what truly matters to me. YOU are MY everything, Miguel.
I want you to know how proud I am of what you’re doing.
Watching you over the past few weeks has shown me how hard this
is for you to go there. Your strength and compassion leave me
speechless. I hope and pray that your family can see the amazing
man that I see every time I look at you.
Even though they may never want to meet me, please give them a
hug for me. They don’t have to know it’s from me, I just want to
send my love. Regardless of what they say or do, they are a part
of who you are. For that, I will always love them.
Please be safe and come home as soon as possible.
I love you Miguel Sandviel. More than words can say!
Love Always,
Your Maelianna
After placing the letter in an envelope and setting it aside for tomorrow, I felt a weight lift off my chest. Lying down, I smiled as I looked at our picture, and was actually able to fall asleep.
CHAPTER 10
I got out of bed feeling somewhat refreshed and headed for my cup of coffee in the kitchen. After taking a few minutes to fully wake up, I took a shower and got dressed for the day. I chose a pair of dress pants and a silky V-neck, sleeveless shirt. Something slightly alluring, but still respectful. I wanted to make sure he had a good, sexy picture of me in his mind when he left.
I arrived at his condo at seven forty-five. The sun was shining and it was already steaming hot outside today. It was going to be one of those scorching, early autumn days. In Chicago, you never knew what to expect. Even when the weatherman predicted one thing, Mother Nature could decide on something completely different by the time the sun rose. I was grateful for the clear, blue sky though. I don’t think I could’ve handled the gloom and doom of rain and saying goodbye too.
Miguel was ready and waiting when I knocked on his door. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a tight polo shirt that outlined his sculpted chest and abs underneath. It was very similar to the one he wore the first night I met him at Joan’s. I licked my lips, wishing we had more time.
“I thought I told you, mi casa es tu casa?” He asked with a grin.
“Well yes, but I never know where the line starts and ends on that. So I figured it’s safe to knock and be sure.”
“Mel, Mel, Mel. Whatever will I do with you?” He left me in the doorway and briskly walked toward the kitchen. Returning only a moment later, he held a key ring with two keys jingling off it.
“These, my dear, are keys to this casa. These are yours now. You may enter anytime you want, anytime day or night, and for any reason at all.”
Not only did my jaw fall open, my heart did somersaults. This was exactly what I needed to see me through the day. He was not only giving me a gift, he was giving me a piece of his life. A promise.
“Wow, thank you.” My lips turned upward into the biggest smile and he returned my gesture knowing he had made me happy.
I took the keys and put them in my pocket immediately. I was not giving him a single second to change his mind.
“So, I expect you to come over and clean three times a week and don’t forget to do the grocery shopping and stock the fridge at least once a week. Okay?”
If I didn’t know him so well, I’d have freaked out over my supposed misinterpretation. But I knew he was joking and decided to play along since he was in such a good mood.
“Well, Sir, as long as you’re aware of my need to wear your underwear while I scrub your toilet and my desire to lick your toothbrush at least twice a day, then we’re good to go.”
We both started laughing at our silly way of dealing with the stress, happily avoiding any discussion about the problems and worries of the trip. He kissed my nose and then my lips before going into his living room to collect his items so we could leave.
For a Monday in Chicago, traffic was pretty light on our way to the airport. We parked the car and took the shuttle train into O’Hare airport. Miguel had a connecting flight in Texas so we proceeded to the domestic terminal counter. After checking in and processing his luggage, we had a few minutes to say goodbye before he had to leave me and go through security. We walked over to a quiet corner and embraced each other.
“I’m going to miss you, Mel, but no worrying. I’ll try to call you as much as I can.”
He didn’t give me a chance to respond. He cupped his hands under my face and gently pulled my mouth to his, our lips filling in all the emotion that our words could not. Without breaking the kiss, he slowly slid his hands down my neck, my arms, across my ribcage, and rested them above my hips. I worked my arms up around his shoulders and my fingers gripped the muscles flexing behind his neck as we both tried to hold on to each other as long as possible.
Quickly becoming lost in the moment, we didn’t notice that someone was watching us until they cleared their throat behind me. Assuming it was security personnel or someone who wasn’t comfortable with public displays of affection; I pulled away from his lips and laughed a little. I didn’t want to look at whoever it was out of fear of being embarrassed, but the way Miguel looked past me at this person made me think that it could’ve been a ghost. An expression of shear panic covered his face. He shook his head in denial, but didn’t say a word.
I turned my head slowly, afraid of what I might see, and saw someone who could almost be Miguel’s twin. He was a little younger than Miguel, but had the same hair, the same coffee colored skin tone, and the same brown eyes. The only difference was that he was about half a foot shorter than Miguel. He was actually closer to my height. The thing that caught my eye the most was the look in his eyes. He was filled with hatred and anger. I could feel waves of malevolence rolling off him.
Obviously, with the distinct likeness in appearances, Miguel knew this person, but neither one of them spoke to each other. They just stood there staring at one another while I looked back and forth between the two of them.
