Cassie smiled. “You come with us, ok? And Abuela is going soon to a very nice house where people will take care of her. And we will go and visit her.”
“Tomo mis carros.”
Gabe had crouched down to him. “Claro.” He smiled at him. “Tú hablas bien inglés. Papà no habla español. Tienes que hablar inglés con él, ok?”
Armando nodded, turning to Damian, who just sat there, a bit clueless. A bit stressed out that this wouldn’t work out after all, a small fright in him that he could only catch some words out of what he was saying.
His eyes going a bit wide when Armando stood close, his dark eyes in his eyes. That confident voice had softened a bit. “You speak English?”
Damian nodded, his throat tight.
“Are you strong? Mamá said you were strong.”
He smiled. “I guess she was right.”
Armando held his hands out and Damian stood, scooping him up, that small boy featherlight with his lithe body. He sat him on his arm, waiting. Closing his eyes when Armando laced his arms around his neck, his head going to his shoulder. Just resting there, in those strong arms which held him tighter. An unknown feeling that stirred his soul, deep. He had no words, but stayed, scared a bit, but also thrilled in that silent room. Trying to comprehend who he was, that stranger he knew, that man who had been lost. His child mind settling on the only answer he had wished for more than anything during the years when his conscious mind had awoken. Not saying anything because he didn’t deserve it yet.Mi Papà…
They had packed all his stuff in two small sport bags, and he just stood there, holding his pen and a car whilst he went for a hug, letting Abuela squeeze him tight. Mixed feelings because this was all he knew, her, that dark house. Her dead smile, among all those candles. That growing brain already coating his memories of her, warping her face, her voice. Making her shine when he could remember that she had howled for nights on end. That she had been crazed, just dazed for days on the sofa, watching his portrait, that smiling man in a dark suit, the jagged edges of that cut out article among the flowers. Crying. Yelling with him, too. But it had been Mamá. He could never not forgive her. And now, that man was here, holding his bags in one hand, waiting. And it was time to leave, he knew. That relief laced with a creeping guilt. A small joy when he should have been sad. But he kissed that hard old woman, still. Because she had been mostly nice and didn’t shout. Didn’t blame him for having his dark hair, his smile. Didn’t shake him until his teeth chattered. Why? Why? Why? Questions he couldn’t have answered, just breathing in silence, his eyes wide. But it had been Mamá. He had forgiven. Blaming that silent portrait. He walked to Damian, to his extended hand. He put the car in his pocket and grabbed that hand.
Looking up at his voice. “Can we go? You said bye-bye to Abuela?”
He nodded, unable to talk, but held his hand tight, as best as he could. Glancing back swiftly, but he followed to that huge car.
Climbing in, letting Damian strap him in a seat. He didn’t know what it was, but it didn’t matter. His eyes wide on that car, roaming the crème inside. Waiting until they climbed in, Cassie and Gabe reassuring the old woman. Climbing in too, Cassie and Gabe sitting at the front. Damian sat next to him, strapping his seat belt. Waving to Abuela, almost a mild relief on that stern face. Rolling away, eyes following the car. Up to the highway.
Armando just watched the cars, lost a bit in their numbers, how beautiful they were, holding his pen and car tight, feeling a bit proud in that car seat. Just glimpses of their conversations reaching him, breathing steadily.
“This is all he has… two bags… we need to shop.” His voice.
“Oh! I can go! Give me a card.” Cassie, cheerful.
“Sure thing. Don’t spend it all.”
“Like I could.”
“Just how much money are we talking about?” That other man. Gabe.
“What is it to you, socialist? Enough, don’t worry. Harold wired a nice sum, as I can’t get that money straight away. He called it our peace treaty. Fucker!”
“Dad!”
“Ooops, sorry…” He felt his touch so turned to him, to his smile.
“You want to shop with Cassie tomorrow? Buy new clothes?”
He stayed silent, his eyes a bit wide.
“New toys?” Adding this, keeping his smile.
Armando blinked a bit, not sure if he had understood. “It’s Christmas?”
“What? No…”
“I get new toys at Christmas.”
Damian’s lips parted. “Oh… well, not anymore. Tomorrow, you can get new toys. And cars?”
He nodded, looking back at the racing cars, feeling a bit tired.
