A Good Dude (28 page)

“You’ve got to get on that,” Candace told Tino. She wore her hat and thought she fit in perfectly now.

Tino shook his head. “I’m not getting on that thing.” His smile was contagious. Candace didn’t think she’d ever been so happy.

She tugged his arm. “C’mon.”

“No, I don’t want to get hurt.”

“That girl didn’t get hurt.”

“Uh-uhn!”

He pulled her in the other direction. But Candace didn’t budge. She dug in her heels and put on her best puppy dog eyes.

“Please.”

Tino stared at her lips and then her eyes. “
Aww
, don’t do that.”

Candace gave him a sexy look then. “Please
.
”

“Hell, I’ll ride a real bull for you!” he said and promptly got in line.

When it was his turn, Candace waved her hat and cheered, but Tino’s ride only lasted four seconds. He picked himself up and dusted hay from his britches, looking around to see who was watching. His bashful smile melted Candace’s heart. She could see his dimples from ten feet away. She rushed to greet him when he exited the ring.

“My hero!” she exclaimed, and threw her arms around his neck.

Tino put his arms around her waist and kissed her unexpectedly, more passionately than at her apartment. He slid his hands up her back, and Candace felt a sliver of lightning shoot from her chest. It quivered in her belly and settled between her legs.

“Let’s go eat,” he said, and Candace followed him, unable to speak for a few seconds.

They both ordered burgers, fries, and lemonade. It was a simple meal, but the atmosphere made everything very special. They made goo-goo eyes over their plates. Candace thought nothing at all could go wrong on that night, but Tino’s conversation eventually drifted into putrid waters.

“Don’t you miss your daughter?” he asked.

“I do,” Candace said, and genuine misery changed her expression.

“You all right?” he asked.

“I’m okay,” she said. “I just miss her. I really miss her a lot.”

“Why’d you let your parents take her so soon?” he asked. “Why didn’t you wait till she was older?”

Candace hated lying to him. Tino had done nothing but treat her good the whole time she knew him.

“It’s a difficult situation,” she said, and, surprisingly, he let her leave it at that.

* * *

They ended their date in very good spirits. Tino wouldn’t get back on the metal bull despite Candace’s urgings, but they stayed for a while and watched other cocky cowboys get bucked. That was just as much fun.

While they stood there, Tino got as close as he would on this night: he stood behind Candace with his arms wrapped around her front. His body pressed close to hers. He rested his chin on her shoulder and kissed the side of her neck
two
times. Candace knew it was exactly twice, because his warm breaths tickled and her heartbeat increased on both occasions.

When they got back to Candace’s apartment, Tino walked her to the door like a proper gentleman. His touches were starting to stimulate urges, so Candace was glad when he didn’t linger at her doorway. He kissed her once on the cheek, and then pecked her gently on the lips. He took her hand and kissed it slowly, staring at her with those dark eyes the whole time. It was all Candace could do to keep from squirming.

She waited thirty minutes, then called to make sure he made it home okay. They chatted for a little while, but it was late in the evening. Candace began to yawn, and Tino said he was tired, too.

Before they got off the phone, Tino wanted to make a confession.

“I know you may not believe this,” he said, “but I’ve been in love with you for a long time. And I know I’m not supposed to say that on a first date, but I do what I want to do. I don’t care what people think.”

Candace was speechless, but always the gentleman, Tino let her off the hook. “I don’t want you to say anything,” he said. “I just wanted to you to know how I feel.”

He hung up abruptly.

Candace called him right back.

“Why’d you hang up on me?”

“I didn’t want to put you on the spot,” he said. “I didn’t want you to feel like you had to say something back.”

“But I want to say something back.”

“Okay.”

“Tino, you’re a great guy. You’re the coolest guy I’ve ever gone out with. You show me so many things.” She paused. “I can’t say I love you right now, but I am definitely falling for you.”

“Then fall,” he urged.

“Okay,” Candace said. “I will.”

And she did.

I’M YOUR MOTHER

On Saturday, August 25, Candace and Tino had their second date. After the loot he dished out at the stockyards, Candace insisted she pay. She took him to Pappadeaux, much to the chagrin of the waiters there who thought they might have a chance with their coworker from New York.

Tino had fried shrimp and fried catfish fillets. Candace had chicken breast with mashed potatoes and broccoli. For dessert, her manager brought them a complimentary turtle fudge brownie with vanilla ice cream. They ate it with one spoon. Tino fed her a couple of times.

On Tuesday, August 28, they started their second semester at Overbrook Meadows Community College. They had no classes together this time.

