by Christina OW
“Mama, where did you get her?” Michael asked pointing at the girl. He made funny faces at her, provoking a whole new train of bubbly laughs.
Maria placed her hand on his head and turned him around, “Don’t worry, we aren’t keeping her. Let’s go to the kitchen, I’ll get you something to eat.”
“I wouldn’t mind a little sister,” Michael said candidly, as he drove his imaginary car into the kitchen.
“My son’s got jokes!” Maria said with a laugh.
Dave dragged Amy back to the office kicking and screaming. He had reached his limit and now he wanted her out of his life as soon as possible. He dropped her in the seat next to her lawyer. He grabbed the divorce papers from Todd and placed them in front of Amy, “Sign.” he whispered, dangerously.
She looked at him scared, his face was so close to her it took everything she had not to cringe away or run out of the room, “No.” The fear she felt was evident in her voice.
He forcefully placed the pen in her hand, “You are very lucky you are a woman, sign or I might just forget that fact.”
Throwing the pen across the room, “I want more.”
“I’m going to chop the settlement in half if you do not sign right now, and if we go to court I will leave you penniless.”
“Your dirty laundry would be aired if you do.” she said courageously. She knew exactly how much his reputation meant to him.
He stood up and looked at her, he knew she didn’t want that either, but she thought she could arm twist him into giving in. He picked up the papers and stared down at her, making sure he kept her gaze. Amy smiled, thinking she had won. Dave smiled back, then he ripped the papers and placed the pieces in front of her. Amy’s smile faded, she looked shocked and then scared.
“It’s a means to an end.” he stepped away from her and turned to her lawyer. The pale man had been quiet the whole time, completely out of character for a lawyer, “I’ll try and get it set for next week and I’m also going to get the boy’s family to press charges for statutory rape.”
“What!” Amy yelled, jumping to her feet, “You can’t’ do that to me!”
“Yes I can, and I will, now get out of my building!” He headed for the door, but her lawyer cut him off, stopping him.
“She’ll sign the papers right now.” Amy protested, but he turned to her and hushed her, “A hundred thousand or being broke, and seven years in prison? You’ll take the deal.” He turned back to Dave, “I’m sure that was a copy and you have the original?” he asked hopefully. He wasn’t interested in Amy’s problems and indecencies, what he wanted was to get paid and a jailed client isn’t all too willing to pay.
Dave looked at him amused, “Todd, bring the papers to my office when she’s done.” He walked out of the room towards his office. He felt so exhausted, but yet glad it was all over. He would ask for the divorce to be expedited, and Amy would finally be out of his life in a month. That night and the day after, he was going to spend it packing all her stuff and removing every trace of her from his life.
He met Carol at her desk with a wine glass in her hand. She extended it to him and picked up another, “What’s this?” he asked with a smile.
“We are celebrating. The witch is finally gone.” she gulped down the content and poured another one.
“How did you know I would get her to sign?” he took a sip and let the bitter sweet liquid settle on his tongue for a moment before he swallowed and took another sip.
“You are Dave Greer, you always get what you want.” she gave him a playful seductive smile. Dave starred at her with a raised eyebrow, and here he thought the flirting was going to stop. She winked at him and raised the glass to her lips, “Where is Lizzy?”
Dave felt his heart stop. With all his anger for Amy he had completely forgotten about his daughter. He placed the glass on the desk and ran for the elevator. He felt strung-up and impatient as he paced the six-by-four containment, waiting to get to the lobby. He couldn’t believe he had turned out to be exactly like Amy. He criticized her parenting skills, when he left his daughter in a cafe, and worse, on top of a table!
When he got out, he ran across the street, several cars missing him by an inch. He crashed into the cafe and looked around, she was nowhere to be seen. He felt his legs weaken as he stared at the vacant table he had left his daughter on. He ran to the blond waitress and turned her around to face him. She had to hold on to the plate on her tray to keep it from flying across the room, “Where is my daughter?” he asked breathlessly.
