Sixty Days

by Zoe Glez

  “I can’t stand it when another man flirts with my fiancé,” he says. “I would give everything right now to kiss you in front of everyone and make the official statement that you’re a hundred percent mine,” he whispers close to my ear.

  “You and I, both. Soon, Mickey, soon. Just a couple of more days,” I promise.

  “I know,” he says with a nod “For now, I’ll just make the statement in the privacy of our bedroom,” he once again whispers in my ear.

  “Hey, what is going on over there between you two?” my dad asks giving us a disapproving glare.

  “Nothing, Dad, we’re just talking,” I call back at him. “Unfortunately, nothing else at all,” I mutter.

  “Glad to see you’re suffering as much as I am,” Mickey teases.

  “Shut up!” I snap at him and start walking to where Ari is sitting down alone. He soon enough joins us.

  It took them a while, but Mario, Kev, Chino, and Mary finally arrived. As soon as they did, we went on to start the game. Since there are fifteen of us and each lane only allows up to six players, we divide into three groups of five. It’s a thing of luck that the guys decided to pay the owner for closing up the alley just for us today.

  The bowling alley just isn’t that big. It only has four lanes and a simple arcade room that also houses a pool table. It’s mainly used by bowling teams and clubs. The only reason Jose, the owner, agreed to close up is because he’s a long time neighbor.

  Plus, he’s been known for harvesting a crush on Lola. A crush that Lola does not reciprocate. The poor man still continues to suffer over it, but you’ve got to give him a round of applause for his persistence.

  According to the rules that my brother imposed we would be dividing in three teams. I am on a team with Kevin, Mickey, Arianna and Chino. Team two is composed of Luke, Mary, Mario, Lola and Junior, and team three is my parents, Angel, Carla and Mama.

  “God, I hate this!” I mutter as I look for a bowling ball that I can actually carry and hold. I hate bowling. Well, maybe not hate, more like I suck at it, big time. The only time I ever get a strike is on my very last turn of the game. I don’t know why, but this is the way it always happens. The rest of the game is usually gutter balls or single pins.

  “What’s the matter, lil’ sis?” Chino asks. Ever since he had found out about us and our engagement he has taken to calling me some version of sister in English, Spanish, and sometimes even Spanglish.

  “Have I told you how much I hate bowling? Because if I haven’t then…I hate bowling.”

  “You suck at it, don’t you?” he asks with a smirk.

  “She’s the worst!” Mickey exclaims coming out of nowhere “Here you go, my heaven,” he hands me the perfect bowling ball.

  “Thank you, Dimps.” I kiss him on the cheek, no longer caring who sees.

  “God! You guys make me sick,” Chino says, mocking disgust.

  “Shut up!” I push him on the shoulder and start walking toward our lane. “And, Mickey is right. I do suck. Even when they put the stupid side bars up, I still manage to miss all the pins.”

  “Seriously?” Chino asks with a wicked grin as we get to our lane.

  “You don’t have to be so happy about it,” I say smiling even though I’m annoyed. I hear Mickey say, “Ouch! Dude, what the hell was that for?”

  “For whatever it is that you did to make my sister kiss you on the damn cheek and for looking so damn happy about it. Stay away, Vega. I don’t care if you’re my best friend, stay the hell away from her,” I hear Kev hiss at Mickey.

  I roll my eyes at him as Chino whispers, “He’s going to make a bad situation out of this isn’t he?”

  I nod and huff a big sigh. “He’s the main reason for all the secrets and lies.”

  He nods. “Anyway…I’m glad you suck at this. One player less to beat. And don’t worry about him. He’ll get over it once he sees how much you two love each other.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Well, I know so.” He winks.

  “You guys ready to get your asses kicked?” Arianna asks cheerfully.

  “What’s her deal?” Chino asks eying her in amusement.

  “She’s seventeen, stay away,” I warn.

  “Not, that! Jesus, Lai! I’m not a pervert. I meant what’s her game strategy.”

  “Oh, sorry…” I say, feeling ashamed.

