Must Wait

by Ginger Sharp

  The following morning I get up early to start working out in the fields. I know I am going to leave for a few hours to go talk with Rosalie. I do not want to get too far behind or make my brothers upset with me. I watch the time as I am getting anxious. Rosalie might let me talk to Katie. My brother nods me off to leave. I am so excited as I race down the hillside to the Cantina. I pull up and stay in my truck. I take in my surrounding first to make sure the coast is clear. Rosalie walks to the steps, holding out a beer for me. I jump out of the truck dashing over to her.

  She smiles at me. “Good boy, Pedro. I take it that you know about Ryan then.”

  “Yes, Parker told me to stay clear of him.” I followed her back to the bar and I take a seat.

  She smiles over at me, shaking her head. “You are a love sick puppy. Do you know that, Pedro?”

  I nod and tilt my head. “How come you did not tell me about you and my father?”

  “Pedro, it was never a secret. Everyone knew about us. How could you not have seen it?”

  I shrug. “I didn’t I guess. Parker told me you have a new man. Katie’s grandpa.”

  She laughs. “Yes, his name is Henry. He is very smart and powerful. I like my men like that.” She laughs again.

  I muster up the question, “Can I talk to Katie?”

  “No, I do not think so. She is at school trying to concentrate. She is having a hard time getting over you. Olivia is furious with you both.”

  “I did not mean to be so cruel to her. She scared me.”

  “Katie has already asked to come back here. Henry told her no, since it is not a good time with Ryan and Olivia still working out their issues. Olivia still has some more work to do with Ryan. Last thing she needs is having Ryan losing his temper about her letting his daughter run around with a farm boy. Once Ryan gets over his next hurdle really soon, then we will start working on getting Katie down here. She will have to break it to her father that she is in love with you.”

  I smile really wide at Rosalie’s words. “She is in love with me?”

  “Yes, Pedro! Does that surprise you?”

  I raise my eyebrows. “Yes it does. I treated her harshly. I pushed her away. She is so young and crazy.”

  Rosalie frowns. “Yes she is, Pedro. She will mature, not sure if the craziness with ever go away now since I fully know her family and exactly who Olivia is away from here. Katie has been through a lot with her brother’s death and her parents’ lack of communication skills. They will get there. You will get there. Just be patient, Pedro.”

  I take a drink of my beer and put it down on the bar. “When you talk to her again could you please tell her that I am sorry and miss her greatly?”

  Rosalie smiles. “Is that all, Pedro?”

  “No, that is not all. Please tell her that I love her too. I will get a passport to come and see her when school lets out for her.”

  Rosalie smiles. “How is planting going?”

  I look over at the clock. “Good. I have to be getting back. I will see you soon, about another week.”

  Rosalie puts her hand up. “Okay, but remember when Ryan is around to keep your mouth shut about Katie.”

  I nod as I run off to my truck.

  CHAPTER 8

  A few days pass as we wind down with our planting. I park my truck at my house as I see a jeep flying up the hill alongside my fields. It is Rosalie’s jeep with two men sitting in it. As it comes closer, I can make out that the man driving is Parker. He stops short a few feet from me. He jumps out and runs to me. He pulls me by my arm away from the jeep so the other man cannot hear us.

  “Pedro, come down to the Cantina later. Olivia is going to have a break down.”

  I glower. “Why, Parker?”

  Parker grins. “He left her. He flipped out and went back home. I am just coming back from dropping him at the airport”

  “Oh no, he did not find out about me, did he?”

  Parker smiles. “Worse. Olivia is not who she says she is Pedro. She is a rock star. She was hiding some things from him about some racy music video she had done. Very naughty little Olivia. She does not know yet that he left her. She is in San Jose with Señor Marquis. She is going to be devastated.”

  I lift my chin and nod over to the truck. “Who that odd man in the jeep?”

  He glances over his shoulder. “That is Chris. Olivia’s best friend and band mate. He is nice but weird looking. Come down, please.”

  “Sure, but I do not know what I am going to be able to do for her.”

  Parker starts to walk away. “She is going to need us all Pedro.”

