Claiming Carlos

by Rachelle Ayala

“You’re right, thank you, Tita.” He took her hand and pressed it to his lips.

  “No charge on the cake.” Elena gestured to Betty who had boxed the cake.

  Carlos reached into his pocket. “No, I can’t take it without paying. It’s a matter of honor.”

  Elena waved him aside. “Gift. Do not insult me by paying for it. Anna’s daughter’s happiness is enough for me, and you are the man for her. I know it in my heart.”

  # # #

  “Why, Carlos, come in,” Tita Anna exclaimed from her doorway. “Choco’s not here. Were you able to catch her after the game and speak to her?”

  Carlos handed her the cake. “I actually came to talk to you.”

  “Me? Well, certainly, come in. And you didn’t have to bring me a cake. You’re so sweet.”

  “Thank you, Tita. I’m glad you can see me.”

  He stepped inside and took off his shoes. Livy, Genie and Brian were in the family room playing video games.

  “I wonder if we can talk somewhere private,” Carlos said. He put his finger to his lips when he saw Anna about to call out to the kids to greet Kuya Carlos. “Not now.”

  “Oh, sure. Let me put the cake in the refrigerator and we can go into my husband’s study. He’s out of town.”

  Carlos rubbed the sweat from the top of his lip and took a seat in front of the large mahogany desk. Anna seemed leery of sitting at her husband’s desk. She settled in an armchair.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot to offer you something to drink. Tea? Coffee?”

  “I’m fine. I don’t want to disturb you,” Carlos began. “But this concerns the restaurant. What do you think about the changes?”

  Tita took a deep breath, her eyes darting back and forth as if deciding whether to share with him. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so forward, gotten right down to business without the usual pleasantries.

  “I suppose you’re worried.” Tita Anna pressed his forearm. “And you should be. If their goal is to bankrupt us, they couldn’t be doing a better job.”

  “Who, the Dees?”

  “Yes, mother and son. They’ve spun a web for Rey and he’s fallen straight into it.”

  “Do you know why?”

  “They’re … they, never mind the reason.” Anna seemed to backtrack. “We need to stop them before they destroy everything Rey and I worked so hard for.”

  “I agree, but how?”

  “We need to know what he’s after. Choco’s been doing some investigations. Apparently, he’s been taking trips to San Francisco to look for investments. He’s spoken to some hedge fund managers and private investors. I thought it was for the expansion to San Marcos and the merger with Elena’s bakery, but instead of that, he’s shutting Barrio XO.”

  “Why can’t we keep Barrio XO running the way it is and raise capital for the new restaurant? Why would Miranda destroy Barrio XO?”

  Anna tapped her fingers on her head. “I’m not sure she is. If Miranda invests in Manila Cloud, what good is it for her to destroy my husband’s reputation? I’m looking at this objectively, with no personal feelings involved. If she wants a piece of my husband, she’ll want him successful and able to raise funds. Investors do not invest in a loser, and she gains nothing by ruining Barrio XO’s reputation.”

  “If it’s not her, then who?”

  Anna rose from her chair and paced around the room. “Think, think. The pee in the salad dressing happened when?”

  “The second week after Johnny appeared. It correlates with Johnny.”

  “Yet, I find it hard to believe Johnny would stoop to such acts of sabotage. How would he get past all the cooks, Thomas, Victor, Jake, Danny, and you to taint the food?”

  “Maybe he paid one of them to do it. Or maybe it’s one of the new waitresses.”

  “True, that case of Patron missing after the karaoke night could be one of them. I also wonder about the toilet stuffing. That never happened before they arrived.”

  “Or the flour bomb that hit Choco. That could be Johnny rigging a prank.”

  “Maybe.” Anna paced around the armchair and stopped, tapping her toe. “But the way I see it, Johnny is still attracted to Choco. I’m not encouraging it, but I did tell Choco to remain friendly with him to find out what his mother is up to. You know, keep her friends close and your enemies closer.”

  “What if he’s dangerous for her?” An irritation brewed in Carlo’s solar plexus. “If he hurts her, I’ll pound his ass flat and shove his Tesla under a bulldozer.”

  Anna paused, her eyes widening. She seemed to want to come out and say something, but instead, shook her head and tapped her chin.

