Star Bright (20 page)

“
Maria.” she
turned to Dave’s voice. A tall old man was standing next to him,
his jacket matched Michael’s, it was truly a rich kids’ school,
“This is principal Roberts.”

“
Hello.”
Roberts said stiffly stretching his hand out.

Maria stepped forward to
shake his hand, already thinking of all the trouble Michael was
going to get into if the whole faculty was as stiff as him, “Hello,
this is Michael and Izzy,” pointing towards them.

Michael stepped forward,
dragging Izzy with him, “Principal Roberts.” he said seriously.
Maria looked down at him, amused at how similar he had sounded like
Dave when he was working.

“
Hello young
Greer.” impressed, shaking Michael’s little hand.

Maria looked up at him,
then at Dave with a shocked look on her face. Dave smiled at her,
amused by her reaction. He did tell her he was going to tell him
the truth, but he didn’t say he wouldn’t twist it a
little.

“
And is Izzy
short for Isabel or Elizabeth?”

“
Elizabeth.”
Michael answered excitedly. Maria was sure it was because he had
been referred to as young Greer.

“
They both
look remarkably like the both of you.” Roberts spoke, turning to a
stunned Maria and a amused Dave, “Well it’s time for us to go. Say
goodbye to your parents and your sister, young man.”

Michael quickly hugged
Izzy then waved at Maria and Dave, “Bye mama, bye dad.” Then he
turned to follow Roberts.

Maria blinked a few
times, unsure she had heard Michael correctly, “Wait a minute,
where’s my hug and kiss?” she asked quietly.

Michael ran back and
hugged and kissed her, then did the same with Dave before he ran
after his new principal. Izzy ran after him, but Dave caught her
before she got far, “You still have a long way before you join
him.” He took Maria’s hand. She pulled it out of his hold and
stared holes into him, “What happened to telling the
truth?”

Dave took her hand back
and pulled her forward, “I did tell the truth, and I just added my
name to his, just in case.”

“
In case of
what?” Maria asked, steamed.

“
In case
someone who’s not supposed to comes looking for him here. You and I
are the only ones allowed to pick him up from school.” Dave felt
her stiffen beside him. He was correct in assuming there was still
a threat to her, “And besides, maybe in the future his name really
will be Greer.” He added on a lighter tone.

Maria took Izzy from him
and put her in her car seat before she got into the passenger side,
“Don’t hold your breath, and please don’t encourage Michael, he
needs to keep his feet stuck on reality.”

Dave started the car and
drove out of the parking lot, “We need to talk about that
particular reality.”

Maria came out of Dave’s
bathroom, changed into jeans and a t-shirt, she felt more like
herself, than the rich housewife outfit she had on, “I don’t want
Michael to get too attached to you.”

“
Why not?”
Dave swung on his seat watching Maria as she moved fluidly around
the room. She checked on Izzy in her pen before she dropped in the
seat opposite him.

“
Because I
don’t want him to have another disappointment.” she took the pins
out of her hair and let it fall freely around her
shoulders.

“
I’m not
Ricky, or Miguel.” Dave said sternly.

“
I never told
you Ricky was Michael’s father?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
She had that feeling again, that Dave knew more about her than he
let on.

“
You implied
it.” Dave answered quickly.

Maria watched him for a
moment for some tall-tale signs that he was lying, but the guy was
a lawyer, he didn’t wear his cards on his sleeve, “I didn’t mean
you were like either of our fathers. Izzy is going to know the love
of a father, something Michael and I know nothing
about.”

“
It would be
weird being a father figure for you, considering what I imagine for
us, but Michael can have that and much more... if you allow
it.”

Maria had sworn off men,
in fact she had come to resent them, until Dave came into their
lives. He was making it difficult for her to protect Michael, from
whom or what he might turn out to be, once he had his hooks in her,
“Not everything is as simple as you think.” She moved from the seat
to the couch.

Dave followed her to the
couch, “I really like you and I really love Michael. You really
love Izzy and I’m hoping you really like me too. It is that
simple.” He took her hands and rubbed them gently with his
thumbs.

Maria felt uncomfortable
at how serious he had gotten. It had seemed harmless and
adventurous at first, but not anymore, she was going to end up
hiding from him if he didn’t stop, “Are both yours and Amy’s
parents coming for the party?” pulling her hands from his and
tucking them under her arms.

Dave huffed before he
turned away from her, taking her cue, “Amy’s parents have been
vacationing in Europe for the past six years, and I don’t see them
coming back any time soon. My parents will be there.”

“
Okay, you can
tell me what they like, I want to get everything right.” she felt
guilty sensing the annoyance in his voice.

“
It’s a kid’s
birthday party, not a cocktail dinner.” he added coldly.

“
I should
never have kissed you.” She stood up and moved away from
him.

“
Why not?” he
asked angrily.

“
Because now
you want more and I can’t give that to you. What I have left in me,
I’m giving to Michael, and now Izzy. The little that is left, is
split between you and me and I can’t give you more.”

“
I know you’ve
been through a lot, but that’s no reason to shut yourself off and
keep me at arm’s length. You are not recovering from your past, you
are just letting it keep you locked in.”

“
What do you
mean by that?” Maria asked, moving closer to him.

“
Nothing.”
Dave answered evenly.

Todd walked in with a
number of files in his hands, interrupting their argument, “Dave we
need to get these files done. Hi Paula.”

“
Maria.” he
corrected, “Not now Todd.” Dave dismissed him, keeping his eyes on
Maria.

Todd shifted his gaze
between the two, realizing he had walked into a very tense
situation. What he didn’t understand was the change of names, but
he wasn’t about to ask and risk getting his head bitten
off.

“
We need to
get this done Dave.” Todd added carefully.

