Star Bright (19 page)

“
My absentee
father. I’ve never met him, but my mother loves him still to this
date. Michael idolizes him, just like I did when I was young.” She
sneered and Dave didn’t miss that.

“
What line of
work was he in?” Dave already knew the answer to that question, but
he wanted to know if she knew.

“
Mama spoke
about him like some Robin Hood hero, but he is really a criminal. I
should have you hunt him down as revenge.” Maria always felt if her
father was around then she would have had someone to defend her, as
much as her problems were her fault, she blamed Miguel for not
being there to solve them, like a father should.

Dave stroked her hair
back and moved closer to her, “I will if it would make you really
happy, but I highly doubt that. It’s just not you.”

“
How do you
know that? I’ve been lying to you for months now?”

“
Your identity
yes, but not who you really are. You are caring, very nurturing and
a woman any man would be lucky to have. Whoever doesn’t see that,
it’s their loss and my gain.”

Maria looked at him,
there was something about his cool and collected manner she didn’t
like. She laughed out of annoyance more than amusement, how she
could be so slow. She knew him pretty well too.

“
Share the
joke.”

“
I bet you
already knew all this. You are the most paranoid parent I know, you
have the resources and the ability to dig up information on anyone.
I bet you do that with everyone before you let them a hundred feet
near Izzy, am I right?”

Dave looked at her, his
expression unchanged, “Yes and no. I know what’s in public
record... Maria.”

She stood up and paced
the room, “How long have you known?”

“
Just an
hour.” he answered coolly, his eyes fixed on her.

“
What else do
you know?” She stood still and looked at him, she felt the shame
creep up on her. She wouldn’t be able to look him in the eyes again
if he knew about Ricky.

“
Your mother’s
name and where you went to High School.” He kept the rest to
himself. He didn’t want her to know how much of her life he had
intruded on.

Just then the door flew
open and Amy rushed in, her face red with anger. Michael and Carol
came up behind her. Dave looked at the three of them, but Michael’s
scared face pulled at him more. He stood up and pulled Maria behind
him, Michael’s face relaxed a bit. Maria wasn’t afraid of Amy and
she didn’t need Dave to protect her, but when she saw the familiar
look on Michael’s face she understood it. It was more for Michael’s
benefit than her own.

Maria moved to stand next
to Dave, asserting herself, “Carol take the kids out for ice cream,
one scoop each.” She said with a smile.

“
Don’t take my
daughter anywhere!” Amy barked, startling Michael.

“
Carol, do as
Maria says.” Dave said in a low stern voice. Carol nodded and
pulled the reluctant boy out of the office before she closed the
door, “What are you doing here? I thought I finished up with your
lawyer?”

“
I’m not some
dog you can dismiss. That witch almost killed the mother of your
child and you are here cozy with her!” She yelled, moving closer to
Maria.

“
Is she always
this hysterical?” Maria asked Dave, stepping closer to
Amy.

“
No cat fight
ladies.” Dave said, stepping in between them, “Amy, what I do with
her is none of your business, now leave my office.”

“
No! We’ve
been divorced barely a month and you’ve already replaced me in
yours and Elizabeth’s life?”

“
It’s more
like an upgrade than a replacement.” Dave said candidly, “And it’s
been over three months.” Maria smiled when Amy’s face reddened in
fury, she felt disappointed that her head wouldn’t blow up like in
the cartoons.

“
So you plan
on marrying this maid, and adopting her little bastard!”

“
Hey!” Maria
yelled, going for her. Dave pulled her back and locked her at his
side, her small frame fitting perfectly in the curve his arm made
around her.

“
Most probably
yes, but that doesn’t concern you the least bit. We got a divorce
and there were strict terms to it, you stay out of mine and
Elizabeth’s life and I stay out of yours.”

“
I don’t want
that anymore.” she pleaded, her voice low and gentle. Maria gave
her an incredulous look, amazed at how she changed
colors
so
fast, “I want you back Dave.” She stroked his chest tenderly with
the tips of her fingers.

“
You do see me
standing here?” Maria asked. She had never laid claim to Dave, but
Amy’s attempt of seduction was making her jealous and it annoyed
the hell out of her.

“
And so?” Amy
gave her a cold gaze before she turned to Dave with a gentler look,
“What do you say darling?”

Dave was still mesmerized
by Maria’s implied claim on him. He liked this possessive,
aggressive side of her. It had been making its way out slowly, it
was new to her and he was glad he was there to see her come out of
her shell, “Amy, you do remember your way out?” he said with a
chuckle.

“
If you want
me to leave you are going to have to give me more money.” Amy sat
on the seat close to his desk.

Dave smiled. The reason
for Amy crawling out of her hole after so long, revealed, “You’ve
blown all that money already?”

“
Yes, what
else am I supposed to do with my time?”

“
Get a job,
find a sensible hobby that doesn’t involve high school boys, and
make some meaning out of your useless life.” Maria answered
her.

“
How much do
you want?” Dave asked Amy before she retaliated against
Maria.

“
You can’t be
serious? She’s going to be a constant pain if you start that now.”
Maria spoke up to Dave. She wasn’t trying to tell him how to run
his life, but she knew exactly what type of leech Amy
was.

“
No one asked
for your opinion!” Amy shouted, shooting up from the
seat.

“
Make her sign
a contract before you give her anything. Make sure this is the last
time we set eyes on her.” Maria added with a smile. She cared too
much about Dave to let Amy be a constant annoyance in his
life.

Dave looked at Maria,
amazed at how she handled the situation. She was no longer the girl
who curled up on the floor when she thought her son had
disappeared, she wasn’t retracting into her shell just because a
voice was raised, and she was fighting back. “Tell your lawyer to
call me.”

“
What?” Amy
asked shocked.

