One Night Stand (New Yorker III) (16 page)

“Do you
want to hold them?”

“No!” She
shouted it out a little louder than she should have. “No one is taking them out
of there until they are ready.”

* * *
*

Catalella
paced in the hallway, a bunch of twisted nerves. It was two months ago that she
had been standing outside the NICU. She didn’t understand why Katherine had
called them urgently to the hospital. A million scenarios had run through her
mind, and going into the NICU nursery and not seeing her babies made it even
worse.

“You’re
making me dizzy, Catalella,” Rich moaned. “Sit down.”

“I just
need to know what is going on.”

“If it
was bad news, we would know already.”

“Peanut.”

Catalella
turned to the sound of AJ’s voice. She watched as AJ and Katherine rolled two
tiny beds toward them.

“I
promise you we haven’t carried them yet.”

Catalella
swallowed hard. She hadn’t held her babies yet. She was terrified that she
would do more harm to them than good. Now the moment she had waited for ever
since she found out she was pregnant was facing her, and she was terrified
beyond belief.

“I
don’t know if I can hold them. I don’t want to hurt them.”

“That’s
why I’m here. I’m here to show you how to do it right.” Catalella noticed the
nurse behind them for the first time.

“Should
I sit down?” Catalella asked as she lowered herself onto the couch.

“Sure.”
She watched as the nurse picked Ethan up first. His tiny mouth puckered like a
little rose bud. His eyes opened wide and fixed on her. That was what changed
her mind. “Cradle your arms.”

“No, I
think Rich should hold his son first.”

“Catalella,
relax. I’m right here with you. Besides, I’m going to be holding Camellia.”
Rich spoke to her calmly.

“Okay,
okay.” She exhaled, releasing all the tension in her body. She held out her
arms just as the nurse instructed, felt his tiny weight in her arms and her
heart melted. She watched a tear roll down Rich’s cheek as the nurse placed his
daughter in his arms. This was her family now. She needed to be strong for
them.

“And
they said she couldn’t have a baby. Ha!” AJ snickered. “They didn’t bank on
wonder-sperm Rich walking into my sister’s life.”

Finally
the odds were in her favor.

Epilogue

Rich
woke up with a start. His body was drenched in sweat, his eyes battling to see
in the darkness. He flipped on his bedside lamp. Rich looked around and was
comforted by the sight of his bedroom, of Catalella still fast asleep beside
him. He didn’t understand what had made him have that dream.

He had
never thought of his mother since she dumped him when he was six. She had
another life to live, apparently, and that life was much more important than
Ethan ever was or could be. Rich had dreamt that he was in his father’s coffin
lying next to Ethan senior in the dark. Strangely enough, his mother was there.
Mrs. McCrery was looking into the coffin, laughing at them.

Careful
not to disturb Catalella, he got off the bed and walked across the hall to
where the twins slept. Their little turtle lights were on. Ethan junior was
fast asleep but Camellia was awake. She had her little blanket in her tiny
fists as she stared at the lights dancing on the ceiling. She was so peaceful
and reminded him so much of Catalella. Rich reached into the crib and picked up
his little girl. She immediately released her blanket and substituted it with
his shirt. Her grip was tight, holding on to him as if she was afraid he would
let go. But Rich would never do that. He couldn’t imagine his life without his
little family.

Rich
sat in the rocking chair and sang the Spanish lullaby Rosalinda had taught him.
He wanted to soothe Camellia and himself.

“What’s
going on?”

Rich
lifted his gaze to find Catalella standing at the door, wearing only his T-shirt.
He loved seeing her in his clothes. “Remember what I told you the first time
you wore my shirt?”

Catalella
sauntered to where he was, and sat on his lap. With her finger she caressed the
baby’s smooth cheek. She chuckled when Camellia grabbed her finger with both
hands and tried to put it in her mouth. “I remember. It’s the reason why we
have these two treasures.”

“
Mmmm
.”
Rich watched as Catalella and Camellia cooed at each other.

“What’s
going on with you?”

“I had
a nightmare.”

“You
want to tell me about it?”

Rich
thought for a second. He decided he would much rather bask in the love before
him instead of thinking of a woman he hadn’t seen in twenty years.
“Nope.”

“Are
you sure?”

Rich
stared into space and that day came back to him. The memories flooded his mind
with such intensity he was afraid he would break down. Catalella already knew
the important part. His parents split up because Ethan senior was in love with
Rosalinda. Even after Rosalinda married Adrian senior and had Catalella, Ethan
senior didn’t give up on his obsession with Rosalinda. It was that obsession which
drove Elizabeth away, but what Rich never understood was what he did to deserve
to be abandoned.

“I had
a nightmare about my parents.”

Catalella
studied him in silence. She took the baby from him and placed her back in her
crib. Then she took Ethan’s hand, pulled him to his feet and led him back to
their room. Once they were sitting on the bed, she stared at him in silence.

“I
remember my parents being in their bedroom. I was coming from school—I wanted
to show them my report card. I think that’s the last time I was ever excited
about a grade. I found them shouting at each other…"

“She won’t ever love you, Ethan.”
Elizabeth shouted, her red, fiery hair matching her temper. “Why would she want
a man as weak as you are when she has Adrian?”

“You speak about him as if he’s
a god.” Ethan crossed the room with three large strides. He grabbed Elizabeth
at the elbow and shook her. “Tell me lass, do you have a thing for him?”

“If I had met him first—”
Elizabeth left the statement hanging as she tried to pull out of Ethan’s grasp.

