Gunner
I hardly slept. Knowing I would hang out with Desiderio again had me buzzing with anticipation. What we had on the dance floor yesterday… it was magical. I had never felt freer than I did when we glided across it.
I slowly made my way to the kitchen and grabbed a soda from the mini fridge. After I opened it, I walked to the balcony.
The rising sun cast a warm, yellow glow across the land. The air felt heavier than yesterday, but I didn’t pay much attention to it.
All I knew was I was ready to spend the day with Desiderio. He was the eye candy that kept my sweet tooth alive.
I enjoyed the morning air a bit longer before returning to the couch and plopping down. I checked my phone before taking a shower.
After mindlessly scrolling social media for a few hours, I walked outside to wait for Desiderio. Other hotel patrons shot a hand up or tilted their heads as they walked by.
He pulled up and opened the door from the inside. I buckled in and turned to see him smiling at me. A tinge of shyness took over, and I began to cackle.
“What?”
“Nothing, you just look nice today.”
I sat in shock at the compliment.
“Thanks…”
He winked. “Okay, ready for another adventure?”
“Yeah,” I turned my gaze, “That sounds good.”
“Anywhere special you want to go?”
I shook my head, “Wherever our hearts lead us.”
He nodded approvingly. “You learn quickly.”
“I have a good teacher…”
He playfully pushed me, causing both of us to roar with laughter. His laugh was the sound of the angels themselves—low and gentle, music to my ears.
“Okay, let’s go.” He pulled out and headed down the same coastline we took yesterday. Cars were parked along the grass as families ran through the sand and water.
“Want to go there tomorrow?” He asked, bringing me back from the daze.
“Yeah, if you want to?”
“It’s a plan.” The right side of his lip curved.
“Cool.” I sighed.
His phone rang, and he rushed to answer it.
“Mom? Is everything okay?”
I could hear a few muffled words from the other line, but didn’t pry. He sighed before talking again.
“Okay, Mom, I will go check on Papi.” He hung up and let out a frustrated groan.
“Sorry, Gunner, we have to make a quick stop at my house.”
I waved in dismissal. “It’s fine. After all, La familia es lo más importante. Family above all.”
He chuckled. “You know Spanish?”
“A little bit, but not enough for a full conversation.”
“Well, Creo que eres hermoso.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
He chuckled again. “You will when the time is right.”
I rolled my eyes. “Just tell me now.”
“Nope, you will find out the meaning soon.”
I groaned. “Fine, don’t tell me.”
“Good plan.” A sinister look spread across his face. I stuck my tongue out, which only made him laugh harder.
“We’re almost there. I will apologize for my parents ahead of time.”
“Why?”
“Because,” he clicked his tongue, “They can be a lot. They’re wonderful, but if you’re not used to them…”
“I’m sure they’re great.”
He huffed. “They are, but don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
“Okay, I get it. My Dad is the same way.”
“And, there is home.” He pointed to a house a hundred feet in front of us. He pulled into the driveway and exited before opening my door.
“Wow,” I whispered, “This house is beautiful.”
A shocked look spread across his face. He looked at the house, then back at me. He pointed with his thumb.
“This house?” He asked in confusion.
“Yes, this house.” I scoffed.
“We have different ideas of beauty…”
“The outside can fade and weather away, but the inside is where the beauty is. It holds the memories we cherish and homes the ones we love.”
“Wow,” his eyes widened, “That was beautiful.”
I waved my hand. “Oh, stop.”
He teasingly bumped me with his elbow before taking out a key and unlocking the door. The room was dark and quiet except for a small TV on a table on the other side. He flipped a switch, and the lights came to life after a few moments of buzzing.
“You can sit while I take care of a few things.” Desiderio held his hand toward a couch that practically fell apart at the seams. I did as he said.
I looked around the room as he began cleaning dishes. It was bare except for a few paintings on the wall and a few dishes. I’d never seen anywhere so scarce of basic necessities before, and it broke my heart.
His Dad yawned and turned his body towards the couch. He blinked a few times before squinting his eyes at me.
“Who… are you?” He asked through heavy breaths.
“Oh, Papi, sorry!” Desiderio ran back from the kitchen. “This is Gunner, a friend of mine from the States.”
“Oh, mi hijo, you didn’t tell me we were having company.”
“I know, Papi. Mom called and asked me to stop by and take care of a few things.”
The man held his arms out and embraced Desiderio in a warm hug.
“You always take such good care of us, Des. I wish you didn’t have to work so hard…”
“I know, Papi, but you two did so much for me growing up, and now it is time for me to take care of you.”
“I didn’t know you worked…” I added in confusion.
