by Reeni Austin
Armando rolled his eyes with a loud groan. “That’s just great.”
Katie turned in her seat, staring straight ahead through the windshield. “What the hell are they doing here? Waiting for me upstairs? What about the security company you paid to watch it for me?”
“They only come by every few hours.” Armando’s head shook gently. “You don’t have to go up there, you know. You can come back home with me.” He put the key in the ignition, ready to start the car again.
She inhaled deeply and said, “No. I’m not gonna put this off anymore. And I’m sure if I don’t face them now they’ll just bombard me at work. That’s the last thing I need.” She took her phone out of her purse to look for missed calls; there were none.
“Okay.” Armando turned around to look at the apartment building for any sign of the people Katie dreaded seeing. “I’ll come with you.”
She shook her head rapidly. “No. Not yet. I wanna see what they have to say first.”
“Are you sure? I don’t know if I like the idea of you going up there alone.”
Her eyes met his. “I’m sure. It’s not because I’m scared of what they’ll do to you. I just need to do this by myself. I’ll call if I need you.”
Armando held her gaze, nodding. “All right.”
A smile flickered across her lips for a moment, and Armando reached behind her head and pulled her forward to give her a long, fervid kiss. When he let her go, he looked in her eyes, his face inches from hers. “I’ll always love you, Katie. No matter what happens up there, even if you lose your family forever. I’ll always be with you.”
Her beautiful face lit up, and tears spilled down her cheeks. “I know. And I’ll always love you, too.” She took off her engagement ring and placed it carefully inside a pocket in her purse. “I promise, I’ll tell ‘em we’re engaged soon.” Her eyes met his. “I mean it. But one thing at a time.” She gave his lips a quick peck, then opened her door and hopped out, like she was ready to get this over with.
Armando watched her in the rearview mirror. She rushed across the parking lot and to the stairs. When he couldn’t see her anymore, he got out of the car and ran across the lot, keeping his eyes open and alert. Surely she didn’t think I’d just sit out in the car waiting for her, did she?
He ran up the metal stairs, taking them two and three at a time, trying to be as quiet as possible. Echoes of angry voices suddenly filled the air as he neared the top. He instantly recognized Dwayne’s and Lisa’s. And he assumed the male voice he didn’t recognize was Mitch. He hung back in the stairwell, out of sight.
The angriest person was definitely Lisa, whose shrill voice pierced the air. She shouted. “We were worried about you! You just take off and leave all weekend without telling anyone where you’re going?”
Katie said, “I’m twenty-eight years old, Mom. I’m way past the age of checking in with my parents when I go out of town. Besides, I sent you a text message. And none of you called to tell me you were gonna show up here this morning.”
Dwayne’s voice was surprisingly calm. He said, “Honey, you know better than to think I take one of those little messages seriously. I needed to see you and know you were all right. Especially after everything that’s happened.”
“Well,” Katie said, “As you can see, I’m fine. And if y’all don’t mind, I need you to leave so I can get ready for work.”
Lisa said, “Work can wait. The four of us need to sit down and get things straightened out before you take off and leave town again. Worry everyone to death.”
“You’re unbelievable,” Katie said. “For one thing, I have absolutely nothing to say to,” she pointed at Mitch as her eyes stayed on her Lisa’s, “him. We’re through. End of story.”
Mitch said, “Come on, Katie. We can put all this mess behind us. Whatever you did, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m ready to start my life with you.”
Katie scoffed. “Excuse me? Whatever I did? Have you already called Jennifer today? Do you have plans to meet in your car for a quickie at lunch?”
Mitch’s face instantly reddened. He stared off at the wall in silence.
Dwayne asked, “What are you talking about?”
Katie looked at her dad. “He’s cheating. Didn’t anyone tell you?”
Lisa glanced up and down the hall then whispered, “Shh! Someone might hear you.”
Katie huffed out a sarcastic chuckle. “Oh, so now you care about the volume of the conversation.”
Dwayne stammered for a moment then said, “Nobody told me about that.” He glanced at Mitch, then stared at Lisa. “You knew about this?”
