19. Deck #2
I hurried out the door. Not thinking too hard about the way her words made my breath catch.
Chuck’s project list kept me busy into the afternoon.
Most things would need to wait until I had a chance to visit the hardware store, but I spent a productive morning outside, tightening up loose elements on the play structures and replacing missing steps on the bleachers.
After lunch, I got the heat in the dryer working and patched a few holes in the drywall.
Some larger repairs would require multiple days of work.
Of those, I decided to start with the broken toilets, which had been leaking so long I needed to replace a section of the subfloor underneath before installing new ones.
During our walk-through, I also discovered multiple issues Chuck hadn’t noticed until I pointed them out.
Marisol found me spackling drywall cracks in the music room.
“Thanks so much, hermano . The kids will be here soon. I didn’t know if you’d want to stay or come back another day.”
My cheeks grew hot. “Am I…allowed to stay? You know, with the kids here?”
It took Marisol a moment to understand. “Oh, Deck.” Her face softened. “We have your background check because you’re in the building. But since you’re not a direct service volunteer and won’t be alone with youth, your record doesn’t matter. You would need a Class A felony to get booted entirely.”
I didn’t want to feel ashamed. I’d done my time and gotten out early, taking every opportunity to get an education while I was in to ensure I wouldn’t be back.
I also had no regrets about putting Chi-chi in the hospital for a month.
That motherfucker deserved everything he got.
Although I was a little sorry for breaking Aaron’s wrist.
“I’ll stay if you’re sure it won’t be a problem. I kind of want to get an idea of how the kids use the space. It might help me identify other potential issues.”
“Yeah, Chuck mentioned you found a few things he hadn’t caught.”
“My eyes went straight to the baseboards. I need to replace all that old wood with rubber. I remember getting mad and kicking the baseboards at school when I was a kid. Apparently, nothing has changed.”
Marisol grinned. “They do love to destroy shit—excuse me, stuff . I need to put my after two o’clock language hat on. We go through a lot of Ping-Pong balls. Occasionally even a snapped pool stick. Good thing we love them anyway.”
I watched my sister in her element, trailing her around the atrium as she unlocked doors and put out equipment. My parents had mentioned how much Marisol enjoyed her job. She’d worked for Rosa since graduating from college a year ago.
As the teens poured in through the front doors, Marisol checked them in and asked about their days. They answered easily and asked their own questions about the upcoming teen late night. Some of the older kids came in hot, apologizing when she reminded them to watch their language.
“She’s so good with them.” My skin prickled with awareness at Cori’s voice. I hadn’t seen her since this morning when I’d held her against me.
“Yeah.” I kept my gaze glued to Marisol.
One strutting loudmouth, who looked about fourteen, reminded me of myself at that age. Tussling with his friends, he accidentally knocked the tablet out of Marisol’s hands. I lurched forward instinctively until I felt Cori’s grip on my wrist. “Watch,” she whispered.
Marisol didn’t even have to speak. She simply raised an eyebrow at the kid. He leaned down to pick up the device and handed it to her with a contrite, “Sorry, Miss Mari,” before bouncing off.
“I forget she’s grown up sometimes,” I admitted softly. “Even though she’s pretty fucking awesome at being an adult.”
“At least you’ve had a chance to get used to it. When I first saw her, I almost didn’t recognize her.” Cori laughed. Leaning into my ear, she whispered, “Also, don’t say fucking.”
Dios, Cori, how about you don’t lean into my ear and say fucking.
I turned, giving her a sheepish look before realizing our faces were inches apart. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Must be a Decker trait because I’ve noticed Marisol drop a few choice words herself this week.” Breaking our eye contact, Cori made her way to sit behind the front counter.
Not knowing what else to do, I followed. “Where is Rosa?” I asked.
“Home with Lupe. I told her I could fill in during program time however much she wanted me to. I’ve been here every day for over a week now, so I feel pretty comfortable with the kids and the routine. It’s like muscle memory, too, from when I volunteered back in the day.”
“Marisol said it’s okay that I’m around when the kids are here.”
“Of course,” she replied quickly, confused. Then she caught on to why I’d mentioned it. “Deck, be real. If we said that people who’d spent time on the inside couldn’t come into the building, half these kids’ parents wouldn’t be able to pick them up. No one’s gonna look sideways at you here.”
She appeared thoughtful for a moment before her mouth turned down.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” she said, booting up the ancient desktop computer in front of her. “Actually, something about my old job. What you said made me realize not a lot of grace was given when people made mistakes… I’m having an epiphany that that was chaotic in its own way.”
Epiphany . Good thing we’d done her flash cards.
I recalled her saying that she’d recently left the company she’d helped found. Or maybe I’d heard that from Johnny. Either way, I didn’t know too much about Cori’s career, only that it was in tech, and she’d made a lot of money.
“A cutthroat corporate thing, huh?” I questioned.
“I guess.” She peered up, looking like she wanted to say more, but didn’t. After a moment, she switched topics. “Chuck mentioned that you have quite the honey-do list.”
A brief laugh escaped my throat. “Haven’t heard that phrase in a while. I forgot you can be such a grandma sometimes.”
She took no offense. “Well, since you are my husband …the honey-do phrase fits.”
“It’s a long list, but I’ll manage. I might need to bring in an electrician at some point, but I’ll see what Juan says.”
“Juan. He’s your business partner?”
“Business partner, friend, life coach, mentor, occasional therapist, reliable ride to the airport. Dealer’s choice.” Cori smiled as I stepped away from the counter. “I’m going to wander around a bit. See if I can sus out anything else that needs doing.”
