+Intent 51-53+A while later Edith returned to tell them that breakfast was ready and take Latecia so they could get dressed. “Thank you Mister AJ!” Latecia called as she carried her new treasures out of the room. “I’ll be right down sweetie, and you’re welcome!” AJ called as Edith shut the door of the bedroom. “Uh, what a cute kid.” Win said smiling. “Yeah, she tends to grow on you.” AJ replied getting up and going to the closet to get some clothes. Win got up as well and changed out of her bedclothes before she and AJ went downstairs to breakfast, meeting Denise in the hall. “Now you carry her down those stairs AJ, don’t you dare let her walk.” Denise warned. AJ was already in the process of leaning down to pick her up when she said this. “What do you think I’m doing, down here then? Some new exercise program?” he asked, as he picked Win up in his arms. “That’s better.” Denise said with a laugh. AJ shook his head and carried Win down to the dining room. Edith had already set out the food and the dogs were fretting around the table, waiting for scraps. Edith and Latecia came out and sat down to eat with everyone, Latecia taking a seat between Win and AJ. It was a lovely morning, everyone enjoying the other’s company. “Would you two mind watching Leti today while Edith and I go shopping?” Denise asked. “What? Oh, sure no problem, is that okay with you Win?” AJ asked. “Yeah, that’d be great!” Win replied with a giant smile. “YEAH! I get to spend the day with Mister AJ and Winniefredie!” Latecia bubbled. AJ laughed. “Now that is enthusiasm.” Win said looking at Latecia. “Seguro?” Edith asked AJ. “Yes Edith.” AJ said rolling his eyes. A little while later, after the breakfast dishes had been cleared, and Edith and Denise were ready to go out, Edith spoke to her daughter. “You be good for mister AJ, don’t run away, you stay with him and his friend, okay? You listen to him, and be careful, no more running!” Edith warned. “Yes mommy,” Latecia said after each warning. Edith gave her a kiss and they were gone. “So what do you want to do today?” AJ asked Latecia.
Win went out to the backyard to get Latecia when she was done changing and walk her over to the pool. AJ was downstairs again before Latecia was out of her house and he went inside to fetch her. He emerged carrying her on his shoulders, her legs flung over his neck and her hands wrapped around his head.
“You okay to walk?” he asked Win.
“Oh I’m fine, its just a little stiff is all, it doesn’t hurt anymore.” Win replied taking the towels from AJ. They walked through the garden to the pool area, AJ bouncing Latecia up and down once in a while to make her laugh.
Win spent the afternoon watching AJ and Latecia frolic around in the pool. AJ was so good with her. Win could just see him with his own kids, two or three maybe. Fooling around, laughing and joking with them. Holidays with the entire family. Christmases, Thanksgiving, parties, birthdays, nighttime feedings, holding a baby, singing to it, school plays, parent teacher meetings, baseball games, dance recitals, school graduations.
“Wohoo, Win, are you there?” AJ asked waving his hand in front of her face.
“Huh? Oh yeah.” She said shaking her head and waking up from her daydream.
“We’re gonna go get some ice cream for lunch.” AJ said sitting down in one of the lounge chairs and using the towel to dry Latecia off.
“Ice cream for lunch?” Win asked.
“Yeah, strawberry ice cream, shh, don’t tell mommy!” Latecia and AJ whispered at the same time putting a finger up to their lips. Win laughed heartily.
AJ and Latecia changed and loaded up into his car. Latecia’s favorite ice cream palor was not too far away, and it was quite evident as to why it was her favorite. It was a giant Victorian house that looked quite out of place among the rest of the restaurants and shops along the block. The sign out front read, “Mayen Poppers International Ice Cream Bazaar, Ice Cream Flavors From All Over The World!”
“They have ice cream from all over the world!” Latecia said pointing at the sign.
“Come on sweetie,” AJ said picking her up and holding her on his hip.
“Would you look at you, you’re a natural.” Win said patting his back.
“I like to think so.”
Win stood back and watched AJ and Latecia order their ice cream. He held her like she was his own child, and happily so as if he would want nothing more in the world.
“Lets see, a dish of peppermint, for Win and for the little liver here,” Latecia mimicked his words again and they said together, “Two dishes of Albuquerque Strawberry Lime.” This was so cute that even the cashier was laughing.