Lisa rolled her eyes and quietly said, “It’s not a big deal. He’s a catch. He’s probably got women throwing themselves at him all the time. And Katie works so much. It’ll change after they get married and she can quit her job and spend more time—”
Katie interrupted her. “Wait. You think I work too much? Are you serious? It’s my fault that my fiance cheated? Because I’m not constantly taking care of his,” she cleared her throat, “needs? You’re the one who’s out of her mind.”
Dwayne let out a sinister laugh, then said, “Well, I ain’t gonna put up with some guy cheatin’ on my little girl. Mitch, I suggest you get on outta here before I do something to you we’ll both regret.”
Lisa sighed. “You’re overreacting, Dwayne.”
“No, I’m not!” Dwayne grabbed Lisa’s shoulder. “I don’t put up with that shit and you know it. Some guy out there messin’ around, bringin’ home diseases?” He shook his head. “Not to my daughter. No way in hell.”
Katie pressed her lips together, trying to keep herself from crying. She was touched, forgetting that that Daddy actually stood up for her sometimes. Her voice on the verge of cracking, she softly said to her father, “It’s because of his possible career in politics. She wanted me to delete the pictures because it might hurt his career later.”
Mitch inhaled a deep breath and stared down at the floor. Lisa rolled her eyes and fidgeted with her watch.
Dwayne took his hand from his wife’s shoulder and asked her, “Why do you care so much about whether or not he has a political career? That’s no reason to badger Katie into marrying a guy who—”
Suddenly fuming, Lisa interrupted him with, “I want her to go on to something more than just the wife of a district judge! It barely even counts as an election!”
“I see.” Dwayne’s jaw set firmly as he nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on hers. “Didn’t know I was such a disappointment.”
Katie summoned a bit more anger at the mention of Lisa’s true agenda. “So, you wanted to live through me? Because you had aspirations of being married to someone with higher standing, to impress your friends? Is that what it is? The glamour of being a governor’s wife?”
Lisa’s silence spoke volumes. So, Katie pressed on as her mom’s eyes bored into hers. She gave her mother a smug grin and said, “Is that the real reason you made me break Armando’s heart? Because you thought he’d never run for public office and make you proud?”
In the shadows, Armando’s pulse quickened as he waited for their response.
Dwayne’s face grew sullen. He took a deep breath, then shared a glance with Lisa.
Lisa shook her head. “That had nothing to do with it. And now’s not the time—”
“Well, what was it then?” Katie shrugged. “Must’ve been something pretty damn bad for you to leave him for dead in the middle of nowhere.”
Dwayne’s eyes widened, but he said nothing.
Lisa extended her hand toward Katie in a calming gesture. “Let’s not overreact here.”
Mitch’s eyebrows knitted as he asked, “Who’s Armando? Is he the ex-boyfriend you kissed last weekend?”
Lisa brought her hand to her chest, staring at Katie, then quietly uttered, “What?”
Then they all turned to the sound of footsteps behind them as a man in a suit came out from his hiding place. He cleared his throat and firmly stated, “I’m ri
ght here.”
Katie’s hands flew to her mouth, covering it as she gasped. But Armando looked in her eyes, holding her in a gentle gaze as he slowly walked toward her, calming her. She kept her eyes only on him, ignoring whatever reaction her parents were having. When he came near he smiled and held out his hand, and she gladly took it. Together they stood, facing her parents.
Lisa’s nostrils flared. Her eyes were set on Katie as if Armando wasn’t there. Her voice was soft but unmistakably angry. “You selfish little girl.”
Katie was about to scream at Lisa, but her eyes flashed to Dwayne, and Katie did a double take at what she saw.
He simply stared at Armando, his eyes glistening with tears.
Armando gave him a thoughtful stare in return.
Lisa shrugged as she looked Armando up and down, then turned to her husband. “Well? Aren’t you gonna do something?”
Dwayne shot his wife a cold glance, then he looked at Mitch. “You need to get outta here, boy.” He nodded behind them at the stairwell, his voice stern. “Go on. Now.”
As Mitch headed for the stairs, Katie sensed it was time for privacy. She fished her keys from her purse and opened the door as fast as she could.
