Chapter 256 - I promised, I won't walk away - mdtres
Daniel
"There are already three pregnant in the family."
"And I'm telling you now, we're closing up shop. I'm getting a vasectomy. No more kids." I laughed and started kissing her. "I didn't want more kids, but because you insisted on not taking care of it anymore, I agreed."
"Now, seeing how happy Inés is to take care of Diana, it made me feel that it would help her not to think about her illness. Keeping her mind hopeful, happy, and calm, we're giving her extra days of life. So, this baby will be a drop of life for our old lady." I kissed her. She always sees the good in situations. That was my woman.
"Then don't get the operation, and we'll have another."
"No way! That's what Gladis is for, to have another child. Shirly should have three more, and Lupe, Verónica, Luisa, and I have already closed the factory."
"I love you."
I knelt down, kissed her belly, and Melisa came to our side, kissing her mother's belly.
"I adore you both."
The truth was, we were reproducing like rabbits. Clarisa went into the kitchen to prepare some desserts to bring for dinner. She had also bought a gift for Augusto. I had locked myself in the office with the intention of working, but the truth was I needed a moment alone. I wanted to cry.
As soon as I sat down, I let the pain take over. I know we shouldn't assume she's going to die, but the truth is I'm scared shitless that my old lady won't wake up one morning. Thousands of memories with her in the kitchen, talking to me, giving me advice so Clarisa would accept me, her pinches, smacks, smiles, kisses, and always blessings.
I cried like a child. My son Sebastián's tiny hands brought me back. Without saying a word, he climbed onto my lap and hugged me. I clung to that little body, this proof of love in my marriage that had materialized. He was the one who expressed his feelings the least. I had somewhat changed because of what happened with my wife. I picked up the phone, called a florist, and sent a bouquet of daisies to the woman I considered my mother.
"With pleasure, sir. Anything special for the dedication?"
"There should be seventeen sunflowers, and the card should say:
'One sunflower for each year you earned the right to be called mother. I love you, old lady. Cherry.'
"Please deliver it as soon as possible." I finished giving the details for the ranch, El Oasis. "Miss, I also want one with many red roses, and it should say:
Thank you for making me the happiest man on earth. Thank you for this new child that comes into our lives to bring us closer. Thank you for looking at me with love despite who I've been. Thank you for showing me daily that your body is mine. I love you, Little Cabbage.
……
Aníbal
I arrived at El Oasis after checking that Arnold was okay. I didn't take long. He was talking to Lupe on a large rock by the stream. At my black lady's request, I brought them lunch. I smiled again when I shouted that lunch was served.
"My lord, your picnic is served, my lady."
Lupe couldn't stop laughing, while the guy turned red, looking at me like he wanted to kill me. I was telling him not to throw a tantrum over his anger issues.
"Idiot."
I ruffled his hair. At that moment, his eyes welled up, and I hugged him. He was our younger brother.
"Our old lady isn't going to die."
He didn't say anything, just clung to me in response to my hug. He was the biggest of us all, but at that moment, I felt like he was my little brother.
"Tell everyone I'm not going to do anything, and tell Roland thanks for sending Lupe."
"You didn't make it easy for her, did you?"
"My cinnamon-skinned mermaid has something in her scent that calms me."
Lupe was sitting on the blanket I had laid out for them. I had even left a solitaire with a flower, which Roland had actually sent.
"Don't be afraid, I will never hurt her and I'm no longer a teenager you had to chase down and fix his messes."
"Yeah, I don't want to see how Roland beats you up to knock some sense into you."
"The boss hits hard. How's my old lady?"
"At the Oasis, she's taking care of Diana's forty days. The new baby gave her a beautiful glow. Now she needs to stay happy, calm, and working."
"At least there's another baby on the way."
"Two." He looked at me. "Gustavo will be a father."
"The soldiers of Rasca culo got to work!" I laughed.
"Brother, don't stray."
"I swore to you many years ago, I will never do it again."
"You made it clear with your powerful father, but he doesn't matter to you, unlike the old lady."
"We won't let her die."
"We'll do everything we can to prevent it, but if God needs her..."
"I know. Now get out of here, I want to be alone with my woman." I didn't want to laugh; Lupe was approaching and turned red.
"At least you said it decently, güerejo."
"You didn't warn me!" she said through gritted teeth. I left them alone. I got out of the car; Shirly went with my sister and my nephews to buy some things we needed for the apartment. Since we moved here, my sister will stay in that place.
I don't want her far from the city where I live. Besides, they were going to buy gifts to send to my nephew's friends. Raúl and Manolo were leaving tonight, and in a few days, we planned to take the kids out. If it weren't for them, I would cancel the trip.
"Churrusco."
When Miguel called me by my nickname, I knew it had nothing to do with Inés. I followed him to the office.
"Tell me, Cebolla."
"In my flight investigations, it seemed strange that a group of five men arrived. Look at them."
He showed me the faces. One of the most rigorous training sessions Simón imposes on us is to memorize faces and key features.
"They arrived in Orlando yesterday and haven't left. I already sent the information to Rata."
"If there are no more men, I can handle them if they come for me."
"They're not coming for you. If my suspicion is correct, they're after your nephews, wife, or sister. Something to threaten you or us."
"How do they know about my nephews?"
"The same way we know about them. We're not dealing with amateurs. Even if the kids are excited, if it's not safe for you to travel, you won't."
"Understood. They're messing with us."
"That's what they think."
"Will the agents intervene?"
"Let's wait and see what Roland says, but I bet we'll be your escorts so the kids can enjoy themselves." I smiled.
"I can handle those five."
"I know."
"Now, to what I came for, to see a nephew and my mother."
When we came out, we saw a large bouquet of sunflowers had arrived. Miguel's expression made me laugh.
"Who sent flowers to my wife?"
He intercepted the young man who was about to get into his florist delivery vehicle. The young man was red; Cebolla had the poor guy pinned against the car.
"Sir, I don't know. I was just asked to deliver the flowers to Mrs. Inés."
I smiled. My brother relaxed and patted the young man on the shoulder as if brushing off some imaginary dirt.
"Have a good trip, young man."
We went back inside the house and saw Inés reading the card and crying with happiness.
"Who's the admirer?" we said at the same time.
"One of my sons." I guessed it would be Gustavo, he was the one who talked about these things.
"Gustavo outdid himself," Miguel said, voicing my thoughts.
"Actually, no. It's my little Daniel."
We stared at her in surprise. The least likely one for such gestures. Inés put the card away and took out her cell phone.
"It's the first time we've given our old lady this kind of attention," I said.
"Yeah, we've only given her money."
"Which she doesn't spend, because we don't let her."
We looked at each other and, without saying anything, knew that from now on we would pay more attention to the little things for our mother.