Jane just stared at him, stunned and annoyed, “Did you give her to me?”
Michael looked up at the man with a sober face, “What are you doing?”
Dave let go of Jane and crouched down to Michael’s height, “Have you seen a blond little girl who was sitting on that table?” he asked with a nervous smile.
Michael, stepping away from him, “Why? Do you know her?”
Dave could see he was scaring the kid. He took a deep breath before he answered him, “She’s my daughter.”
“Why did you leave her?” Michael scolded, stepping closer to him.
Dave could feel the little patience he had left, fade away. He was in no mood to get reprimanded by a two feet tall kid, “I’m sorry, I promise never to do it again, now please tell me where she is.”
“You are very lucky my mama is the best...well maybe not the best, because she won’t let me keep her, but she has her.” He moped.
Maria walked out of the kitchen with a pot of coffee in one hand while the other held Elizabeth to her hip. She went around tables, filling empty coffee cups with a genuine smile on her face, it was hard not to be happy with Elizabeth around. She turned to find Jane and Michael with a man, and then Jane turned and left them alone. Maria felt panicked, she rushed to them and pulled Michael away.
The man stood up with a relieved look on his face. Maria looked at him again, it was the little girl’s father, and his cheek looked a little red, the woman’s fingers visible. He reached for her, but she took a step back, pulling Michael with her. The man’s facial expression changed, he looked irritated.
“Can I help you?” Maria asked with a leveled voice. The images of him angry flashed in her mind, she didn’t want to see that again, but she wasn’t going to make it easy for him, he left his daughter on top of a table for goodness sake!
“I’m here to get my daughter.” Dave took a step forward and she took a step back.
“Da!” Elizabeth shrilled happily, waving at Dave, and then her attention was diverted back to the gold cross pendant on Maria’s neck.
“Mama, do we really have to give her back?” Michael whined. He reached up and took Elizabeth’s hand.
Dave looked at Maria, and then at Michael astounded. He couldn’t believe the woman was keeping his child away from him, and the kid wanted to keep her. This was his kid, why did he feel like he had to negotiate to get her back, as if he was negotiating contracts at the office!
“Michael, she’s not a puppy,” she said softly to her son before she turned to Dave with a stern look, “nor a thing to be left around.”
“I said I was sorry.” Dave said, frustrated. He extended his hand for Elizabeth, but waited for Maria to give her up. He didn’t want to push or perceive ungrateful to the woman who had rescued his daughter, but he was getting impatient with her better parent attitude.
Maria looked at him for a while before she shifted Elizabeth on her arm. She brushed her curls from her face and kissed her forehead, “Your daddy won’t be winning any parent of the year award anytime soon, but I think he’s learned his lesson.” Elizabeth laughed and kissed Maria on the cheek. She passed the child to the agitated father. He hugged her tight against him, apologizing profusely for leaving her alone.
“Thank you.” he said, more relaxed. He hadn’t known where his daughter was for a few minutes and he felt like he was losing his mind. He loved his daughter and he was never again going to be separated from her. He extended his hand to Maria, �
��I’m Dave. I work at McKenzie and Associates across the street.”
Maria took his hand, it was soft, heavy and hard, “I’m Paula, and you already know where I work.”
“I’m Miguel.” Michael offered. He moved close to Dave and held on to Elizabeth’s foot.
Dave looked at the peculiar child, wondering how old a boy had to be to develop a crush, “She’s Elizabeth.”
“Lithbeth,” Maria said repeating the child’s attempt at telling Maria her name, “she’s a beautiful child,” smiling at the little girl. She took Michael’s hand and pulled him to her, “Not a puppy or a toy for you to keep.”
“He lost her!” Michael accused. Maria’s hand shot up and covered his mouth.
Dave looked at him and laughed, “I think we’ll be going now. Thanks again,” he turned and walked out of the cafe with his child in his arms. He found the little boy amusing and surprisingly over protective. She on the other hand, seemed like a kind, protective, but yet secretive woman to him.
