Fatefully Yours

by Misha Anderson

  I hang up furious and go to the living room silent and thoughtful. Anahí looks at me and asks worriedly, "Was that your dad? Is everything okay?"

  "No, nothing is okay, Anahí. My parents are coming to visit on Friday and this shit is the last thing I wanted to deal with right now."

  Anahí scrutinizes my dismayed look and runs her fingers through my head, calming me.

  "Why don't you throw a dinner to see them? It could be good, Klaus. They're your parents, I'm sure they're worried about you."

  "I really want to believe that, but unfortunately I know Mr. Chico and Mrs. Débora Schneider too well.” I sigh and ask her. “Can you take the lead on this dinner, Anahí? I don't know how to do this kind of stuff. I've also been thinking, what do you say about redecorating this apartment? I remember you telling me this doesn't even look like a home, so... Why don't you change this museum?"

  Anahí looks around my large, impersonal apartment and smiles timidly and surprised.

  "But it's your house Klaus, I'm not familiar with your tastes or how you'd like to decorate it...”

  "Just don't throw out my video game and I'm good. You can change the whole fucking thing, put it just the way you like it. All that feminine touch stuff, got it? I'm okay with whatever you do, Anahí. Tomorrow I'm giving you my credit card so you can start. I have no patience for this kind of thing.”

  The next day Anahí wakes excited about the changes she's going to make, we go through a series of tiring exercises to strengthen my arms and stabilize my upper body, and in the afternoon Anahí leaves to buy curtains, rugs and vases for the living room.

  We’re so busy with the PT sessions and getting the house decorated that the week flies by. I look at the mirror, clean shaven, my hair recently cut and I realize I look much better. Anahí was a breath of fresh air, nourishment as I turn over a new leaf, which makes me happy, and more able to handle this unwanted dinner with my parents.

  She comes into my suite holding two dresses in their hangers so I can help her choose and the insecurity, the vulnerability that I see in her eyes makes her even more beautiful.

  "This one," she shows me a white dress with a deep v-neck. "Or this one?" She shows me a black knee-length dress.

  "Any would look gorgeous on you," I answer honestly.

  "I don't know why I even bother to ask. Just hurry up getting ready, your parents will be here anytime now," she grumbles and I can't help but laugh.

  I do up the last button on my black shirt and spray some of my favorite cologne, going to Anahí's room. She's chosen the white dress and I drool when she finishes putting on a peach lipstick on her lips that only serves to leave them even more appetizing. She walks tensely to me, and spins around.

  "Do I look okay?" She asks, insecure. "Are you sure you want me to be part of this dinner? I can stay in my ro–"

  "No way. Of course I want you to be part of the dinner. You look beautiful, my perfect little cabocla. Shall we?"

  I get to the living room and notice Anahí has changed a lot about it: the heavy curtains were replaced by a soft beige one. Some rustic big vases are positioned around the room, close to the walls, a large white rug was put in the middle, and two abstract painting, made with vivid colors, brighten the room. The apartment suddenly starts feeling more like a home.

  "Do you like it? There's still a lot to do, but the room is more alive, don't you think?"

  "I do. I like it a lot. You can keep fixing up the place, it looks gorgeous. Those vases are completely you, little cabocla."

  "If you think it's too rustic, I can take them out, no problem."

  "No way. I like it all. Very much so, Anahí. Thank you."

  The bell rings and my cook, Maria das Dores, opens the door. Dad and Mom come in, looking around the house then smiling when their eyes fall on me.

  Débora walks up to me on a play-suit and designer high heels. She crouches down and kisses my face, pouting when she looks me up and down sitting in my wheelchair.

  "How are you, mon cher[5]?"

  "I'm good, Mom. And you?"

  "I'm good, Europe is not how it used to be but I had a good time."

  I look at my mom and barely recognize her. Her silicone lips, her forehead stretched unnaturally. She used to be a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and deep blue eyes, but now her beauty is disguised by the thick layer of makeup she insists on wearing, in this compulsion to look eternally young, at all costs. Dad still looks the same: thin, athletic, with slightly grayed hair on the sides, and the same old gray suit. He approaches us and sticks his hand out for a handshake...cold, distant, even though his polished smile.

