Chapter 12 #2
“Cairo, can you help me? I can’t swim. Pleaseeeeee.” Hearing her screaming didn’t phase me one bit. It wasn’t until Rosalina came out and asked who was screaming for me. When I said who it was she begged me to help.
“Cairo, they helped me. Go get her. Oh my goodness, the water is pulling her further.” She ran inside the hotel to get help.
Blowing my breath, I walked towards the water and noticed she wasn’t in that deep. If she stopped panicking she’d realize the water was to her waist and she could walk out.
“I know damn well you were raised better than that. Son, if you don’t go and help her.” I planned on cursing Rosalina out for getting my mother. They were in another room when the strippers came out which meant she went to find her.
“Ma, she gotta lot of mouth and said she didn’t want me to help her.” Trying not to save Kateri, I wanted to choke her when she screamed I was lying. How the fuck did she hear me with all the yelling she was doing?
“How you drowning and still talking shit?” If it weren’t for the moonlight being bright, we wouldn’t be able to see her because the water was taking her back further and she kept going under.
“Son go get her before she drowns more.” Now more people from my party began coming out.
“Mannnnnn.” Pouting like a kid, I made my way to the water and dove in fully dressed. My parents made sure we knew every aspect of being able to survive in any conditions, including drowning. Matter of fact, Rosalina was just as good a swimmer and could’ve helped.
Looking around, I no longer saw Kateri and figured she was gone and the coast guard would find her in a few days.
As I started to head back, she popped up gasping for air and yelling.
Snatching her by the back of her shirt, I drug her toward the beach.
Again, the water was up to my chest and I didn’t have any problems coming out.
“You happy now.” I shouted.
Tossing Kateri on the ground, I stepped over and felt her hand on my leg. I was about to stomp out any water left in her body. My mother and everyone else would’ve had something to say and I didn’t feel like hearing it.
“Thank you.” For someone who was allegedly drowning she was able to talk. Shouldn’t she have swallowed a bunch of water and someone needed to do CPR? Why was she talking and not dead?
“Get the fuck off and I’ll send the price of my outfit and shoes to you because you’re definitely reimbursing me.” Walking away to go change and get out the wet clothes, Rosalina ran up.
“Thanks. Now I don’t owe her for helping me.” I stopped.
“What? Kateri and Sariah helped me with Ed, which meant I owed them.” She shrugged, pissing me off.
“You still do because you ain’t do shit.” She had me mad as hell at the moment.
“No but I got mommy to make you help her so I assisted.” She had the nerve to grin.
“I bet Sariah dies if you try and get me to help her.” I wasn’t about to be caught up in Rosalina’s, I owe you’s.
“Nope because Raul will help with that. He just don’t know yet.” I told her to get out my face and walked away. If I stayed longer, I probably wouldn’t said some hurtful shit and she didn’t deserve it over me being mad.
“Mr. Romano, your mother requested your presence down in the kitchen for breakfast.”
My maid, Lori announced standing at the office door of my house.
She was in her mid-fifties and had been around for ten years now.
Her residence was in the Cayman Islands and she was paid weekly to keep the mansion in tip top shape for me.
I came over at least six time a year and expected what my money paid for.
Anyway, I was still on vacation and after saving Kateri last night, all I wanted was peace and quiet but clearly that wasn’t gonna happen with all my family still around. Some were leaving today and then sporadically over the next few days. I’ll be here for another week alone before going home.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Closing my eyes just for a minute, Rosalina barged in.
Seeing peace still wasn’t finding me, I looked at her and noticed she was very happy.
I’m gonna assume Felix did that for her and hope they last. I can’t force them to stay together if it didn’t but neither of them better put me in any bullshit.
“Cairo, wait until you see what I found out.” She sat an envelope on the desk and closed the door on her way out. Opening it, my eyes focused on one content inside and a smirk came on my face. If Rosalina only knew that I was already aware.
Placing the information and envelope through the shredder, I made my way to the dining area to find my family with another birthday cake and gifts.
“Since you never opened them last night, Mommy brought them here and you were born at 10:37 pm on your birthday which means technically until 10:37 pm tonight it’s still your birthday.
” Wrapping my arm around Rosalina’s neck to put her in a headlock, I kissed her cheek and told her never to say that stupid shit again.
Granted, your birthday was twenty four hours and I was born at night but it sounded crazy as hell when she said it.
“Thank you.” Were the only necessary words to say. I blew out the number thirty candle and took a seat. There was tons of food again and Felix turned on some music.
“Happy Birthday cousin.” I stood to hug Manny.
Raul said he was damn near crying because he couldn’t be here and asked if he could come for the remainder of the time.
Since he wasn’t doing dumb shit at home, I said it was ok and now he grinning like a Cheshire Cat because Felix said they flew in some other strippers that didn’t have bad breath from Puerto Rico to celebrate and Manny’s horny ass couldn’t wait.
Sitting down to eat, I wanted peace and quiet but having my family around meant a lot too; especially when I stayed busy in the states. Maybe I’ll take a vacation with them more than once a year, who knows.