. But in the end, it made us stronger. I like to tell myself that a part of him is still with us. We have the memories, and every time I look at Javier, I see his father in him. They look so alike. Has Javier shown you a photo of him?” When Ava shook her head no, Esmeralda got up and plucked a framed photograph from the wall. “There he is,” she said, handing the picture to Ava and pointing to a man who did look a lot like Javier, only a bit older.

  “He’s really handsome,” Ava said, then biting her lip, knowing that wasn’t the most proper thing she could’ve said.

  Luckily, Esmeralda laughed. “I think so, too,” she said as she took the photograph and hung it back on the wall.

  “You know, this conversation is making me really uncomfortable,” Javier joked, but Ava could see the hint of sadness in his eyes at the mention of his father.

  “Sorry, poco alborotador,” Esmeralda said as she sat back down and continued to eat.