Chapter 4
Three months later
Orlando
Because of the vaccine records left with the baby, and the result of the paternity test, two things were for certain now. One, Baby O was without a doubt Orlando’s child. And two, the mother, whose name he hadn’t recognized, was deceased. The news in both instances had felt so surreal. Orlando didn’t remember the mother; although the name felt too formal. Maria Angelica Banuelos was the name on the coroner’s report but was likely not how she’d introduced herself. She’d died of an overdose just a month and a half after the baby was born.
Whose care the baby had been in for the other almost two months of his life before he was left at Orlando’s doorstep remained a mystery. Not that it mattered. The police had since ruled out any chance of a wrongful death in the mother’s case. It was a clear-cut self-inflicted overdose.
Only other question that remained was whether it’d been accidental or intentional. From the coroner’s report, Orlando knew it’d been prescription meds she’d OD’d on, not street drugs. As if that made a difference. An addict was an addict regardless of what kind of drugs they were shooting up, snorting, or popping. As strangely shocking as the news of her death had been, Orlando was now relieved. His feelings hadn’t changed about whomever abandoned the baby not deserving to be part of his life. In fact, as soon as it’d been confirmed Baby O was his, that protective instinct he’d begun to feel even that first day had multiplied tenfold. Orlando had since decided, if the mother ever came around, he’d fight tooth and nail to keep her out of his son’s life. Now that he knew she’d been an addict, it would’ve been a guns-a-blazing fight to the death to keep her far away from his son. It hurt to admit it, but he’d had the misfortune of knowing firsthand that, no matter how good a person the addict was, getting their fix always came before anything and anyone. No matter how much they may’ve loved them. With that thought, he pulled off his beanie and stared at it, bittersweetly shaking his head. “Yep,” he whispered, feeling a little choked up suddenly. “No way would I have allowed it.”
Shaking off the heavy sorrow, he thought about the one good thing he knew about the baby’s mom instead. Good for him anyway. His lawyer had told him it was a good thing that she had no family. None that they could trace back to anyway. From what they’d been able to gather, she’d lived alone. While she died as an adult—just twenty-two—they’d been able to find little more about her background than she’d been in jail a few times. As far as they knew, she was an only child who’d been in foster care most of her life, so they’d hit nothing but walls when trying to trace back any next of kin. This meant when, not if, Orlando finally got custody of his boy, he wouldn’t have to deal with anyone else wanting to be part of raising him.
“You’re moving?”
Snapped out of his thoughts, Orlando turned to the curvy young girl on the sidewalk, peering up into the U-Haul truck, hands shielding her eyes from the sun. He shook his head. “Shop’s staying. I’m just moving out of the apartment upstairs.”
“Oh,” she said with a strange smile even as she continued to shield her eyes from the sun with her hand. “Good to know. I don’t know much about choosing auto shops, and this is the only one I’ve ever brought my car into to get serviced.”
“Nah,” Orlando said, checking her out—out of habit. “No worries. Shop ain’t going anywhere. I’m just moving out of that place up there.”
The girl glanced up at the window on the second floor he’d motioned to and nodded. He watched as she walked back into the shop. She was wearing workout apparel. There was no missing how top heavy she was. She also had a nice full ass but otherwise was just another typical-looking full-figured Hispanic girl, like many in this area of Boyle Heights. It was crazy how being a dad changed his outlook on life. Before he knew he had a kid, his biggest concerns were making money, staying in shape, and getting laid. Even a girl like this one, who he knew he’d have no trouble getting hard for, despite her lack of wow, he would’ve at least flirted with. But for the past three months, his mind had been preoccupied with far bigger things. Ever since they’d confirmed he was Little O’s dad, it’d been at the forefront of Orlando’s mind from the moment he woke until the moment he passed out each night. It was the craziest thing how quickly that baby had changed his life. The morning the baby was left at Orlando’s door, he’d woken a single man with zero desire or plans to commit to so much as a relationship any time soon. Much less a family.
