by Mari Sillva
-Are not you going to ask where I live? - she asked, cutting the silence between them.
- When I really need to, the less I hear your voice is better! - He increased his speed as if he wanted to get rid of her soon. As he said, it was just a problem for everyone around her.
- Where did you get this car? I really would like to know. She had a pure heart she could not hold anyone's grief for long.
-It was my grandfather's, it was my father's, and now it's mine, - he said short and thickly, he knew that the faster he responded, the greater her chance of keeping her mouth shut.
- That Cool! Then it will be your son and his son, -she commented, smiling innocently.
-Maldonado's blood dies with me, I hate children and animals.
Jesse looked at him in horror.
-But you just talked to your brother on the phone, - she said confusedly.
- It's adopted, did not inherit my bad blood.
She noticed that Blade had his face serene as he spoke of his brother, his muscles relaxed and his breathing calm.
- Wow! How sad, my biggest dream is to be a mother someday. Just thinking about the idea made her smile, that smile that illuminated everything around her.
- A Poor thing for the child! - She closed the smile at the same moment.
-I always wanted to have a pet, but my dad never left. I feel lonely sometimes, it would be good to have someone besides my mother to talk to not to look at me like I'm an idiot. -she thought aloud and sadly enough that the Out-of-Law Man realized that he was not the only one there who had a difficult childhood.
- would be difficult, animals are sensitive! - Jesse looked at him in disbelief, what was handsome was twice as rude and insensitive. - Where do you live? He asked, trying to get her attention off the subject. He realized she had picked up a little heavy.
She explained in detail, too much to his level of patience.
-Thank you for everything, especially for saving my life in that bar!
The Impala was parked a few feet from a pretty white house, not luxurious but comfortable and welcoming. There was a small garden in the front with a flowering oak in the middle, flowers of all kinds and colors protected by a wooden fence around the house, a very well-made fence.
-I was just paying one debt, one life for the other, - he said dismissively, trying to relieve some of the tension within the sixties vehicle.
-I see, - she said sadly, making it clear he saved her out of obligation, not because he wanted to. Then she turned to the driver.
-Thank you very much, Mr. Maldonado.
He said nothing. Jesse got out of the car, closing the door behind her, feeling more insignificant than usual. She took two steps but decided to stop and look at the most handsome man he had ever seen in his life, and his heart was cooler too.
-Bye, Blade, until sometime, - she said sadly, knowing she would never see him again.
-Goodbye, - he said roughly without looking at her, his upper posture looking straight ahead and holding the wheel tight.
He exuded superiority. Jesse would be afraid to touch him even if he left. In the face of his contempt, he only turned his back toward the gate without looking back, unfortunately, because if he had looked he would have seen that he still stood in the same place without taking his eyes off her every step. Not even afterwards did he see that it took him ten minutes to find the right key and open the door, facing his father who pulled her arm aggressively inside. This made Maldonado's blood boil. His will was to go there and take her out of his hands, but he restrained himself. It was no longer his problem he was going to pretend it was all a nightmare and he would go on.
Chapter 6
Maria Joaquim let all the bags fall to the floor when she got home and faced the image of her whole daughter in a fetal position crying, she had gone to the fair to make the purchase for the week, and now some of the vegetables she had chosen so fondly left rolling aimlessly like an old tire tucked away in the back of the garage, the one the daughters joked rolling down the hill when they were kids, even though they do it to this day. The two sisters always got on very well. The vegetables had their route interrupted by a small, fragile human wall on the cold white floor next to the six chair glass table in the living room with a bright green knit carpet made by Mrs. Carter herself, adorned with a full pot of daisies planted in the morning. It was a heart-wrenching scene at least hers was in pieces inside her chest when she saw her in that state. Jesse was all marked by his father's belt, the major had not even heard his daughter's explanations, or rather gave her no opportunity to explain herself.
-Do not cry, my love, Mom is here now! - Jesse looked at his confused mother, as if not recognizing her voice was still half disoriented by the "warm" reception of his father.
