by Ancelli
Perry couldn’t get over how much his son resembled Lola, even down to his bright brown irises. Angel’s skin was a little darker than his aunt’s. She would be in shock when she saw her grandson for the first time. Now that he knew the truth, Mia had a little of Miko, too. Perry used to think Mia’s skin complexion came from Alicia. Tiffany was a combination of Lorie and him.
Alicia’s family drove up to visit, as soon as they heard she was in labor, to help out with the girls and now two weeks later, his parents were on their way to help out. It was weird calling his mother—aunt, now that he knew the truth—but there was a reason they wanted to keep it a secret. He often wondered about the families Lola and Miko had to leave behind in Puerto Rico. Did he have grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other siblings he didn’t know about?
Perry knew he couldn’t put them in danger, wanting answers. He was alive because of them. He sat up and looked at a picture of Alicia, Mia, and Tiffany before Alicia had given birth to Angel. This was all that mattered: his family.
“We’re blessed,” Alicia said, standing at the bathroom door. “We went through so much pain to get to unconditional love.”
Perry was so thankful that Alicia had given him a chance. It had always been her. “Thank you.”
She strolled over to him and stood in between his legs. “For?”
“For loving me through the storm.” He circled his arms around her, inching her forward. “You didn’t have to, but you did.”
She cupped his face, tilting his chin up. “You took over my heart at seventeen and still haven’t given back to me.” Alicia smiled. “There was no way out from loving you.”
Perry smirked. If only she knew how much he loved her. He couldn’t put it in words. Alicia had changed his life the moment she stepped into it, taking over all his senses. “Yo te amo mas.”
“I don’t think so.” she moved out his arms and strolled over to the other side of the bed. “He looks like a little man, dressed in that button-down shirt.” Alicia caressed Angel’s cheek, and he turned his head to the side, searching for her breast.
“Damn, he’s hungry again? That boy can eat,” Perry said with laughter. “His grandmother bought him the shirt. It’s called ‘guayabera’.”
“The what?” Alicia chuckled. “I will never completely learn Spanish.”
“You’re a great student.” He winked at her.
“Grandma didn’t buy him that shirt. It was Aunty Lola.” Mia strolled into their room.
Alicia watched her. “What happened to knocking?”
“The door was open, Mommy.” Mia spoke softly. “He stopped crying.” She wiped her forehead like she was tired of his cries. “Thank goodness.”
“You asked for a baby brother.” Perry tapped her nose.
“We didn’t know he would cry this much. All he does is cry, eat, and poo.” Mia jumped on the mattress and kissed Angel’s tiny hand. “He is the best brother when he is sleeping.”
“Where’s Tiff?” Alicia glanced toward the door.
“She’s not feeling too good since the baby came home,” Mia said nonchalantly.
“You didn’t ask her what’s wrong?” Perry scolded her.
“I did,” she whispered, trying not to wake the baby. “She misses Mrs. Lorie, and sometimes she feels weird around us.”
“Why?” Alicia asked. “She’s part of this family.”
“Mommy, I know.” Mia stared at Alicia. “I love my baby sister and I’m so happy she lives with me, but she misses her mommy. I tried to get her to talk to Mrs. Lorie like you mentioned when I miss gran-gran. It didn’t work.”
Perry hadn’t known that Tiffany was feeling left out. Alicia and Perry tried their best to make her feel at home, but they weren’t Lorie. He got up, and was about to walk out of the room when Alicia stopped him.
“I’ll talk to her.” Alicia walked out their bedroom to Tiffany’s.
Tiffany sat with her arms around her legs, next to the big window, staring at the raindrops on the shaded glass. Her beautiful face was masked in sadness. She was almost five, growing like a weed. She was such a great kid; you’d never know she was raised by a lunatic. Alicia would never understand how it felt to be left in this world without her mother. She’d never experienced it and didn’t want to, but she wanted to be there for Tiff. She entered the pink and purple princess-decorated room.
“What’s wrong, Tiff?”
“I miss my mommy,” she answered without looking at Alicia.