Maria took off her shoes and rubbed her feet, “My feet hurt.” Michael brought the bag of food to the small living room and began plating it. One of the reasons Maria loved waitressing was taking home the leftovers, it gave her one less thing to do at the end of a long day.
Michael sat next to the table, struggling to twist the spaghetti on his fork, “They would hurt less if you didn’t wear high shoes all day.”
“It’s the uniform, kiddo. Would you like some juice?” Maria got up and limped to the fridge. She needed to start walking barefoot during lunch hour, give her feet a break, or she won’t have any toes left a year into the job.
“Hmm.” his mouth full. He took a pinch of garlic bread and stuffed it in his already full mouth.
She placed his drink down then picked up a napkin and tucked it in his collar, “Slow down or you’ll choke.”
“Mama, when do I start school?” he looked up at Maria, his face covered in tomato sauce. Maria loved seeing him like that, he looked so sweet.
She ruffled his hair and sat on the couch behind him, “What, you already bored with me?”
“No offense mama, but I need to hang out with kids my own age.” he put another fork full of spaghetti in his mouth.
Maria laughed, but he did have a point. There was only three weeks left until school officially started and she had no idea where to take him. Jane had made some suggestions, but Maria wasn’t sure she could afford it. The other option was to take him to a private school, but she wasn’t sure about that either, Ricky might just walk in and walk out with Michael and she wasn’t willing to take that chance. She’d have to look for a less expensive private school, of course with tight security. She’d also have to give both their real names, it was about time they stopped lying about that. It had been two months and Ricky hadn’t come after them, according to Edna he was nowhere near New York.
“I’ll think of something, in the mean time someone’s turning five in October,” She picked him up and cradled him against her, “You’ve grown so fast.” “Mama, I’m not done eating,” Michael pulled out of her embrace and went back to his food, “Grandma is coming for my birthday, she said she’s bringing someone.”
“Who? Jane?” Maria would love to see her best friend.
She wanted to see a friendly faced Jane and take a break from the surly one. New York Jane really pulled off the fake smile. The first time they met Maria thought she was pleasant, but she turned out to be a failed actress who complained day in, and day out. A fake producer had gotten her to sleep with him so that she could land a part in a movie. In the end, she was left with a baby and no movie. She had resented him for that, but the good thing was, she didn’t resent Julie, she says she is the only good thing that came out of her acting dream.
Michael gave up trying to twist the spaghetti and began spooning and holding it with his fingers so that it won’t slip off the fork, “No, a man.”
Maria thought of all the men her mother knew, but she couldn’t come up with anyone who her mother would risk him knowing their hide out. She highly doubted it was Miguel, why would he turn up now after twenty years, the only reasonable person was Nate, and he probably wants to make sure they were doing fine.
Chapter Nine
Dave had the locks changed early that morning. He wanted to make sure Amy didn’t get into the house. He placed all her things in suitcases and bags and placed them in the garage. He wanted to leave them in the middle of the street, but if she sued him she would only get more money out of him, which he didn’t intend on giving. It was time one of her lovers took care of her expenses.
He hadn’t intended on leaving the house that day, but he ended up driving to the cafe opposite his office building. Paula’s secretive nature pulled at him. It was like one of his impossible cases, and he loved a challenge. Deciphering her would be a challenge he knew he would like. He wasn’t after starting a relationship with her, but a friendship with a fellow over protective parent, and the woman who made his food and coffee, he should get to know her.
He pulled into his parking spot and took Elizabeth out of her car seat. If it got too awkward he could always say Lizzy wanted to see her. He looked at his watch, it was midday. He thought of popping into the office for a few minutes, but decided against it. If he went in, he would most definitely get roped into a case on his day off, instead he would go to the day care and pick up Miguel.