Maria hugged her daughter affectionately, her movements were well thought out to avoid touching the scrapes scattered around the girl's body she did not want to cause her more pain than she already felt. She did not have to ask what had happened, she knew the husband she had. That scene reminded her of when Jesse was small, had always been very sensitive, she was falling and hurting herself. But he never gave up, he cried a little, but then he would play again as if nothing had happened. He remembered one time when she found a bird with a broken wing in the yard, nursed it for weeks until it healed, and cried double the time when it had to be returned to nature. It was easy, so it hurt so much when it came to dealing with people.
-He said the next time I'd spend the night without warning I'd never walk into this house again. - She looked at her mother in embarrassment then patted her bruised arm.
Feeling the warm warmth of his embrace filled with love, Maria Joaquim's sobbing wetted her daughter's tousled hair as if she were a puppy. Jesse's pain was also hers.
-Do not cry for me, Mother. - she wiped her face with affection, gave a sad smile, trying to show that she was fine, but he was not. -I'm used to my father's way, but never to see you crying over me, sorry for making you suffer. - It made her heart ache even more, Jesse had the habit of apologizing even when it was not her fault.
-This can´t continue my love, your father can´t be treating you like this. -Jesse felt her mother's arms tighten around her, she was nervous.
- I love you Mom, thank you for existing" -And she really did love her." She never judged her way out of her way, or her choices, always supported her, even when she did not agree with what she was doing.
- I love you too, my love! -Her voice was tearful, filled with pain. She caressed a part of her daughter's arm where it was purple and well-swollen, kissing her cheek soon after. -That was the first and last time she does it, my dear, I'm going to get you and your sister, and we're leaving this house today, - she exclaimed decisively.
She could even accept the coarsest of her husband, but to accept seeing him attacking his daughters, never. She was the type of mother they all should be: good, kind, understanding, caring and kind. But unfortunately not all are like this, some even try to be, others no matter how hard they will never be.
-Do not worry, Mother, I'll be fine. -She returned the kiss to the same place he had received, wiping his eyes and offering him a hopeful smile. -It's not hurting so much, at least not more than my heart. She lowered his gaze sadly, for he knew that no matter how hard he tried to be better, his father would make no difference. For the major, he would be nothing, because what came from her seemed to have no value to him, to no one around him in truth. -You can´t leave my father, mother, you are the good side of him!
Maria Joaquim was thrilled to hear such words from her daughter, she knew exactly what she meant by that. She picked up the hem of the flowery light blue dress, a simple but elegant woman.
-Come on, daughter let's clean this up before it gets infected.
She offered her hand to her, who with a little difficulty managed to stand, making the bruising marks on his arms and even his neck more visible. The others on the body were lighter because the blows had been cushioned by the wide tr
ousers of the uniform and the one hundred percent cotton Maldonado shirt he was wearing. The poor girl thanked the gods for the piece being of a thicker material otherwise the damage could have been much greater. After taking a nice warm bath with her mother's help, she dried her wounds carefully and poured ointment into each of them ate all the soup she made for her, then slept soundly. For only ten minutes, as Mainara rushed to her big sister's room after a hurricane as soon as she got home from work.
-What did he do to you this time, sis? - Mom did not tell me the right thing, but as soon as I saw your profile without a photo I knew something had happened, so I dropped everything to come and take care of you. Mai knew her sister like no one else, especially her manias. One of them was to take the picture of the profile of all social networks when she was hurt by something, felt hidden like this, protected from the world.
-Relax, sister, it was no big deal.
You could barely see Jesse's face in that pile of Kiki Butovisk prints. It was the decorating theme of her bedroom the Disney princesses never filled her eyes. Unlike Jesse, Mainara was tall, full of volume and curved big breasts and a pretty face, round, well highlighted by the very short haircut very well taken care of. She was elegant and very polite, she spoke several languages. The wall of the room was filled with diplomas and trophies that won in intelligence quizzes did not miss one. At the moment I was wearing a light gray suit, three-piece set consisting of a white silk blouse underneath the three-quarter sleeve jacket and a pencil skirt fair, with an open side showing the shapely thick thigh. The makeup was perfect it looked like it was made by some famous makeup artist. The dry wine lipstick highlighting the fleshy lips made her look more beautiful than she already was, but what made all the difference in Mai was the big heart and the remarkable personality had pulled the beauty mother.
