Chapter Thirty Four
Dave watched her without saying a word, he didn’t want to step on her toes or make her feel forced to be submissive, she’d spent years doing that and he didn’t want that for her anymore, “Okay, what do you want to do?”
Maria gave him a slit look, “Don’t patronize me.”
“I’m not. What do you want?”
She looked at him and tried to come up with something, but it was useless. She didn’t have anything to complain about, she just felt good being the one yelling and not being yelled at for a change. She moved and sat next to him on the desk, “When’s Izzy’s birthday?”
Dave chuckled, “The twenty-first of October.”
“We can have it on the nineteenth, it’s in the middle of the two.”
“Anything you say.” Dave said biting his lips together to keep from laughing.
Maria looked at him and couldn’t help but smile. She punched him lightly on his shoulder and looped her arm with his, “Who knew fighting could be so much fun.”
“Actually, you did the yelling and I just watched your green eyes spark and your face light up, but I’m glad you had fun.”
“It’s different from what I’m used to… so…” Maria spoke, trying to find the right words that were the complete opposite of scary, painful, sadistic and antagonistic.
“Relieving.” He didn’t want to think of how her fights with Ricky ended. He pulled her closer and kissed her forehead, “Miguel will be glad you have approved our little family unit.”
“Michael.” she whispered, her voice shaky. It was time he knew the truth, well some of it, “His middle name is Miguel, but his first name is Michael.” she swallowed the lump in her throat then lifted her head to meet Dave’s gaze, “His name is Michael Miguel Martinez.” She was glad when her hair fell over her face covering it, partially hiding her, but what she really wanted was to hide in his closet.
Dave looked at her, he saw how difficult it was for her to tell him that, but it meant she trusted him. He kept quiet, trying not to give the indication that he already knew the truth, her whole background right up to her grandparents.
Maria waited for him to say something, to rebuke her or accuse her, but he just looked at her with his smiley warm face that made her feel so secure and safe when she knew she wasn’t. She could feel hot tears run down her cheeks. He reached up and wiped them away with his finger then pushed her hair back behind her ear, “My mother named him Miguel, which I didn’t want at first, but I let her. I named him Michael because I loved the name.”
“It’s a very cool name.” Dave added.
“My high school crush was named Michael.” she laughed nervously, “but that was before I met Ricky.” She felt her throat dry out when she said his name. The fear of him coming after her was still there, haunting her every second of the day.
Dave pulled her off the desk and led her to the couch. He didn’t want to talk about Ricky, that part of her life was dead and gone, what he wanted, was to talk about the part of her life that didn’t scare her. “Who’s Miguel?”
“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 in his calm diplomatic tone, 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 cosy 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!”