They sat down in the Australia room, decorated with Kangaroo chairs and fake eucalyptus trees. Win ate quietly just watching Latecia and AJ.
“You have ice cream on your mustache!” Latecia laughed.
“I do!” AJ said surprised. He made big to do, wiping it off making Latecia giggle.
“Now did I get it all?” he asked leaning down to her level.
“Nope, you have some there!” Latecia said pointing to a spot on his cheek that was clean.
“Uh oh, then you better get that one.” AJ said turning his face and tapping his cheek. Latecia stood up and held onto the sides of his head and gave him a loud sloppy kiss on his cheek.
“Ew, that was a wet kiss!” AJ said laughing and wiping off his cheek. Win was laughing too.
“You missed a spot,” Win said.
“Oh, so you want in on this too. Where did I miss a spot?” he said raising an eyebrow.
“Right there!” Latecia said pointing to his lips.
“Well Win better take care of that then, shouldn’t she?” AJ asked Latecia. She folded her hands behind her back and nodded her head smiling. Win leaned forward and kissed his lips lightly.
“Did I get it all?” she asked.
“No, I think you missed some of it.” AJ replied giving her a little deeper kiss.
“Ewww! That’s a wet kiss!” Latecia squealed. The other people in the room were all watching them curiously with smiles on their faces.
“No this is a wet kiss!” AJ said picking up Latecia in his lap and blowing a raspberry on her cheek. She giggled and tried to get away.
“Nope, I want one more kiss.” He said. She gave him another kiss.
“You have a scratchy face Mister AJ!” Latecia said rubbing his whiskers.
“Yeah, I know. But Winniefredie doesn’t mind, do you?” AJ asked patting Latecia on the head.
“No, I kind of like it.” Win said touching his face.
“Come on little liver, eat up, so we can get home before your mommy does. We can make her dinner.” AJ said putting Latecia back on her chair.
“Little liver?” Win asked.
“It means heart. In Spanish the seat of love is the liver. Her mother taught me that.” AJ replied.
“Wow. That’s really interesting.” Win asked.
“Yeah, I taught her English, she taught me Spanish. Latecia, has been my little liver, ever since she was four and half months old, isn’t that right baby?” AJ asked Latecia who was finished with her ice cream.
“Yup, and he’s my big liver!” Latecia said smiling. AJ laughed.
“Now that just sounds weird.” He said.
“Come on, let’s go make some dinner.”
They returned home around three o’clock and made preparations for dinner, a pork roast, with seasoned rice and peas, glazed carrots, salad, and baked bread. Win offered to help but AJ insisted he work alone and Latecia would be his designated helper. Win however stayed in the kitchen to help in case Latecia got out of hand, and just so she could talk and be near AJ.
“So how was it that you met Edith again?” Win asked as AJ was setting the temperature on the oven. He’d put Latecia at the counter with the jobs of shelling peas, snapping carrots and tearing lettuce.
“I met Edith before I went into, well you know, like my mom said, she’s the daughter of a friend of hers. The Montoyas, really nice people they live not too far down the road from my mom.”
“Oh okay.” Win nodded.
“I bought the house not long after I got out, probably four or five months later. Then my mom told me that Edith needed a job, she’d just had Latecia here, about two months before.”
“Does she know who the father is?” Win asked quietly.
“Yeah, his name is Robert Baily, he used to be another friend of the family too, but once he heard about Edith, he booked. Did not want anything to do with her. He and Edith had gone out for oh, about three years I think. He had just finished getting a business started, then his backer dropped him, and he was not about to take care of a baby and Edith. Besides, he didn’t think she was his anyways.”
“That’s horrible, just up and leaving her like that.” Win said disgusted.
“Yeah, I know. My mom was helping her out then, cause Edith’s mother couldn’t afford to keep Edith and her baby. Edith was working part time, but she couldn’t cover her expenses.”
“So when did she start working here?” Win asked.
“I bought the house in April, that was right around Latecia’s birthday of that year. I needed someone to run the house, I mean because, hell, I can afford it, and it’s big house. After about two months, of not finding anyone, my mom suggested Edith. She needed a job, and a place to live.”