“Yes, he works on buildings for the government.” His Dad said proudly.
“Really?”
“Yeah. It’s tough, but it’s work.” Desiderio exclaimed proudly.
“Mi hijo, do we have coffee?”
“Already brewing, Papi. I’ll be right back with your cup.”
The man turned his gaze to me once Desiderio walked around the corner. He smiled and extended his hand.
“Victor.”
I took his hand and firmly shook it.
“Gunner.”
“Well, Gunner, what brings you to Cuba?”
“Dad had a business trip and asked if I’d like to come along.”
“What do you think of it here?”
“I love it,” I beamed, “It has a magical feel to it.”
“Yes, he nodded in agreement, “But it wasn’t like that for a long time.”
“I know. We learned about Castro…”
His tone escalated, “Don’t say that name!”
I heard Desiderio rush back in. His eyes darted between us.
“What the hell is going on?”
“I was telling him that I learned about… the guy who did unspeakable horrors to the island.”
He pinched the top of his nose with a frustrated sigh.
“Papi,” his voice was serious, “You can’t yell at him for saying that name. He wasn’t here when it happened. That name doesn’t hold power outside of the island. You need to apologize.”
“No, he…”
“Yes, he does! Papi, I know that name brings back many bad memories, but not saying it gives him power even in his death.”
Victor dropped his head. He began to sob, and Desiderio knelt, putting his arm around him.
After a few minutes, he lifted his head to look at me. His face was dampened with tears. He swallowed hard before speaking again.
“I’m sorry, Gunner. I shouldn’t have yelled. I know you weren’t trying to upset me.”
“Never,” I reassured, “I will never honor that man or his name. What he did was barbaric and vile. I hope he is rotting in hell.”
A small smile crept through, and he lightly chuckled to himself.
“Me, too,” he continued, “especially after what he did to my Papi.”
“May I ask what happened?” I asked defensively.
“When he came here with his band of guerrillas, there was so much devastation, so much pain… The once beautiful island I knew changed overnight.
My Papi was part of the resistance. I remember him telling me, ‘Mi hijo, this is our home, and that Cabrón will not continue to bring suffering to our people.’
Well, he was caught three days later. He was imprisoned for a long time before… before they took him away from us.”
My eyes were misty, and my voice began to break.
“You mean…”
He nodded as another wave of tears fell.
“Yes. He was the bravest man I’ve ever known. I wish I had half the courage he did. But if I had fought against them, I wouldn’t have married and had my son. I would probably be dead.”
Desiderio took his hand and lightly squeezed it.
“You are brave, Papi.”
He kissed the top of Desiderio’s hand.
“Can you fetch me my medicine?”
“Of course.” He walked down the hallway.
I spoke up once again. “I’m so sorry, Victor. I couldn’t even imagine.”
He waved for me to sit closer.
“I’m glad you’ll never have to. I may have suffered and starved, but the medicine helps me stay around. Always be thankful for your health and food. You never know when it could be taken from you.”
I blinked, allowing a single tear to fall. He wiped it and lifted my chin with his fingers.
“There will be no more tears. I am here, and thanks to Desiderio, I have all I need.”
“I wish I could have seen Cuba before he took control.”
“Oh, yes,” he smiled, “You would have loved it.”
I looked down the hallway and smiled.
“Do you know what he does for work?” I asked curiously.
“He says he works on fixing the buildings, but I don’t believe that. I think he is hiding what he does.”
“What do you think it is?”
He sighed. “I’m not sure, but I fear he will be harmed doing whatever it is.”
“Okay, Papi, here are your pills.”
“Gracias, mi hijo.” He took them and handed the cup back.
“Okay, Papi, give Mom a kiss for me and tell her I’ll be home later.”
“Be safe, Desiderio.”
“Always.”
I shook his hand once more.
“It was nice meeting you, Victor.”
“Same, Gunner. Watch over him for me.”
“I will.”
We walked outside, and he stood against the beam. He looked at his watch and sighed.
“I have someone I’m supposed to meet back in town. Do you want to go, or do you want me to drop you off at the hotel?”
“I’ll go with you.”
“Okay,” his voice became low and serious, “You can’t speak a word about any of it to my parents, understood?”
I nodded as a mix of confusion and concern washed over me.
“Okay, I promise. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
“All I can tell you is that who I am meeting will give me the money I need to care for Mom and Papi.”
“What do you do for them?”
He sighed, “Whatever they want me to do.”
I didn’t ask any other questions. My mind raced with the possibilities of what he could be talking about.
Now, I needed to go so I would know he was okay. We got in the car and drove back to Havana.