Rock Hard Neighbor

by Hart, Rye

  “I need to take Ana to the potty,” she said. “Kevin, could you look after our guest for me?”

  I watched the boy’s eyes widen as Rose pushed between the two people standing in the doorway.

  “You’re Ana’s father,” he said.

  “I am,” I said, nodding. “I was just coming to meet Ana.”

  “It’s you,” the young woman said breathlessly.

  I could tell by the way she was looking at me that she wasn’t just talking about the statement Kevin had just made.

  “It’s me,” I said.

  “Cassie,” she said as she held out her hand. “This is Kevin. Ana’s brother and my cousin.”

  I could tell the boy was distrustful. His eyes had the same hesitancy Junior’s always had when meeting new people. I remembered the ramble Rose went on that evening about her home and her life and how something had happened to her in college.

  She’d dropped out of culinary school because of something.

  I looked into Kevin’s eyes and noticed a familiarity in them. The light bags underneath his eyes and the hazy stare, the way he positioned himself slightly in front of Cassie, even though she was much older and more mature. His protective instincts were kicking in, even if he didn’t realize it, and the last piece of Rose’s life fell into place.

  She’d lost her family.

  That’s what had caused her to drop out of school.

  Cassie was looking at me with wild eyes. I heard Ana giggling in the background and Rose cooing at her, telling her to stand still so she could get her clothes back on. I wanted to help her, to show her that I could be the father and man she needed me to be. She’d played this role for way too long by herself. She’d sacrificed more than most people had in a lifetime.

  I wanted to change all of that for her as quickly as I could.

  But in order to do that, I had to win over the trust of the family standing in front of me. Her brother and her cousin, two people who were actively guarding her with their lives. Even though Rose had lost her parents, she was still surrounded by people who loved her. People who cared for her, just like she deserved.

  They were important to her. That much, I could tell. If I wanted to become important to her, they had to become important to me. As Rose pushed back through them and came to stand beside me, I made another vow to myself. A vow I would keep for all eternity, no matter the consequences to myself.

  I would protect and keep all of them safe. I would give my life to make sure they were taken care of and wanted for nothing. And, in return, all I would ask for was a life with my daughter.

  A life with the woman I’d created her with.

  A life with this beautiful family who loved Rose and Ana the way I intended to from this point forward.

  Chapter Fifteen – Rose

  I pushed past Kevin and Cassie as I made my way back into the kitchen. I knew this was going to come as a shock to everyone, having Camillo here, but the more he was around, the more I realized how much I’d missed him. I’d clung to that night for months after the encounter that changed my life. No man that approached me at the diner ever compared to the beauty and strength he showed me that night and the very memory of his body against mine got me through the worst of times. There were nights where I would lay in bed, clinging to that note he’d left me, hoping I could conjure his presence. And now, here he was, plucking our daughter from my arms while I shooed him into the other room, telling Camillo to go spend time with his daughter so I could try to salvage dinner.

  Kevin stood in the doorway and gawked at the two of them playing, while Cassie stood next to me at the fridge.

  “He’s here,” she said.

  “All we can really do is a salad,” I said.

  She ignored my comment. “I mean, he’s actually here. With Ana. In his arms.”

  “Yes, I’m aware of that.”

  I bent down and started grabbing vegetables. I threw them on the counter so I could get to chopping, throwing everything into a massive bowl. I opened up the freezer and pulled out a microwavable package of grilled chicken, inwardly groaning at the fact that I’d be feeding this rich man microwavable chicken.

  He had tasted the delicacies of the world and now he’d have to choke down my pathetic salad.

  “Aren’t you scared he’ll take her away or something?” Cassie asked.

  “Nope,” I said. “He just wanted to meet his daughter. I had to give him that.”

  “Oh, you just had to. Right. Gotcha. You want me to throw this in the microwave?”

  “No, I want you to set it in there, set the timer for five minutes, and let it cook.”

  “Ha, ha, ha,” she said sarcastically.

  “If you hadn’t burned soup, I wouldn’t feel the need to tell you how to microwave chicken,” I said, grinning.

  I saw Cassie taking glimpses of Camillo, with Ana in his arms, while Kevin slowly made his way toward them. Kevin didn’t trust anyone. He didn’t make friends easily at school and he kept to himself. I tried to get him to open up and even invite kids from school over, but he never did.

  So, the fact that he was approaching Camillo was a massive deal.

  “Holy shit, Rose. Kevin just sat down beside him.”

  “Are you serious?” I asked.

  I tossed the rest of the lettuce into the bowl before I poked my head around the corner. Kevin was staring warily at Camillo, who was now bouncing Ana on his chest. He leaned back into the couch and Ana was jumping up and down on him like he was some sort of trampoline or couch cushion.

  And all the while, Kevin was slowly scooting closer to him.

  “How the hell did he find you?” Cassie asked.

  “If I told you, I’m not sure you’d believe me,” I said. “Let’s just say he lives around here now.”

  “So he moved here for you,” she said. “Why the hell else would someone want to live in the Poconos?”

  “For the skiing?”

  “Look at him. Does that beard and those muscles look like someone who skis regularly?”

