19
Silvia
I was cuddled up with Andy in bed. The windows were boarded up, so the room was darker than normal.
I was so grateful to be alive.
A lot of lives had been lost because of Miguel but I had no idea how far back his trail had started. Until now…
“Was I right to tell you what really happened?” Andy’s brow was furrowed; a deep wrinkle was etched into his forehead.
“It’s not easy to hear, for sure. But I don’t want any secrets between us.
If we’re doing this, being together, I want to know everything, no matter how difficult it is to listen to.
” My stomach twisted, sensing there was more to it, than Miguel stabbing my mom to death because he’d been tripping out on psychedelic mushrooms.
“Agreed.” Andy inhaled a deep breath. The more to it I suspected was about to come. “Your mom wasn’t alone that night.”
“Yeah, I recalled two people but thought maybe I had it wrong. I was only five.”
“You didn’t have it wrong. The other person was my dad, the yard guy. He and your mom were having an affair. When Miguel found them, he went berserk.”
“Oh my gosh, Andy. I’m so sorry.” I stared at the emotion in his eyes. My heart ached for him. I couldn’t imagine what he went through when he found out his dad had cheated on his mom.
“I’ve had a long time to process and make my peace with it. But Mama Virgie had no idea. I don’t want to tell her.”
“But you’re telling me.”
“Yes, and I hope you won’t tell anybody. I want the details of that night to die with my dad.” He wiped the stray tear off his cheek.
“This is not a story I want to tell, so your secret is safe with me.” I kissed his neck multiple times, trying to comfort him. “Thank you for trusting me enough to share something so painful for you.”
He exhaled like the weight of the world had fallen off his shoulders.
I was happy to help him get rid of that burden.
It still blew my mind that my brother had caused so much pain.
Andy could have turned him in. He had evidence but I guess in the end, Miguel got what he deserved.
Now he couldn’t hurt anyone because he was dead.
Andy reached for his laptop. I’d wondered why he brought it into the room when he kept it in a locked cabinet in his office.
“Are you going to show me something?” I asked, a little worried he was going to show me gross images.
“Only if you want to see what’s on the memory stick in your leather purse.”
My eyes went wide. “Yes! It’s of my fifth birthday. Sister Theresa told me about it. Tonio had given it to her before his death.” I knew it existed but never watched it before.
“That’s right.” He started the video and pulled me close.
“There I am.” I smiled at the innocent little girl I used to be.
“Andy’s here!” little me squealed with delight. “Play with me, Andy!”
“There you are,” I told him. “Wow, look at you. I bet all the girls were after you.”
“Yes.” He flashed a cheesy grin.
“Anything the birthday girl wants, she gets,” the younger Andy said.
“Yay, yay, yay!” younger me clapped and giggled.
“There’s my mom. We look alike, don’t we?” I asked him, while I admired her beauty. We were far from a perfect family, obviously, but I had never doubted her love for me.
“Just a younger version of her and with fake red hair.” He kissed my head. “I love this hair, by the way. It’s edgy and naughty.”
I laughed. “We should’ve made popcorn.”
“I’ll go get you some.” He got out of bed.
“Actually, how about Cocoa Puffs.” I smiled wide and made praying hands, as if I needed to beg him.
“Anything you want, after the day you had.”
I watched him leave, then turned my attention to the screen. My past was hard to imagine at times, but there had been some happy moments. It hadn’t been all bad, now that I thought of it.
But I wanted to replace all the bad with good. And I was blessed to find a man who gave me a lot of good and happy moments. Andy was quickly becoming my world.
I felt like the luckiest woman on the planet.
When he returned with my bowl of cereal, we rewatched the video and let it play on a loop. I wanted to fall asleep to the sound of true joy and wrapped in Andy’s strong, protective arms.