Alicia sat on the edge of her bed. Her heart hurt for Tiffany. No matter what Lorie had done, she’d loved her daughter in her own way. One thing she knew, Lorie had never physically mistreated Tiffany, and Tiffany would always love Lorie. “Your mommy loved you.”
“I know.” She placed her small fingers on the window, tracing the rain drops. “I wish I could talk to her. There is something I want to ask her?”
“What if you could?” Alicia gazed at the little girl.
Tiffany’s head snapped toward Alicia. “How?”
“Your mommy is with you all the time.” Alicia stood and walked over to Tiffany, and sat next to her. “You know when I miss my granny, I just talk to the clouds…God will give her the message.” She prayed Lorie had ended up in heaven.
She cocked her eyebrows. “You sound crazy, Mrs. Alicia.” Tiff giggled. “Mia said the same thing.”
Her laughter did something to Alicia’s heart. “For real, try it. You might feel better. I’ll leave if you want me to.”
“No.” She shook her head, making her two ponytails wiggle. Tiff stood, and stared at the gray skies. “Mommy, I love you…” She paused for a few seconds. “I’m going to ask you a question. Please don’t get mad, but Mia and my new baby brother call Mrs. Alicia mommy, and…and, please don’t get mad. Is it okay if I call Mrs. Alicia mommy, too?” Tiffany now placed both hands against the glass. “Mommy, she loves me and I love her…I need a new mom now that you are gone. I will never forget you. So…if you don’t say no, that means it’s okay…What’s your answer, Mommy?”
Alicia wiped her eyes with her fingertips. She was moved by Tiffany’s request, and she also knew Lorie was turning in her grave. It didn’t even occur to her that the girl had been feeling left out, but now she understood why.
“God, did she answer yet?” Tiff’s lips curled up in a grin. “She said yes!” She turned, giggling. She wrapped her hands around Alicia’s waist. “Can I call you ‘mommy’?”
Alicia cupped her soft face in her hands. “Yes, princess, I would love to be your mommy.” She hugged her. “Your mommy will always be in your heart.” Alicia leaned back touching her chest. “And I will always be here for you.” Tiff hugged her tight.
“I love you, Mommy,” she whispered.
“I love you too.”
Perry stood at the door holding Angel and watching Alicia and Tiffany bond. They all needed some serious counseling. Alicia telling his daughters to talk to the sky…? He chuckled.
“See, I told you she would say yes.” Mia smiled, entering the room. “Tiffany!” She hugged her, too. “You are our princess.” Mia kissed her cheek.
The doorbell rang. “The men of the house will get it,” he joked, watching his son’s bright eyes flutter open. He placed him over his shoulder, taking the steps one by one. “Your abuelo y abuela are here,” Perry whispered, right before opening the door. Lola and Miko stood at the front door with their suitcases and gift bags in their hands. His mother was gorgeous as ever. She didn’t look a day over forty, when in actuality she was fifty-two, and it was the truth what people said: black don’t crack, because Miko didn’t look bad, himself. Perry had great genes.
“Bendición.”
“Que Dios te bendiga.” She didn’t take her eyes off the baby. Perry turned Angel around so they could see him better. “Oh my God!”
Lola placed the bags down on the floor, dug in her purse, and squirted antibacterial gel in her hands, rubbing them together. “Look at his big eyes.”
&n
bsp; “I wonder where he gets those from?” Perry teased, wanting to see if she got what he was trying to say.
“A mixture of you and your lovely wife,” Miko answered.
“If you say so.” Perry acted like he was about to hand the baby over and walked away, laughing.
“Damelo.” She extended her arms. “Stop playing, Perry, hand him over.”
Perry chuckled, gently giving his son over. “Come in.”
She entered, whispering in Angel’s ear.
Lola showered Angel in kisses, making him cry out, and then she snorted. “He’s a feisty one. I wonder who he takes after?” She combed her fingers through his hair, glancing over at Miko. “Miko, look at all his hair.” Lola held a strand of his jet-black hair.
“I see!” He beamed, bringing in the bags. “He’s the cutest baby I’ve ever seen.” Miko stood next to Lola as they goggled over Angel. “Hey, papito!” Miko baby-talked. It was weird seeing him acting like this. Growing up, Miko had roughed Perry up, teaching him in the ins and out of life. Now everything was falling into place. “Where’s your wife?”