He had done his homework on Paula and Miguel, but there wasn’t much he could get about them, apart from her work place and his day care. He found hundreds of Michaels, but he narrowed his search to the west because of her accent, and the list was cut down to thirty one, but they were Caucasian, these Michaels only existed once they set foot in New York, and there was nothing else before that, that’s what spiked his curiosity about them. The first thing he thought was that they were illegal immigrants, but Paula’s accent was western, not heavily, but it was noticeable, probably because of the months they had already spent in New York. Dave was determined to know more about them.
He opened the colorful doors to the day care center and stepped in. A stoutly nurse approached him and extended her arms for Elizabeth, “I’m not dropping off, rather I’m picking up.” he said with a smile.
The nurse looked at him questionably, “I thought you had only one child?”
“I do, but I’m picking up my friend’s kid for lunch.” Dave lied. He hated explaining himself to people, but if he was going to take Miguel, he needed to come up with an excuse. He was glad the kids were well taken care of, maybe now he would be more relaxed when he left Elizabeth here.
She raised an eyebrow and stared at him, not saying a word. Dave thought he had been caught in a lie, but Miguel came to his rescue, “Dave, are you leaving Izzy?” he stretched his hands out for Elizabeth and she bent down for them, “Give her to me, I’ll watch her.”
“No, we are going to your mom’s place for lunch.” Dave put her down, but Miguel insisted on carrying her. He looked like he would fall over, but he kept steady on his feet. It disturbed Dave how the boy had grown attached to his daughter, and how Elizabeth was so willing to go to him. She usually didn’t like strangers no matter the height, he was even more surprised he found her serene and calm with Paula the day before.
“You want Miguel?” the nurse asked.
“Yes.” Dave answered her, leaning down to put a secure hand on Michael’s back.
She shrugged, “They were going out for lunch anyway. You could save Paula sometime and take them.”
“Them?” Dave asked, he didn’t know she had more than one kid.
“Julie, Jane’s daughter,” Miguel answered him, shifting Elizabeth to his other hip, “Julie lets go.” He yelled. A blond girl turned her head and came running towards them.
“Our moms are going to be mad if we break out again.” she said in a squeaky voice.
“Break out?” Dave asked amused.
“We aren’t breaking out. Dave is taking us.” he turned and walked ou
t of the room, Julie behind him. Dave stood there, not sure exactly what to make of Miguel, he had completely taken charge of the situation. He looked like the type kids younger than him would look up to, and follow his every word, probably why Julie and Izzy- his new pet name for his daughter were so at ease with him.
“Paula, did you send someone to pick up the kids?” Jane placed the cups of tea down on the table before she turned to Maria.
Maria looked at her with a raised eyebrow, “What are you talking about?” She walked to the counter and placed her tray down, placing her next order on it.
“The day care just called, they said a man picked up the kids.” she spoke quietly, walking to the back of the counter.
Maria stood there frozen. She could feel all the blood rush out of her head, to her feet, her heart beat hard, ready to explode out of her chest. She could feel her former companion fear creep up her spine as she slowly broke into a panic. It had been too soon, too fast for Ricky to have found them already. Edna reassured her that Ricky was nowhere near New York, and how was it possible he found out where Michael was? Was he watching the apartment, did he follow them here? Leo wouldn’t let him take Michael and the day care knew better than to give her child to a complete stranger? And what would Ricky want with Julie? No, it had to be someone else. “It could have been Leo,” she spoke with a quivering voice.
Jane looked up at her suspiciously. She heard the fear in Maria’s voice and thought it unusual. Her eyes were already filling up with tears and her body seemed to shake as her chest moved up and down, as if she was struggling to breath. Jane had never seen her like that and it made her wonder, “No it wasn’t him, it was some guy called...”
Maria didn’t wait for Jane to finish speaking. She turned around and jetted towards the door, her mind already imagining all the cruel things Ricky was already doing to Michael. She stopped a few feet from the door when it swung open, revealing a laughing Michael and Julie, each holding Elizabeth’s hand, Dave walking closely behind them smiling down. Maria rocked on her feet dizzy, the relief of seeing Michael crippling her. She fell on all fours crying, struggling to breathe.