  “He won’t,” she continued. “Johnny cares too much about appearances. From what Choco found out, he may not have gone to Harvard as he claimed. There’s no record of a Johnny Dee attending Harvard Business School.”

  “So he’s a con man. Shouldn’t you expose him to your husband?”

  “Not yet.” Anna faced him square on. “There’s one more piece of information we need before we can out him.”

  “What is it?”

  She rubbed her chest as if to slow her rapid breathing. “It’s family. Private, but if we find out what Miranda has on Rey, what hold she has, we may be able to counter it. It’s a slim chance.”

  “You can’t ask Rey?”

  “No, unfortunately not. He won’t talk to me about her.” Anna’s voice hitched. “He’s saying hateful things to keep me from digging and looking into things.”

  “I always thought he loved you. He worshipped you.”

  Anna’s face clouded over with pain. She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath. “I think he still does. But I’m afraid.”

  “Don’t worry, we won’t let them win. We’ll save Barrio XO. Or if we can’t, I’ll raise funds to buy it.”

  “Oh Carlos,” Tita Anna sighed. “You are such a darling boy. I wish Choco could see straight. She’s so angry about you and Julia. You two were such good friends too. I don’t understand her. At first, she seemed happy you were dating Julia, but now, she acts betrayed. When I asked her if she cared for you, she said, no, she doesn’t love you. She just wishes you’d be a better friend. So tell me, what’s going on? You two have been friends forever and it breaks my heart to see you fight like this.”

  “She doesn’t love me?” Carlos muttered, his voice squeezed deep in his throat.

  “No, she sees you as a friend who betrayed her.”

  “Did she say how? I can’t figure out what I supposedly did.”

  Anna patted his arm. “It’s probably some tiny misunderstanding you’ve forgotten about. Anyway, she’ll come around. She’s a sensible girl. Has her head on straight, and I’ve never known her to hold grudges.”

  “I hope you’re right.” He hung his head, too pained in his heart to make eye contact. “I have to go. I’m sorry if I disturbed you.”

  “No, you’ve given me hope. I want my husband and restaurant back. It’s good to know you care about Barrio XO as much as I do.”

  # # #

  Hope. It’s not a strategy, but it’s a motivation.

  Carlos wrote these words on a piece of paper and taped it to his refrigerator. The apartment felt empty with his mother gone. But tomorrow evening, he’d make it right with Choco.

  To let someone go without explanation was plain chicken shit, and Carlos was not a man to run away from a fight. He cranked up the stereo to his Carlos Santana playlist and bounced around his room shadowboxing, picturing Johnny Dee’s gleaming teeth pulverized, his head bloody and broken bones protruding from his hairless Kitty Galore body.

  During a break in the music, Carlos picked up his phone and texted Choco: Have dinner with me tomorrow evening. I want to apologize.

  After every few rounds of boxing and kicking, he’d check his phone. Nothing. No reply. Not that he expected it.

  He rummaged through his kitchen for eggs, butter, and flour. Elena was right. He could bake her a cake every day. Opening the
refrigerator, he discovered a couple of calamondin fruits and a bag of organic matcha powder his mother had left behind.

  He added a tablespoon of matcha powder to the calamansi muffin mix and baked her a batch of mini-muffins before going to bed.

  Tomorrow was another day. He was the right man for Choco. She just had to see it his way.

  Part V – Choco / Chapter 26

  I stare at Carlos’s text. It came in last night, but I didn’t reply. What does he want me to say? If he and Julia want to get married, I should be gracious enough to be happy for them. Julia’s so much in love, radiant.

  As you would be too, if you had Carlos, my inner voice who sounds like my sister Evie nags.

  I slump on my bed and kick the packing boxes. With the way things are going at the restaurant, we won’t be able to make payroll at the end of the month. I’m failing my business classes and headed for burger-flipping. At least my parents will let me move back home.

  A text buzzes on my phone. It’s Livy: Why can’t I get a piercing like Genie?

  I text back: She’s over eighteen.

  Livy: Please, please, please? I’ll pay for it myself.

  That kid won’t give up. She’s a lot like me. Grrr …

  Me: No you won’t. Your father will ground you for good.

  Livy: Guess I’ll go to the beach then, since I can’t get my belly button pierced I might as well roll in the sand.

