I covered my eyes, letting the sound of the waterfall soothe me.
“Mr. Navarro.” I looked at the entrance of the garden to see Lillian standing there.
“What is it?”
“You’re needed in the house.” I squinted.
“For what?”
“Just please come inside.” She turned and left.
Irritation filled me as I pushed myself off the bench and started for the house. Today had been filled with meetings and all I wanted was some time to myself to gather my thoughts. A lot of the people I dealt with did a lot of illegal dealings, but they were typically simple. It was the legal businesses and muthafuckas in suits that brought more of a headache.
“I’m here, what is it?” I called out when I got in the kitchen. I looked around, not seeing Lillian. Growing more irritated I continued to the front of the house. “I’m not in the mood for foolishness!”
I grabbed the back of my neck, giving it a squeeze.
Stepping inside my foyer, I froze. Like she felt me, Azeira turned and gazed at me with beaming eyes.
She spoke lowly. “Hi.”
My breathing sped up as my nostrils flared and my chest expanded.
Rushing toward her, I gripped her neck, pulling her into me so my mouth was mere inches from hers. Her eyes filled with lust instantly. She panted softly. I ran my eyes over her face. Her pulse throbbed against my hand.
Cutting my eyes and lowering my voice, I spoke. “What are you doing back here?”
My palms were sweaty and my stomach twisted around the knots forming inside it. Slowly, I made my way deeper into my parents’ house while nibbling on my bottom lip.
I knew after leaving here my relationship with my parents, mainly my dad, would never be the same, but I couldn’t fight how I felt anymore.
When I stepped inside my mom’s room, she and my dad were in the middle of playing some card game. She had gained the color back in her face. Her eyes were filled with life again. She even started gaining some weight back. All the chemo and surgery seemed to work. At her last appointment we were told she was cancer-free.
“Hey,” I called out, making myself known.
Mom’s eyes flickered to me first and a smile formed on her face. “Hi, my sweet girl.” When Dad looked at me, his face lacked emotion.
I swallowed hard and stepped further into the room, not bothering to sit. I knew this wouldn’t take long.
“What brings you by?” Dad asked, not hiding the disdain in his voice.
“Jeremy.” Mom cut her eyes at him.
He clenched his jaw.
“I actually came to talk to the two of you.”
Mom sat up straighter and cleared her throat. “I’m actually happy you’re here.” Her eyes went between me and my dad. She lowered the cards in her hand on top of her lap. “You two have been hiding something from me and I let it go on for far too long. It’s time you two come clean and I mean now.” Her eyes narrowed.
I tucked my lips together and shot my eyes to my dad.
“Honey,” he started.
“No.” She raised her hand. “If you’re about to tell me more lies and bullshit then don’t bother. I want the truth. That man, Kairus, how did you really end up with him Azeira? And Jeremy I know we were behind with bills, so how did you manage to get the money? Knowing what kind of business Kairus is in, I can suspect what happened but I want to hear it from one of your mouths. So talk.” Mom put on her no nonsense voice. By the look in her eyes I could tell she was fed up.
“Fine…” I started, stepping closer to the bed. Dad gave me a warning look but I ignored it. I wasn’t covering for him anymore, especially after how he’d been acting lately.
By the time I finished telling my mom everything, I could admit I felt better, lighter even. I hadn’t realized how much keeping that from my mom was weighing me down.