“Right here,” Alicia, said coming down the stairs, and the girls ran past her.
“Bendición!” both girls sang.
“Que Dios me las bendiga,” they both answered in unison making Perry pause for a moment Miko never replied.
“Look what we have for you beautiful girls!” Miko picked up four gift bags and handed them to the girls.
“Thank you!” Mia gave him a hug, and then turned on her tiptoes, lifting her head. “Love you, aunty.”
“I love you more than you’ll ever know, both of you.” Lola bent down, kissing Mia’s cheek and then Tiffany’s cheek. “You girls are going to be taller than me.”
“Everybody is taller than you, Aunty.” Mia snickered.
“Watch it, little girl.” Lola expressed amusement at Mia’s antics.
“Thank you, Aunt, and Uncle Miko,” Tiffany said, holding his hand leading him to the family room. They girls were squealing at whatever his parents had bought for them.
“Hi, Miko,” Alicia said as he came back in the room. She gave him a kiss and a hug. “It’s nice to see you.”
“You didn’t wake up with me this morning, Alicia. You didn’t say hi to me?” Lola raised an eyebrow. “Miko is more important than me now?”
Alicia smirked. “I talk to you almost every day. Miko is like a holiday, he only comes around once in a while.”
“That’s going to change,” Miko chimed in.
“Girl, you look amazing for just having a baby.” Lola rocked Angel in her arms like he was a piece of precious jewelry.
“Well, thank you.” Alicia did a little dance and twirled. “I can’t believe that,” she pointed at the baby’s head, “came out of me.”
Tiffany and Mia laughed out from the family room. “Those girls get prettier every time I see them,” Miko gazed at Lola, holding their baby boy. “I’m so thankful to you, Alicia, for so much.” He stepped back. “You saved my boy.” He tapped Perry on the shoulder and then gave him a bear hug. “If anything would’ve happened to you…” He kissed the side of his face, and then he took a deep breath. “God gave us a second chance.”
“And I’m so thankful.” Perry stared at his father and then at his loving mother. “I won’t take anything for granted.”
Alicia interlaced her hand with his. “Together forever.”
She was so right, his parents had suffered many years ago, but by the looks of things, their love had never faded, it had only grown stronger. There was no letting go of the one you truly loved.
“Are you two seeing each other?” Perry asked, being funny and making Alicia pinch him.
“Huh?” Miko swallowed.
“Stop playing around, Perry.” Alicia pulled his arm. “Let’s go see what the girls got.”
“I can’t stop looking into his big, brown eyes!” Lola’s eyes shone with tears. She pressed her lips against his forehead. “Te amo mi vida.” Tears ran down her cheek. “He reminds me of my late grandfather.”
Miko wiped her tears with his thumb and then placed his hand on the arch of her back. “Angel, you are blessed.” He traced the baby’s face. “Just like your sisters, I will always be there for you.”
Perry squeezed Alicia’s fingers. “I think my son resembles his grandparents Emilio and Lourdes Escobar…Don’t you think, Tia Lola and Miko?” He smiled. Miko’s and Lola’s eyes widened as their heads snapped up and they stared at each other, and then at Perry and Alicia. “Get to know your new grandson Miguel Angel…and Miko, the girls already adore you.” Perry smirked, looking at his parents’ shocked faces as he and Alicia joined the girls in the other room.
The End
Ancelli’s Books:
My Best Friend
Stronger Than Ever
If Only We Knew
Forgiveness & Second Chances
Love In Strange Places
Barely Breathing
Love Through Pain
Love’s Sacrifice
Not Always
Perfectly Mixed
Only You
Finally Home
Vacation Love
Craigslist Lover
About the Author
On my spare time, I love scribbling and making my words come to life. I love writing romance stories about couples that go through trials and come out stronger. Love is never easy, but it's worth all the hard work. I would like to hear your opinion whether good or bad, you can leave your comments at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Interracial-Romance/423055121069489
https://www.facebook.com/writer.ancelli
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Twitter: @Author_Ancelli
