Star Bright (30 page)

Dave Sr. gave his son a
cold gaze before he took his wife’s hand and led her towards
Maria’s parents. Dave wished he hadn’t invited the old man, but
that would only mean exempting his mother which he couldn’t dream
of.

Maria stared up at him
with a smile, “You’re right, we should have the grandfathers
involved too. When it’s time to take the family picture, would you
like me to clear off the table first?”

Dave stared down at her
perplexed, “What for?”

“
I figured
you’d want to arm wrestle for who’s going to carry Izzy, or do you
prefer flipping a coin?” Dave gave her an angry gaze that should
have made her crawl into her shell, but instead she found it
hilarious, “After meeting your father, you’re not so scary
anymore.”

Dave’s face eased into a
smile, “I’m glad you feel that way, considering how it will be the
rest of our lives.”

“
What do you
mean?”

“
He might be
my father, but he will be your father-in-law.” He put an arm on her
shoulders and turned her around.

“
I don’t get
it?” Maria asked, as they walked to the dining table where everyone
else had gathered.

“
He and I are
already used to not talking, but you’ll be spending all the kids’
vacations with him.” Maria stopped and looked up at him mystified.
Dave pulled her to keep walking, “I don’t want our kids to lose
touch with their grandparents. Just think, Thanksgiving in Boston
and Easter in Mexico,” he kissed the top of her head when she
paled, quietly laughing above her, “It’s going to be
fabulous!”

There was no way Maria
was going to be alone with either the grouch or Miguel, who is
currently still on the run, why was he here anyway, taking such a
huge risk? “Good thing we aren’t getting married.” Leaving a
stunned Dave gaping at her as she stood between the kids at the
table.

“
Mama, you
and...” she paused, lost for words as she stared at Miguel’s
excited face, and the quiet pleading look Edna was giving her, “One
of you can carry Michael while the other stands behind.” she turned
to Dave’s parents. Lily looked excited but, Dave Sr. had the same
hard look. There was no way she was going to spend any time alone,
in their territory with those two men, “the two of you can do the
same.”

Lily carried Izzy and sat
in front of her Cinderella cake and Dave Sr. stood behind her,
while Miguel carried Michael and sat in front of his batman cake
and Edna stood behind him. Dave stood behind Maria, between their
parents as they sang happy birthday to their children.

Dave leaned down to her
ear, “You aren’t getting out of marrying me that easily.” He
whispered.

“
That’s what
you think.” She whispered back before she began fussing with the
kids as both grandmothers’ helped her cut the cakes.

They stood together for
an uncomfortable minute while they took pictures. The tension
between Maria, Dave and their fathers was quite evident. The only
time they seemed relaxed and happy was when their mothers stood in
between them. The party did feel torturous at times, but it was a
happy one too, and they all got through it, staying away from each
other.

When it was over and
everyone had left, Dave was relieved to say goodbye to his father,
but sad to see his mother go. Maria however was impatient for her
own father’s departure, but he was still on the couch, very
comfortable, talking to Michael. She stood at the doorway and
watched them, unable to bring herself to break them up and send him
packing.

“
You have such
an over powering conscience.” Dave spoke in her ear as he stood
behind her watching Miguel and Michael.

“
It’s not my
conscience, I just love Michael too much to hurt him.” Stepping
back to lean into him, “I can’t hurry him out like you did with
your father.” She chuckled, resting her tired head on his
chest.

“
I’m an
honest, arrogant ass, and I bet that’s what attracts you
most.”

“
I think we
both know I’m definitely not attracted to that.” she weaved her
fingers with his and placed both their hands across her belly,
“it’s the way you are with the kids and how I always feel safe with
you.”

He kissed her shoulder,
then her ear, then her cheek, and finally her forehead, “I would do
anything for you.”

“
You could
start by getting the tornado out of the kitchen.” Carol walked up
to them with her purse in her hand.

“
What?” Dave
and Maria exclaimed, but they were both answered when Todd walked
out of the kitchen with a plate of food.

“
This is
delicious guys. You need to give me the number of the catering
company.” He spoke as he stuffed his mouth.

“
How about I
give you directions out my door.” Dave said.

“
Not before
Michael opens my gift.” he talked with his mouth half full, “He’ll
definitely think I’m the best uncle he’s ever had.”

“
Uncle?”

“
Thanks Todd.
What’s the gift?” Maria cut in, feeling the exhaustion take hold of
her.

“
A Wii,
Nintendo and a Play Station with all the latest games.”

“
You want to
turn my son into a mindless drone?” Maria asked making herself more
comfortable against Dave. Dave wrapped his arms around her and
cradled her, feeling sorry for her, she was completely exhausted
after the long day of hosting.

“
I’ve played
Play Station since I was a kid, look at how I turned out.” Holding
his hands out as if he was exhibiting himself.

Maria glanced at him then
turned back to Michael, “Yeah, my point exactly.”

“
Well its
better than the rob me sign they have around their necks.” Todd bit
down on a chicken leg, “Those must have cost you a fortune, did you
mortgage your house or something?”

Maria hadn’t totally
agreed on the eccentric gifts the kids had got. They were cute, but
too expensive. The platinum pendants had one diamond stud that sat
where their initials crossed. Izzy’s was an I and a G, Michael’s
was an M and a G, Dave told her Greer was going to be his name in
the future so why not cut to the chase. They were too young to know
their true value and could easily loose them, and she felt guilty
because he had already spent more than enough on Michael. So
instead of insulting him and giving the gift back, she asked him to
put them away, but Dave disagreed, he wanted them to have the
pendants with them all the time.

“
I have to
agree with Todd, there is no way we’ll be able to walk down the
streets in peace.”