  I watch him as he leaves with Rosalie’s jeep.

  I take Ramón to Paolo’s house. I look over at Paolo as his wife yells at him for making a mess out of the kitchen floor with his dusty boot.

  He screams at her as he follows me out the door. “Pedro where are you going?”

  I glance over my shoulder. “Down to the Cantina.”

  He runs to catch up with me. “I will go with you then. She has been nagging on me all day.”

  I get in to the truck as he enters in behind me on the passenger side. I start driving down the hillside.

  I glance over at him. “I am going to the Cantina because something is wrong with Olivia.”

  He stares over at me. “What could be wrong with Olivia? Is it something about Katie?”

  “No. Parker told me that her husband had a mad fit and left her. She does not know yet. She was in San Jose all day with Señor Marquis.”

  He shakes his head. “Oh no, this is going to be really ruinous for her.”

  I stare out at the road. “Yes, I agree. There is more too. Olivia is some sort of famous woman. She sings in a band.”

  “Ha, I told you that she can sing. I have heard her. I wonder if her music sounds like Jenni Rivera.”

  I shrug. “Parker said that Olivia’s music videos are what sent her husband off running.”

  Pulling up to the side of the Cantina, I can see that no one is here yet. Paolo and I walk in and sit at the bar. Rosalie walks over to us. I nod at her. She seems worried. I look around for her tablet. “Olivia back yet?” She stares at me. “How do you know, Pedro?”

  “Parker came and told me. He is worried about her. I am too.”

  She nods her head. “Katie does not know about her mother yet. I assume she will before the night is over.”

  “What could she have possibly done to make him run off?”

  Rosalie shows us her tablet. “Here, I will show you. Ryan’s father had a heart attack watching this video at work this morning. Ryan is not going to be too pleased when he sees this.” She touches the screen then turns it towards Paolo and me.

  I lean in to get a better look as Rosalie turns up the volume to this crazy music. I raise my one eyebrow and bite my lip as I watch. I feel myself getting warm as I watch.

  Rosalie pulls the tablet away. “You get the idea.”

  I fan myself trying to cool down. “Was that really her?”

  Paolo leans in. “Um, wow. I am in shock. She is more beautiful than I ever realized.”

  I shake my head. “Rosalie, that is not Olivia.”

  She nods. “I have known about this for a while. She was supposed to tell Ryan about the video and wean him into it. Here is another.”

  She plays the second video and my eyes bulge at the screen. I shake my head in disbelief.

  I look up at Rosalie. “Is she having sex with those people?”

  Rosalie laughs. “No, Pedro. She is acting. This is all not real.”

  I hear a vehicle pull up as Rosalie puts her tablet away.

  “Hush boys, she does not know.”

  I glance over at her truck while Parker pulls up beside her. She walks up the stairs and I turn to watch her walk over to the bar. Her eyes lock with mine. She can tell that I am looking at her in a different manner. She stops and glances over to Paolo who has a sexy smirk on his face. Her friend, Chris, runs up behind her and pulls her to the bar. She
sits beside me and smiles over at me nervously. Rosalie pours her a drink as Chris pushes it in front of her.

  Chris is gripping her hand tightly. “Ryan had to go back home to New Jersey. His dad had a heart attack and is in the hospital. He is not in good shape according to Teresa. She told Ryan to get home immediately.”

  She looks at Chris then to Rosalie. “Maybe I should go home and support him.”

  Chris perks up. “Ryan did not want you to come with him. He said that it is best that you stay here. Something about how he had to deal with his mother.”

  She nods her head. “Oh yes, Ryan is very angry with her for past things he just learned about. Yes, it is going to be an Italian shout festival.”

  Chris laughs. “He also said to take care of your Skype so he can contact you.”

  She nods. “I will.”

  Parker leans in. “Why are you sugarcoating this for her? She needs to know that her father-in-law had a heart attack while watching her naked body on a monitor at work. Ryan is livid with her.”

  Rosalie shouts at Parker, “Mind your own business, Parker.”

  Chris looks over at him, shaking his head at him.