  Camillo was watching Kevin out of the corner of his eye but he made no move toward my brother. I had considered the fact that this man wanted Ana. I had considered the fact that he might take her and I’d never find her again. But the moment I saw his eyes light up with love for her, that same innate trust I’d felt for him years ago came rushing back. Despite the rumors of his ties to the mob and despite the warning his note had left for me, I knew he would never hurt me.

  I knew he would never hurt his daughter.

  I threw the rest of the cut-up vegetables into the bowl just as the microwave went off. I dumped the chicken on top of the salad and covered it in mandarin oranges while Cassie set our small table to hold five. I pulled out juices and sodas we could all drink and put them in the middle of the table, then I dished up salad for everyone’s plate while Cassie grabbed the salad dressings. We danced around one another, stealing peaks of Camillo in the living room while we did so.

  “Whenever you guys are ready, dinner’s on!” I called out.

  “Five more minutes?” Kevin called out.

  “The chicken’s gonna be cold by then,” I said as I walked into the living room. “What’s taking you—”

  I saw that Kevin had the television on, with Minecraft going on the screen. He was showing Camillo all the things he had created and was in the middle of trying to blow something up. Ana was curled into the crook of her father’s neck, her little eyes fluttering open and closed while she breathed against his chest. Kevin was talking Camillo through the game and he seemed to be listening intently, his eyes dancing across the screen while he watched Kevin pull out all the stops for his own entertainment.

  The scene brought tears of shock to my eyes as I watched my brother interact fluidly with this stranger.

  “Five more minutes,” I said. “Then, it’s dinner time.”

  “Okay,” Kevin said.

  “I’ll start the countdown,” Camillo said.

  My
eyes connected with his as a tear dripped down my face. His eyes grew stern, studying me as I turned back and headed for the kitchen. I was overwhelmed by the sensations I was experiencing. Overwhelmed by all the emotions that were flooding my chest.

  My hands were trembling as I counted the minutes down on the microwave clock. I heard Kevin laughing while Camillo kept asking questions and, soon, Ana’s small little snores could be heard all the way into the kitchen. Just before I was about to call out the fact that five minutes was up, I heard Camillo talking quietly with Kevin.

  Then, the three of them came into the kitchen and sat down at the table.

  Ana was passed out on his shoulder as he sat down in a seat. I fought between waking her up to eat and letting her sleep peacefully and I realized Camillo wouldn’t be able to eat like that. I walked over to him and tried to take Ana from him, but he simply shook his head.

  “I can eat with one arm. It’s okay.”

  I was enamored with the attention he was paying Kevin. I was overwhelmed by the way he cradled our daughter while he dressed his salad. I was impressed with the way he didn’t flinch at the fact that he was eating microwaved grilled chicken and, all the while, my hands were shaking in my lap.

  I was enjoying this too much and it scared me.

  “Why were you gone so long?” Kevin asked.

  “Kevin,” I said, scolding him.

  “No, it’s all right,” Camillo said. “My work took me away for quite some time. Things got very busy, and I didn’t want to bring that stress into your sister’s life.”

  “But you’re here now,” Kevin said. “Are you staying?”

  “That’s enough,” Cassie said.

  “I promise, his questions are fine,” Camillo said.

  “So, are you?” Kevin asked.

  I sighed and allowed my gaze to fall to my lap. I knew the dinner was going to be awkward, but I didn’t realize Kevin was going to take so well to Camillo.

  I still wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

  “Well, I do live in the area and I’d like to be a part of Ana’s life now. But that mean’s I’ll also be a part of yours somewhat. Are you okay with that?”

  “Maybe you should pose that question to Rose first,” Cassie said.

  I snapped my gaze up at her before my eyes drifted toward Camillo. I shot him a silent apology as Cassie rolled her shoulders back. She braced for a fight every single time a guy came into our lives. Though I loved that she was protective of me, it sometimes annoyed me to no end.

  “How about we talk about that later?” Camillo asked.

  “Okay,” Kevin said, defeated. “What questions are okay to ask?”

  “You could ask me about where I grew up,” Camillo said. “Or what I like to do for fun.”

  “What do you like to do for fun?” Kevin asked.

  “Sleep,” Camillo said, grinning.

  I couldn’t help but giggle at his answer while Kevin’s eyes lit up.

  “Hey, me too!” Kevin said. “What else?”

  “I do a lot of manual labor. It helps to calm my mind. You know, chopping wood, gardening, hunting, building furniture. That sort of thing.”

  “What sorts of furniture? Like could you make us a bigger table?” Kevin asked and I flashed him a look.

  “I haven’t tried making a table yet, but I’ve made bookcases and chairs,” Camillo said.

  “You work with wood?” I asked.

  The grin he threw me across the table shivered me to my toes.

  “I work with wood a great deal, when I can,” he said.

  I felt the heat creep up my neck and color stain my cheeks. I knew his innuendo was intended for me and it left me a little flustered.

  “You okay?” Cassie asked.

  “Just fine,” I said breathlessly.

