“Hey there. Thanks again for this weekend,” I said as Mia jogged inside the house. “I told her that you were probably stillworking on your computer for a few more hours today and to stay out of your hair.”
Elena tossed her hair back and laughed. “I finished up my last Zoom meeting for the day, and now I get to spend time with this beautiful little girl. It’s not easy having boys around all the time,” she added, her eyes tracking Mia fondly as she chased a small terrier down the hallway and toward the back of the house. “Even the dog is a boy.” She touched my arm. “How did it go at the doctor’s office? What did he say?”
Mia’s laughter drifted in from the hallway, and I exhaled slowly. “The doctor said her tests looked good since her last hospitalization. No signs of any serious aftereffects.”
Elena took a deep breath and sighed. “Thank God. That seizure was so scary.”
I nodded, pulling a small prescription bottle with Mia’s meds from my pocket and handing it to her. “He thinks a fever might have triggered it, not food or stress. She’d been out of sorts the day before it happened. I should have taken her temperature, but—” I shook my head, berating myself again for not paying close enough attention with her health. “But the doc wants us to keep an eye on things like caffeine and artificial sweeteners, just in case.”
“Thanks for letting me know. I’ll make sure she steers clear of those. Honestly, we all should,” she added with a laugh. “And the credit union? How did that meeting go?” A big smile spread across her face. “Any luck there?”
I nodded and took a deep breath. “It sounds promising.”
Better than promising, but I didn’t want to jinx myself. My meeting with the loan officer at the local credit union had gone as good as I hoped for. “Mr. Mendez, your application looks complete, and your business plan is very strong. I believe you’ll find a lot of success here,” Jenna Alexander had said, her desk covered with the small business loan documents I’d completedand handed off to her. Her eyes met mine with a professional warmth. “We’ll review it thoroughly and let you know if we need any more documentation.”
The numbers and legal jargon had swirled in my mind, but I’d kept my focus sharp. This was for Mia and our future. “Thank you,” I had replied, my voice steady despite the nerves bubbling beneath. “I appreciate it.”
This business wasn’t just a dream; it was a necessity for our future in this town. “The lady I talked to said she’d be in touch if they needed more documentation, so we’ll see.”
“Fingers crossed,” Elena added, then grinned as Mia came tearing back into the living room.
“She’s sure excited about this sleepover, but I bet she’ll be knocked out by seven.” I glanced down at my watch. Ken should be home soon, and I needed to pick him up.
But the idea of leaving Mia behind hit me harder than I thought it would. “I’d better be going…”
Elena seemed to read my mind, her kind eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled. “Don’t worry about a thing, Marc,” she said, her voice low and reassured. “We’ve got Mia. You just focus on enjoying your time, a little rest and relaxation. Call if you ever want to check in.” She reached out, squeezing my hand.
I cleared my throat, trying to shake off the sudden tightness in my chest. This was the first real sleepover for Mia, and though I trusted Alonso and Elena completely, it was natural for me to worry, right? What if she had a seizure? What if she needed me? But I had to let go a little—for both of our sakes. “Right. Well, you guys call as well if you need anything.” I kneeled down to hug my daughter, my mind already missing her presence. “You be a good girl, okay?”
I was protective of her to a fault, but I had to trust that she’d be alright.
Mia threw her little arms around my neck. “Love you, Papi.”
“Love you too. See you in a couple days.” I hugged her tight, kissed her cheek, and stood. With a last wave, I got back in my car, and took a deep breath.
This was it.
Once in the car, I sent Ken a quick text, then pulled into the street.
My heart beat fast in my chest as I steered toward Ken’s apartment, each stop sign a mere suggestion. Fingers drummed impatiently on the steering wheel, and my mind imagined the weekend ahead of us, hand-in-hand walking downtown and tangled in hotel sheets.
I shook my head, grinning to myself.Easy, Mendez. Still need to pick up Ken first.
***
Ken stood on the sidewalk in front of his apartment building, his lean frame etched sharply in the late afternoon sun. As our eyes met, his face blossomed into a grin, and my heart stumbled. I mirrored his smile as he slid into the passenger seat.
“Hey, you,” Ken said softly. His hand found mine, intertwining our fingers.
“Hey, yourself,” I replied, my voice low and rumbly. “You ready for this?”
Ken nodded, bouncing in his seat. He looked around to see if anyone was on the street, then leaned in and brushed a quick kiss on my lips. “More than ready. I’ve been counting down the minutes until we were alone.”
The kiss surprised me, but I wasn’t about to complain.
I shifted into drive, guiding the truck out onto the street, our joined hands resting on my thigh as we set off.
A whole weekend together, just the two of us, no need to hide or sneak around.
