DECEPTION - A Family Affair (7 page)

To stay alert, she was already on her second cup of coffee and decided to call Alex down to her office.  Alex entered her office looking a bit shy.  “Hi Miss Braxton, you called for me?”

“Hi Alex please come in and have a seat.”  Walking over he closed the door and sat across from her.  “I called you down to see how you are holding up?”

“I’m okay.”

“Just okay?  Is there anything you want to talk about?  I know your Grandpa is sick in the hospital; your Mom is having a baby.  I realize you have a lot happening in your life.”

Looking uncomfortable and shifting in his seat a few times already. “Yeah, so?  I’m good not a big deal.  Can I go back to class now?”  Alex asked.

Taken back by his response Marisol continued her query.  “Why do you seem on edge?  You do know what is said in my office is just between you and I.  I want you to know that I am here for you always.”

“I know but I have nothing to say.  My friend died, my grandfather is still in intensive care and big deal my mom is having a baby.  What more do you want me to say?”

“Okay if that is all you feel the need to say for now.  I do have a question for you.  I noticed at the wake two boys gave you a sort of look that seemed to carry a message.  What was that about?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”  He responded agitated.

“Alright Alex, I won’t press the issue with you for now.  Please understand I do want to help you any way I can.”

“Thank you, can I go now?”

“Yes you can, here is your pass to go back to class and I hope you can come to trust me.”  Watching him rush out of her office she knew something was up but couldn’t quite put her finger on it.  Seeing her phone buzz it was Nate calling.  “Hello Nate.”

“What’s up beautiful?”

“Hey, just another busy day working on my presentation on the topic of bullying.  I have a conference coming up and I will be presenting to mostly teachers and staff.  We are hoping to start some workshops for the parents on the subject as well.  How about you, how’s your day going?  Sell a million dollars’ worth of real estate yet?”

“I’m working on a couple of projects; I found some land that could be great for commercial property.  Working with a new land developer to see if there is interest there and he seems really interested.” 

“That’s really great; sounds like it could be really lucrative for you.  How did you find this guy?”

“It’s our dear friend Marco.  It seems he has done quite well for himself; it appears he is part owner of a development company.  It is family owned from what I understand but he owns a portion of it.  Don’t have the whole story yet.  Although one of the projects he is considering to do will be just him.  He said he’s been waiting for an opportunity like this all his life.  He has great ideas and seems to have the funds to back it.  As for the other project right now we are testing the land site and if it all works out he will have his partner come down from Texas and we’ll take it from there so to speak.  It seems like our buddy will be hanging around here for a while.”

“Hurray for him!” she answered with sarcasm and wanted to avoid discussing Marco further she moved on to another topic.  “How is Lucas?  You haven’t spoken much about
him
.”

“Marisol, have you thought about what we discussed the other day?”  Nate sounded annoyed with her sarcasm.

“Look Nate, I am going to get my closure trust me on that one.  You know you are so worried about me fixing my life, what about you?  When are you going to stand up for what you believe in and be happy instead of continuing to live a lie?  You have poor Lucas hiding in the shadows you leave behind.  How fair is that?”  She plunged in full force hitting him right where the truth hurts.

“Wow, we are really going there?  You know my situation is different; don’t compare the two.  I have a lot to lose whereas you on the other hand already lost everything.  I just want you to get YOU back so you can move on and finally be happy.”

“Don’t worry about my happiness you need to worry about yours and poor Lucas’.  The person you love should never have to be a secret.  He won’t wait forever you know.”

“Right, um I have to go.  I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Fine, avoid-avoid-avoid – talk to you later.”  She jammed her finger into the phone to end the call and sat in silence while the guilt plagued its way in.  She knew she hurt him by her bluntness aiming to evade the spotlight on her own flaws.  The timing may have been wrong but it had to be said otherwise he’ll never take a step forward.  He deserved his happily ever after just as much as she did.  Her conscious stopped her from telling him of her plan for revenge.  She knew him well enough to know he would disapprove and a lecture would have followed.  The possibility of Marco’s visit being extended excited her for it will allow the time she needed for her plan to work but something was gnawing the back of her mind deep down there was more to her excitement than she was willing to admit.

