Star Bright

by Christina OW

  Maria walked into their room with a food tray in her hands. It had been two weeks since the ordeal and Maria had been trying to make up for it ever since. She felt guilty for what they went through, Michael’s nightmares and Dave’s pain, she was glad Izzy was too young to understand anything, but she would jump and stiffen at loud noises.

  Yes, everything her family was going through was her fault, but she was determined to make up for it.

  “What are you doing carrying that? You are going to hurt yourself.” Dave pushed the papers and the laptop aside to make room for the tray.

  Maria set it down next to him and picked up his sling, “You should be resting, not working, give me your arm.”

  “I’ll wear mine if you wear yours.” Dave spoke, picking up a piece of toast from the tray.

  She got onto the bed and crossed over to him, “Don’t be a child, you got shot.” she felt a shiver remembering him lying lifeless on the ground. She really wanted to forget that, but it was impossible seeing Dave wounded.

  Dave slid his arm in and watched her fasten the sling. Her face changed from fear to relief then guilt, “It wasn’t your fault Maria.”

  She snorted, blinking the tears in her eyes away, “Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better, I’ll just live with the truth.”

  Dave pulled her and held her against his chest, he winced when she pressed against his arm, “I’m taking this thing off, it hurts more having it on than having it off.” he pulled the sling off and threw it across the room. Maria went to get it, but he pushed her back, “What happened was Ricky’s fault, like every other bad thing in your life. He hurt you too just like he did us.”

  “What do you guys call it.... chain of causation?”

  “Just because you met him first doesn’t mean it’s your fault.” he spoke in her hair as he nuzzled her tighter against him.

  That night when he felt the bullet go through him, he was sure he was never going to get to hold her like this again, he saw the life he was never going to have with his family and it scared him more than dying did.

  But he was here, they were all here and he wasn’t going to waste this second chance.

  “Things happen for a reason Maria, its called life.”

  “Really? What reason would there be for you having a bullet hole in your shoulder, or Michael having nightmares every single night, or Izzy stiffening at the sound of loud noises or me adding a bummed shoulder and a few more ribs to my file of broken body parts. What exactly is the universe trying to tell us Dave?”

  Dave sighed. He was giving up on that venture. Maria was determined to carry another load on her shoulders.

  “Is Michael talking about his nightmares? The doctor said it would do him some good if he does.” he lifted the tray with his good hand and placed it on the bedside table.

  Maria chuckled, “I still can’t believe Michael is seeing a shrink. It just seems like a rich kids thing. I bet now he’ll fit into his rich kids school much better.”

  Dave pinched her and she whined, “Will you stop hitting on the snooty kids, they were once my people.”

  She laughed, “I’m sorry I’ll only hit on them once a month from now on. Yes he talks about it, it’s the same thing, like someone taped what happened and is forcing him to watch it every night. But they’ve been less these past few days and he’s sleeping a lot more.”

  “You aren’t sleeping too well. How are your nightmares?” he twisted her hair with his fingers and pulled the locks over her shoulder.

  “I keep expecting Ricky to jump out of the bushes and yell surprise or wake me up in bed with a butcher knife on my throat.” she cradled his arm around her tighter.

  “He’s dead, you identified his body in the mortuary yourself.” he kissed the top of her head. He understood her fear, the man had already been dead twice and he came back, “He’s dead and he’s never coming back.”

  “Maybe his ghost will this time.” she exhaled, changing the subject, “Anyway, I can handle the nightmares, I’m used to it, I don’t need a shrink to...” she stopped when he pinched her, “Ow, what was that for, I didn’t say anything!”

  “You were about to. And anyway, you are rich now so having a shrink will make you fit better in my snotty society.”

  “Oh well, after everything that’s happened I think I can handle your snotty friends, and of course your dad, without.” she turned to face him, “having to marry you.”

  Dave smiled, amused by her insistence, “We’ll see. Speaking of marriage, how are your parents doing in Mexico or is it Cuba?”