“Is that why you were rubbing
all over him like a cat in heat when Talia died? You have no shame, woman.”
Ethan shoved Elizabeth away from him. She landed on the bed with a loud gasp.

“I would have had him if it
wasn’t for that maid,” Elizabeth spat, the venom thickly lacing her words. “You
know what I wanted the most when Talia died? I wanted you to die. That way
Adrian and I would raise our children together.”

“Do you love him that much?”

“Love?”
Elizabeth threw her head back, her evil cackle filling each and every corner of
their master bedroom.
“Love or lust?
There is no such
thing as love, Ethan. Do you know how I know that? Because I love you, but it
has never been enough for you has it? I want your best friend. I want to hurt
you as much as you’ve hurt me. Imagine if I take away your best friend and your
son. I’ll show you just as much loyalty and love as you have shown me.”

“You’ll never leave this house,
Elizabeth. Do you hear me?” Ethan's shout rattled the glass windows, and for a
second it had Elizabeth backing away. But she was stubborn. She stuck out her chin
and Ethan decided to take her up on the offer. The sound of his fist meeting
Elizabeth’s jaw had Rich cringing and inching away from the room. He was a
coward and he felt like one. He couldn’t help his mother. But when Elizabeth’s
laugh rang out it was filled with hatred and anger, the sort that sent tiny
invisible creatures crawling down his back.

Rich
shivered, shaking the memory off him. “She left the next day. I’ve never seen
her since.”

“You
know it wasn’t your fault.” Catalella caressed his cheek. She guided his head
to her chest as she lay back and held him.

“I know
that, but I blamed my father. I never stopped hating him for it. But when I
grew up I realized that if Elizabeth had wanted me, she would have come to
visit, even if only once. So I blamed both of them. I was destructive,
Catalella, and it took Ethan senior dying for me to realize I don’t want to be
alone in this world.”

“You
aren’t alone. You have a huge family now. You have me and our little babies.
Who, by the way, will
be wanting
their breakfast
soon.”

“What
time is it?”

“Five
in the morning.”
Catalella kissed the top of his head, and caressed his back. “You know I’ll
never leave you.”

“Yes.”
Ethan pulled back and stared into her eyes. “I was thinking that maybe…that
maybe when the twins turn one, we could try for another baby.”

“Ethan—”

He
heard the tortured tone in her voice, but something inside him wanted more
people around him. He had this cold, eerie feeling of fear in his heart.
Something was about to happen and he needed all the love around him that he
could get.

“I know,
my little orchid, but we did it once—actually twice—who says we can’t do it a
third time?”

“All right,”
she conceded. “The odds seem to be in our favor after all.”

*The End*

The New Yorker 4

Deceiving Love

“What
are you doing here, Eyvette? I thought I told you that I’d come to see you.”

She saw
the beads of nervous sweat roll from his hair line, down his temple and cheek.
The way he held the door half-closed, and how his eyes would duck back and
forth, told her he was hiding something from her. “DJ, I have something to tell
you.”

“Can’t
it wait?” The nervous look in his eyes turned into one of hostility.

“No, it
can’t.” Eyvette pushed him with all her might. DJ stumbled back and she was
able to gain entry. But, as soon as she was in, she wished she had turned
around and walked away. A siren with red hair and red lingerie draped her body
seductively on the sofa. She raised the glass of wine to her lips and took a
sip. Then she turned to face Eyvette and graced her with a smile.

“DJ?”
Eyvette breathed the question
out. She could hear her blood rush in her ears, felt her knees turn into jelly and
her heart beat furiously in denial.

“Eyvette,
I can explain.”

“Explain
what?” The siren stood up with the grace of a peacock and walked towards Eyvette.
“DJ, I told you to cut this little innocent girl out a long time ago. She
doesn’t understand that sex is just for pleasure and relationships for the
weak. Love is actually lust, my dear, but I don’t blame you for getting
confused. DJ can be very convincing with his words and smile, and very pleasing
with his hands…and mouth.”

Eyvette
felt the bile rise up into her mouth. She needed to throw up. She ran for the
nearest bathroom and emptied her stomach. In her hunched position Eyvette saw
DJ’s bare feet walk up behind her. With all the rage she could master, she lurched
for him, her fist drumming into his chest. She wanted to cause him pain. But
when she realized her hands weren’t doing the job right, she decided to use her
words.

“I’m pregnant.
And guess what, you’ll never see us again.” Eyvette pushed past him and stomped
into the living room. The siren sat drinking her wine, acting like she hadn’t
aided and abetted the love of her life in ripping her heart out of her chest.

Eyvette
walked up to the woman and, before she knew it, her hand lifted from her side
with speed and force. The crack that sounded from the contact of her backhand
and the woman’s cheek surprised her. The shocked looks on both DJ and the
siren’s faces told her that she had surprised them too.

“Thank
you for teaching me a very valuable lesson. I’m all grown up now. I promise you
no one is going to use me the way you did,” Eyvette said as she left.

* * *
*

I’m pregnant.

DJ knew the pain of abandonment. His brother and sister had
been abandoned. Reno’s scars always kept him wary of their father and their
sister was yet to be found. It took him a split second to decide his next move.
DJ wasn’t going to become his father. He wouldn’t subject his child to the same
hatred, betrayal and loneliness that Reno went through. He ran out of his
apartment without his shirt and shoes. He chased Eyvette’s car down the road,
and reached it in time to see her skip the red light and a truck take out her
Porsche.

“No…no!” he muttered to himself. “
No.
” DJ dropped to his knees and buried his face in his hands.