Chapter 9- Fierceness
Yunior had never fully lived away from home.
True, he had a little love flat in Houston he’d basically arranged for the silly Texas girl he was seeing at the time, but it was more for privacy and function than living.
He’d also secured a small love nest in Costa Rica for him and Diadra and built a vacation home in Aruba, but currently, he and his wife Diadra lived in Argentina at Perona del Mar with Yunior’s grandparents.
They had private living quarters separate from the main house, giving Diadra autonomy over feeding times and habits for her children.
Andres, his second oldest, had an apartment in Medellín; Eduardo signed the contract and helped his son purchase it.
He'd only visited Andres twice since he'd owned the place, opting never to stay since on both visits, the flat was littered with half-dressed young women.
The coffee table was also finely dusted with the premium batch of the number one product of Las Tierras, and it brought flashbacks of his own brother living a full life.
He wasn't sure if Andres partook of the family powders, and he often cautioned his sons on the usage as well as the damage it could cause.
He hadn't been back to the flat since then.
Deep in his heart, he hoped that things would be different with Micah.
On a free weekend, in his soul he prayed that perhaps he could visit his son, watch a futbol game, or even come to Bogotá to catch the game between Atlético Nacional from Medellín against the Millonarios.
In his head, it would be the equivalent of watching the New England Patriots play The New York Jets; although he didn't care for American football, he did enjoy the theatrics of the Superbowl.
“Hola, Papa,” Micah said. He arrived casually dressed but looking sharp. Alita, in coordinating clothing, also arrived in a smart suit and a two-button front jacket. “I was wondering if I might borrow the helicopter to go to Bogotá to look at these three properties.”
“We are coming with you,” Eduardo said.
“You and Mami are coming with us? Any reason why?” Micah said, feeling out of sorts.
“Because we are your parents, that's why,” Eduardo said. “Yes, you are technically an adult, but not adult enough to sign a contract for real estate that could put you in a financial bind. I also need to ensure the property is secure enough and see the surrounding areas.”
“Oh, okay,” Micah said, looking at Ryanne, who dared him to question his father's judgement.
Angel walked into the room, looking at everyone dressed and ready to go somewhere without him, and also took offense. “Papa, you're leaving without your personal guard?”
Eduardo didn't blink. “Alita is here. My dear, what are you carrying?”
Alita moved quickly, opening her jacket and responded, “I have my two nines on me, a backup in my handbag, and two knives, one in each boot. Two back up knives laced with Bushmaster venom are in the welt pockets of my purse. I also have at least six ninja stars: two in the sleeves of my jacket, two in the side slats on my slacks, and two backups in my handbag.”
“Well, damn,” Ryanne said. “There is a fierceness in you that should be studied.”
“Angel, we're covered, plus we're taking the helicopter,” Eduardo. “We should be back by supper. You are in charge.”
“I am? Yay! We are having cake for lunch!” Angel shouted, calling for the cook.
Ryanne asked, “Are you going to stop him?”
“No, Mara is here, along with Marianna, so he will be fine,” Eduardo said. “Let's fly.”
They loaded into the helicopter with Micah in the back seat. He really wanted to fly today, and Eduardo saw his face. Quickly he shifted, “Mi esposa, would you mind if Micah flew, and I took shotgun and you accompanied Alita in the back?”
“Sure. I don't mind being chauffeured,” Ryanne said, changing seats. She immediately noticed the soft smile that came to Alita’s lips as her Boss took the collective and fired up the rotors, and they were off.
The flight time was under two hours, and when they arrived at the airfield in Bogotá, a car awaited them and drove the family to the first location.
The real estate agent arrived at the same time.
She was a well put-together woman with dark hair and thoughtful eyes.
Alita exited the vehicle first, followed by Ryanne, with Eduardo and Micah waiting in the vehicle.
“Ms. Mendoza, a pleasure,” Betania Perez offered her hand for a shake. “Is this your mother?”
“Mother-in-law,” Alita said, not balking. “There are three properties today we are interested in and wish a quick sale. We chose these three which appear to be move-in ready. Is that the case?”
