by Erin Trejo
“That boy is spoiled rotten,” Deb says, making me laugh.
“He is not. He’s perfect. Just look at him,” I say pointing to him. He is perfect. He has a lighter skin tone than me and his daddy’s eyes. Everything else is the spitting image of his momma. I couldn’t be happier for the way he turned out.
“Did he really need two cakes for his birthday?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes! Dezzy is coming and bringing the guys. You know how much they ate last year,” I remind her with a smile on my face. The last two years have been hard without Sly. Dezzy said he slowly lost his way in life. He started drinking heavily again but wouldn’t admit to wanting me and Chris. I tried to tell her that I didn’t need all the details, but I got them anyway. She told me about how at first, he debated if he did the right thing by pushing us away. I know he felt responsible for Dezzy and that alone ripped him apart, but despite all that, I held onto the hope that he would think about us and come back. When he didn’t, I moved on. I went back to making things after my arm healed and Chris and I are doing great, even if we are alone.
“Speaking of,” Deb says and nods toward the driveway. I lean down and pick Chris up, placing him on my hip as I tickle his belly and point to Dez.
“Look who it is. It’s sissy,” I tell him.
“Sissy!” he squeals with joy. He absolutely loves Dezzy.
“My little man!” She comes running, scooping him into her arms and spinning him around while she kisses his face.
“If he throws up before the cake, I’m going to kick your ass,” I warn her. She stops and turns to face me with a huge smile on her face.
“He didn’t last year.”
“Well, that was last year. Come on. Beer’s in the cooler guys,” I call out as Gauge, Wolf, and Shaft stroll up the steps and head inside. Chris starts to whine, so I grab him from Dez as she heads in with the girls. I’m about to turn around and follow when I see him standing there. My heart leaps into my throat. He doesn’t see me; he’s looking down at his boots like he’s debating what he’s doing here.
I answer the question for him. I walk over and stand directly in front of him until he looks up and we lock eyes. The air becomes thicker just like always. God, I’ve missed him so much.
“Hey,” he says softly.
“Hey. What are you doing here?”
“I…I brought him a present,” he says, holding up the plush motorcycle. Chris takes it quickly and laughs, pulling a smile from both of us.
“He likes it.”
“I should go,” he adds, breaking my heart all over again.
“I get it, you know? Why you want to stay away.”
Shaking his head, he looks so hurt and lost. “I don’t. Not anymore. I thought I was doin’ what was right by not bein’ around him, Fab.”
God, just hearing him say my name gives me chills.
“What do you mean not anymore?”
“I love you, Fabiola. I always have. I love Chris too. I took his uncle; I almost took his sister. I just couldn’t do that to him, ya know?”
“Sly, it’s been two years. Two! I’m not going to wait on you forever. You do know that, right?”
“I’m not askin’ you to. Fuck, Fab.”
This hurts, more than I thought it would. I don’t think I can go through that pain again.
“Thanks for the present.” Turning on my heel, I start back toward the house when he calls out to me.
“You wanna take him to the park for a while. Maybe talk?” Just the sound of his voice sends heat coursing through me. It’s him. It’s always been him. Turning back to him, I nod as tears fill my eyes and hope blooms in my heart.
I walk back toward him when he motions for Chris. I let him take him from my arms and as he does, something transforms in his eyes. Something that I kind of always knew would happen if he could just see his son.
“Hey, little man. You know me? Huh? I’m your daddy, even if I look like your grandpa.” I burst into laughter and so does Sly. This is perfect.
“You do not,” I tell him, bumping my shoulder with his.
“Not that you cared anyway. You still rode me like a stallion.” Another burst of laughter.
“This feels good,” I tell him softly, not quite sure how he’s going to take that.
“Yeah, it does. Family feels good.”
The End