  Me: You’ll regret it. Genie’s in a lot of pain.

  Livy: Yeah, you’re so right. She doesn’t feel like going to the beach.

  Wait. Who’s driving her if Genie’s not going?

  I hit redial and ring her phone.

  “What? Can’t we keep texting?” she grumbles.

  “No, who’s going to the beach with you?”

  “No one! Don’t get all mother hen on me. Sheesh.”

  Oh, I have an idea exactly who the ‘no one’ is. Julia reported seeing Brian and Livy holding hands, and I had already warned both of them to stay away from each other. Of course they don’t know the true reason.

  “Put Brian on.”

  “Why?”

  “Put him on.” I grit my teeth. “If not, put Genie on.”

  “No, you call them. I’m going to hang out with my friends.”

  “Where? Have you stayed away from Brian? I’ll check with Genie, so don’t lie.”

  “Geez, you’re a perv. What’s wrong with having Brian as my friend? Thanks to Tita Anna, he was put to work all day yesterday spreading woodchips.”

  “Good. He’s four years older than you. Trust me, you don’t know how teenage boys can get.”

  Livy heaves a big groan, and I picture her rolling her eyes. “I’m only twelve. What makes you think I’m interested in guys?”

  “Good, I want you to keep it that way. No boys, no kissing, nothing. Your father wants me to watch over you.”

  “Sure, great job. I saw you kissing Kuya Carlos and he was touching your boobies, and then he’s all over Aunt Julia. I’ll never be as yucky as you guys.”

  Oh, crap. She must have been spying on me at the restaurant that night of the videoke. And Julia? When was she allowed to take Livy anywhere?

  “When was this?”

  “None of your business. Nosy Choco. Cluck, cluck, cluck.”

  “Your father doesn’t want you around Aunt Julia without any of us around.”

  “Why, cuz she’s cool? Hey, wait. I bet she’ll take me to get my piercing. I might even get a tattoo.”

  Exactly why Livy can’t have unsupervised visits with Julia. She has a borderline personality disorder, subject to severe mood swings, which is why Carlos is so good for her. He’s a rock, an anchor, stable, and protective. He’ll never let her down the way Steve the soldier did.

  “I’ll take you to get your piercing.” Maybe I can talk her out of it. “It might hurt, you know.”

  “Genie says it’s just a pinch. Easy peasy.”

  “Eat your breakfast. I’ll be over in a half an hour.”

  I call my mom and ask her to take Brian to the restaurant. She understands why. Too bad Livy won’t.

  # # #

  Livy and I walk into an Asian smoke and herb shop. One side is filled with packets of dried mushrooms, bean curd, lily buds, teas, and powders. The other side sports water pipes, cigars, lighters, and chewing tobacco. Behind the counter is a wall of tiny drawers with Chinese labels where the medicine is kept.

  “Are you sure this is the right place?” I ask Livy.

  “See that sign?” She points to a diagram of pierced body parts with Chinese words underneath.

  “Uh, I can’t read any of this.”

  “Yeah, but look at the pictures. There’s a belly button, a nipple, nose, lips, tongue, and the X’s are for the penis and clitoris.”

  “Shhh.” I almost cup my hand over her mouth. “Did you have to say that so loud?”

  “You’re so uptight, Ate Choco. My mom had a nipple piercing, and I bet Aunt Julia has her clit pierced.”

  “Stop it!” My face is burning. “She does?”

  “Ha, ha, look at you.” Livy covers her mouth and giggles. “I heard her on the phone with Kuya Carlos. She said she has a ring between her legs she wants him to tickle.”

  “Ahhh! I didn’t want to know that.” My stomach turns queasy, as if someone punched me. I can’t picture Carlos jerking himself off and imagining having sex with her. This is too horrid. What if they’ve done it already now that Gloria’s gone? I wipe my face, trying to erase the image of Carlos, gloriously erect as he enters my cousin and pumps. “Brain bleach. Brain bleach.”

  Livy elbows me. “You’re a prude, but since you’re my Ate Choco, I love you anyway.”

  Yeah, yeah, sweet talk the elder sister when she’s about to do something outrageously stupid.

  “You sure your father won’t find out?”