On Saturday, September 1, Candace went to the CPS office for her final visit with Gabriella Sands. The caseworker went over the Service Plan point by point, certifying her a success in all areas. Best of all, the Whitleys were at this meeting. Being done with all of this was a reward in itself, but Martha Whitley sat across from Gabriella with the most prized gift of all in her arms.

Leila was wrapped snugly in a yellow blanket. She was awake. Her eyes darted here and there but didn’t register any recognition when they fell upon Candace. The baby grinned gleefully at her foster mother.

Leila’s real mother sat in the third chair in Gabriella’s office. Candace checked her watch again, wondering what the hell was taking so long. This was supposed to be a quick meeting, a simple transferal of the merchandise. But they had been in there for thirty minutes already because Gabriella was an anal bitch. She wanted to make sure she had all her P’s and Q’s lined up.

Candace waited and gritted her teeth. She knew this meeting had to end at some point, and when it did, Mrs. Whitley would never lay her crusty hands on Leila again.
Never
. If the couple was crazy enough to ask Candace for a few visits, they had a rude awakening coming.

Gabriella eventually finished her spiel. She applauded the Whitleys for always being there when her office needed them, and she said Candace went above and beyond in proving herself worthy of these new responsibilities.

“Candace, your case is closed.” Gabriella smiled and gestured towards Mrs. Whitley. “You can take your baby home.”

Candace stood quickly and was immediately overcome by a wave of dizziness. She fought through it and forced her eyes to remain focused. She reached for her baby, but Martha Whitley didn’t immediately rise to her feet. Instead she held Leila up at eye level with her hands in the child’s armpits. She stared into the infant’s face longingly.

“I’m gonna miss you,” she said. Her eyes filled with moisture, and a tear rolled down her cheek. Leila clucked and kicked out with her chubby legs. Mrs. Whitley brought her in for one last kiss and one more hug. She handed her off to Candace with what looked like obvious reluctance.

“She’s a good girl,” she said. “As sweet as jellybeans.”
Yeah, jellybeans. I get it. Gimme!

Candace accepted her daughter like she was receiving the bouquet at a Miss America pageant. A warm flood of euphoria washed over her. She felt weak and overwhelmed and energized at the same time. The whole world was right again. Her baby felt good, so soft, so
precious
. Candace took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

It was done
. It never should have happened in the first place, but now it was done. She felt like they returned a missing piece of her heart. A piece of her very soul.

She tried to put her baby in the car seat she brought with her, but the straps weren’t as self-explanatory as they looked. Mrs. Whitley knelt to help, but Candace shot her a look that made her back away. Candace figured it out by herself and stood with a new burden she was happy, if not proud, to bear.

“Is it over?” she asked her caseworker. “I can go now?” Gabriella nodded. “Yes, Candace. It’s over. Good luck!”

Candace’s smile magnified. She thanked everybody one last time and stepped out of the office a new woman. Walking through that door was like walking into a totally new world.

Mrs. Whitley called after her, offering tips on what she could do when the baby does
this
or
that
, but Candace didn’t pause or even look back. She wanted no part of that woman’s techniques.

Later she would regret not taking these last-minute instructions.

* * *

She was in such a good mood, Candace called her parents on the way home.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Mom! How’s it going?”

“Candace? Oh, hi, baby! What’s going on? I don’t expect to hear from you on a Saturday.”

“I know, Mom. I was just . . . . I’m having a good day. I thought I’d call to say hi.”

“You know you can call me anytime. Why are you so happy? What’s the good news?”

“There’s no news, Mom. I just . . . . I feel good.”

“Oh, okay. How’s the baby?”

Candace smiled so big she could have had her braces removed without a bite block. “She’s great, Mom. She’s chilling. She’s so beautiful.”

“I know she is, Candace. Listen, we’ve been real patient about this. I’d like to think me and your dad have been understanding.”

“You have, Mama. I love y’all so much.”

“We love you, too, baby. But tell me, how long are you going to make us wait to see our grandbaby? I’m glad you’re calling more, but it’s been two months. She’ll be walking and talking by the time we set eyes on her.”

“Mama, school started last week. I won’t have time off until Christmas. I can come visit you then.”

“That’s great, Candace. Your dad will be glad to hear that, but that’s a long time away. Why can’t we come see you? You say nothing’s wrong, but the longer you keep us away, the harder that is to believe.”

“Okay,” Candace said, still beaming.

“Okay what?”

“Okay, you can come see me if you want.”

“Candace, please tell me you’re serious. Gerald will be on a plane tomorrow if I tell him you said that.”

“I’m serious. I was planning to come up for Christmas, but if you want to see me before then, it’s okay now. I want to see you, too.”