“
Please leave,
Maria and I are going out. You’ll have your car by the end of the
day.” He walked to Amy and escorted her out of his office, and then
he went back to Maria and took her hand in his.

“
Where are we
going?” She asked following him out.

“
For a long
overdue third date.” He closed the door behind him keeping Maria’s
hand in his.

“
We’ve never
gone out on a date.”

He tucked her hand under
his arm and walked out of the firm, appreciating all the stares he
got. He didn’t mind it, he was sure Carol would fill him in on the
rumors when they got back. “Yes we have, but our kids were with us,
Michael insisted on it.”

“
Michael? What
does he have to do with anything?” Maria asked, perplexed, feeling
shy at the new way his co-workers looked at her now. She could
imagine what they thought of her, especially after his ex-wife just
walked out ahead of them, they probably thought she was a home
wrecker, but she didn’t care. Her mother was right, this was her
time for true happiness and she was glad it was with
Dave.

Chapter
Twelve

Ricky picked the lock on
Nate’s apartment door. He felt excited and giddy having finally
found Maria. He could already hear her screaming pleas fill his
ears, as her blood bathed his fists. He had a whole act planned for
her and he was going to enjoy every second of it. What he wasn’t
sure of, was which would hurt her most, watching him kill Michael
first or making Michael watch as he killed her.

Nate had been stupid
enough to tell the town drunk about the trick they had pulled on
him. He overheard the idiot laugh at him and he couldn’t control
himself, he beat the man bloody and left him laying lifeless on the
ground before he went for Nate. He thought of storming into his
house and shooting him dead, but he knew that wouldn’t be too
clever, and the fact that Nate was very capable of handling himself
ruled out a beating. He broke into Nate’s house and tore the place
apart until he found his New York address, he then put rat poison
in his salt and sugar as his form of revenge. He wasn’t going to
allow anyone to make fun of him and get away with it.

He walked into the studio
apartment expecting to find Maria and Michael asleep, but the place
was empty. There wasn’t a hint of them left in the house. He threw
things around in a rage, feeling like a fool for having been
tricked again. He was going to make her pay for all she had done,
and the months of searching he had wasted.

Maria ran her hand down
the navy blue dress Dave bought her the day before. It was a short
sleeved, cotton dress that reached above the knee with a thin black
belt which she matched with black pumps and a black purse. She had
very little make up on and held her hair back with several pins,
but let her back hair hang loose, she wanted to look sophisticated
but not well beyond her years.

She wanted to make a good
impression on Michael’s teachers at his new private school. She
didn’t want to come off as a ‘simple maid’ as Amy had called her.
Dave expressed how much he liked how simple and uncomplicated she
was, but he still took her shopping, buying her designer clothes
and jewelry. She was shocked how a dress could cost the same as
three months rent.

Dave opened the door and
helped her out of his new BMW, it was white and very flashy and it
suited his stature as a top notch lawyer very well. Maria looked at
him and smiled, “You are very loyal to the brand.”

Dave smiled back as he
opened the back door for Michael and Izzy, “Loyalty is a strong
trait.” he lowered himself to Michael’s level, “Are you ready big
guy?”

“
I think you
should be asking mama that.” He said with a laugh, pointing to
Maria’s worried face.

Maria was scared to leave
her son alone. Dave had promised her he would be safe, but that
didn’t make her any less anxious, “I’ll be fine.” Maria leaned down
and straightened his uniform. He looked cute in his shorts and high
socks, his jacket with the school crest on its pocket, and his tie.
He looked like he was going to work rather than to
school.

“
Mama, you are
fussing again.” He reached up and kissed her nose, took Izzy’s hand
and walked to the huge building.

Maria watched him, her
anxiety building up. Dave pulled her to him and kissed her lightly
on her lips, she had allowed that much the night before and he
wasn’t going to miss a chance doing it again.

“
Dave.” Maria
whispered as she looked away from him shyly. She had fun that
night, talking and exploring more of the city. They had forgotten
about work and the kids for a while, concentrating only on them. It
was the first real connection she had made with a man and she liked
it. She initiated the kiss and was glad he hadn’t pushed for
anything more.

Dave took her hand and
led her into the building, “He’ll be fine, and don’t worry too
much.”

“
Maybe I
should just home school him.”

“
That’s just
separation anxiety talking. He’s going to school, not the slaughter
house.”

“
We’ll see if
you are so cool and collected when Izzy starts school.” she looked
around the bold
colored
building in amazement, “Are you sure this is a
prep school and not a varsity?”

“
Considering
the fee we are paying, it better be up to varsity standards.” Dave
walked to the reception and greeted the plump woman with a smile,
“I’d like to see the principal please.”

“
One moment.”
She responded with a smile before she disappeared behind a glass
door.

“
Dave, my son
better not turn out to be a snooty brat.”

“
What’s wrong
with being a snooty brat, I was one once.”

“
You were
lucky enough to turn out the way you did, but Amy, not so much.”
She turned and looked at Michael and Izzy staring at the tall
cupboard full of trophies.

“
Excuse me
sir, the principal will see you now.” The lady spoke quietly,
emerging from another door.

Dave kissed Maria on the
forehead before he followed the lady, “Stay here and smother him
some more before his new snooty friends tell him how embarrassing
it is.”

Maria stuck her tongue
out at him then moved to stand behind the children. She wondered
what the principal’s reaction would be when Dave told him the
truth. They had agreed on using their true information to make
things simpler for Michael in school. Michael was fine with it, he
was glad they weren’t hiding anymore and they were finally going to
be normal, but Maria knew better. She needed to talk to Edna again,
to make sure Ricky was still in Mississippi and nowhere near New
York. If she was going to play, normal she needed to have all her
corners covered.