  “I told you, worry wart. He doesn’t allow me to wear bikinis and now that I’m in puberty, he’s not allowed to look at me.”

  “What about the doctor’s office? Don’t they have parents standing by?”

  “Dork, I ask for a nurse, a female nurse, or Julia or you can take me. Julia says she can get me pills when I’m ready.”

  “No, you come to me. Not Julia.” Gosh, my jealousy of Julia is about to go epic. I lost Carlos to her. I can’t lose Livy too, even if she’s the official aunt, and I’m just the family friend. “Ready for your piercing?”

  “Will you buy me that?” Livy points to a dangling dragon navel ring.

  “Sure, sure, why don’t you ask the lady to get it over with?” My breathing’s too fast, and I’m feeling light-headed. Beads of cold sweat dot my nose. It’s stuffy inside the herb store, and the mixed aromas from the medicinal pot brewing on the counter, sharp, pungent, itchy, and grassy make me want to hurl.

  Livy saunters up to the shopkeeper, a middle-aged Chinese woman with dragons tattooed on her forearms. She doesn’t even glance at Livy. Instead, she continues to measure what looks like giant scorpion tails on a balance scale. Carefully, she sweeps every tangled piece into the clay pot emitting noxious fumes from its spout.

  I wander down the spice aisle. Might as well pick up something for the restaurant. Taking a basket, I collect packets of Sichuan peppercorns, black garlic, and Shandong chile threads. A box of thousand year old eggs catch my eye. Preserved duck eggs, buried for several weeks or months until the yolk turns green and the white becomes black jelly. Smelly, but oh, so rich and creamy. I tuck a box into my shopping basket and approach the front counter.

  “I’m sorry, but we need a parent’s signature,” the shop owner tells Livy, her English choppy and curt.

  Livy rolls her eyes my direction. “She’s my mother.”

  “Yeah, right. I heard you call her Ah-ti Chou-ko.” The tattooed wonder woman throws me a dismissive glance. “She looks too young.”

  Should I help Livy here? Enable her to get the piercing she wants so badly? Her father’s a real control freak. It’s
only a small thing, but it’ll be the first time she stood up for herself. She’s counting on me.

  “That’s cuz my mom’s cool. Don’t we kind of look alike?” Livy pulls me to her side and presses the side of her face against mine.

  Madame Dragon-arms bends her eyebrows to one side as she scrutinizes us. “Your hair’s browner than hers.”

  “But we both have freckles,” Livy chirps.

  “Ha, that’s unusual for Chinese, isn’t it? Makes it hard to work a design in, unless it’s for a leopard.” The tattoo artist chuckles half-heartedly. “Whatever. As long as Ah-ti Chou-ko signs, I’m cool with it.”

  Say something supportive. A real mother wouldn’t be tongue tied right now.

  “Uh, Livy, maybe we should discuss this with your dad.”

  “He said he didn’t care, as long as you approve.” She flashes me a sweet smile and flutters her eyelashes. “Please? I’ll do all my chores and more for a month.”

  How can I say no to her? I take the permission slip and print. Ah-Ti Chou-ko, then scribble my name with the word ‘Mother.’ Aww … my heart melts and I blink, swallowing hard. I missed so much of Livy growing up. No contact until Olivia died. Never seen her baby smiles, her first tooth, learning to walk, holding my hand and calling me ‘Mama.’

  “You done?” The piercing lady takes the consent slip. “What’s her name? Li-vee Chou-ko? Age?”

  “Twelve.”

  “You both look too young.” Dragon Lady wrinkles her nose at me. “Let’s go, Li-vee, behind the curtains.”

  Livy looks back at me, her brow twisted and her mouth slightly puckered. And even though I’m squeamish, and hate needles, and never wanted to be a nurse, or touch any blood, I follow her, because she’s my girl, my baby.

  My flesh and blood.

  Chapter 27

  I arrive at the restaurant a little past noon. The tables are mostly empty. Not good. After stowing my purse in my father’s office, I don my waitress uniform and check in with Mama who’s the hostess today.

  “Business is slow. Why don’t you take the kare kare room and I’ll serve the bangus room?” Mama shrugs.

  “Is Miranda around?”

  “Gadflying and trying to convince the customers our new, improved menu is better for their health.”