“Poor Edith, I can’t imagine having a baby to have to take care of as well.”
“Yeah, I wanted her to have her own house, so she could feel secure, but it took so long to have built that I just had her move in here for a while. The only thing was, we really didn’t understand each other too much. She only spoke Spanish, and I didn’t know any Spanish at all.”
“How did you manage?” Win asked.
“It was hard at first, especially with her needing help with Latecia, and she had to learn English, so I ended up spending a lot of time with her. It took my mind off rehab and all my problems. A baby and a housekeeper that doesn’t speak English, tends to do that.”
“But I thought you two were friends before?” Win asked.
“No, actually we weren’t. She was just another of my mom’s friends, and especially since she didn’t speak English we didn’t talk. I’m mean, it’s not like we didn’t get along, it’s just that we couldn’t, we didn’t understand each other.”
“It seems like you two are really close now though.” Win asked.
“Yup. While she did her work I kept an eye on baby here, so much so that when Edith didn’t need my help anymore, little Latecia would fallow me around the house anyways. But it’s been worth it, I must say.” AJ said looking at Latecia with admiration.
“Her father was white, I’m assuming? Since Leti here is so much lighter than her mother.” Win asked.
“Like I said, his business prospects dropped out and he was broke. When Edith told him, he bolted. Denied it was his kid and split. That was the last anyone heard from him.”
AJ cooked like he was a gourmet chef for another two hours. Win set the table with help from Latecia. Denise and Edith arrived home half an hour later, just as AJ was putting the food on the table.
“What smells good?” Edith asked as Latecia ran out to her mother.
“Mommy! AJ cooked lots of good food and I helped!” Latecia said as Edith scooped her up in her arms.
“He did he? Well, we better go eat it then!” Dinner was a success. The food was great and the company even better. Edith refused to allow AJ or anyone else do the dishes as Win and AJ had watched Latecia all day, so Denise helped clear the table. Win listened to them speaking in rapid Spanish as the water ran in the sink for dishes. AJ was on the floor playing with Latecia and his dogs, and Win couldn’t help but smile. But there was something of a doubt in the back of her mind as well. There was something going on, that she just could not put her finger on.
Soon enough Latecia was tired and fell asleep on the floor with the dogs. AJ her carried to her house in the back and Edith said goodnight and thank you to Win and AJ for watching Latecia. Denise said good night and excused herself to bed.
“Soooooo, what do you want to do?” AJ asked with a grin on his face. It was later in the evening now. They were sitting in the cavernous living room. Win on the couch, AJ was still on the floor, the dogs crowding around him.
“Honestly, I’d like to go to bed. I am exhausted.” Win replied standing up. AJ got up too. He still hadn’t taken the dogs out.
“I’ll help you upstairs, then I’m going to take the dogs out for a run around the block. Then, maybe, we can try again?” he asked.
“Maybe,” Win replied smiling.
“Maybe I’ll skip the walk with the dogs and just take you upstairs.” AJ moving closer to her.
“Oh, you naughty boy you!” Win said playfully smacking him.
“Come here.” He said grabbing a hold of a belt loop on her hip and pulling her close. He took her in his arms, kissing her deeply. Without breaking the kiss he swept her legs up in his arm and started up the stairs.
He broke away long enough to get up the stairs and then push the door closed to their room with his foot. He put Win down on the bed and crawled next to her as her fingers fumbled on the zipper of his shirt. It finally opened and he threw it off as he crawled back on the bed, pulling Win into his lap. She straddled his hips, feeling his excitement, drawing her even closer to him as she ran her hands over his chest, feeling the hardness of his muscles.
His hands were touching every piece of her exposed flesh that he could find. He lay his head back against the headboard as Win kissed and nibbled down his neck. The wait was driving him crazy, but he didn’t want this feeling to end.
Sliding his hands up her sides he pulled her shirt over her head. He arched his pelvis as Win hit a particular sensitive spot on his neck and she gasped as he growled. Her nails pressed into lower back and they both slunk lower on the bed, sliding under the comforter. Win pulled at the button on his pants and together they removed first his jeans then hers, their passion taking over the night.