  Maria settled back against him, “Mexico. I don't want to know what papa is up to, plausible deniability, and I worry about mama, I’m scared she might get into the cross fire or something because of his business.”

  “She isn’t going to leave him, you know that.”

  “I do, she’s been waiting for him for over twenty-three years, how could I possibly ask her to leave him just because she might get shot, because of him.”

  “She’s in love Maria.”

  “I thought I was in love and it got me beat up, two kids kidnapped and a boyfriend shot.” she shook her head, trying to clear it of constant memories that insisted on haunting her, “Forgive me if that word doesn’t hold a lot of weight for me.”

  Dave raised her chin so that he could look into her green eyes, “So you don’t love me?”

  She fully turned to face him, “I do.” she smiled then planted a kiss on his lips, “I got you shot so the least I can do is love you.” she kissed him again, longer this time, “Not fall in love with you, but grow in love with you.”

  Dave drug his hand in her hair, he loved her jet black hair, “Grow in love, is that the new thing young people do these days?” he gently pushed her head closer and locked her lips in a deeper kiss.

  He hated that they were both hurt, he hated it more that the recent incident had taken him back to zero with her. There was no way she would be willing for anything more than kissing and the fire for her was scorching his insides.

  She pulled away and looked at him, a fire simmering slowly inside her, “You aren’t old.” she looked at his lips and she felt the urge to kiss him, to do a lot more than just kiss him, “If you slide down I’ll show what else girls my age like to do.” she said so seductively that she surprised herself.

  Dave looked at her with a raised eyebrow. He wasn’t sure if he heard right or if he understood what she meant, and if he did he was surprised she was initiating it, “Are you sure?”

  She nodded, biting delicately down on her lower lip in half a smile, “Unless you are in too much pain... ‘cause I know you want to, you’ve been wanting to for a very long time.”

  “How do you know that?” he smiled sliding down under her.

  She shrugged her shirt off and left the tank top on, “I was screwed up, but I’m not blind.” she laid on him as she kissed him, careful not to hurt his shoulder, “Does it hurt?” she asked, tracing the huge bandage under his vest.

  “Not as much, but I’m sure if you keep kissing me I’ll go numb.” he spoke, as he traced her neck with his lips.

  Maria giggled, his lips on her neck tickled her, “I hope only your shoulder goes numb.” she felt her throat tighten when he nibbled on her chin and traced his fingers lightly along her back. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt like she was going to explode, usually she felt like she wasn’t wearing enough clothes, but at that moment the little she had on felt too much like a barrier.

  Dave rolled over until he was on top of her, “How about we talk after, before...”

  Dave was cut off when the kids came in running and jumped on the bed laughing. He rolled off Maria and watched them, wishing he had locked the door or called for a baby sitter to take them out for a few hours or for the whole day.

  Maria sat up laughing, “Before they come in.” she finished his sentence pulling Izzy on to her lap.

  Michael settled down between them, “So what were you guys
doing?”

  “Yeah, what were you doing?” Izzy echoed.

  Maria was grateful her son wasn’t so clever in some areas. Explaining the birds and the bees to a five year old wasn’t anything she was looking forward to, she was so much more relieved that Dave was in their life now, when Michael was older he would have a man to have that uncomfortable embarrassing conversation with.

  “They were wrestling.” Carol said as she walked in.

  “Wrestling? Who was winning?” Michael asked, looking up at Dave.

  “Oh, they both were, but I think Dave was enjoying it more.” Todd said as he walked in with a file in his hand.

  “Why?”

  Dave tossed Michael up then brought him down on his lap. He laughed when Maria got a pained look on her face then gently touched his wounded shoulder. He smiled, loving the fact her concern was very visible on her face. She really cared about him, there was no doubt about that, “Michael don’t pay any attention to Todd.”

  “Call me in another five years kiddo and we’ll talk about it.” Todd winked at him with a sheepish smile on his face.

  “Carol I don’t mind having you here, but Todd what exactly are you doing in our bedroom?” Maria asked bluntly.