Chapter Five

Hearing the dismissal bell was like hearing Santa’s sleigh bells ring on Christmas Eve.  She looked forward to just relaxing with Mace and shutting the world out for one solid night.  Dashing out of the office she noticed Sally already left for the day she must have been in a rush since she is usually last to leave.   She made a mental note to ask her if she heard anything out of the ordinary from any of the school kids.  Alex is hiding something and she is determined to get to the bottom of it.  It made her wonder how Savannah’s parents were holding up during this difficult time.  Shaking her head hoping to clear all her sadden thoughts if it was only that simple. 

Driving home thinking about Marco she couldn’t help but wonder how he got into land development.  It appears he has done well for himself; proof was in the car he drove. Well good for him, it made her question if he never left twelve years ago would he have been as successful?  Life was funny how every decision you make takes you on a road through some kind of crazy maze and you don’t realize it until you reach the finish line or get stuck at a dead end.  Pulling in her drive way relief ran through her veins.  Grabbing her purse and tote bag she could hear Mace barking like crazy.  The hairs in the back of her neck stood she felt something was wrong.  Her sense of premonition never failed her.  She’s just glad she didn’t have all the gifts her grandmother had since she was able to do readings for people by looking in to a cup of tea leaves.  She could predict the future and see the past all by looking into a person’s cup of tea leaves.  Marisol never wanted that gift since it was more of a burden to have insight into someone’s fate or destiny.  It had to be horrifying and it personally freaked her out.  Marisol slowly walked up the porch looking around before she unlocked her door only to see Mace run from the back of the house to the front to greet her and then guided her to the back.  Marisol moved quickly to retrieve her rifle and followed Mace’s trail peeking out the back door she could see someone crouched up by her shed door.  She looked again and it appeared to be Alex.  “What the hell.”  Opening the back door she grabbed Mace’s collar in one hand and held her rifle in the other.  “Alex is that you?”

The boy’s head lifted and it was definitely Alex with blood dripping on his face.  She let Mace go and she ran to Alex.  “Alex, what happened?” 

“Why did you have to call me into your office? This is what it got me.”  He replied with tears rolling down mixed with his blood. 

“Oh my God, come inside with me.  Did anyone follow you here?”  He replied by shaking his head no.  Once she had him inside she began to clean him up with Mace pacing back and forth showing his anxiety, unsure how to behave.  “Alex, was it those two boys I asked about today?”

Ignoring her question infuriated her.  She cannot let them get away with this.  “Alex, I need to know what happened to you.  They did a pretty good job on you.” 

“It was the two boys from the funeral their names are James and Jack.  They are cousins.  They followed me after school and once we were away from the school they pushed me down and started punching and kicking me calling me a snitch.  They saw me go into your office today.”

“Oh Alex, what do you know that has them scared to think you snitched on them?”

“I don’t want to talk about it right now my head hurts.”

“Where else does it hurt?  I don’t like the look of your right eye.  We need to call your dad; you need to be seen by a doctor.”

“No, I came here for your help my dad is at the hospital and I don’t want to upset him.”

“Alright then let’s call your uncle Marco.  I have to contact someone from your family, you could have a concussion.”

“Okay then you can call my uncle but not my dad.”

“Do you have his number?  Here is my cell phone just dial it for me.” 

When he passed the phone back to her she left him alone in her kitchen and walked over to the living room so she can speak in private.  “Hello, Marco speaking.”

“Hi Marco, it’s Marisol, um I have Alex here with me.”  Feeling nervous she caught herself stuttering.

“Marisol?  Is everything okay?  What’s going on?”

“He was beat up by two boys after school, and they did a job on him.  He ended up coming straight to my house for help.  I cleaned him up a bit but he needs to be seen by a doctor.  He asked that I call you instead of his dad.”

“Who did this?  I want names, this is outrageous.  Did you call the cops?”  Anger radiated through the phone causing her heart to beat fast in apprehension.