Everyone filed into the apartment in silence. First Armando, then Dwayne, then a hesitant Lisa, who glowered at Katie as she walked past.
Dwayne waited until Armando took a seat in the corner of the couch, then he sat close by in a recliner. Lisa pulled a chair from the dining room and sat beside her husband, hands folded in her lap.
Katie cozied up next to Armando, holding his hand.
The room was silent as Dwayne closed his eyes, thinking. When he opened them, they were glossy. He put his elbows against his knees, leaning forward, fingers laced together.
Lisa’s eyes narrowed at Dwayne as she waited for him to speak.
Dwayne sniffled and drew the back of his hand across one eye. Then he took a long, deep breath, looking in Armando’s eyes. In a gentle voice, he said, “I’m sorry.”
Lisa’s jaw dropped.
Armando squeezed Katie’s hand, unprepared for his apology. But he was especially unprepared for his sincerity.
Dwayne continued. “Son, if I’d known your Mama was sick, I never would’ve…” His voice trailed off as he sniffled again. He reached into his suit pocket for a handkerchief, which he wiped across his face.
Lisa rolled her eyes and shook her head.
Katie and Armando stared at Dwayne, both of their hearts racing, stunned by his emotional display.
After a little while, Dwayne put the handkerchief away, appearing calmer. He cleared his throat and looked again at Armando. “What I did to you was wrong. There ain’t much else I can say about it. Thought I was doing the right thing, protecting my family.” His eyes flashed to Katie. “If you still make my little girl happy after all this time, then—”
“No!” Lisa slapped her legs with her hands. “You can’t be okay with this!”
Armando stared straight in her eyes and said, “Why the hell not? Katie and I both deserve an answer.”
Dwayne nodded, his face solemn. “I agree.”
Lisa huffed out a stubborn sigh.
Katie said, “Mom, stop doing this. Daddy’s fine with it! Haven’t we been through enough?”
Lisa gritted her teeth, glaring at her daughter. Then she straightened her skirt and stood up, pacing back and forth in a nervous display Katie knew all too well.
Dwayne watched his wife for a second, then turned to Armando and Katie. “We may need to have this talk another time. After everyone calms down a bit.”
Armando watched Lisa pace the floor. “With all due respect, sir, I’d like to know right now. It changed the course of my life and I feel like I’ve waited a million years to hear it. I already know it has something to do with a deal you made with Henry. Please tell me what it was.”
Lisa bristled at the mention of Henry’s name.
Dwayne gave his wife another glance, then his eyes focused thoughtfully on Armando. “Do you know where he disappeared to?”
“Who, Henry?” Armando shrugged. “No. He checks in with Ramon once in a while. He’s traveling. That’s all I know.”
Dwayne scoffed. “Traveling. Well, when he finally gets his skinny ole ass back to that ranch, you tell him it’s time me and him had a talk.”
“A talk about what?” Armando asked. “You gotta give me more than that. If it’s something bad enough to make you break us up the way you did, it’s probably something my brothers and I need to know about. We’ve been trying to figure it out and we’re not gonna stop.”
Dwayne inhaled sharply, then exhaled, a glum look on his face as his eyes darted around the room everywhere but at his wife. After a long pause, he said, “What story did Henry tell you about why he moved you and your family over the border, to his ranch?”
Lisa stopped pacing to glare at Dwayne.
Confused, Armando said, “I don’t know what you mean by ‘story.’ I met him when I was eight and he got lost in our village. I gave him directions. He said he never forgot how nice I was. He came back a couple years later and tracked us down, offered our mom a job. So we moved.”
Dwayne’s lips pursed, thoughtfully. “You ever think there’s something not quite right about that story?”
Through gritted teeth, Lisa whispered, “Dwayne!”
Dwayne continued, ignoring her. “You ever wonder why he’d let a strange woman and her three boys move right into that nice, big house of his?”
Armando gulped. “No. But we didn’t have anywhere else to live, and Henry’s ranch didn’t have living quarters.”
Dwayne nodded. “So I guess you never really questioned it, then.”