“
So drive.”
Dave said casually, “and anyway everyone had left before I gave
them their gifts, if anyone is going to rob them it will be Carol
and Todd.”

“
Hey!” Carol
and Todd whined in unison.

Maria turned to face him,
“But still, I’ll be fighting thieves off to keep them from cutting
off one of my babies heads just to get to those
pendants.”

“
Okay.” he
kissed her forehead. For a moment she thought, for once she had
won, but before she could glow in victory he added, “Have them wear
them under their shirts.”

“
Dave, Michael
doesn’t have to brag to his new classmates how much his dad has,
the tuition you are paying is enough to do that, and Izzy might
just end up throwing it away when it’s not shinny and pretty to her
anymore.”

“
Maria.” he
said, holding her shoulders and bending to level their eye line, “I
don’t care about bragging rights or interests.” his voice was so
leveled and demanding that it made Maria curious and a little
guarded, “Whatever you do, don’t ever take them off and don’t ever
let them take them off, okay?”

“
Ah, okay.”
She answered turning to lean back against him. She was worried
something was up, and those pendants were a big part of it. Dave
always had a good reason when he’s very insistent, she wouldn’t
argue, but she would most definitely try to find out what the deal
was.

“
So, when are
you guys leaving?” Dave asked with a tight smile, bluntly kicking
Carol and Todd out.

“
You are such
a bad host!” Carol complained before she kissed Maria on the cheek,
“Bye and get some rest.” she turned and waved to the others in the
living room, “Good night.” she then turned and walked towards the
door pulling Todd with her.

“
Alone at
last.” Dave spoke nibbling on her ear.

“
Not quite.”
she looked at her father, “Dave, why is he really here?”

Chapter
Eighteen

“
Can’t a
father come see his daughter and grandson without a national
inquiry?” Miguel stood up, and walked to where the couple was
standing.

Maria pointed at Michael,
biting down on her temper, “He’s five, and he’s not stupid enough
to believe that, so don’t patronise me.” Dave held her securely
against him, and crossed his arm to trap hers to her sides, “That
might be the story you fed mama, but I’m sure there’s something
more going on.”

“
What makes
you think that?” Miguel asked calmly, his eyes glued to Dave’s.
They had decided on not telling her that Ricky had found her, it
would only make the situation more complicated and Maria had lived
scared long enough, and he wasn’t going to subject her to it
again.

“
Because Dave
wouldn’t let a criminal within a hundred feet of his
daughter.”

“
Maria Diana
Martinez!” Edna yelled, shooting up from the couch.

“
It’s the
truth mama!”

“
I wouldn’t
have said it that way.” Dave stopped when Maria looked at him with
‘oh please’ eyes, “Okay, I would have said it way worse, and she is
telling the truth, I wouldn’t let Miguel near Michael or Izzy
knowing his.... line of work.”

“
Even so,
Maria you have no right talking to your father with such
disrespect!”

Bursting out of Dave’s
hold, she moved to her mother, “He is not my father!”

“
Mama.”
Michael whispered, moving to stand next to Maria. Izzy looked up at
the commotion and rushed to Michael holding the back of his
t-shirt. Dave moved to them and picked up the kids, then took a few
steps back away from Maria and Edna.

“
How else
would you explain your existence?” Edna moved forward closing the
distance between them.

“
Anyone can
sire a child.” she pointed out to Dave, her eyes fixed on Edna,
“He, however is a father!”

“
Mama.”
Michael whimpered again.

“
You have no
right to judge him. I already explained to you why he couldn’t be
with us.” Edna was so furious, tears glistened in her eyes. Miguel
moved to stand behind her, placing his hands securely on her
shoulders.

“
If it helps
you sleep at night, you can believe in whatever bullshit he feeds
you. You chose to love him, you can be with him, but I don’t have
to.”

Edna was so annoyed to
see that little brat she once was when she was in high school
emerge, “Of course, we wouldn’t want princess Maria making
sacrifices for anyone, but herself.” she shrugged Miguel’s hands
off,and took a step closer to Maria, “I sacrificed my safety and my
life for you.”

That statement made Maria
take a step back, as the thoughts of Ricky came flooding into her
head, “I’m grateful for that.” she started softly, “But you can’t
force me to love him as my father.”

“
Edna that’s
enough.” Miguel spoke evenly, behind her.

“
It wouldn’t
be as bad as Michael having to bare his short life with Ricky as
his father.” Edna blurted out, her anger completely taking the
reins. Maria felt her heart stop, she felt like she’d been slapped
in the face.

“
That part of
my life is over, and who I choose to have in my life is my
business!”

“
Ma.” Izzy
whispered, with a quivering voice. She then reached up and wrapped
her tiny arms around Dave’s neck, hiding her face in the nape of
it.

“
Considering
the mistake you made choosing Ricky, do you really think you have a
right to pass judgement?” Maria gagged, as if she’d been punched in
the belly, “He beat you and broke every bone in your body, he
almost killed your son and me, and you are here acting high and
mighty, shunning a father who’s done nothing, but love you in a way
Ricky couldn’t love his own son.” she said, with a
snort.

Dave put Michael and Izzy
down behind him, “That’s enough Edna!” he half yelled. He could see
the pain in Maria’s face and he wanted it to stop.

Maria choked on sobs, as
tears stung her eyes. She couldn’t believe her mother was throwing
all the harm she had caused her family in her face. She always knew
no one could swallow all they went through with a smile and not
blame the root cause of it. Edna hated her for the life Maria had
subjected her to, and it was only a matter of time before that
bottle popped open.

“
As far as he
was, he made sure he knew every little detail of your life. He paid
for most of the things you had when you were growing up. He’s the
one who paid for your medical bills when Ricky bashed you up, or do
you think the hospital gave stupid battered women a discount, or
two broken bones for one offer?”