It was uncertain if the couple would live in Sucre or La Paz since Sucre was closer to Argentina, and La Paz was a center of culture.The wing of the home atLas Tierrashad been fully furnished, and Andres’ guests would all stay there.The wing would also be a home away from home for Andres and Roxana when they were at Las Tierras.
The other expected guests were Guillermo Gutierrez, the Venezuelan Lancehead, and his daughter Lolita, the young woman intended for Micah.His son didn't want to spend time with her, those big feet, or her missing pinky toenails.Therefore, to calm himself before the groups of people arrived, he went for a swim.Today he wore trunks instead of his speedo in case anyone arrived early.
Isabella also decided she wanted to swim and was accompanied to the poolside by Mara and Catarina.She sat on the side of the pool watching her brother swim laps, and when he finally surfaced, he swam over to her.
“Good morning, Isabella; are you joining me for a swim?”Micah asked.
“No, but I have a question,” she said softly.
“Listening,” he said, pushing his hair off his face to allow the water to trickle down his back.
“Roxana's little brother is coming,” Isabella said.“He's a bully and picks on me.He pulls my hair and tries to pull up my dress.I don't like him.”
“I didn't hear a question in that.”
“Can you beat him up, so he doesn't fuck with me?”Isabella asked.
“Language, Isabella!”Mara called out.Micah tried not to react to his eight-year-old sister's perfect syntax of curse words to convey her feelings and emotions.
“Why can't you defend yourself?”
“Well, I asked Angel to get me some of his dart frog venom, but he said no,” Isabella offered, her face scrunched up.
“The dart frog venom would kill the child and create a war, Isabella, between our families,” Micah explained.
“Well, can Andres marry somebody else?I don't want to have to spend Christmas with that little butt swipe,” Isabella said.“If he pulls my hair one more time or tries to pull up my dress, I may get him with one of Papa's Fer de Lance knives.I don't like him.”
Micah pulled himself from the water and sat beside her on the side of the pool.“Would you like me to show you some things you can do when he tries to pull your hair?”
She grinned from ear to ear.“I guess, since no one will help me kill him.”
Micah offered a soft smile at the corner of his lips.He turned to face his sister, pretending to grab her pigtail, and Isabella pulled away.He reached for the other one, and she swatted at his hand.
“Instead of hitting my hand, thump my ear, like this,” he said and thumped her ear.
“Oww,” she said, holding her ear.
He reached for her pigtail, and her small hand reached his ear and thumped it.He held his ear, said, “Ouch,” and reached for her pigtail again.Isabella thumped his ear.He tried once more, and she thumped his ear again.
“Good, now stand up,” he said, facing her.He stood at nearly six feet, lean, with a muscular frame.Around her waist, she wore a towel, which he tried to yank off.
“Hey!”she said aloud, stepping back.
“Don't step back, step forward, and kick my toe,” Micah said, “gently, since I'm not wearing shoes.Let's do it again.”
He reached for the towel as she stepped toward him and kicked his toe.“Beuno, now keep in mind you will have on dress shoes.Your eyes must be sharp and always know where he is in the room.The moment you see him approaching, prepare yourself, and get in a good position to either kick his toes or thump that ear.”
“I should go tell his Mama!”
“If he hasn't learned that picking on girls is a bad thing, then his mother obviously hasn’t taught him about his wicked behavior,” Micah said.“Is there anything else I can assist you with today, Isabella?”
She blushed as she looked at him.“You never hug or kiss me.Do you love Catarina more than me?I mean you have tea with her and ride and stuff, but not with me.”
“I love you as much as I love her,” he said.“You ride in the afternoon.I ride in the morning with Papa.You don't like tea and have never invited me to spend time with you as she does.Perhaps it is I who should be asking if you love me, since I am never invited to share time with you.”
Her little face scrunched as she asked, “Share time with me doing what?”
“Catarina enjoys afternoon tea,” he said.“She invites me to join her to discuss what is happening in her life.Is there something you like to do that I can share with you to know what is happening in your life?”
