Easter's Lilly (39 page)

“
Were you a playboy too?” I asked.

He smiled. His face flushed a little. “Not as bad as Max but maybe some. Time to settle down though. Can’t be single while Max is all happy and settled. He
is
happy and settled, right?”

“
Oh God yes,” I answered. “I have to get control of myself.” We were getting closer to Diego. “It’s so weird. He looks good and smells so good. I just don’t remember all that.”

“
Lilly, you went from Diego’s bed to Max’s bed and then back to Diego’s again for months. Just like now, your husband worked and the brother stayed home and played house with the wife. For you nothing much has changed. I’m really not very surprised at your behavior. That’s kind of why I came home first.” Hector approached Diego and he closed his book. “Thou shalt not commit adultery… sound familiar?”

“
In my head, she is still
my
wife.” He was very serious about that. “I never agreed to a divorce. It was Max’s… friend, who granted it you know. I should appeal it.”

“
Don’t even think about it, Diego. She’s happy where she is. You should have explained all this…” he paused searching for the right word, “stuff to her. She doesn’t understand. She’s only been with the three of you and you all know each other.”

“
I’m not that innocent Hector. You make me sound so virginal.”

“
You are to us,” Diego agreed. “He’s right, I shouldn’t touch you like that.” When he said that my stomach swooned and my knees went weak and Hector reached out and grabbed me.

“
Oh this isn’t good.” He looked at Diego. In a very soft voice as he looked around he said, “You have to keep this quiet. Please, Diego.”

“
If I tell him, he’ll just take her away. I won’t say a word.”

“
It is so funny how you have switched places. It is even funnier how the two of you say the exact same things in the other’s shoes.” Diego made a face. “She’s young, confused and not quite over you. Let her be, at least for now.”

Diego said nothing but looked at me. He reached his hand up and then put it down immediately. We looked up and saw Max approaching. I wondered if he saw that.

“
Prayer meeting and I wasn’t invited?” he asked in his usual fashion.

“
Just taking a walk,” Hector lied. “How’d it go?”

“
One more day for me, two for you and our Diego is the finale.”

“
Good, ‘cause I’m sick of keeping an eye on him.”

“
Come on Hector, I think the new Diego is kind of charming.” Max smiled but Hector just passed me a look.

“
Max, Lilly was just telling me how much she missed you today.”

“
Really?” Max asked sarcastically.

“
Yes,” I quickly agreed. “I really did.”

“
Well, let me see what I can do about that.” He took my hand and we walked away.

“
Hector wants to be alone with Diego? Why? What’s going on?”

“
I don’t know,” I lied. “You know Hector. He always has his own agendas.”

“
Something feels weird,” he said. “And why are your hands so sweaty?”

“
I told you already, I missed you.” He stopped walking for a minute and I got scared. He grabbed my face and kissed me. I almost went limp in his arms. “Good,” he said. “Just checking.”

He was way too instinctive for me to pull anything over on him. I had to make sure I watched my step until Diego was finally gone.

The next day was more of the same: Max and Hector gone, Diego and I alone. I came in for breakfast and he made me scrambled eggs and tortillas. He put them down in front of me and said not a word. We ate in silence, washed dishes together and I left to the back porch as quickly as possible. I took my coffee with me and sat on the swing we had out there. The boys were both still sleeping upstairs. Diego came out and sat beside me. “Are you doing okay this morning?”

“
No,” I said. “I feel awful for lying to Max like that.”

“
You can’t tell him, he’ll go ballistic.”

“
I know, believe me. He went crazy over Johnny. You… I can’t chance it.”

“
Why Johnny?” he asked. “Why would you kiss him?”

“
For the last time, I didn’t kiss him!” I shouted. “He kissed me and I slapped him. I love how no one talks about the slap.”

“
Johnny came to see me to tell me
all
about it in the hospital. I kind of wish I could give him a call right now.”

“
Don’t you dare,” and I slapped him in the shoulder playfully. He laughed.

“
I wouldn’t. Why should I?”

“
Max would leave me for sure,” I said. “That’s why.”

“
Hmmm…” he said thoughtfully. “I don’t want you that way. I want you to
come
to me.” I rolled my eyes.

“
I’m not going to
come
to you. We can be friends though. You know, that’s how Max and I started. We were friends for years before we heated things up.”

“
I guess you’re right,” he said. “Besides, Hector thinks I’m taking advantage of your naiveté. If you decide you want me, I don’t want there to be any doubts.”

“
Hector thinks it’s some kind of habit or something,” I said.

“
Probably something like that,” he agreed. “More like a familiar body. A familiar place. A familiar touch.” He reached for my face and then changed his mind. “What’s up with you and Hector, anyway?”

“
Hector and me?” I asked in surprise. “Why would you even say that?”

“
I don’t know. You hold hands a lot, like you used to do inappropriately with Max.”

I laughed. “It’s not that way.”

“
He seems very protective.”

“
Yes, that he is,” I answered.

He moved his face closer to mine and I stood up. “What are you doing?” I asked.

“
You are still
my
wife to me,” he answered.

“
I thought we agreed, Diego,” I said. “Friends.”