  "Klaus, good to see you. You look well, despite the accident."

  "Nice to see you too. Please, come in."

  I look around me for Anahí and she's next to us in the hallway, I signal her to come nearer and she walks to us, chin up, faking confidence and with a shy smile on her lips. I think of the promise I made her about keeping our relationship discreet and I decide to introduce her without exposing the nature of our relationship, even though it's ridiculous to me.

  "Chico, Débora, this is Anahí Saraíba."

  My dad looks at Anahí with a male appreciation that upsets me. I frown silently.

  "Wouldn't you like to sit down?" Anahí asks.

  They follow Anahí and Dad stares at her ass until she sits down. Old pervert! Fuck, this dinner hasn't even started yet and I can't wait to get rid of this nice visit. "What would you like to drink?" Anahí asks nicely.

  "A glass of wine would be good," Mom answers crossing her long legs.

  "A whiskey, neat. You're with me, Klaus?" My Dad asks and Anahí looks at me waiting for my answer.

  "No, I'm not drinking alcohol."

  After months walking the fine like of alcoholism, I don't want to take a chance. Because of my last binge I almost lost Anahí. I look at her and see her smile slightly, happy with my attitude. Next, she calls Das Dores and orders my parents’ drinks.

  "Would you like orange juice or peach?" She asks me.

  "Orange is fine, lit-... Anahí."

  As soon as we finish our drinks, Das Dores lets us know dinner is served and we all move to the dining room. Anahí asked the cook to make meat patties with Roquefort cheese, white rice and sautéed potatoes. Everything perfectly delicious. I paste a fake smile on my lips, trying to forget the shitty childhood and teen years I had... In and out of boarding schools, my parents becoming increasingly, every summer, unknown and strangers to me. Débora spouts nonsense, silly things about fashion season, beauty treatments, and my dad takes it too far by insisting that I move to New York.

  "It makes no sense for you to keep being cared for by this bunch of shitty doctors and Tupiniquim[6] physical therapists. There's no good specialist here, son. In the States you'd have the proper treatment for your problem. I'm sure you that if you had been being treated there you'd already be walking. I have my doubts about the team that's looking after your care, they're incompetents, Klaus, take my word. In a month I'll be back in New York and I have my eye on a sure thing, easy money. I was even thinking if you couldn't help me out with investing in the project. The money I need is nothing to you, I just need a bold investor like you and we're off. You could take advantage and come with me to get treated in the States, Klaus."

  That is it! I knew they wanted something, unfortunately the old Chico Schneider doesn't change his stripes, I know exactly what his paternal worry is. Money, it's always about money... Because of his ambition I was sacrificed and was raised separate from them and now, even seeing me hurt, vulnerable by losing, even if only temporarily, my ability to walk, they come to my house pretending to be worried when all they want is nothing but money.

  I hit the table and the utensils tremble.

  "I'm not investing more in your businesses," I tell my Dad, incensed. "Not even a cent! That's it! If it weren't for those doctors and shitty physical therapists I'd be dead right now. I'm not going anywhere with you, Mr. Chico Sch
neider. You see this vein? It's tapped out. You won't ever see my money again, so you better go away and go back to your gambling, young lovers, and stop pretending to be concerned parents, because I'm not buying it anymore."

  "I came to see you, because I was really worried about what happened to you. I didn't think you're be insulted by me offering you a good business proposition, I thought you were a man of vision. But, if you’re going to put it like that, then I'm leaving. I hope you get better soon. Good night, Anahí. Even though you haven't said it, I can tell you're together. You're a beautiful woman and I just hope my son screw up like he usually does."

  My Dad gets up and turns to Débora.

  "I'm leaving. Good night, Débora."

  Débora also gets up and says goodbye to us, embarrassed by the fight with my dad.

  "I'm going too. Take care, Klaus. Thank you for dinner, Anahí."

  Before dad leaves I can hear him talking with the nymphet that he recently married.

  "I came to see my son. Yes, she came too, of course, he's our son. Stop Gracie with your silly jealousy, I can't talk with you right now. I'll be home soon. Bye."