  Olivia grips Chris’s hand. “Oh no, did Ryan see the videos?”

  Parker leans in again. “We all did, baby. I never knew the real you was a completely correct statement. Now I see who you are: very naughty.”

  Chris gets mad. “Parker, enough out of you. You will be the first person I ever hit in my life.”

  Parker sulks away leaving the bar.

  She turns to look at Chris. “How angry was Ryan?”

  Chris rubs the top of her hand. “I have seen him worse. Just give him time to cool down. You know how apeshit he gets when men look at you. You kind of put yourself out there for all to drool over. He needs time, really, that is all.”

  Rosalie’s eyes shift to me. “Pedro is still cooling himself down.”

  Olivia’s head snaps to me. “You saw too?”

  I nod and point to Paolo. “We both did.”

  She blushes. “I am sorry. I never meant for anyone here to see my artwork.”

  Paolo laughs. “Artwork? I think you just created new dreams for me.”

  My eyes shift to Olivia’s eyes. I can see her embarrassment. “That was bothersome, Olivia.”

  Chris laughs. “Is this the boy that Katie is infatuated with?”

  Olivia nods. “Yes, Chris.”

  Chris laughs. “Was he sheltered or something? He has never seen porn?”

  Paolo laughs out. “Nope, he has never seen porn. But he sure liked watching Olivia. Didn’t you, Pedro? Gave him a preview to what life could be with Katie.”

  Olivia turns red again as she guzzles down her drink. “Sorry boys. I really am.”

  I look over at Paolo. “Time to go. We have another long day tomorrow.”

  I nod at Olivia and Chris as I walk off. Paolo runs down the steps to keep up with me.

  I start driving up the hill and Paolo starts laughing. I glance over at him. “What, Paolo?”

  He turns in his seat to look at me. “She is hotter than I ever imagined. Did you see the way those hips moved in that video?”

  I smile over at him. “Yes, I saw. Her poor husband.”

  Paolo laughs. “I would not call him poor at all if he has that woman in his bed every night. You know she is completely faithful to him too or she would have… Oh wait, she did kiss Parker. Oh my god. She does mess around with other men.”

  I shake my head. “I really do not think so, Paolo. If that was really true, she would have been touching you. She does not look at Parker the same way she does us. She actually blushes when we look at her. I think she is completely committed to her husband. Worse yet, I got erect watching her. That is so wrong and bad. It was like I was looking at Katie.”

  Paolo laughs. “Yeah, that is wrong, Pedro, to lust after your woman’s mother. Yet she is putting it out there for all to lust after.”

  I shake my head. “I hope what Chris said is true. Her husband needs some time to cool down. I would hate to see her crushed if he does not come back.”

  “Yea, I am not sure. I would be pretty mad at her too if my Dad had a heart attack watching my wife grinding on the television. Really bad on her part for not telling him. I will never look at her the same ever again.”

  “Yes, me too. How do I erase that from my head? Poor Katie.”

  He snickers. “Why would you ever want to erase that woman from you head? I hope I dream about her every night. If her husband doesn’t come back, maybe I can go back to flirting with her.”

  “Paolo, you are funny. Maybe I should keep you at my house tonight, so you do not scream out the wrong name in your sleep. I would not want you to get in trouble.”

  He shifts. “Too late, Pedro. Why do you think my wife is angry with me? Lasaro slipped up and said Olivia’s name in front of her. Now she knows who I was dreaming about.”

  I pull up to his house, letting him out. I wait for a few moments to see Ramón run out to my truck. I smile as I head home for the night.

  I chase off Ramón to the bathtub since he is all muddy. I stand in the kitchen and tell him to shut off the water. When I hear it go off, I pour myself a tequila. He is growing up so quickly and I start doubting my love for Katie. I am not sure I want to love her. I do not want my son exposed to a woman like her or her mother. I shake my head, trying to clear the image of Olivia from my head. I know if Olivia’s husband is a strong man, he will control her. Then I remember what Parker has said about Olivia hurting him. I know that he will not be able to fix her. I am pulled from my thoughts as Ramón runs past me to his room. I laugh at him as he gets ready for bed. He runs to me looking for his goodnight kiss. I smile down at my boy pecking him a kiss on the top of his head. He runs to his room as I drink down more tequila.