  “Wow, Maria you are mean when you are horny.” Todd spoke, passing the file to Dave. Maria’s eyes popped out before she covered her face with her hands.

  “What’s horny?” Michael asked. Maria looked at him before she put her face back in her hands and groaned.

  Dave laughed, signing the papers, “We’ll talk about that later.” he handed Maria the papers, “Sign this before I throw Todd out.”

  “How much later?” Michael’s question made Maria laugh. She was so glad Dave was around to take that bullet.

  “When are you guys getting married?” Carol cut in trying to change the subject, but it only stole the laugh out of Maria’s lips as she raised the topic Maria was trying hard to avoid.

  “Yeah mama when?” Michael beamed up a hopeful smile at her.

  “Yeah mama when?” Izzy echoed, busy tangling Maria’s long hair in her fingers.

  “Thanks Carol, now Dave has two more supporters to nag me about it.” she took the pen from Dave’s hand, “I’m not ready for marriage.”

  Dave stared at her, surprised, “After all we’ve been through.....okay just sign here.” he said with a low tone.

  Maria stared at him, she heard the disappointment in his voice and it saddened her, but she wasn’t about to change her mind. It had only been a couple of months since they both got out of disastrous relationships. It was too soon to get hitched, and if they did she wouldn’t have an easy way out if things got bad.

  “What’s this?” she asked, looking away from Dave.

  “They are custody papers. We’ll have joint custody of our kids. To make medical and all other legal matters easy for Michael and of course change his name to Greer.” Maria stared at him with a raised eye brow, “Just because you don’t want to carry my name doesn’t mean he shouldn’t, and besides, he already is.”

  She was about to argue, but she let it go. She would give him this and there would be no harm in it, and the upside to all of this was she was legally gaining a daughter, there was completely no harm in it, “All these papers for adoption?”

  “Yes, it’s a complicated procedure with a lot of work.”

  Maria chuckled, “Oh, I can see Amy’s face now.” she perused the papers and wondered why there were so many pages just to say, ‘I’m adopting this child to be mine.’

  “Red hot with steam coming out of her ears.” Carol laughed, “Dave you have to let me be the one to tell her.”

  “Why not.” Dave noticed Maria’s hesitance and a small panic filled his stomach, “What’s wrong?”

  “Something tells me to read them, but.” she paused and stared at him looking for a hint of mischief. She’d been with Dave long enough to be suspicious of everything he did, there was always an underlying motive, “I trust you, I just hope this won’t come back and nip me in the ass.” she spoke as she signed.

  When she was done, Dave excitedly took the papers from her and handed them to Todd, he signed, then passed them on to Carol who did the same, “Remember when I told you lawyers were liars?”

  “Hmm.” she said absently, all her attention taken by Izzy.

  “They are also very tricky SOB’s.” Todd and Carol laughed.

  “Wait, what?” Maria asked. She didn’t understand the joke, if there was one.

  Dave whispered in Michael’s ear. His face brightened up and he began jumping up and down on the bed. When Izzy saw that, she too got up and began jumping up and down, her shrilly laughter filling the room.

  “Guys stop that, what’s going on?” Maria asked even more confused, “Dave what did you tell him?”

  Carol stepped forward with two small boxes and handed them to Dave, “Congratulations!” she shrilled, keyed up.

  The silly smiles they all had and the kids’ loud shrills and bouncing was beginning to give her a head ache, “Would someone please tell me what’s going on?”

  “Congratulations!” Todd yelled.

  “For what? Dave?” she was getting agitated by the mystery and the congratulations. Dave opened the boxes and took out two rings, one was completely covered with diamonds all round and the other had small diamonds in a single line in the center around the platinum band, then took Maria’s left hand.

  She pulled it away fast as she blankly shifted her gaze from the shiny crispy clear crystals he was holding, to his face, “What are you doing? Didn’t I just say no?” Even as she said no, she felt her throat constrict, how she could turn down such beautiful clear cut diamonds that must have cost a bundle was beyond her comprehension, and Dave, he was worth more than both the diamonds.