  “The apple doesn’t fall that far from the tree doesn’t it?” he sheepishly grins.

  “Apparently not,” I hesitantly admit. “Well, you know how great Kevin is, right?” he nods. “Ari is in her high school bowling team. They have won the state championship four years in a row.”

  “Say it ain’t so…” he says in amusement “Shit just got interesting.”

  It has indeed. My brother is awesome at bowling, but not as good as Ari. She always gets the perfect shot. She’s the captain of her high school team, for God sakes!

  What makes this whole situation interesting is that my brother has no idea how good Ari is. I’d even be willing to bet that he chose this team thinking he was going to win. I know I can never win against her, so I’m just going to sit in the chair, relax, throw gutter balls, and watch Ari kick Kevin’s ass. Mostly enjoy the moment my brother realizes Ari is making strike after strike. Yep! Things are going to be extremely interesting.

  As predicted, Ari won and the look on my brother’s face was priceless. He’s a sore loser and went as far as to accusing the poor girl of hustling him. That led her to say that everyone knows how good she is, which actually calmed him down a little.

  But, a sore loser is a sore looser and the pout he has going on is something I want to remember for the rest of my life. It’s that funny. So, what is a girl to do? Take a picture of it, that’s what. I don’t even hide the fact that I’m doing it. As soon as I take the picture, I set it as his caller ID.

  “Oye, Lolita. What do you say, want to dance?” Junior asks as the song ‘Lola’s Mambo’ by Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra starts to play on the radio. “It is you’re song after all,” he adds with a smile. Lola smiles back and nods in acceptance.

  As soon as they start dancing, they are quickly joined by my mom who is paired up with Luke and Mama who is paired up with Mario, which is really entertaining to look at them together. My grandmother looks like a dwarf next to my giant cousin, it’s cute and sweet to watch.

  “Hey,” Mickey says with a husky voice and a sheepish grin as he extends his hand toward me and points with his head to the dancing couples. “What do you say, want to give them a run for their money?” I nod, accepting his invitation to dance.

  We are all having the time of our life. I know, I know, what a nice reference. But, we really are enjoying our little improvised dance party. I am all smiles as Mickey twirls me around to all the tropical songs playing on the radio. I notice Mary in a corner pouting and frowning while looking at her phone. For a while there I worry about her, and make a mental note to figure out what’s going on with her. No matter what I’ve said, I still miss my cousin, or at least the person she used to be.

  By the time our second game ended I was all smiles talking to Mickey, which earned him a glare from my brother. He’ll just have to get used to it because Mickey is the man that I plan to spend the rest of my life with. Kev lost again and is now brooding. Apparently being hard headed runs in our blood.

  After the game ended we played in the arcade for a little bit. The guys went straight to the pool table while Ari and I took over the air hockey table. The oldies stayed in the tiny diner area of the alley talking and Mary is nowhere to be seen. After an hour in the game room and some quality time as a family, we decide to call it quits and head out to eat somewhere.

  “Soon…” Mickey whispers in my ear later that night after what has become our time alone as a couple. This fact brings a smile to my face. All of the secrets and lies will be confessed. A clean conscious leads to a completely happy person.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I


  t’s Christmas Eve! I love Christmas. Due to the circumstances, I haven’t been exactly excited about it lately, but I really love it. Even though I woke up and had to run to the bathroom. With a nauseous stomach and allergies acting up, I’m still excited.

  Growing up in New York, it was one of the best things ever. Going to see Radio City Christmas Spectacular starting The Rockettes was, is, and will always will be the highlight of my Christmas. Unfortunately, I will not be attending this year, but I trust they will always be there. Just like my family. Right now they are more important.

  Christmas without them wouldn’t be Christmas. I love them dearly with all my heart and spending time with them is more important than anything else in the world. No matter how much we want to strangle each other from time to time. Plus, what better thing than the season that brings you eggnog and marshmallow filled hot cocoa?

  The tradition in this family is that on Christmas day everyone stays in their pajamas. I bought a new pair of footie pajamas for the occasion. I know it’s cheesy, but I got a pair for Mickey as well. It will be hilarious seeing him in them.