Dave stood up and turned
to him, “I said not now!” he shouted, making Maria jump.

She took a step away from
him and clutched her shaky hands into fists, as much as she was
trying, his temper still scared her. Maria took several deep
breaths and leaned against the desk to keep her steady.

“
Are you
okay?” Todd asked, looking past Dave at her.

Dave followed his worried
gaze to Maria, she looked rattled and he knew he did that to her.
“I’m fine.” she said quietly, trying to keep her voice steady and
avoid Dave’s gaze.

Carol leaned against the
door, “Maria, Your mom’s on the line.”

Maria was relieved for
the escape, she needed to get away from him for a while, just until
he had his temper under control, “Thanks, I’ll take it at your
desk.” Carol nodded and moved from the door.

Maria was about to walk
out of the room, but Dave stopped her and held her hand. She
cringed and her whole body tightened, but she didn’t dare pull
away. He pulled her to his desk and picked up the receiver, “Carol
put the call through.” Handing Maria the receiver when he was sure
she was on with her mother and wasn’t about to run off scared, he
turned to Todd, “What is it?”

“
Yes mama.”
Maria moved to the other side of the desk, soothing and rebuking
herself for over reacting, she knew better than to be afraid of
him, she felt safest when she was around him. She watched Dave in
his element as he spoke to Todd in a rush, pointing at the
documents he brought, giving him instructions on what to do. Maria
wasn’t sure Todd understood a word Dave was saying, he had a blank
look on his face and he didn’t seem like he wanted to interrupt
Dave for an explanation.

“
Hi dear,
Michael told me about his party.” Edna spoke, as she threw clothes
into her suitcase. Miguel was on his cell phone rapping angrily in
Spanish. His men had let Ricky slip past them. He’d gone to Nates’
house, got the information on his New York home. He had a few hours
head start, but Edna was determined to catch him before he got near
Maria. She was grateful Maria had moved out of the apartment, with
Nate in the hospital fighting for his life and someone else already
dead, she was glad her daughter moved.

“
Yes, we are
having a double party, Izzy is turning two. Will you be able to
come?”

“
Yes, I’m
bringing someone, Michael told you right?”

“
Yes he did.
You can use Nate’s apartment if you like.” Maria sat in Dave’s huge
seat. She took her time speaking to her mother so that Dave could
have more time to finish his work, before they finished their
conversation.

“
That’s good.”
Edna exhaled in relief. All she could hope for was they didn’t
leave any clues behind. Miguel tapped her on the shoulder, she held
the receiver away to listen to him.

“
Someone’s
been digging up information on Maria. The PI got everything on her,
police and hospital records included. Should I get rid of him?” his
voice had a hint of enthusiasm in it.

Edna looked at him
puzzled and a little annoyed at his eagerness to kill someone. She
held the receiver back to her ear, “Maria, you said your boyfriend
is a lawyer?”

“
He’s not my
boyfriend.” Maria said firmly. Even as she said it, she wouldn’t
have minded if he was, “yes, one of the best lawyers.” She said
proudly.

“
Could he have
hired someone to check up on you?”

“
What?” Maria
shot up straight in the seat. Dave and Todd turned to look at
her.

“
There is a PI
here, he’s got everything on you, and I mean
everything.”

“
He must
belong to Dave.” Maria got off the seat and walked towards the duo.
She grabbed Todd’s arm and led him out of the office, closing the
door behind him, and then turned to Dave. He looked at her, not
sure to be amused or frightened of the tiny woman.

Edna held the receiver
away from her, “Leave him be, he’s Dave’s.”

“
Damn it! I
don’t need a lawyer snooping around,” Miguel turned and went back
to his phone.

Edna put the phone back
to her ear. She didn’t want to deal with Miguel’s problems right
now while a maniac was hunting down her daughter, “Honey we’ll see
you in a week or so.”

“
Why so soon?”
Maria asked, taking slow steps towards Dave.

“
I miss you
guys, that’s all.” she handed her suitcase to one of Miguel’s men
and rushed out of the house for the car, “Love you.”

“
Love you.”
Hanging up, she turned her full attention to Dave, “A
PI?”

Dave pocketed his hands
and stared down at the threat half his size approaching him, “Put
down the phone, I don’t want to get hurt.”

She threw the phone on
the couch, “You said you didn’t know a lot about me?”

“
Lawyers lie
all the time.”

“
Dave!”

“
I wanted you
to tell me on your own, with no pressure.” He spoke in a placid
tone, to contrast her furious one.

“
Oh no, let’s
not pressure Maria, let’s just go behind her back and violate her
privacy! You can’t keep doing back ground checks on everyone you
meet!” she yelled, her rage making its way up to the
surface.

“
Force of
habit.” She walked to the desk and pulled open his draw, “What are
you doing?”

“
The file you
stuffed in here last time I was here, it’s about me isn’t it?” She
brought out the black file and held it up. When he didn’t answer,
she opened it and looked through it. She felt like she was going to
get sick, looking at how much of her he had in that black file.
Everything about her was in there, even Michael’s baby pictures,
what disgusted her most was her two page medical report. She wasn’t
sure what she felt strongest, anger or shame.

She always felt
humiliated when she had to go to the hospital to get her bones
reset, get the wounds stitched up, or bandaged, or burns that were
to extreme to be treated. Whatever Edna couldn’t fix, she had to go
to the hospital. The pity stares always made her skin crawl, they
felt worse than the wounds she was getting treated for, and now
Dave knew and she felt ten times more embarrassed.

Dave moved closer to the
desk and stood across from her, “Maria, I needed to know what you
were running from so that I could protect you.”

“
You know
about Ricky?” Not daring to lift her eyes to meet his.

“
Enough to
dance on his grave, if he had one!”