“Yes, you have selected three wonderful properties to view, and we can do a quick sale,” Betania said. “There are financing options available if you should have trouble securing a loan.”
“Not necessary,” Alita said. “Please lead the way.”
As the woman walked to the gate to open the fencing, the car door opened and out stepped Eduardo and Micah. Betania nearly dropped her clipboard. She didn't point, but her mouth flopped open. Alita moved into her line of sight blocking the agent’s view of the two men.
“I am your customer,” Alita said. “Your focus is on me. You do not see them, nor do you repeat anything you hear today. Are we clear?”
“Clear,” Betania said as they entered the property.
Micah immediately said, “Nope. There is a park, a community pool, and too many windows. Is that a walk path? Nope.”
He instantly went for the door and to the car. Eduardo shrugged, leaving Alita to turn to Betania. “Next showing, please.”
She and Ryanne were the last to leave as Alita looked about the place with the shiny floors, new cabinets, and shelving. He was right; it was the wrong fit for them, and the space had a negative energy she could also feel. Perhaps the current owners fought a great deal. Alita turned to Ryanne.
“Senora, I didn't mean any impertinence with the mother-in-law comment. It is sometimes easier than an explanation to give a plausible answer versus the truth,” Alita said. “Please, do not punish me for my words in haste.”
Ryane placed her arm around the girl's shoulder. “You are as much mine as Micah is, Alita. I took no offense and was impressed at your quick thinking, but careful in front of The Fer de Lance and The Bushmaster, they may not appreciate it, however in the moment.”
“Noted,” Alita said, climbing into the backseat and moving to the next property, which she immediately fell in love with. It was a penthouse apartment with four bedrooms and six bathrooms.
“Why would you need six bathrooms?” Eduardo asked.
“We can make one just for the poopy,” Micah said, laughing. “Excuse me, I am going to the poopy room.”
Micah then turned to Alita and asked, “Why four bedrooms? We only need three.”
She pointed to his parents and used his name in their presence with the agent looking on, “Micah, what if your parents want to come for the weekend, see a show, or perhaps attend the futbol matches. Or my parents come for a visit. You know Angel is going to miss you and want to come spend a week or so, and then there are Yunior and Diadra and the kids. We will need a fourth bedroom for guests since the third one will be for studying.”
He shrugged and walked off to look at the kitchen. Alita loved the living room. “I can see a couch and two recliners here and a big-screen television,” Alita said.
In the background, she heard Micah, “So she can watch the dead people walking. It is a stupid show.”
Alita ignored him and continued speaking about adding a colorful area rug, not too bright, and potential wall colors. Micah, however, was not done with his diatribe on Alita's favorite show. The real estate agent did her best not to laugh as he went on about the show.
“I mean really, the dead people are shuffling, not actually walking, but shuffling,” he said.
“You can essentially hear them approaching and still the humans get caught.
They should get caught. Didn't you hear them coming and shuffling their feet?
They are also mouth-breathing loudly, uughh, arrrgh, uhhh.
Why not just outrun them? Dead walking people don't run. You could have sprinted to the petrol station, grabbed a few petrol cans, and set the ground on fire. They are brain dead, they will walk through the fire and the rotted clothes with catch aflame, and boom, no more shuffling and mouth-breathing walking dead people. Just stupid.”
Alita had enough of his in her face put down of the award-winning North American show. “Oh, and watching a show in Russian about a man who solves crimes with his nose is more realistic. You don't even speak Russian!”
“The Sniffer is a very well put together show!” Micah said.
“The olfactory function of the nose can be an indicator of many things.
For instance, at the wedding of The Cranberry, the little girl who was related to the cutie who wanted to marry me, her mother smelled of the small blue berries.
I knew the child belonged to her because of the smell.
It didn't matter where that woman was in the room, I could find her because of the scent of the berries of blue. It is a good show. He is a very smart man with a perfectly honed tool for solving the crimes.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Alita said, turning to look at Ryanne. She shook her head, making Eduardo laugh. “Seriously, what do you think of this place? Is it too big for us, Micah?”