1:00 AM the clock glared into Win’s eyes when she opened them later that night. The bed was empty when she sat up. Rubbing her eyes to clear them up, she saw a familiar form silouetted against the blue sky, leaning over the railing, a trail of smoke extending from the lips.
Win got up and went to the closet, getting out a sweatshirt and slipping it on. She padded to the door and opened it, walking out on the patio.
“Hey baby, what are you doing up?” AJ asked a little worried.
“I couldn’t sleep.” She replied stopping within a foot of him, watching him smoking his cigarette. He looked at her with his head cocked to one side, a slight smile on his face.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“AJ, this is going to sound stupid, but I want to know. It’s been bothering me for a while.” Win said with her arms crossed. AJ held his head up.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Now it’s okay if its true, and if it is, I’ll stand back no problems and just let you two be together.” Win said quickly.
“What are talking about Win?”
“You and Edith. Were you in love with her, are you in love with her now?” Win asked. AJ relaxed and leaned back against the railing again. He laughed slightly.
“No Win, I was never in love with her, and I’m not in love with her.” AJ replied.
“It’s not funny AJ. You’re down there, playing like daddy as if you’ve been married to her or something.” Win said, surprising even herself. She’d never been jealous like this before, and she didn’t like the taste it left in her mouth.
“Win, I am not in love with her, in fact, she’s inviting her fiance over tomorrow for dinner.” AJ replied.
“That does not account for anything.” Win replied, she didn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth.
“Yes it does, considering he’s a member of my family, and I would not do that to him. Secondly, you should know me enough by now. I would not do that to you. And since when have you been so jealous? I mean, I have girls throwing themselves at me, stuffing phone numbers in my pockets, and you never give it a second thought.” AJ replied a little annoyed.
“Yeah, because you weren’t throwing yourself back.”
“Edith and I are just friends. Yeah, so we’re close, that’s because we’re friends. Nothing has happened between us. We could never be more than friends. Trust me Win, we’re around each other longer than a few weeks, we start fighting like cats and dogs.”
“It’s just kind of funny how you avoid telling me things like this. I’ve been with you almost six months, and not once did you tell me about Edith, or Latecia, or your house, your dogs. Why do you not tell me anything about your life, you sit back and make me guess! You think that by talking about me all the time, and just asking me about my life that you’ll just glaze over the things you are uncomfortable with!”
“I am not avoiding telling you anything, it just never came up!” AJ said indignantly.
“What about rehab? What about your grandmother? What about mistakes you’ve made, the bad things that have happened? You have not told me anything! I know more about Kevin, and Nick or Howie, Daemon, or Gina, than I know about you!” Win didn’t bother keeping her voice down.
“Because I don’t want to talk about those things! I mean do you just enjoy talking about the shit that happened to you! Do you like telling all those horror stories you had to go through! No, and I don’t either!” AJ shouted back.
“Considering the fact, that you have a lot more good than bad, you’ve never told me the good part! I have had a hard life, yes, and no, it’s not easy talking about, but it gets easier, and it’s better to talk about it. And when you talk about things you hurt about, you tell that person you trust them. I trust you AJ, no it was not easy talking about the things I’ve told you, but I trust you!”
“It doesn’t seem like it to me! I told you Edith and I are nothing but friends and you don’t believe me! So why should I trust you!”
“You don’t trust me? After all the shit we’ve been through, and you can’t trust me, to tell me why you can’t talk about your grandmother, or even that you have three dogs? I don’t know what I did wrong, but if you can’t trust me, fine. You don’t have to tell me anything anymore.” Win stormed back into the room and grabbed the rest of her clothes. She threw them on, grabbed her back pack and Jack’s cage and walked out of the room.
“Dammit!” AJ yelled hitting the railing. This hurt and he cursed again, turning around and rubbing his hand. He took a slow shaking drag on his cigarette and blew the smoke out. He shook his head, looking out over the yard. A light turned on in Edith’s kitchen. He heard the door open and saw her step out in her robe.
She looked around for a moment and then looked up.
“Seinor? Todo esta bien?”
“Huh, oh yeah, everything is fine Edith, go back to sleep.” AJ replied waving her away.
“Are you okay?” Edith asked.