By the next day he was dying to know the results of the paternity test. The second he was told the paternity test was positive, he’d lived and breathed trying to get his boy back. In less than a few weeks, he’d had absolutely no qualms about digging deep into his life savings—borrowing if he had to—to make sure he got him back.
The last three months had been an absolute roller coaster: from the bliss he felt every time he got to visit him and hold him to the agony of having to say good-bye until the next time. He’d never felt anger and frustration the way he’d felt trying to get through all the red tape. He’d even rushed through the home-buying process when he was told his living quarters were not a safe environment for a child. He was finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and he’d be damned if he’d let them come up with even one more reason why he couldn’t bring his son home already. With that thought, he hurried back to piling boxes in the truck so he could move into his new place ASAP. After about a half hour more of piling boxes, he was down to his wife-beater shirt and jeans. His beanie hung out of his back pocket now. He was just about ready to strip out of that shirt too but didn’t. Since he’d run out of water and was getting thirsty, he decided to take a break. When he walked into the shop, he was surprised to see the girl who questioned him outside still there waiting. She and only one other person sat in the waiting area. The man was preoccupied reading one of the magazines on the small corner table while she stared at her phone screen. She glanced up and did a double take when she saw him. The way she eyed his sweaty bare arms and shoulders wasn’t missed, but she glanced away quickly. “You still here?” he asked with a smirk as he walked behind the counter. “What’re you getting serviced? I got a little pull around here.”
“An oil change,” she said a bit guarded. “But there were a few people before me.”
A mixture of caution and nerves danced in her eyes. As she looked back at him, he noticed something else in those big almost startled eyes he couldn’t quite put his finger on—anticipation? Whatever it was, it caught his attention in a strange way.
It had him inadvertently thinking of something else. Orlando had calmed quite a bit about the prospect of being a father. It’d helped him think a little clearer about his initial willingness to go along with Felicia jumping the gun on their relationship. So, he’d since put the brakes on things between them. With everything he’d been doing to ready himself to be a dad, and the shop being so damn busy, the time he spent with Felicia had been severely cut back anyway. He still saw her every once in a while, but it was hardly what he’d call a relationship, and as they had before her boyfriend declaration, they’d gone back to their unspoken agreement. He was all for a good time and her hanging out even the next morning. But he still wasn’t feeling the whole serious relationship thing, especially now that he had something so much bigger occupying his thoughts. Meeting new chicks hadn’t even been out of the question before he pulled way back from Felicia. So, hell yeah, he could get his flirt on with this one. He smiled even more playfully. “Not to brag or anything, but I can probably push things along a little faster for you.”
This close her dark eyes were much bigger than they looked outside when she’d squinted up at him, and she wasn’t even wearing a lick of makeup as far as he could tell. Another thing about being privy to her this close, Orlando could now see the heavy curves were what made her look a little full-figured. What he’d labeled top heavy outside was actually a hell of a rack to match the well-rounded ass. But as far as Orlando had ever be
en concerned, as long as it wasn’t sloppy, the more there was to squeeze the better. And this chick had plenty to squeeze. Except she was more of what he considered deliciously voluptuous than full-figured, in Orlando’s opinion anyway.
What surprised him after getting a much closer look was that he’d completely missed one of his biggest weaknesses when it came to women—her full, almost-bordering-on-pouty lips. He’d been dead wrong about her being a typical-looking Hispanic girl. With those curves in all the right places, big dark sweet eyes, and those suckable lips, she was anything but typical-looking. After taking a much longer inventory of all her startling features, he noticed she was almost exotic looking—in an exceptionally good way. He glanced back up at her eyes, still working the playful smile. “I might be able to up you to VIP status. Get you past some of those people before you.”
The man sitting in the waiting area looked up from his magazine, taking Orlando in. It was only when he realized Orlando was talking to her that he focused on her too. Orlando glanced down at the paperwork on the counter, wondering which one was hers. An oil change shouldn’t take this long. He didn’t realize they were this busy. He read the names on the service orders curiously, but didn’t see any female names. He could ask her what she was driving, but suddenly he was more curious about something else. He winked, smiling even bigger. “What’s your name?”