  As soon as they leave I crumble. Gone is the arrogant all-powerful Klaus, and I go silently to my room, not brave enough to face Anahí. What kind of messed up family is mine? A cold, distant, gambling addict for a father. A mother who couldn't care less about her children. Fuck, looking at my happy family now, I understand why the idea of Anahí being pregnant was so tempting. I want to give my children what I never had: warmth, love, a safe place to land whatever happens... I lie back in bed and give in to my memories of the past. After a while there's a knock on the door.

  "Can I come in?" Anahí asks. "Am I disturbing you?"

  "No. Come here, little cabocla.”

  Anahí nears the edge of the bed and takes her high heels, dress, and panties off, leaving her completely naked in front of me. The perfect seductive sight of her naked body warms me up completely. She crawls up the bed and lies down on the sheets silently. Her eyes speak more than her lips. Anahí brings my face to her chest and softly strokes my hair, petting me in way that makes me purr like a house cat. And lust gives in to affection, as if she understands that all I need tonight is tenderness, to feel loved, the way I always dreamt but never had.

  CHAPTER 13

  ANAHÍ

  Klaus wakes up still sullen, thoughtful, apathetic. His parents visit affected him more than I thought. As if fighting against melancholy, he pushes himself in the PT session, intense and focused. Even tired and hurting because of the exercises, he forces himself to finish them.

  "I have pain in muscles I didn't even know existed. Shit, little cabocla. You wrung me out today," Klaus complains after finishing a series of exercises.

  "Don't be such a sourpuss, Viking. You complain like a tired old lady. Did you notice how your hip movements have improved? Last week even your doctor congratulated your overall improvement. And that makes me happy, Klaus. You keep going like this and you'll keep improving day by day," I say, cleaning sweat off his face with a towel.

  "My chest is sweaty too, you know. Could you help me dry out, honey?" Klaus teases me, pretending innocence while his eyed burn with desire.

  Before I can come any closer, he stops me, ordering me with a hard voice.

  "Take your pants and panties and come here, little cabocla. Today I've been a diligent boy and I deserve a reward."

  "Klaus, we better not. What if someone sees?"

  "Lock the door and come here, Anahí."

  Klaus slides his hand over his chest and under his shorts and boxers, rubbing the length of his erection, showing me how excited he is.

  I go to the door and lock it, then take off my exercise pants, walking in only my panties to the exercise mat. As soon as I'm close, he reaches out and bites his lips, a hard, serious look on his face.

  "Don't deny me my reward. Sit here on my face, slowly."

  I squat down straddling Klaus's shoulders, he pulls my panties to the side and admires my exposed pussy, licking his lips in anticipation to taste me like ripe fruit.

  "That's better. So pretty, so small."

  He kisses my sex, sucking deep.

  "You smell delicious. Are you wet for me, naughty little cabocla?"

  I nod and he licks me long, clenching his fingers on my hips so I can't escape his sweet torture. Klaus opens my vaginal lips with his thumbs and sweeps over my sex with his experienced tongue, happily sucking on my clit until it's hard, plump, throbbing. His tongue snakes on the exact spot it makes me see stars, I squirm and rub myself on his hungry mouth, desperately searching for my freedom. Klaus fucks me with his mouth, his tongue thrusting in and out of me, I move out of control and squeeze my eyes closed, biting my lips to try and contain my moaning.

  "Moan for me, sexy. Come in my mouth."

  Klaus taps my ass and thrusts his tongue deep inside me, rubbing my sex and I come all over his mouth.

  I slide down his body and squeeze his chest, hugging him until my breaths calm down. I rub my thigh on his erection and kiss him the way we like, unhurriedly and enthusiastically. I sit between his thighs and pull down his shorts and boxers, freeing his already hard-rock cock, like velvet-covered steel.

  "I was a good girl, and now it's time for my reward." I lick him slowly, drawing his cock into my mouth until I can swallow him whole.

  I love the way he tastes, I close my eyes and focus on the amazing feeling of his cock hardening in my mouth, chasing the veins on the base of his member, sucking him with enthusiasm.

  "Fuck baby, I'm going to come so hard. Don't stop!"

