Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Yeah, I vaguely remember that.”
“It was funding life still. Then the contractor I worked with died. And it all dried up.”
“Chris, one call. One call and you’d have had more money than you ever needed.”
He meant that, too.
“That’s not the kind of man I am,” I said. “I want to earn it. Besides, the kids… we all just needed a fresh start, man. We all lost… everyone.”
“No, not everyone. You have us. You need us now more than ever.”
Truer words had never been spoken.
“I know,” I agreed. “That’s why I’m here.”
“What do you need first? An apartment?”
“I have my old place. I sublet it all these years. The tenant moved to Texas two months back. I’ve just been stringing it along since. We just got in last night. The place needs work, but it will do for now. What I need is work.”
“You got it. I will talk to Emilio and figure out what we have open right now. We will get you on something as soon as you want it.”
“As soon as possible.”
“Look, I get having pride, Chris. But if money is tight, an advance on work can be done. Got the cash right in the other room.”
“No. It’s not that dire. I still have some savings. And my sister’s house is under contract. That money is coming my way eventually. More than enough to hold me over until I can really get back to work.”
“Alright. But the offer is open. I know kids are expensive. Where are they?”
“Home.”
“Alone?”
“They’re twelve and seventeen. Don’t wanna leave them alone long in a new house and new city, but they’re fine for right now.”
“Wow. Didn’t realize they were so old.”
In a way, I was thankful for that. Not for myself, per se. I’d been a stand-in father figure for years already. But for them. So they had memories of their mom. So they were mature enough to process the loss.
“Yeah, getting big fast. If any of the wives know a good child psychologist, I’m gonna need one of them.”
“I’ll ask around. I’m sure you want to ease them into it, but they have a lot of family here. Think that will help eventually.”
“I agree. That’s part of the reason I’m back. They need more than just me.”
“Walk that back. You’re enough. But more love is never a bad thing.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
“Now, got all the shit settled. How are you?”
“I’m… on autopilot right now. Just trying to steer this ship so it doesn’t sink.”
“Yeah. Well, look. Let’s tentatively plan a dinner. Let the kids meet me and Gigi and our kids. That way, if there’s ever a time you need someone to watch them so you can have a night out and decompress, you have someone.”
“Yeah, that’ll be good. Just give me a week to get work going and get the apartment right for everyone.”
“Done. But I can’t guarantee Gigi won’t show up unannounced with a lasagna or something.”
“I’d never turn down a lasagna,” I said, getting to my feet.
“Your number is the same, right?” Lorenzo said as he followed me toward the door.
“Yeah.”
“Alright. I will call or text later with details about a job. But the phone works both ways. If you need anything, don’t hesitate.”
“I won’t. Thanks, Enz. I know it’s not right to come back all these years later and ask for a—”
“You’re not asking for shit. You’re taking a place that’s always been yours, just a couple of years later. You have nothing to thank me for.”
With that, he gave me another hug, then I was walking away, feeling lighter than I had in years.
I was still carrying a lot of weight around, but it felt easier to carry now.
I had a job.
An income.
A support system.
Eventually, everything was going according to plan.
Until, of course, I got assigned to her.
CHAPTER TWO
Alara
“Is it toxic or something?” the woman in the flowing sundress with perfectly blown-out copper-red hair asked as I put on a pair of heavy-duty gardening gloves—the kind with the thick rubber grips—before reaching for the statue from the top shelf.
I was surprised she’d been around as long as she had. She was all out there in all of her thick-thighed, tits-out glory. With just a tiny swatch of fabric covering her vag.
She was stupid pretty.
But also stupid expensive.
And in this neighborhood, yeah, it wasn’t a big surprise she’d been sitting for so long.
But this lady with her designer bag and diamond studs that cost a few thousand bucks could more than afford her.
“No. Not toxic. But she’s a fertility statue,” I explained as I set the statue down on the counter. “It’s superstitious of me. But I don’t want any little mes running around. One me is enough for the world.”
“I have five children. I wouldn’t mind one more.” She reached out to stroke the statue’s flowing red hair.
Five kids.