“Marco, please calm down right now we need to take care of Alex first and we’ll get answers afterwards.  We can speak with the police once we get to the hospital.”

“Okay, you’re right; I’m sorry it’s just my blood is boiling right now.  Please stay put.   I’ll be there in ten minutes so be ready.”

“We’ll be here waiting.”

In matter of minutes Marco’s car pulled into the drive way and the three of them sped straight to the hospital located a couple towns away.  Marisol sat in the back with Alex where he rested his head on her lap as she smoothed his hair back.  She kept talking to him so he wouldn’t fall asleep.  Telling him funny stories of his dad growing up and couldn’t resist the skunk story.  Surprised by the revelation since he didn’t know they were friends.  Marco kept looking in his rear-view mirror and started to reminisce as if her stories were just the other day.  A smile raided his face and won the battle.  She had a way of turning an unpleasant situation into a soothing one.  His thoughts drifted on what a great mother she would be one day and how she has all the qualities of what he desires in a wife.  Jeez he needed to get a grip and stop going down that path.  He tried to stay away from her but the gods keep circumventing his efforts. 

“Tio, do we have to tell Papi?”  Alex asked feeling panicky all of a sudden.

Shaken from his thoughts Marco refocused on his nephew.  “Alex, as much as I would like to honor your request, this is something we cannot keep from your father even if we wanted to.  Plus the fact you should never keep secrets from your father especially something this important.”

“I know you are right; I just don’t want to worry him.  He is not going to be happy about this.”

“No he’s not and neither am I.  We need answers Alex, without them we can’t protect you or fix whatever it is that is going on here.” 

Marisol could see the war that Alex was battling in his head.  He just stared upwards not looking at anything in particular.  She was relieved to finally see the hospital sign as Marco pulled into the parking lot taking the first available parking space.  They hurried directly into the emergency room entrance.  Marisol let Marco speak with the nurse in private while he called upstairs to request Angelo to come down and meet them.  He spent the day by Freddie’s side today so their mother can actually get some rest.  Marco met him by the elevators to inform him of what happened and to make certain he stayed calm before he approached Alex.  Marco and Angelo both walked over to the waiting room to join Marisol and Alex.  Alex became fidgety when his father approached him.  “Are you ready to talk and let me know what the hell is going on?”  Angelo roared, unable to contain his temper even though he tried but immensely failed.  He clearly is in no mood for nonsense. 

Alex put his head down and started to cry.  Marisol consoled him in her arms and frowned at Angelo.  The nurse had impeccable timing, as she called for Alex since they were now ready for him and he followed the nurse passed the swinging doors with Angelo trailing behind him looking defeated.  Marco decided to sit next to Marisol and he placed his hand on her knee, a shock wave went right through her.  Oh my God, this has to stop she keeps acting like she was fifteen years old again.  “Hey, you okay?”  Marco turned his head so he can have full view of her face.  She nodded yes.  “Good.”  He then stood up and grabbed her hand to stand.  “Come with me.” He said as he guided her toward the elevators. 

“Where are we going?”  She asked but not letting go of his hand since it felt so natural. 

“To visit my father real quick and I want you there with me.”  He replied as he squeezed her hand.  Lost for words, Marisol had no reply following him as he guided her inside the elevator as the doors opened.  Standing so close while holding his hand she felt the sexual tension between them as she sucked on her bottom lip he looked over at her with lustful eyes.  His eyes were saying everything his voice lacked.  He wanted to ravish her right then and there and controlled all his impulses to press the emergency button within the elevator.  Clearing his throat to speak as the elevator doors opened he was able to get his voice to function.  “He is no longer in ICU and we are hoping he can go home by the end of the week if all goes well.”  Leading the way to Freddie’s room he kept sneaking a peek at her as if she may disappear before his very eyes.

“That’s great Marco.  I bet Mona is excited.  It must have been tough for her and I’m sure she is glad to have you home again.”  Once the words were out she felt Marco go rigid and he remained silent until they reached the door to his father’s room.