“You happy now.” I shouted.
Tossing Kateri on the ground, I stepped over and felt her hand on my leg. I was about to stomp out any water left in her body. My mother and everyone else would’ve had something to say and I didn’t feel like hearing it.
“Thank you.” For someone who was allegedly drowning she was able to talk. Shouldn’t she have swallowed a bunch of water and someone needed to do CPR? Why was she talking and not dead?
“Get the fuck off and I’ll send the price of my outfit and shoes to you because you’re definitely reimbursing me.” Walking away to go change and get out the wet clothes, Rosalina ran up.
“Thanks. Now I don’t owe her for helping me.” I stopped.
“What? Kateri and Sariah helped me with Ed, which meant I owed them.”She shrugged, pissing me off.
“You still do because you ain’t do shit.” She had me mad as hell at the moment.
“No but I got mommy to make you help her so I assisted.” She had the nerve to grin.
“I bet Sariah dies if you try and get me to help her.” I wasn’t about to be caught up in Rosalina’s, I owe you’s.
“Nope because Raul will help with that. He just don’t know yet.” I told her to get out my face and walked away. If I stayed longer, I probably wouldn’t said some hurtful shit and she didn’t deserve it over me being mad.
“Mr. Romano,your mother requested your presence down in the kitchen for breakfast.”
My maid, Lori announced standing at the office door of my house. She was in her mid-fifties and had been around for ten years now. Her residence was in the Cayman Islands and she was paid weekly to keep the mansion in tip top shape for me. I came over at least six time a year and expected what my money paid for.
Anyway, I was still on vacation and after saving Kateri last night, all I wanted was peace and quiet but clearly that wasn’t gonna happen with all my family still around. Some were leaving today and then sporadically over the next few days. I’ll be here for another week alone before going home.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Closing my eyes just for a minute, Rosalina barged in. Seeing peace still wasn’t finding me, I looked at her and noticed she was very happy. I’m gonna assume Felix did that for her and hope they last. I can’t force them to stay together if it didn’t but neither of them better put me in any bullshit.
“Cairo, wait until you see what I found out.” She sat an envelope on the desk and closed the door on her way out. Opening it, my eyes focused on one content inside and a smirk came on my face. If Rosalina only knew that I was already aware.
Placing the information and envelope through the shredder, I made my way to the dining area to find my family with another birthday cake and gifts.
“Since you never opened them last night, Mommy brought them here and you were born at 10:37 pm on your birthday which means technically until 10:37 pm tonight it’s still yourbirthday.” Wrapping my arm around Rosalina’s neck to put her in a headlock, I kissed her cheek and told her never to say that stupid shit again. Granted, your birthday was twenty four hours and I was born at night but it sounded crazy as hell when she said it.
“Thank you.” Were the only necessary words to say. I blew out the number thirty candle and took a seat. There was tons of food again and Felix turned on some music.
“Happy Birthday cousin.” I stood to hug Manny. Raul said he was damn near crying because he couldn’t be here and asked if he could come for the remainder of the time. Since he wasn’t doing dumb shit at home, I said it was ok and now he grinning like a Cheshire Cat because Felix said they flew in some other strippers that didn’t have bad breath from Puerto Rico to celebrate and Manny’s horny ass couldn’t wait.
Sitting down to eat, I wanted peace and quiet but having my family around meant a lot too; especially when I stayed busy in the states. Maybe I’ll take a vacation with them more than once a year, who knows.
CHAPTER 13
Kateri
“Let me get this right.You’re telling me that Cairo lifted you out the water like wet clothes and dropped you on the sand.” Rolling my eyes at Sariah laughing, I snatched the suitcase off the conveyor belt and left her standing there.
“Wait Kateri!” She was running behind me as I speed walked through the airport. The faster I got out of here and home, the better.
“How you leaving me and I’m pregnant?” Slowing down because she made me feel bad, I turned and she was pulling her luggage.
“All I’m saying is you’re lucky that you didn’t break an ankle falling in the hole. And weren’t you complaining about the hand cast getting super tight due to all the water that went in.”
“Sariah, he threw me like a rag doll and if his family wasn’t there I’m sure he would’ve killed me for touching his leg.” The look in his eyes told me to never speak to him again but it was only right to thank him for saving me.
I hated the ocean and had no idea how to swim. When the water pulled me in, I just knew that was the end if no one helped.
“Really? That’s fucked up.” For a moment, I really believed she was being sincere until she started laughing hysterical again. Storming off and not paying attention, I flipped over one of the janitor’s buckets and fell, dazing myself for a moment. Shaking it off, I noticed water spilled on my clothes and sneakers.
“Damn girl, you’re accident prone like crazy.” Sariah reached her hand out to help and almost slipped herself. Staying put on the ground to gain my composure; an instant headache came on.