  I pump him until Klaus comes, filling me up, in long jets down my throat. I lick what I missed from my lips, to the last drop, feeling powerful from pleasuring my man. I lie back next to him, petting his sweaty chest, laughing about our craziness.

  "What are you laughing about, honey?" Klaus asks, laughing slightly.

  "I was just thinking of the crazy things you make me do. Do you think someone heard us?"

  "If they did, I don't care. I'm not accountable to anyone about where and when I fuck my girl!"

  "Ha! Viking, you're crazy. What am I going to do with you, huh?"

  He turns my face to him and brushes my lips on mine.

  "Just love me, little cabocla. Just love me." And kisses me.

  "Klaus, your order just arrived," Renato tells Klaus after lunch, making me curious. "The doorman wants you to know it's downstairs."

  "Thanking you for letting me know, Renato. Come with me Anahí, I have a surprise for you."

  We ride the elevator down and a middle-aged man wearing a uniform greets us.

  "Good evening. Mr. Schneider. I just brought it, like you asked."

  The man gives a set of keys and an envelope to Klaus. He motions me closer, looking serious and hands me the keys.

  "Before you start a fight saying I shouldn't have bought it, let me tell you it's yours and I don't want to hear any complaints, little cabocla. It's been days with you risking yourself going everywhere by taxi, that is when you don't take those packed buses at the mercy of being robbed or worse. So, here, it's yours. Go see if you like it."

  I walk with him until we're next to a shiny red BMW 3210i Active. I look at him, shocked that he would do something so insane. A BMW? It's too much. I have no idea what to say. I walk around it and then come back to Klaus, mumbling.

  "It's gorgeous, Klaus. But it's too much, it's a freaking car! I have no idea what to say."

  "Then don't say anything. Didn't you say earlier that you needed to buy some stuff? Go, drive carefully and come back to me soon."

  I get ready to go to a domestic products shop in the Bairro da Tijuca’s shopping mall, ecstatic in driving my car for the first time. I left Klaus getting ready to go to the boardwalk with Renato. I got a call from Sara telling me she'll be in Rio de Janeiro in two days and wants to get together and catch up. I bought some new sheets, some satin short pajamas set for my Viking, even knowing
he probably won't use it since he prefers to sleep in the nude. A few video games and a strawberry pie for dinner. In the shopping mall garage I'm opening the car door when I glance at a woman coming my way. She takes off her sunglasses and I recognize her immediately. Klaus's mother, Débora Schneider. Débora greets me with two kisses on the cheek and a fake smile.

  "What a coincidence! How are you, dear? Cláudia, right?"

  "Anahí. Anahí Saraíba," I correct her, with the same fake smile she's using, trying not to show how bothered I am that she confused my name with Klaus's ex-fiancée's.

  "Oh, right. What a mistake. I'm sorry, it's just that Klaus has so many friends. Such a flirt my son, can never pick just one woman. Your name is so exotic, where are you from?"

  "I'm Indian, descendant from an indigenous tribe, the Terena in Matogrosso do Sul. Do you know anything about the indigenous people, madam?"

  Débora smiles and shakes her head.

  "No, I never had any contact with those popular cultures, none of us have. I imagine Klaus must be blown away with how exotic you are, so different from his other women."

  "I'm not.... I'm your son's physical therapist, Mrs. Schneider." I stumble on my words, annoyed about this woman's snobbish arrogance.

  "Ha! Come on, Anahí, don't deny you're having an affair. I can even see he gave you a heck of a gift. It's certainly a very nice car. A little bit too expensive for a physical therapist, no? If you're part of his recovery team I can only think that you're resigning, correct? You do realize having an affair with your patient is unethical, right dear?"

  I raise my chin before getting into the car, not changing my tone of voice.

  "I said I'm your son's therapist, nothing more, Mrs. Schneider. But even if what you're saying is true, that kind of decision is between me and Klaus, don't you think? Now I need to go. Your son is waiting for me and he hates it when I'm late. It was a pleasure seeing you again, Mrs. Schneider."

  I get into the car and leave her facing me with thin lips, clearly furious about the bold way I answered her provocations. I drive enjoying the beautiful scenery of the waterfront, with the feeling that this is not going to be my only unpleasant encounter with the Schneider family.