“
You can’t blame a guy for trying.” He smiled and took my hand. I pulled away. He stood up and pulled me close to him. I could feel his breath on my face.

“
No, Diego, we can’t!” I was starting to get nervous and my stomach started to churn. He let me go and I hurried back into the house. I was breathless by the time I ran into Hector. I smacked right into his chest, without seeing him there, and almost hurt myself.

“
Where’s the fire?” he asked.

“
No fire,” I answered. “Just not feeling so well, that’s all.” I pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge. I was sure my face was flush.”

“
Pregnant?” he asked. “Do we need another test?”

“
No, stop it.”

“
Max is staying home tomorrow. No more games.” He was still scolding me like a little girl caught with her boyfriend in the back seat of daddy’s car.

Diego came into the kitchen. “You’re really something.” Hector eyed him. “I should have shot you when I had the chance.”

“
I’ll be gone in a few days,” he said. “Then this will all be over.” He laughed.

“
What’s so funny?” Hector asked.

“
I think she kind of likes
you
.” Hector laughed hard.

“
We already know she thinks I’m pretty,” he continued.

“
Would you cut it out,” I said. “You’re worse than Max sometimes.”

“
I still love her,” Diego interrupted. He grabbed my hand and I pulled it away.

“
I have to ask.” Hector got very stern. “If she does give in,” Hector looked at me, “and she
won’t
, are you going to tell Max and leave.”

“
Stay and fight.” he said with brazen authority. “I think I can win this time.”

“
Damn it Diego, leave her alone.” Hector grabbed my arm and walked me out the door. “Walk it off Lilly.”

“
I don’t need to walk anything off,” I said in an irritated tone, trying to free my arm from his grip.

“
Is Max not
doing it for you
anymore. Because if you’re bored, you need to tell him. It won’t hurt his feelings, he’ll just pick up the pace a little.”

“
I’m not bored.”

“
Remember I told you that I was your safest relationship right now?”

“
Yes,” I answered.

“
Don’t push it. If I tell him you’re fooling around with Diego he will kill one of you. I’m not quite sure which one.”

“
I’m not fooling around,” I insisted. “I resisted this time. I did!”

He smiled. “Okay, I believe you.” Then he stopped walking, looked at me thoughtfully and hugged me. “You’re very special to me, you know.”

“
I know,” I said. “Hector, I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“
Really girl, behave.” I knew he was right. Maybe this was just too familiar. Maybe we needed to move out of here. Why did their father have to leave them this monster of a house? Am I always attracted to the brother I don’t have? What was wrong with me?”

He started walking again. “Where are we going?” I asked.

He slowed his pace down. “I was just taking you for a walk. That’s all.” We got to the creek and he walked me into the bushes where Jorge, Diego and Hector found Max and me making love. “Do you remember this spot?” he asked.

“
Of course.” I bent down and touched the grass. Then I sat down and he sat down beside me.

“
You were desperately clinging to each other. After we caught you, you almost had a nervous break down. Max calmed you, do you remember?”

“
Yes,” I answered. “Is that what’s happening now, Lilly? Are we losing you again? Is being here too much for you?”

I started crying and lay down in the grass. Hector lay down next to me and hugged me. “This is the kind of thing I can’t tell Max, so I have to try to help you myself. Tell me what to do.”

“
I can’t do this anymore,” I said. “You’re right. It’s too much of the same too soon.”

“
I’ll make you a deal Lilly.” He pulled his arms tightly around my waist. “Promise me you will not allow yourself to be alone with Diego. Stay with one of us. Maybe we should tell Max.”

“
No!” I rolled over and looked him in the face. He looked at me helplessly. “No! He won’t forgive me. I know he won’t forgive me.”

“
If I catch you with him again, I have to tell Max.” He pulled me close to him again and I put my head on his chest. “I can’t watch you have an affair and say nothing.”

“
I know,” I said. We looked up and Max was standing over us. Hector let go quickly and I sat up.

“
No way!” he said. “Hector, this is not happening.”

“
No, it’s not,” I said. “I was having one of my melt downs. He was trying to calm me like you do, that’s all.”

“
I swear, bro. I would never touch her. Not like that.”

“
What’s going on Lilly? I knew something wasn’t right.” I swallowed hard. My hands were shaking. I suddenly blanked. My brain went numb. I knew I had lost it all.

“
Being here… with him.” Hector paused. “It is too much for her, Max. He’s constantly hitting on her. Can you make sure you’re with her all day tomorrow? Just take a day. I’ll testify tomorrow. You and Lilly take a day.”

“
I can’t leave Diego alone. He could bolt.”

“
I’ll take him with me. Just take a day.”

He reached for my hand and helped me stand up. “I am so sorry querida. He’s so right, I’ve neglected you.”

“
Max this is my fault. Everything is all messed up in my head.”

“
He didn’t…” He stopped before he said it. “Did he…?”

“
No, no…” I interrupted. “I’m just getting confused again.”

He hugged me and kissed my cheek. He looked at Hector and I knew he wasn’t going to let it go. Hector stood up. “You believe me, right?”

“
Yes,” Max said. “I believe that
you’re
not having an affair with my wife.”

“
She isn’t having an affair, Max. She’s just uncomfortable.”