  I also plan to stay in my pajamas today. I’ll change later tonight when Mickey and I celebrate Christmas Eve with a tradition we started last year.

  “You look awfully cute in your Woody pajamas.” Mickey says as he enters the living room and sees me sprawled on the sofa rocking my Toy Story themed pajamas. “Up,” he commands pointing at my feet so he can lay them in his lap as he sits where they were.

  “Why thank you, fine sir,” I say trying to mimic a British accent. As soon as I do I sneeze.

  “Goof ball,” he chuckles. “You’re sick.”

  “Shut up. No, I’m not. I already got my month of sickness, remember?” I whine. “And don’t you dare repeat it ever again, it’s bad luck,” I poke him on the hip with my foot.

  “Fine,” he mutters. “So, what you’re up to?”

  “Can’t you see?” I ask extending my hand in showing “I’m lying on the couch, until is time for us to leave.”

  “What are we watching?”

  “What do ya thank?’” I say giving him an ‘isn’t it obvious’ look. “The only thing people should ever be allowed to see on Christmas Eve. Elf!” I exclaim.

  “Again? You’ve watched this like a gazillions times. How have you not gotten tired of it?” he whines. He is so cute when he does it and his pout is even cuter, it’s all kissable and shit.

  “Stop whining and go make me some popcorn so I can watch Elf on repeat.” I poke him on the hip again, too lazy to sit up.

  He obliges and, once the popcorn is done, he retakes his spot on the sofa. I give him my winning smile once I see he has given up and decided to join me. He smiles back and throws an air kiss at me along with a wink, which makes me giggle like a school girl with a crush.

  “The things I do for you,” he mutters shaking his head from side to side as he smiles at me.

  “You two are asking for trouble,” Mama says as she enters the room and heads towards her chair.

  “I’m couch potatoing,” I tell her with a proud grin as I throw my head back to look at her. “He’s just being annoying,” I add, giving Mickey a glare.

  “Just because I refuse to keep watching the movie and constantly beg you to change it to something else doesn’t mean I’m being annoying. The movie is annoying, not me,” Mickey says.

  “Seriously? Did you just insult the greatest Christmas movie ever fucking made?” I ask, appalled.

  “Language,” Mama reprimands as Mickey just glares at me.

  “Don’t give me that look, Miguel. I won’t change the movie. You either stay and watch it without your whining or you can leave. What’s it going to be, Dimps?” I arch my brow at him.

  “Fine,” he huffs. “But you owe me for this,” he adds with a smirk. I return it, fully on to whatever is going on in that handsome little head of his.

  “Are you two still planning to bail on me tonight?” Mama asks us after we are done with our bickering.

  “You know we can’t bail on this plan, vieja,” I softly say.

  “But, we promise that as soon as we’re done we’ll come straight here,” Mickey adds.

  “I know and I get it. I still hoped, but I know how important this is to the both of you.” She smiles at us.

  “How are you, vieja?” I ask feeling worried about her, sneezing once again.

  God! How I hate these stupid allergies.

  “I’m fine, don’t worry about me. You on the other hand, do you feel alright?”

  “I’m fine, it’s just allergies,” I tell her, waving my hand in dismissal.

  “She’s sick, she just won’t admit it,” Mickey intervenes, earning himself a glare from me.

  “What did I tell you?” I snap at him.

  He raises his hands in defense. “Fine…I won’t say that you’re sick…again. It’s just allergies.” He rolls his eyes. I choose to ignore it.

  “Thank you,” I say with a firm nod, sneezing once again. Mickey smiles knowingly at me.

  Shit!

  Apart from bathroom breaks and lunch, I stayed in my couch potato position until five in the afternoon. And, yes, I spent close to nine hours watching Elf, on repeat. No, I didn’t grow tired of it. I would’ve kept watching it if it weren’t for our plans. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Mickey, after the second time, he quickly snoozed off on the couch.