  She must have been hit on the head a few too many times, that could be the only explanation.

  “You can’t say no anymore.” he took her hand and slid them on her finger then picked another from the box and handed it to her, “Your turn.”

  She held her hand up and looked at her shimmering finger, “Could someone please tell me what’s going on?” her voice sounded scratchy as it came out of her dry throat.

  “Well, they are congratulating us on our marriage of course,” he smiled, “congratulations Mrs. Greer.”

  “Wait, what?” her throat drying out even more.

  “Always read before you sign.” he took her blinged out hand and placed a ring in it. It was similar to her ring, with the single diamond line at the center of it, and then held out his finger.

  “You tricked me.” her pitch was high, echoing her shock, “I should have known something was up, how could I not suspect you would pull something like this on me.” she slapped his shoulder, “you cheat!”

  Dave winced and grabbed at his shoulder, “Ouch Maria, I got shot!”

  “That will be nothing once I bury you alive!”

  “Mama would you just put it on!” Michael screeched impatiently.

  “Maria.” Dave began signaling for Todd and Carol to take the kids. They picked them up then stood at the edge of the bed, “I love you, you love me and we love each other’s kids so why exactly don’t you want to marry me?”

  “Dave, it’s too soon.” she pushed her hair back with her free hand, the other still frozen with Dave’s ring in it.

  “It’s been months since we met, Amy and Ricky are no longer in our lives and there is nothing else stopping us.” his lips pulled to the side in half a smile, “And considering what was about to happen before we were interrupted I know that’s not the problem.” his smile faded, “Maria are you scared of me? Do you think I’ll hurt you?”

  “No I don’t, it’s just.” she tried to think of something, all her excuses were already made inadmissible. Dave was right, there was nothing stopping her from completely being happy, “Mama isn’t going to be happy about this.” She took his hand and slid the ring on his finger, “Congratulations Mr. Greer.” she laughe
d, happily shocked by what had just happened, “I can’t believe I just did that!”

  “We’ll have a church wedding later on.” Dave hugged her tight and kissed her deeply, “And yes, you just did.” He hugged her tight, “You just made me the happiest man on earth.”

  Todd and Carol let the kids loose. They rushed to their parents and joined in the hug, “Give them a quick hug, then we’ll go out for ice cream.” Carol said, wiping a tear away before it fell.

  “Ice cream!” they yelled and rushed back to Todd and Carol.

  “We’ll let you guys go back to wrestling.” Todd said, closing the door behind him.

  “Wait, I want to wrestle.” Michael’s voice came through the door.

  “No, that’s adult wrestling, but we can play video games later.”

  Dave laughed then turned to Maria. Her eyes and cheeks were wet and she held a hand over her mouth. His expression changed to worry, he thought something was wrong. Giving her no option, but to be married to him, may not have been a very good idea.

  “Maria if you don’t want to you don’t have to...”

  “No it’s not that.” she interrupted him. She moved her hand from her lips to his cheek, revealing a beautiful gentle smile, “For the first time, I’m crying not because I’m sad or in pain or despair, but because I’m happy, I’m truly happy.” She pulled him to her and locked him in a deep kiss, “If this is a dream please don’t wake me up.” she whispered on his lips.

  “It’s not, I promise you it’s not.” he laid her down and carefully climbed on top of her, determined to continue where they left off, “The dark cloud is gone and it’s clear skies from now on.” he whispered, planting kisses along her neck and down to her chest.

  Maria felt her skin burn where his lips left. She felt like she was suffocating, like the pleasure was slowly killing her and she welcomed it. She had never felt this good, this desired by anyone nor this kind of attraction for anyone. Having Dave kiss and touch her erased every touch and kiss Ricky had assaulted and molested her with. He was repairing all the damage Ricky had caused and she loved it.

  Dave stopped when he heard yelling outside, it sounded like Amy and Carol going at it.