Unsure of what to do, I turned around and stuck my hand out.
“Hello, my name is Mel.”
I didn’t want to show any signs of kindness to someone who brought out such a horrid response from Miguel, but I couldn’t see any other way to find out what was going on unless I spoke up. Considering his plane was leaving soon, I needed to act fast.
The man in front of me looked down at my hand and back to my face. He refused to shake my hand. Are you serious? He could’ve at least been polite to my face and talked about me behind my back. But no, he refused to shake my hand at all.
Instead, he took a step to my side and looked past me so he could have a full view of Miguel.
“What are you doing?” The man spoke to Miguel, disdain dripping off his tongue. He had a very strong accent in comparison to Miguel, who almost had none. I couldn’t place it though.
Miguel’s eyes became even wider, as he took a step forward, and pulled me back toward him, wrapping one of his arms around my back.
“What I’m doing is none of your business anymore.” He emphasized each word, not backing down from this man. “I don’t know why you’re in this airport, but you can keep going and pretend you don’t see me. We have nothing to discuss here.”
“Oh, big brother, we have plenty to discuss and I think you know that.” The man, who I now knew was Miguel’s brother, looked to me with absolute disgust in his eyes.
“Don’t!” Miguel warned him.
“Well, I see.” He looked at Miguel with surprise; a hateful grin lifting the side of his mouth, then returned his focus back to me. He continued speaking to Miguel, but he never took his eyes off mine. “We will have plenty of time to talk on the flight and at our parent’s home. So continue with your fun, I’ll see you on the plane.”
The man picked up his bag and took a step to leave, but stopped and turned around abruptly. He stared right at me like he was going to take me down in front of everyone.
“I don�
��t know who or what you are, but you are nothing to us. You never will be. So keep your handshakes and your American voice to yourself, you may need them someday.” With that said, he turned around and walked away.
I stood there, unable to move. I felt the tears sliding down my face, but couldn’t stop them. I sensed Miguel wrap me up in his arms, but I couldn’t even lift mine to hold him. Who was that man? Why would he say such mean things to me? I love his brother and all he saw was a woman, an American, and for some reason, I was the enemy. Whatever reassurance I had with Miguel spending time with his family was completely washed away.
His hands slid up my arms and cupped my face, forcing my attention back to the man in front of me. “Did you hear me, Mel?” His eyebrows were drawn down, worry written across his face.
“I don’t know what you said, Miguel.” I replied softly. “I’m sorry he didn’t like me.”
“No, Maelianna. Don’t do this. Please. Don’t let him steal your joy. Our joy, honey. He means nothing to me, you know this. You are my world.”
I watched his eyes and saw them fill with tears. My heart was breaking over the fact that I had to send him off to be with people like that, but he was right. I couldn’t let that horrible person steal what we had. I wouldn’t let him win. I’d fight for Miguel no matter what.
I reached my arms around his back and held on tight. This was my man. No one would take him away from me!
“I’m okay now. I know you need to go. Your flight leaves soon.”
“I’ll cancel it. I can’t leave you like this.”
“I’m hurt, but I’m okay. You’re what’s important to me. Not that… that… man.” I spat the last word.
Leaning back, I gave him a quick kiss and offered a small smile. “Just hurry home to me, Miguel. I need you.”
“I’m so sorry he was here. I had no idea, Mel. I would never have had you take me if I’d known. Please forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. You didn’t do anything. Now hurry up and go. The sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll come back to me.” I put all my strength into sounding strong because I knew if he didn’t go soon, I’d fall apart right there in front of him and all the other hundreds of people around us.
“God, I love you Mel. More than life itself.” He pulled me in for one last kiss and then grabbed his bag and started to leave.
Just hold it together a few more minutes, Mel. You can do this. You can do this for him. Just as I started coaching myself, he turned around to check on me. I raised my hand halfheartedly and gave him a small wave goodbye. With a sad, little smile he waved back and moved through the security check. I turned around and walked away.
I have no idea how I made it to my car. I know I walked to the shuttle, wove in and out of the congestion of people who were arriving, and found my way back to my vehicle, but it was like walking in a trance. My mind was replaying everything that had happened and once I shut my car door, it was over. There was no more “Strong Mel,” no more holding it together. I had no further ability to keep everything inside. It wasn’t only what that man had said to us, it was knowing that Miguel was leaving with him. It was clear that he planned on flying with Miguel and would fully discuss our “situation” during the flight, and probably with the family. It was the unknown that scared me the most. The fear of losing someone I loved to something I had no idea how to fight. I had pushed him to go on this trip. I was the one who said he could do it. Now I thought otherwise, but it was too late. He was gone.
I sat in my car crying for over an hour. It was so hot from the heat wave that sweat was dripping down into every crevasse I had. I knew I had to go to the shop and get busy, but I didn’t want to drive while my brain was busy processing all that had happened.
Reaching into my pocket for my parking ticket, I grabbed hold of the keys Miguel had given me this morning. I pulled them out and held them to my heart.
