Chapter Fifty Three
Maria looked at him, her smile slowly fading. His face was familiar to her, but she couldn’t place him, “Mama, who’s…” her eye brows shot up as she slowly recognized him, shave off the white goatee, change his green eyes to brown, tighten his skin and grow out his hair, he was a splitting image of Michael. “Miguel?” she whispered out.
Edna moved slowly closer to her and grabbed her hand, which Maria immediately pulled away, “Yes, I brought your father with me.”
“Why?” she asked harshly, tears stinging her eyes. She felt her temper flare, but she didn’t know why. She had no reason to be angry at him, apart from his abandonment and all the bad things he could have prevented by staying with her. She was angrier at her mother for taking him back and bringing him to her home.
“Because you and Michael need to know him and maybe catch up.”
“Catch up?” a pained smile pulled over Maria’s face, “I think it’s too late for us to catch up, especially if we’ve never met.”
“Maria, just listen.” Dave whispered above her head, “It would mean a lot to Michael if he met his grandfather. It would be the best gift you could ever give him.”
Maria pulled out of his hold and looked up at him feeling betrayed, “You had something to do with this didn’t you?”
“I was already bringing him along.” Edna defended Dave, “he only found out recently.”
Maria laughed with no humour, “Mama, this man knows a lot more than you give him credit for, he probably knows more about all of us than we do.” she turned to Miguel, “If you weren’t my father, he would have called the police on you!” Miguel’s eyebrows shot up as he stared at Dave, whose calm eyes, were still fixed on the ranting Maria, “If you doubt me
ask him. He would probably get you arrested more for not being a father than for being a criminal!”
“Maria, watch yourself!” Edna warned harshly.
“Maria you haven’t let him say a word.” Dave spoke in a calm tone, “You can’t have a proper conversation if you are yelling and he’s quiet.”
“How about we get your father out here too and all four of us can have a proper conversation!” She answered back before she turned to Miguel, “If I had my way you wouldn’t meet my son, but I know mama and Dave will go behind my back, again. Because of them you’ll get a chance, but let me warn you, you’d better be a constant in his life.”
“That wasn’t so bad.” Dave smiled as he raised his hand to touch Maria’s face. She swatted his hand away and pointed an accusing finger at him before she marched back to the house, Edna close behind her.
“Thank you.” Miguel felt proud seeing the fire in his daughter. The girl Edna had described seemed like a coward who would run to a corner and quiver in fear at the smallest hint of violence, but what he saw was very different, “She’s got fire inside her and it’s all because of you.” he said, getting in step with Dave as they walked to the house.
“I like seeing her angry, it gives her more of her backbone back. I’m determined to rebuild everything Ricky destroyed.”
Miguel’s jaw clenched at the sound of Ricky’s name, “Speaking of the animal, I have a few men around just in case he thinks of showing up.”
“I have a few around too, and others watching him.”
A cynical smile crossed Miguel’s face and his eyes glittered in excitement, “Give me his location. I plan on redeeming myself in my daughter’s eyes and Ricky is a great opportunity.”
Dave didn’t like the look on his face, “We’ll talk about that later, right now let’s enjoy the party.” quickly changing the subject as Michael came running out the house.
He ran straight for Miguel and jumped on him, no need of any introductions, “Grandpa!”
Miguel held him tight, appreciating the affection Michael showed him. He’d dreamed of this moment for so long and it was finally here, how he wished his daughter had shown him the same affection, “My grandson!”
Michael pulled away, a huge smile dominating his face, “Grandpa, have you met my new dad?” he said proudly nodding towards Dave.
Miguel looked at Dave’s ecstatic face and smiled, “Yes I have, and he’s a great man.”
“Who is in big trouble with mama, or is it you grandpa?”
“Both of us I think.”
“Well, I’m glad I’m not in your shoes.” he whistled, “She’s fuming!”
***
After close to an hour of pouting and not speaking to Dave, Edna or Miguel she was forced to talk to Dave when it was time to cut the cakes. She walked across the living room dodging a few running and screaming kids to get to where he stood with his parents. He chatted happily with his mother, while his father stood on the other side of her glowering. If Maria wasn’t in such a bad mood herself, she would have tried to cheer up the grouchy Mr. Greer.
Maria approached Dave’s mother with a smile, “Lily, it’s time to cut the cake, would you like to help Izzy?”
“Shouldn’t the parents have that honour?” Dave asked with an amused smile on his face. He didn’t think she would hold out for so long being mad at him but, he was glad he was wrong. He preferred her temper to her cowering.
Maria glared at him before she turned back to Lily with a smile, “Yes, but I thought we should include the grandmothers in this too, I know Michael would love that.”
“Do you know what else Michael would love?” he jeered, raising the clown party cup full of beer to his lips. He enjoyed annoying her, he enjoyed her fiery green eyes even more. He always thought she was most beautiful when she looked fragile and happy, but she looked even more attractive when she was mad, it was a real turn on for him.
Maria’s eyebrows creased in anger as she bit down on her teeth hard. She wanted to shove the cup down his throat for being so smug about the stunt he pulled. She turned to Lily with a forced smile on, “have you met my mother?”
Lily held her lips straight to hide her smile and conceal her amusement. She remembered how it used to be fun going at each other with her husband when they were younger. She never minded the silly fights because she knew they would always end in a very steamy reconciliation. But now, he was such a stiff workaholic she didn’t think he remembered how to sincerely laugh or smile.
“No I haven’t, but I’ll take that opportunity now.” she turned to her husband, “Dave, you want to come with me? You could talk to Maria’s father and get to know him better.”
Dave Sr. looked at his wife with a blank expression. He wasn’t interested in socializing, but in this small space his son called a house, there was nowhere to hide. All he could think about was the golf game and cigar he had missed just to listen to annoyingly loud children and unintelligent party games. And now his wife wanted him to be friendly with Maria’s father, whose name he didn’t care enough to get, why on earth would he want to do that?
“He doesn’t have to if he’s not comfortable.” Maria added apologetically reading into the man’s long silence.
Dave turned to his father, his expression hard and tempered, completely annoyed at his raised nose rudeness, “Don’t worry dad, he isn’t quite one of us little people. Your conversation might actually end up in an area you love so much.”
Maria stared at Dave wide eyed. She found Dave’s efforts to intentionally annoy his father amusing, but not at Miguel’s expense. She may not like the man, but she had no intentions of having him arrested at Michael’s birthday party. Dave may be able to stop and think twice, but his father seemed like a man who would lead a witch hunt just to add another big case to his mantle.
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.