-Sister, how about we travel to Toronto on vacation? Visiting Auntie Ana, we have not seen her since moving there. Canadians are said to be the hottest men in the world and well-endowed as well, -she commented cheerfully as she took off her red high-heeled shoes from his feet, throwing the leather briefcase around the corner of the room.
She worked as a trainee administrator at a multimillion-dollar oil and gas company, she was great at numbers. She lifted his sister's blankets and slipped beneath, resting her head on her breast and stroking her face. Carter thought it best not to tell her about what her father had done, as he was in her pajamas with long sleeves and high socks he could not see the wounds and would ask her mother to do the same. Mainara was going to have a fight with her father. Unlike her, she did not bow her head to his rudeness.
-If the Americans do not want me, the Canadians will not want it at all, Mainara. Jesse took a deep breath, discouraged, making the younger sister laugh at the whole drama of hers. She thought she was beautiful she just had to wear the right size clothes and comb her hair, at least once in a while.
- Hey sisters, I'm home! Nayla entered the room without knocking, it was from home. Smiling and gossiping without stopping. She had come to see how her friend was.
-The nut girl arrivied,- said Mainara.
She called Nay because of her cheerful way of being the friendliness in person, beautiful and talented, the great promise of the fashion world as a stylist. Known for her boldness in creating her pieces, she had perfect features and an enviable delicacy in her drawings. Unique in what she did so much success.
-Are you having a bad time, friend? - The stylist asked worriedly. She was tall and thin, but with a definite body. Her hair with naturally rebellious curls, just below her shoulders, her honey-colored eyes, small thin lips, was always very well dressed and made up in her own style. She had too strong an opinion to wear something that was not to her liking just because she was "fashionable."
-My little black girl is fine Nay just a little tired. Is not it sister's love? -Mainara squeezed the investigator's cheeks as if it were a baby, anyone who saw them talking would think she was the eldest daughter, not Jesse.
-I'm fine, Nayla, you do not have to worry, my friend. - She tried to smile at her, but it would have been better if she had not tried it, gone yellow and false. There's no way to fake a joy that does not exist, at least Jesse could not, it was too real for that.
- Great, because I came to invite you to the parade of my new collection inspired by the classic models of the time, will be sponsored by the Fox jewelry company - exclaimed euphoric.
-Oh-My-God, - Mainara cried with both hands in her mouth, all excited. - This is the most expensive brand on the market, leave Prada in the slipper. I'll go and Jesse will too subject closed! She looked at her stern sister, knew she would come up with some excuse not to go, and she would not allow it.
- I'm not going, period, Mai! You're tired of knowing that I do not like parties, I do not feel good in crowded places, mainly because I can´t see a handful away in front of my nose in places with lots of flashes of light. - Jesse suffered from a pathology in the eyes were very sensitive to light, so much of the day was forced to wear grade glasses.
- I'm already wondering how it will look beautiful dressed as a fairy you have to see the beautiful mask I bought for you! The stylist jumped across the plaid-tiled floor as if she were a three-year-old child getting the first toy, the spring-like little cakes floated in the air. Jesse looked at her in amazement, had not heard a word of what he had said.
-What part of what I said that I will not go do not you understand, creature? Nayla stopped jumping at the same moment, glaring at her.
-What do you mean, Miss Carter? - She wrapped her hands around his waist, frowning nervously. -I saved your skin with ... You know who ... And you know how much I hate to tell lies," she snorted in frustration as she collapsed on her friend's bed Carter thanked the bed for a double.
The friend made a small pout with her thin lips to blow a curl that fell on her eyes. Then she put both hands under the nape of the neck for the head, still crossed her legs to be more comfortable.