“I love you,” I whispered.
Holding his promise in my hand, I regained a little strength and was able to start driving away.
CHAPTER 11
The next few days went by excruciatingly slow. Miguel called around ten each night, but we only talked for a few minutes. He was whispering and trying to avoid any further conflicts with his family, so he kept his calls short and as private as possible, using the bathroom as his “office” when he could. His mother and sisters were very happy to see him. I could hear the joy in his voice when he told me about seeing them and their children for the first time in nearly ten years. But other than that, he wouldn’t talk about anyone else. The only thing I knew for sure was that his father hadn’t died yet but that they expected him to pass within the next week or so.
Today, when he called, I was still at work. It was lunchtime and the shop was busy. I hurried to my office, shutting the door behind me so I could hear him better. I had butterflies in my stomach, anxious to hear the sound of his voice.
“Hi Beautiful, how are you?” He wasn’t whispering and I wondered how he was calling me earlier in the day.
I didn’t waste time asking about it though. There were more important things to talk about then that.
“Missing you. How are things going there?”
“Well, that’s why I’m calling you.”
The happiness I felt answering his call quickly warped into a dreadful sick feeling. His voice had gone from loving to monotone in two seconds. I gripped the edge of my desk and waited for him to finish.
“My mom asked me to take care of some of the planning for the funeral and I agreed. I’ll have to stay here three days longer than I had planned. They’re taking my father off life support next Monday so I should be coming home on Thursday.”
Should be? I felt the ground slipping away. Would he even come back?
“Okay. Can I do anything for you?” Keeping my mask in place so I could sound positive for him, I did the best I knew how. I focused on his needs.
“No honey, but thanks. How are you?” His voice lifted a little, but he still sounded off.
“I’m going to finish up here with the shop and then I’m taking Lindsey to go shopping.”
“Oh, that’s good. Tell her I said hi please.”
“Of course I will. Listen, I need to go. I’m sorry, but there’s a problem with the orders out front and they need my help.”
I lied. I actually lied to the man I love. I couldn’t help it though. I couldn’t handle the worries that were bombarding my mind, the what-ifs.
“Alright.” I could hear the disappointment in his voice and instantly felt guilty. But I’d already started my lie and had to carry it out. “I’ll try to call you tonight. If I can’t then I’ll call tomorrow. I love you, Mel.”
“I love you too, Miguel. Be safe.”
The phone went dead. No goodbye.
I put my phone down and sat there numb. I’d cried so much over the past few days I had no more tears to shed.
Miguel’s coming home next week. We own a boat together. I have the keys to his house. He loooooves me. I talked to myself, emphasizing the love part. I had to get control and make it through this time so that when he came home we could deal with whatever happened while he was there.
Taking a deep breath, I stood up and returned to help customers with their orders. I’d keep myself busy until he came home. That was my only option.
********
The next day came and went with no phone call. The following three days were the same. It had been nearly five days since I’d spoken to Miguel in my office, a call that lasted only a few minutes. Every fear I had was now magnified a hundred times. Why wouldn’t he call? Who wouldn’t let him call me? After reuniting with his family, did he regret moving to the US? Regret us?
Joan was worried about me, my employees continually asked if I was okay, and even I was beginning to wonder about how I was acting. I was so distressed; I was hardly eating or sleeping.
Leaving work a little early, I took Miguel’s house keys and proceeded to his condo.
I simply needed to feel him around me for a little while, to feel like he was coming back. Opening his front door, I walked inside and found that everything was the same as when we were last there. Did I expect it to be empty? Well, maybe I did. I didn’t know what I thought anymore.
I went straight to his bedroom. My eyes skimmed the room landing on a pair of his pants that were hanging over the back of the leather chair at his desk. I walked over and slid my hand down them, feeling the smooth fabric under my hand. Noticing a picture frame on his desk, I walked around to the other side and was surprised to see a copy of the same picture I had of us on the sailboat together. I smiled and picked it up, looking closely at Miguel. He was such an amazing man. Not only his appearance, but who he was as a person. Just looking at him made my heart beat faster.
I sat it back down and moved to his magnificent bed. The comforter was still folded down from where he slept in it the night before he left. I crawled up and swaddled myself in his blankets. Laying my head on his pillows, I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent. Yes, this was what I needed. I curled up with one of his pillows and before long, succumbed to much needed sleep.
It’s only a couple more days till he’ll be home. I woke up two hours later with that thought running through my mind. I pulled his pillow to my nose, inhaling deeply, imagining how good it would be to have him here beside me soon.
Considering that it wouldn’t be long before he returned, I decided to bake him the pies I’d promised months ago. It was late, but the grocery store was open 24 hours. I was tempted to take his car since his keys were hanging in the kitchen, but decided against it, just in case a tree decided to jump out in front of me. Laughing at my twist of Joan’s words, I jumped out of bed and put my shoes on, then hurried outside, eager to do something nice for Miguel.
Twisted Truths & Leveled Lies Page 11