“No, but don’t worry about it.” AJ said, again waving at her to go back in her house. But she didn’t. She walked across the yard and dissappeared under the balcony. He heard the kitchen door opening and closing behind her. A few minutes later Edith emerged on the patio beside him.
“Que pasa?” she asked.
“Nada.” AJ replied.
“AJ, you can talk to me, esta bien. I saw Winifred in kitchen, on el telephono. What happened?” Edith said putting a hand on his back.
“We had a fight. I told her I didn’t trust her, she ran out of here.” AJ said as Edith rubbed his back.
“What you do to your hand?” she asked picking up his slowly bruising fingers.
“I punched the railing.” AJ replied.
“Oh, you poor baby.” Edith said and kissed the fingers. He wished it were Win up here with him instead. He loved Edith, as a friend, but he loved Win so much more than that, why couldn’t she see that?
“I’ll go get you some ice.” Edith said patting his back.
“Thanks.” AJ replied. Edith left the room and quickly returned to the kitchen. Win was just getting off the phone. She picked up her bag and rat cage and clamored out of the kitchen and saw Edith.
“Where are you going?” Edith asked.
“No where.” Edith went towards her and Win just turned and went to the door. Edith watched her walk out. Win waited on the stoop for a minute before a cab pulled up and she climbed in and sped away into the dark.
Edith went back to the kitchen, got the ice and returned to AJ’s room. He stood still as she held the ice in place, instantly soothing his sore fingers.
“Do you like her?” Edith asked.
“Very much Edith, I love her.” AJ replied. He motioned to the table and they sat down, Edith scooting her chair closer to his, to hold the ice on his hand.
“Then how come you don’t trust her?” Edith asked gently.
“I don’t know. I don’t trust many people anymore.” AJ replied. His cigarette went out and he threw it in the ash tray. He pulled another one out of the pack and lit it.
“What does she want from you that you can’t tell her about?” Edith asked, taking off the ice pack and looking at his fingers. It was a bright night with a full moon and abundunt stars. It was as if they were sitting in the sunlight.
“Yes she does, well she did, till tonight.” AJ replied shaking his head.
“Why, what happened?”
“She thinks that I’m in love with you.” AJ replied looking down at Edith’s face.
“In love with me? AJ, you’re kidding right?” Edith asked.
“No. She thinks that we’re too close.” AJ replied.
“AJ, isn’t this what happened with your last novia?” Edith asked.
“Partly. Damn, how did I let this happen?” AJ asked sitting back.
“It happens, boys cannot have girls as friends, and girlfriends get jealous.”
“I should go talk to her.” AJ replied thoughtfully.
“You can’t, she’s not here.”
“What?” AJ asked pulling his hand back abruptly.
“She left, in a cab.” Edith replied.
“Where did she go?”
“She didn’t say.” Edith replied.
“Aw man, what the hell am I going to do?” Edith put a hand on his leg and patted it gently. He put his head in his hands and rested his elbows on his knees. Edith stroked his hair.
“It will be all right.” She cooed.
“I really messed this up.” He said shaking his head.
“If she really loves you, she’ll understand.” Edith replied.
“No one understands me like you, Edith.” AJ said sitting up, her hand still resting on his shoulder.
“Why is that?” she asked.
“It’s just so easy to talk to you, you know so much about me. I don’t have to say anything, cause you already know.”
“Why can’t you do that with Win? She loves you, and you love her. I can see that, why can’t you.” Edith asking holding his face.
He stared at her, looking into her eyes, wondering what was beyond them, but without a word she replied to his unspoken question and her lips pressed against his. He closed his eyes, reaching out to her face, touching it, kissing it. He breathed deeply, pulling in her scent, spices, jasmine, and salt. The kiss lasted until AJ felt a trickle of water running over his hand from the ice pack Edith was still holding to his hand.
Edith pulled herself away first. AJ looked into her eyes, stroked the side of her head and sighed. He kissed her again, one last time and then sat back.
“I’m sorry AJ. I am.”
“I am too. I’ve got to go find her.” AJ said standing up. Edith stood as well and walked with him downstairs to the kitchen.
“Good night, AJ.” Edith said lingering in the door to the back yard.
“Good night Edith.” AJ replied, watching her close the door and walk back to her lit house. AJ turned and grabbed the phone, and saw his mother standing in the door.
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