Chapter Sixty Four
Maria paced around her room bored out of her mind. She had already walked around the hospital corridors, paid a visit to the nursery and admired the little, tiny creatures, which made her have a pang to be a mother again. Chatted with the nurses, gone down to the cafeteria to have something that wasn’t white and gooey to eat. She shouldn’t have sent Dave home, but the kids needed him home, and she was tired of having him hover over her all the time like she was going to break if she did something for herself.
She sat by the window and looked out at the night life of New York. The different coloured lights looked beautiful in the dark, like stars in the sky. It was amazing how noisy the city was even at night, when everyone was expected to be asleep or at home with their families or having a quiet dinner with their friends.
Maria laughed happily; she was looking forward to having a normal life. Dinners with Carol and Todd, family movie nights, going home after a long day at the university, once she enrolled or work, making dinner or ordering pizza when she felt too lazy to cook, putting the kids to bed early so that she and Dave could have some time alone, then finally going to bed to sleep or to make love like a normal couple would. This was the life waiting for her once she left the hospital and she was anxious to start it as soon as possible.
Maria turned to the ringing phone and laughed; she was sure it was Dave probably worrying himself out of his mind. She walked to her bed side table and picked up the phone, “You worry wart, you should be working. It’s only being a few hours since you left here.”
“Really? I thought it had been nine days since we were last together.”
Maria froze at the sound of Ricky’s voice. She wasn’t sure if she was imaging it or if it was a bad dream, but this couldn’t be happening again, he was dead!
“Did you miss me that much? Oh, I missed you too.” “How… you got shot…. you’re dead!” Maria cried, as she sank to the floor. She felt her whole body shake as his voice sent cold chills all through her body. This couldn’t be possible! Dave assured her he was dead.
“No, I’m not, but there is a five year old who’s going to be.”
“Don’t you dare go anywhere near my son!” Maria yelled, into the receiver.
“Why so mad?” Ricky cooed at her, “He does need one of his parents with him, you know, with you locked up in a hospital and all.”
Maria pulled herself up from her knees, “Ricky, I swear I’ll kill you if you go near Michael!” she spewed out angrily
“Oooh, is that a threat?” Ricky laughed.
“No, it’s a promise!” Maria pulled her bag out of the closet and took out some clothes. She painfully pulled off her sling and began changing fast.
“Well, you are over there and I’m here, very close to him.”
Maria felt her heart stop for a second, “What do you mean very close to him?” She rapped out, with a quivering voice.
Ricky laughed coldly, “Why don’t you find that out for yourself.” He hung up.
Ricky turned and looked at the baggage in his back seat, he didn’t think it would be so easy to pull it off, especially with the heavy guard duty around the house. He rubbed at his wound in his torso, that had been a close call, a very close call. He had been too excited to notice how careless he had been before, not taking into account the bodyguard who was always following her around, which he was sure she knew nothing about. But this time he was going to be careful, take the fight to her and delay the alarm that was going to be raised.
He turned around and started the car, “Sorry it had to happen like this little man, but what better way to attract bees than with honey.” He drove away proud, laughing even louder at his accomplishment.
***
“That’s enough, no one is doing anything to anyone and anyway, it’s Maria’s decision.” Edna yelled, curbing the argument before it turned into a fist fight.
“It will be our decision; we are a family now and we do everything together.” Dave spoke firmly. He wanted so much to kick Miguel’s ass and an opportunity had presented itself, but Edna had managed to quiet the man down.
“What’s the use if he’ll find her again?” Edna spoke, into her palms, already exhausted by the mere thought of Ricky finding her daughter again.
“Do you really love my daughter or are you just interested in finding a permanent nanny for your daughter?” Miguel accused. Dave didn’t say a word, he just gave him a lethal gaze as he contemplated throwing the first punch. “Or is she some kind of project for you, I mean this is the most excitement you’ve gotten from a court case, being so involved with a victim and seeing the criminals work first-hand. Tell the truth, you find her life intriguing, don’t you?”
Dave hated being put on the spot, especially by the truth. Yes, it was intriguing and exciting at first, but when everything got so real he wanted the game to be over. But one thing he wasn’t sure of was his love for Maria, did he love her more as a mother to his daughter or as a woman? “You are the last person to be judging me. You could have left your life in the fast lane if you wanted to, but why leave an exciting life just to be a husband, father and farmer in dull old Jacksonville?”
“I’m not going to deny the fact that I’m a bastard, but when will you admit to yourself that it was pure lawyer curiosity that attracted you to Maria.”
“You don’t know me.” Dave said, defensively.
“But I know people like you.” he took a step closer to Dave, “for all we know it could have been your digging around that set Ricky on Maria’s trail. Not only can’t your gun for hire shoot straight, he can’t snoop around without raising eyebrows.”
“That may be my fault, but when we look at the whole picture, the person to blame for all of this, is you.” Dave smiled when he saw Miguel clench his jaw, “And anyway, aren’t you using this situation to your advantage, trying to kill Ricky to save face in front of Maria.”
“Ricky is dead!” Edna said firmly, trying to convince herself of it. She needed to believe he was dead, for her own state of mind. If she was going this crazy, Maria would have certainly lost her mind if she knew there was a possibility, he was still alive.
“No, he’s not.”
The trio turned to find Maria standing at the entrance of the living room, her arm held against her chest with a tired look on her face.