  I took a quick shower and got ready. I met Mickey in the hallway. He looked really handsome in his sweater and jeans. I was wearing a green dress with a scoop neck and black boots that was just perfect for our plans and looked amazing with the dress. When we got to the bottom of the stairs, everyone was already in the living room waiting for dinner to be ready.

  “Where are you two going?” my dad asks as we were trying to sneak out.

  “Um…we have plans,” I say, suddenly shy.

  “And those are?” Kev interjects.

  “We had already made dinner plans with some friends before we knew the family was getting together,” Mickey responds.

  “What’s in the bag?” both my dad and brother ask at the same time, pointing at the bag in Mickey’s hands. Yep, they’re definitely father and son.

  “Ummm…” Mickey says looking at me, feeling a loss of words.

  We don’t really get to answer since my overbearing brother grabs the bag without permission and opens it. “A Santa costume?” he asks, confused.

  “Yeah…” Mickey sheepishly says looking down to the floor and rubbing his neck. “Our friends have kids. They asked me to, you know, dress up as Santa.”

  “Okay,” Kev slowly nods.

  “Well, if you’re all done with the questions, we’re late. Come on!” I say grabbing Mickey’s hand before they can say anything else and practically dragging him towards the car.

  After Mickey and I lost our baby, our therapist suggested we do something as a couple that would make us feel better while helping others who, like us, had also loss someone. It took us a while but we finally found out about an orphanage that really needed some volunteers. For a while we contemplated adopting but, like I said before, we weren’t ready. Instead, we decided to help in any way we could and volunteer from time to time.

  I started teaching an art class. I know I said I wasn’t interested in teaching, but once I met these kids I couldn’t resist doing it. Mickey started coaching little league. The orphanage only houses newborns through age twelve. I’ve seen too many of them come and go and it hurts each time. I’ve become attached to them and look forward to seeing each and every one of their faces, hearing them laugh, seeing the picture they draw for me, their imagination blooming. But, I always hope that I won’t see them again; hope they are in a new home, a home where they get to be loved and cherished like they deserve.

  I always make sure to tell them to never give up hope on the things they want the most. It’s something I’ve learned from Mickey, that I continue learning from him, and something they truly ne
ed to hear.

  Every Christmas the orphanage throws a party. All of the workers along with the volunteers and their families attend. This is our second Christmas since we’ve joined the team and Mickey has taken over the part of Santa Clause for the benefit of the kids. I join in the fun as one of his elves, hence the green dress and boots.

  “Laywlah, Miwy!” three year old Madison squeaks as soon as she sees us. She is one of the babies that has been here since she was only a few months old. When we first came here she was just turning two and really shy. We eventually grew on her as she did on us. Ever since, she has been joined to our side. We haven’t really told anyone, but we’ve been talking about adopting again. Adopting her, to be more specific. She’s just so amazing and easy to love.

  She runs toward us with her cute little blonde ringlets bouncing with each step. Her beautiful almond shaped honey eyes are open wider than ever, full with excitement and joy. “I miswed you,” she says, hugging both of our legs.

  I bend and grab her tiny frame, holding her close to me in a hug. “We’ve missed you too, Maddie.” I whisper close to her ear and give her a kiss on her temple. We hadn’t really been here for a while due to our current development at the household, but we couldn’t miss this for anything in the world.

  “Yeah, baby girl, we missed you, too,” Mickey says, kissing the top of her head, making the little girl giggle.

  “You goin to helwp Santa, liwke last yeaw?” she asks me and I can see her excitement shining through her eyes.

  “I sure am, baby girl,” I tell her, nodding my head, earning me a smile.

  “Yay!” she squeaks and applauds.

  “Have you been a nice girl this year, Maddie?” Mickey asks her.

  Her rosy cheeks turn red as she says, “Of cowse, I was Miwy.” I giggle at the way she says Mickey’s name. She is just too damn cute.

  “Good. Now, why don’t you go play with the rest of the kids while Laylah and I go talk to the adults and see where Santa is,” Mickey says, smiling down at her. Maddie nods and I lower her to the ground. As soon as I do, she starts running to where the other kids are playing.