“At first we did, maybe, but we were kids,” Armando said. “Henry was good to us. Mama was happy. We weren’t struggling anymore. That’s all we cared about.”
“Well, son,” Dwayne said, “Henry Platt lied to you.”
Lisa grunted in frustration and brought her hand to her forehead.
Armando’s eyes widened. “About what?”
Dwayne gave Armando a sympathetic frown. “He knew exactly who you were when he met you.”
Armando felt the hair on his arms stand up as a nervous twinge fluttered in his stomach then spread through the rest of his body. “How?”
“Dwayne!” Lisa shouted.
Sighing, Dwayne looked at his wife, then back at Armando. “Like I said. You let me know when Henry comes back. There’s a whole lotta shit he’s gonna have to tell you himself.” His head shook. “But I can’t.”
“Yes, you can,” Armando pleaded. “I had no idea. I beg you, please tell me. I can track Henry down if I have to.”
“Well, you do that,” Dwayne said. “And I’ll be ready to talk. But for now, that’s all I can say.” He paused, sighing. “That, and I’m sorry.”
Lisa threw her hands up in the air, then muttered at Dwayne, “I can’t believe you. I’ll see you in the car.”
“Mom, wait!” Katie opened her purse, frantic. “I need to show you something.” When she found her ring, she turned to Armando with a big smile and she slid the ring onto her finger, right where it belonged. Then she lifted her hand, displaying the ring with pride. “We’re engaged!”
Lisa shot Katie a mean look. Her eyes then settled on Armando for the briefest moment. And then, with a loud huff, she gave her husband one last glance before opening the door and slamming it shut behind her.
Dwayne snorted and waved his hand toward the door in a dismissive gesture. “Don’t worry about her.” Then he stood, gazing down at Katie. “You have my blessing.”
Katie rose from her seat, her bottom lip trembling. She held back her tears and softly said, “I’m shocked. After what happened I—”
“I know.” Dwayne nodded. “I know.” Then he put his arms around her and pulled her in tight. “I know, darlin’.”
Hesitantly, Armando rose. “Thank you, sir. It means a lot to have your blessing.”
Dwayne hugged Katie for a little while longer before letting her go and turning his attention to Armando. He extended his hand. “Again, I’m sorry.”
Armando’s heart raced, his thoughts whirling in a hazy cloud of disbelief. He was about to shake the hand of a person who had done him so very wrong. Maybe Armando should hate Dwayne. But he remembered his mother’s words. Revenge will end up killing you. So, Armando took Dwayne’s hand, shaking it firmly. “Thank you.”
Dwayne stared into Armando’s eyes. “I know it doesn’t make any sense right now. But like I said. You get Henry, I’ll give you answers.”
Armando sensed Dwayne’s genuineness. He knew he was dealing with a man whose handshake was as good as getting it in writing. Armando nodded in agreement. “I’ll do that.”
Half-smiling, Dwayne let go of Armando’s hand and said, “Welcome to the family.” Then he stood back and addressed the couple. “I’m gonna leave you two alone now. There’s a big fight with my wife in my future. Better go get it over with.”
Armando instantly thought about the fight he had with Dwayne ten years earlier. He surprised himself by letting a statement fly out of his mouth, “I have a feeling you’re gonna be just fine, sir.”
Dwayne gave him a knowing look, and chuckled. “Yeah. And hey, no more of this ‘sir’ stuff. Just call me Dwayne. All right?”
Armando nodded. “All right.”
Dwayne patted Armando’s shoulder, then gave his daughter another hug and a kiss on the cheek before saying goodbye and heading out the door.
When the door closed, Katie turned to Armando. Their eyes locked for a moment, and then they both burst into tears.
Armando held her as tight as possible, stroking her hair.
Katie went weak against him.
They both felt a huge weight had been lifted, and they were finally free to live their lives as husband and wife. Exactly how they had always intended.
Chapter 18
Exactly three weeks from the day Armando proposed, Katie was in her wedding dress, arm in arm with her father as they walked down the sandy, makeshift aisle, to the love of her life. Her red hair was piled top her head, with flyaway pieces hanging down, blowing with the gentle ocean breeze.