  I felt Camillo’s eyes on me as I got up from the table. I needed to start doing something constructive or I was going to jump him at my table in front of my family. I started clearing dishes and took them over to the sink while Kevin put the dressings back into the refrigerator.

  I heard everyone get up from the table while I began rinsing the dishes. Cassie took Ana so she could put her down and Kevin was quickly on her heels. My hands were trembling even as the hot water rushed over them, but I was ripped from my trance when the dishwasher beside me opened.

  I looked over and saw Camillo staring down at me before he reached for the plates and started stacking them in.

  Silently, the two of us cleaned the kitchen. We got everything put away and the table wiped down. He helped me pick up the shreds of the dictionary Ana had left behind on the floor. He even took out the overflowing trash I kept forgetting to deal with before I went to bed.

  And by the time he came back in, I was ready to ask the looming question.

  “So,” I said breathlessly. “What happens now?”

  Chapter Sixteen - Camillo

  I looked into the eyes of my little songbird when she asked me that question, and I found myself lost. This woman was like none other. The strength she possessed and the love she carried for her family rivaled my own. I’d walked into her life after three years of absence between us and she welcomed me to her dinner table like I was an old friend. She had served me the best of the food she had to offer in her home and she had allowed me to bond a little bit with someone who was important to her in her life.

  All the while holding our daughter close to my chest for the very first time.

  This beautiful woman had been working full time at a diner, trying to make ends meet while taking care of her family and raising our daughter. She was single-handedly the foundation of this run-down home and had sacrificed everything she could in her life to make sure the children had everything they could ever want. She was still in her work clothes while a brand-new gaming system sat on the shelf for her brother in the living area. I admired her for the strength and beauty she possessed and I wanted to know everything about her. I wanted to know what she needed from me to be able to be happy.

  She was staring at me, waiting for me to tell her what would happen next.

  She was waiting for me to take control, just like I had all those years ago.

  “I need to be a part of my daughter’s life,” I said.

  “Okay.”

  “I want to get to know you,” I said.

  “Why?” she asked.

  “Why do I want to get to know the mother of my child?” I asked. “Because…”

  How did I tell her? How in the world could I communicate to her that no woman I’d ever attempted to be with since her compared to what we shared that night? How could I tell her that I stopped sleeping with subs altogether because of how perfect she was beneath my body that night? How could I tell her that I couldn’t rid her sounds from my ears or her image from my eyes?

  How could I tell her all this without scaring her?

  I could see the doubt filling her beautiful eyes and I knew I was losing her. I saw fear and hesitancy, like she thought I might be lying to her. “Because you’re beautiful and have done an amazing thing here raising Ana and Kevin. Because I’d like to see if we could be more than what we shared the night we made Ana.”

  She looked at me like she desperately wanted to believe what I was saying, but was afraid to let herself. I realized she must have suffered disappointment after disappointment in her life.

  “If you don’t believe that I want to get to know you, then at least let me get to know Ana. Let me come around. Let me play with her. Let me be a part of her life.”

  I could tell she was thinking and I was hanging on to every movement her eyes made as they danced around the room.

  “Let me provide for you what I should’ve been giving you for the past three years,” I said.

  “What does that mean?” she asked, her eyes narrowed.

  I did the only thing I knew how to do.

  I was going to show her what I meant.

  I reached into my pocket and wrapped my hand around the mas
sive wad of cash. I’d brought it to the diner, intent on having this talk. I’d brought it to the counter under the assumption that I’d have to prove to her what I could provide before I even got a chance to see my daughter.

  But she’d allowed my entrance into her home without even knowing what I brought to the table.

  I pulled the cash out of my pocket and took her hand. I placed it into her small palm, the wad of money dwarfing her entire hand. Her eyes widened and she tried to give it back to me, but all I did was cup my hands around it and bring her fingers up to my lips.

  I kissed each of her knuckles while our eyes connected, and when I dropped her hand, she clung to the money instead of trying to give it back.

  “You’ve done such a wonderful job, Rose,” I said. “You’ve sacrificed whatever it took to make sure you could give Kevin and our daughter the life they deserved. But I know you were embarrassed when I drove up to your house. I knew you were scrambling to clean it up. It’s why I stayed in the truck for as long as I did.”

  I saw tears of shame rising to her eyes and I pulled her close to me. I expected her to push me away, to backtrack as fast as she could now that she had the one thing she needed so desperately.

  But all she did was press herself deeper into me, almost as if she were seeking something else.

  “This isn’t a bribe,” I said as I held her close. “You have the final decision in this. But this is what I want to provide. Money. Support. Guidance. Whatever I should’ve been giving you these past few years, I want to be here to give it now.”

  She sniffled and pulled away from me, her eyes glued to the bundle of cash she had to hold with both of her hands.

  “You can come visit,” she said as her entire body trembled. “When I get off work, during the evenings.”

  “That’s all I ask,” I said.

  “Under one condition,” she said as she looked up at me.

  “Anything.”

  “Please don’t take my daughter away from me.”

  In that very moment, the fear she had been holding back trickled down her entire body. She shivered, goosebumps raced up her arms, and tears started down her cheeks. I moved toward her, backing her into the fridge and pinning her into my body.