I watched a group of boys play pickup in the gym while Chuck did his best to keep them in line. One of the older teens dominated the game, running circles around everyone else. He kept a mean mug on his face, practically daring someone to mess with him.
Reminded me of Cruz.
Moving back into the atrium, I plopped down on one of the couches, putting my head in my hands. I didn’t want to think about Cruz right now, rotting away in prison.
I rubbed my eye sockets a few times before glancing up.
And seeing… Eliazar ?
But of course, it couldn’t be him. He’d been gone for eight years. The kid standing in front of me looked a lot like Eliazar, though—short and slight, with clothes that didn’t fit quite right. Except this teen didn’t have my old friend’s shy smile. This face was a storm cloud.
“Hello?” I said to not-Eliazar.
“You’re on my cushion.”
I glanced down at the couch. “I’m sorry?”
“Can you get up, please? ” The last word came through gritted teeth. “That’s my part of the couch. I always sit there. Every day.”
I stood. “Sorry. I’m, uh, new around here.”
Not-Eliazar sank down on the seat I’d vacated. Something compelled me to sit in a nearby chair.
“I’m Deck,” I offered.
Not-Eliazar stared at me, obviously wondering why I hadn’t left.
“I’m Marisol’s brother,” I tried again.
The kid let out a deep sigh, as though to emphasize the amount of suffering caused by my presence. “I’m Reign. R-E-I-G-N. I’m nonbinary. My pronouns are they/them, and if you have a problem with that, you can fuck right off.”
They crossed their arms.
I nodded, blowing out a long breath. “Alright, Reign. That was… very informative. And I’m cool with whatever gender you are. Makes no difference to me.”
The pronoun thing seemed to have happened while I was locked up. I’d gotten a thorough education on it when Juan and I did a major roof repair at a local college.
Reign hmphed, still eyeing me with suspicion. “I didn’t know Miss Mari had another brother. One came in here a while ago. A cop.”
I settled into the lumpy chair. “That’s our brother Emilio. We have three older brothers, including him, and two older sisters.”
“Are you a cop too?”
I choked out a laugh. “Um, no.” My jaw flexed. “I’m not the cop brother. Or the musician brother—that’s Raymond—or the pharmacist brother—that’s Nando. I’m her other brother, the construction worker.” The ex-con fuckup.
“Bet,” Reign said, whatever that meant. They tilted their head. “Can you fix the toilets in the bathroom over there? It sucks that only one works.”
“Yeah. It’s first on my list, actually. I also have a bunch of other projects, so if you notice anything, please tell me. I’ll be around. You Center kids probably know a lot more than I do about this place.”
“That’s for sure.” Reign’s shoulders eased slightly. “Maybe I can watch you do some stuff?”
“Sure, if it’s not too dangerous. And if Marisol’s okay with it. You interested in construction?”
“Maybe.”
I glanced at the front desk and caught Cori and my sister staring at me, open-mouthed. Shit. Was I doing something wrong?
“I think I need to go talk to my sister, Reign. It was nice meeting you.”
The pained look returned to the teen’s face, and they turned away at my departure.
“ Lo siento ,” I said to Marisol, walking over to her. “I know you said I couldn’t be alone with the kids, but I didn’t realize I wasn’t supposed to talk to them. I promise it won’t hap—”
“What the hell was that!?” my sister whisper-shouted.
“Huh?”
“You were talking to Reign,” Cori supplied.
“Yeah. Like I said, I’m sorry about that, I—”
“No, idiota ,” Mari intoned. “You were talking to Reign . Reign doesn’t speak to anybody except Rosa. They don’t have any friends. Nothing. And you were just, like, talking with them?”
“I didn’t know,” I mumbled, conscious of not drawing Reign’s attention to our conversation. “I just looked up and they were there, and they reminded me of—”
“Eliazar,” Cori hushed out. “I thought it was just me.”
Marisol’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my gosh. I never caught it, but of course the resemblance is there. Dios . No wonder Rosa has been so protective.”
A twinge traveled down my spine. “Does Reign get along with their parents?” I asked.
Marisol shifted uncomfortably. “No. Their parents don’t accept that they’re nonbinary.”
I glanced at Reign, but my mind saw Eliazar. Eliazar being used by men. Eliazar being rejected by his parents. Eliazar never feeling like he fit in, even with us, his brothers.
Eliazar, who I’d never see again.
My heart thudded as I watched Reign sit by themselves on the couch. Dozens of kids walked by, ignoring them. Reign remained stone-faced and silent, taking it.
I hadn’t noticed Cori step behind me until I felt her hands on my shoulders. She leaned close to my ear, like she’d done earlier. Her steady voice grounded me as she said, “They’re not Eliazar, Deck.”
“Not yet.” I closed my eyes.
“Not ever,” Cori said. “That’s why we’re all here.”
Letting myself lean into her touch was dangerous. But I did it anyway.
Our closeness was as comforting as I remembered.
It felt like I hadn’t taken a truly deep breath in a dozen years, the kind where you exhaled something other than air. Where you pushed out some of the shit buried so deep, you thought it would always be a part of you.
I closed my eyes, turning my face to Cori’s and resting my chin on her hand.
“Just so I’m clear—I am allowed to talk to Reign, right?” I asked quietly. “As long as we’re in an area with other people?”
“That’s right,” Marisol replied, clearing her throat, reminding me that Cori and I weren’t alone. My sister eyed us but didn’t comment on how close we stood.
“ Bien . Then, if they’re willing, I’ll talk to them more, okay? You know, since I’m here,” I said.
“Sounds like an excellent idea.” Cori squeezed my shoulders one last time before pulling away.
I breathed out a little more.