“It’s under my name,” the man said before she could respond. “Ted. They said they’d also look into the noise it’s been making.”
Well, shit. After glancing down at the paperwork with Ted’s name on it, Orlando dropped it on the counter. Flirting with this chick was out of the question now. The guy was noticeably older than her; it’s why Orlando hadn’t put them together. Since they’d been sitting a seat away from one another, he’d assumed they didn’t even know each other. But given the guy’s obvious attitude, for all Orlando knew this could be her dad. Though it was wishful thinking. The guy was white, and with her exotic features, it was highly unlikely these two were related. Even though the guy appeared to be much older than her, his undisguised distaste for Orlando’s flirting suggested he might be her boyfriend. “I’ll go check to see where they’re at with it.”
He walked off into the shop area, not even looking in the girl’s direction this time. To his surprise, Beast was out there. “When’d you get here?”
“Just now. I’m just stopping by though to pick up something I forgot yesterday.”
Orlando glanced at the crisp collared shirt Beast wore and the gray slacks. “Why you looking all grown-up today?”
“Family portraits. But I took my wedding band off yesterday when I got into something too greasy and forgot it.” He shrugged. “Ali ain’t taking those portraits if I’m not wearing it. She said she’d rather reschedule.”
Orlando laughed, busting his balls about his wife cracking the whip. The big guy was famous for effortlessly knocking out heavyweight opponents in the ring, yet he was putty in the hands of his tiny little five-foot nothing wife. Still smirking, Orlando asked the guys working on Ted’s Kia how much longer it’d be before they were done with it, then followed Beast back inside.
“Why’s this place such a mess?” Beast asked when they were back behind the counter.
“Talia’s still out on disability,” Orlando explained, stacking up some of the more messed-up stacks of paper. “Not sure when she’ll be back.”
“Then have one of the guys standing out there come in here and do something while they’re doing nothing.”
“Will do.” Orlando glanced out the window until Beast interrupted his thoughts again.”So how are things coming along?” Beast asked as he searched the drawer. “This week, right?”
“Better be this week or my lawyer will be all over them. I’ve jumped through every hoop those bastards have asked me to. And I have a house now—with a yard,” he added, his tone as annoyed as he felt. “So, they can’t give me shit over where I live anymore. If I don’t have him by this Friday, someone’s ass is getting sued.”
“You’ll get him.” Beast pulled his ring out of the drawer and put it on. “I know it feels like forever, but it’s only been a couple of months, right?”
“It’s been three fucking months. I’m tired of this shit. I want my boy home already.”
“It’s gonna happen.” Beast clapped him on the back as he walked back around from behind the counter. “No reason why it shouldn’t.”
Orlando nodded, not feeling so sure about it, but said good-bye to Beast as he walked out then glanced back at the two still in the waiting area. Only this time he addressed Ted. “Should be just a few more minutes, Chief.” Ted nodded as the girl stood up, making her way to the customer bathrooms. Orlando did a double take, his eyes going from that ass to her face, when he noticed her wiping away tears. At first, he thought maybe he’d been mistaken. But sure enough, she wiped again, and Orlando thought he even saw her brows pinch together as she rushed into the bathroom. When he glanced back at Ted, the guy was eyeing him—hard. Could this asshole have been a dick to her just because Orlando had started to flirt with her?
“Check it out.” Nine’s words kept Orlando from locking eyes with Ted as his friend walked into the shop, holding a piece of paper up. He handed it to Orlando, who read what looked like a kid’s school assignment. A very young kid because the answers were written in crayon and barely legible. Already he knew this was Nine’s stepdaughter’s school assignment.
“What is it?”
“Read it.”
Orlando started with the title of the paper. “My favorite things.” He glanced back at Nine, who was still smiling like a fucking Jack-O-Lantern. Chuckling, he glanced back down at the paper again. “Food: Hot dog and eggs.”