  I feel her hands on me as her tongue glides over my chest, nibbling her way to my neck. She pulls on my ear lightly with her teeth, while she moves her hips to mount my cock. My hands slide up her stomach to caress her breasts. She loudly moans out as she starts grinding her hips taking me deeper inside her. She moves ever so gently, taking all of me into her. I move my hands up to her neck to pull back her hair to see her face.

  Jolting awake, I find my body soaking wet as well as my sheets. I just had a sex dream, but I did not know which woman I dreamed about. I have no clue if I was dreaming about Olivia or Katie. I have to see Katie. I need to see her. Olivia is haunting me in my dreams. I liked it better when Cyntia was haunting my dreams. At least I know that she was mine, all mine. Not these blonde vixens that absorb me and my brothers. Parker too is wrapped up in Olivia as well. Paolo is right about them being poison. We all are so enveloped by their beauty that we cannot break free. I am not sure which is worse for me. My curse to be alone or having Katie in my life. I bite my bottom lip as I think about the things Katie has done to me in this bed. She told me I was intoxicating, but I beg to differ. She has me and she knew it, all trapped in her sexual spell. Then she told me that she loved me while we were together and threw my emotions spiraling out of control. I knew then I was not a fling for her and that was confirmed by Rosalie. I love her and she loves me. I need her and I will do what is possible to see her. I have to see her very soon.

  Planting has commenced earlier than expected. A group of us head down to the Cantina to celebrate. We hear from Parker and Rosalie that Olivia fell in her yard and fractured her skull. Rosalie told me that Ryan rushed back to care for her at the hospital in San Jose. I was extremely happy to know that her husband was back. I rally up at team of men to help with Olivia’s drainage issue so she does not fall again. Paolo laughs as he watches me dig down into the rocky dirt.

  He keeps shaking his head at me. “I am confused why we are here digging. I am getting all sweaty and dirty.”

  I glance over at him. “I promised Katie that we would keep Olivia safe.”

  He nods and removes his shirt. “You are right. Hey, Parker, get diggin
g. We could get this done faster then go have beers to celebrate the end of planting.”

  Parker laughs. “I do not know how to operate a shovel, Paolo.”

  We go back to the Cantina after we bury the tubes. I walk from my truck and see Olivia using a laptop computer which she then closes. She looks over her shoulder then runs into the kitchen. A minute later she walks out, greeting us at the top of the steps. I pull my shirt on over my head before walking towards her. Paolo runs past me to Olivia as she stares down at his bare chest. He touches her face and moves back her hair to examine the lump on her head. I see her shiver as he touches her. He pulls away from her and puts on his shirt as she stares at him. She moves away and grabs a bunch of beers and brings them over to the table.

  “Thank you, men, for all your help.”

  Parker snickers at Olivia as she sits across from me. I stare over at her face and the bruised knot on her

  forehead. “That bump looks like it hurts, Olivia.” She nods. “Yes, but the back of my head hurts more.” I lean towards her. “Are you here alone? Where is

  Rosalie and your husband?”

  Parker puts his beer down. “Ryan left you alone, Olivia? You were just released from the hospital yesterday.”

  Olivia glares at him. “Parker, I am fine. Ryan had to go with Rosalie to setup her Internet connection at her house. They will be back any minute.”

  Parker looks away from her as if he is angry with her. I lean across the table, moving closer to her. “I want

  to talk to you. I am going to go to Limon to obtain a passport. I need to see Katie.”

  Her face turns red. “No, Pedro. It is over. Please get over it.”

  “I can’t. All I do is dream about her. Please, I want to know how I can find her.”

  “No. You are going to confuse her. She needs to stay in school. She only will hurt you as well.”

  I search Olivia’s eyes to see her anger. “Olivia, I love Katie and I know that she loves me too.”

  I hear a truck stop and doors open and close. Olivia glances to the side then back to glare at me.