“Perhaps, but I like it,” he said. “The covered private balcony is the perfect spot where Papa can grill his sausages, there is no communal pool, and the built-in cabinets in high-grain wood are nice. The en-suites in each bedroom with the jacuzzi tubs are a seller.”
Eduardo asked the agent, “What are the annual maintenance fees for the property?”
“Roughly $2.6 million pesos, and the asking price is $1.2 million,” she told them. “It can also serve as a nice rental property in case you wanted to rent it during the high season of festivals and tournaments.”
Ryanne squinted, “Is that $204 in US dollars?”
“Yes, actually, almost exact,” Betania replied, seemingly impressed.
Alita stood next to Micah. “Those fees are high. Plus, we will need everything from bedding, furniture, pots and pans and definitely some art on the walls.”
“We will make a budget,” Micah said. “Lay out the things we will need right away to make it feel like us and a home away from home.”
Alita asked him, “Anything from home you wish to bring outside of your basic research materials, like your drums and other instruments?”
“No, Las Tierras is my home,” he said, “so those things stay there. If I decide later to have instruments here, I shall purchase some.”
“And furnishings?”
“I am a minimalist,” Micah said. “You shall have the opportunity to make this place your own, within reason. I do not wish to be bombarded by the knicky knackies and bullshit little statutes of half-naked troll dolls.”
“What about the tea set we picked up in Edinburg or cool coffee service we got in New York?”
“Those are exceptions,” he said softly, looking down at her with a softness in his gaze, then remembering other people were in the room. “Senorita, the next property, please.”
This was the first time Micah had addressed the woman. She nodded, showing them the way to the door. The final property was close to the University with a nice terrace. Micah walked in and said, “No, too many windows.”
And with that, he looked at the agent and told her, “I like the second one. Papa, your thoughts?”
“The second one works, but it will be tough to keep clean. Will you need housekeeping services? I see it has a maid's room,” Eduardo said.
“No, we don't need or want any extra people living in the space,” Micah said. “Mami, your thoughts?”
Ryanne, surprised he wanted her opinion, said, “Personally, I like the first one with 24-hour security and the pool. You know how much you like to swim.”
“It is a community pool, Mami; I would never use it,” Micah said. “Other thoughts?”
Alita said, “Furnishing it will be tight with the budget.”
“I shall provide you with an amount to use for household furnishings,” Ryanne said. “If you want, when you're ready, I shall be glad to accompany you to help you decide. It is important to make the space feel like your own.”
Eduardo looked at his wife. The home they shared contained many items which were there long before she had arrived and had in essence been either installed by his grandmother or mother.
She’d never had a chance to make Las Tierras her own, and he could see the excitement she had for Alita to decorate the space.
“Then you have made your decision, Micah, or do you wish to look at other properties?”
“No, the second suits our purposes and is large enough to handle visits from the families,” he said. “Alita, are you pleased?”
“I am, Micah,” she said.
“Good. Ms. Perez, please prepare the paperwork so we can have a quick closing,” he said. “Once everything is settled, contact Alita so she may secure the keys to the home.”
“Of course, Senor Delgado,” Betania said. “Congratulations on your new home.”
Micah was pleased with the space. Moreover, he was pleased that Alita would finally have a true space of her own.
At the airfield, Micah got behind the stick, placed the earpiece on his head, and prepared them for takeoff.
He looked at his father. “I will have a place of my own. I hope you and Mami will visit once we get settled and we’ve learned to cook decent meals fit for sharing with you.
We can prepare a dinner to host you in our home. ”
“You say the our with such finality,” Eduardo said.
“Perhaps it is,” Micah replied, pulling back on the collective to get lift. He remained quiet during the flight, focusing on the task at hand. Several thoughts occupied his mind, starting with the large bedroom where he would sleep alone. Alita, again, would be across the hall, also sleeping alone.
It was then that he began to think about the possibility of that not always being the case, but a delicate touch was required.
Sharing the bed would mean she needed to share his name.
To him, it didn't seem like such a bad idea, but conversations needed to be had.
Plus, he liked it when she called him by his name instead of Boss.
He liked it a great deal.