“She means hot dogs and eggs. As in weenie slices mixed in with her eggs,” Nine said proudly. “She’d never had her eggs like that until I cooked them for her that way.”
“Ah, yes.” Orlando nodded with more chuckling. “Nine, her Top Chef stepdad.”
“You know it. Keep reading.” Nine pointed at the paper with a big proud smile. Orlando read through her favorite colors, animals, places to visit, then got to her favorite number. “Nine. Bam!” Nine clapped loudly and jumped in place. “You see that? When I first met CC, her favorite number was two because she had two dads. But when Dee asked what number she’d want on her T-ball jersey, she said ‘nine’ and I knew.” He pointed at the paper, smiling big. “How you like me now?” Shaking his hips obnoxiously, he then pointed at himself. “Nine, baby! Right here!”
“Alright, alright.” Orlando shook his head, handing Nine the paper back. “Calm your nuts. So, she likes the number nine. Doesn’t mean anyth—”
“Bullshit! You know exactly what it means! Three dads and who’s her favorite?” He took the paper, stretching his neck out to look out into the shop. “Beast here? He’s gotta see this.”
“Favorite number,” Orlando reminded him, laughing. “He’s gone now. But maybe you should make a copy and hang it on the bulletin board so everyone can see it.”
Nine spun around and pointed at him. “Excellent idea.” He started to the copier. “If Talia is gonna hang her grandkids honor-roll shit up. I’m hanging this up too.”
Orlando laughed again, shaking his head. Several minutes later, the door to the bathroom opened up, and Ted’s girl walked out. Her face looked freshly rinsed, and she didn’t appear to be crying, though she had been in there for a while. Beast’s younger brother Byron walked in from the shop, holding a clipboard, and walked right up to Ted. “All done.”
Ted signed the paperwork, Byron rang Ted up, and they started out. The girl turned to Orlando one last time and smiled weakly. “Have a good one,” he said to them.
Ted didn’t even turn to acknowledge him, but she did. “Have a better one,” she said softly. Those haunted eyes stayed on his mind for a while longer until he got back to thoughts of Baby O. “Now that you’re here I can leave,” he said to Nine, grabbing his keys. “
I need to go finish moving in.”
“You sure you don’t need help?” Nine asked.
“Nah, I left most the furniture here and just bought new stuff for the house. It’s mostly clothes and small stuff in the truck. I’m good.”
That evening, after unloading his stuff, Orlando sat in his room, staring at the screen on his laptop since the cable wouldn’t be hooked up for days. It didn’t matter. As usual, he was lost in thoughts of Baby O. Once again, he wracked his brain, trying to remember a Maria or Angelica, maybe even Angie he’d been with in the last year. Closest he could remember were a couple of one-nighters he’d had with two different girls around the time it’d make sense. But he couldn’t remember either of their names. All he remembered was neither of them struck him as junkies. Neither had even been heavy drinkers. At first, he’d worried that her popping pills had affected the baby’s health somehow. But according to the birth records, aside from the baby’s heart murmur, he was otherwise perfectly healthy as the note had indicated. He hated to sound coldhearted, but the more he thought about it, the more the fact that the mother was dead was a relief. At first, he’d worried about the possibility of her having a change of heart and coming back to try and take him back, despite his lawyers trying to ease his worries. Given what Orlando now knew about her criminal record, the judge would’ve likely not gone easy on her for abandoning her child. That had eased his worry but admittedly not his curiosity.
As far as he was concerned, Baby O was perfect. The heart murmur scared the shit out of Orlando. But the doctors had assured him it wasn’t anything uncommon or serious for that matter. Just something they’d have to monitor to make sure nothing more became of it. The social workers had explained why such a thorough physical check was required. “Sadly, lots of abandoned babies are rejected by their parents when there’s a medical issue, something the parents don’t want to be burdened with. It’s necessary that we rule that out and make sure he gets the care he needs if that’s the case.”
Orlando: Boyle Heights #4 Page 3