-I know you do not like this kind of event, my friend. -I actually hated it, mainly because of the unnecessarily loud sound, as if all guests were deaf. But it really is a very important day for me, it will not be the same if you're not there, it will not be fun, - she dramatized. The stylist was master of it.
-Okay, I will, - the investigator said between her teeth, not really wanting to go.
She had scheduled a perfect weekend, updated the chapters of his favorite series, finished reading William P. Young's book A Cabana, ate popcorn, and stuffed herself with soda. Plenty of vanilla ice cream and jelly beans to complete. She came to take a deep breath, watching his perfect plans fall apart! Who wanted to go to a boring party? Sprinkled with expensive champagne and Hollywood stars, watching a parade of magnificent clothes that had nobody to wear, adorned with jewels you could never afford.
-But I'll wear what I want, not what you want, are we understood? - She rolled her body on the bed facing her friend, looking at her over her bottle-rimmed glasses. She knew the friend she had she knew she would not give up so easily.
-As long as you do not wear those damn old sneakers with jeans, that's great, baby! - But the mask will be forced to wear, after all this is the theme of the parade. Carter took a deep breath, discouraged, knew that nothing he said would change her mind.
-I do not see anything wrong with my sneakers and jeans, killing myself on a fifteen-foot heel just to be a businesswoman of the year, I'm not going, babe. She rolled her eyes, hated high heels.
All Jesse wanted was to be able to live in a world where the bulk of his hair did not seem to scare others, where he could enjoy the right to wear his old sneakers with his shabby jeans everywhere. I wanted the women to understand that they can, at least, go to the bakery without feeling forced to put on makeup, spend all day eating candy without blame, not getting killed in the gym just to impress those who actually look at them, but can´t "see".
Blonde, one foot and seventy, thin, blue eyes and overwhelming beauty. Does the appe
arance have to be even a pattern and not a choice? It is not fair to say that a person does not have faith in God just because he has tattoos, what will be worth in the final judgment is not the appearance, but, yes, the essence, she thought. After all, the basis of all is respect, for in the Bible it says, "Love your neighbor as yourself." But not everyone thinks this way, in the world, there is more than enough opinion and lack of respect...
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Bobbi would open the door of the house to receive the four brothers who were snorting with rage. It was a mansion in a luxury condominium with security armed to the teeth. In front of the beach, it had been bought thirteen years ago for the boy to live. They also hired a trusted lady, the Babysitter Neudes the sweetest and kindest woman in the world whom everyone respected a lot. She raised the child as if it were her son, but one of the world. Everyday slept with him so he would not feel abandoned by the family. They were like a wild bull herd on the loose, arms crossed and bad guys. Blade clenched his fist clenched in fury, angry as he placed his gray eyes on his younger brother's bruised face, someone had injured his Mascot and no matter what, he would pay for it.
- I want the CPF number and the identity of this damn! - Growled Maldonado, punching the wall. "Now," he shouted.
Bobbi trembled with fear after all he was not to show his true face close to him, it was always softer. At least he tried, but at that moment he could not hold back the anger he was feeling. He scanned the place to see if everything was in order, he hated the mess. He thought things were meant to be in their proper places and, thanks to the "Guardian Angels" of the younger brothers, he was. If not things would be worse for Bobbi, at least a month of punishment. The furniture in the house was classic, the room looked like an International Library of Letters, with thick wooden shelves that ran from floor to ceiling divided into shelves bearing books by great Renaissance authors and philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, all arranged in alphabetical order and by Colors. Dark brown curtains closed the view to the sea a dark sofa contrasting with the beige rug in front of the three-chair. Right in the middle of the room a small table on top of it a chess game with a halted game that she had been playing with Blade for over five years neither could win, at least Maldonado showed. Everything was very clean and organized, as usual, the way it should be. Especially the young man, remarkably well dressed in social trousers, white shirt, and bow tie. He wore a blue linen sweater over his shirt, our feet shoes with fine spouts very well greased to complete round glasses, small, but proportional to the size of his face, hiding a part of the blue sea-colored eyes.
