CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Since returning from the club last night, Margarita had not been able to stop crying and checking on Jessica, who slept in her room. There was no doubt in Margarita’s mind that the letter had been real and, for some reason, she’d been given another chance by that god.
Why? It didn’t matter. She’d cheated death. Death. And it terrified her. It wasn’t the way life worked. We were supposed to live the lives given to us, no matter how long or short. Still, she couldn’t help but feel grateful to get this second chance to watch her daughter grow up. And as of today, she would make every moment count.
Finally, around seven in the morning, Margarita decided it was time to make a few changes in her life, starting by turning over a new leaf with her daughter.
She went into Jessica’s bedroom, hugging a box of tissues. “Jess? Honey? Wake up. We need to talk.”
Jessica opened her groggy green eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Everything. Everything and nothing.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I, but I’m going to tell you a story…”
An hour later, Jessica sat with her back up against her headboard, her sweet little face pale and her eyes filled with confusion. “So you’re Amish. And you left my father because he hit you, not because you didn’t love each other enough.”
“I only lied to protect you, Jessica. I wanted you to have an easier life, but now I realize I robbed you of the chance to really know me and why I am the way I am.”
“I always wondered why you never dated.”
“Part of me feels like, and will always feel like, the people I love will just turn their backs on me. But that’s what you need to know about me, Jessica. I will never turn my back on you. I will always be there to cheer for you no matter what you choose to do in life. And even when you push back and act like an insensitive teenager, I will never make you feel unloved. I am here for you, and going forward, I will make more time for us. Less time at the gym, less worrying, less work.”
“What about your plans to franchise and make more money?”
Margarita didn’t want to tell Jessica that she was supposed to have died, and by some miracle, a deity came out of nowhere and delivered a letter that changed her fate. That was the sort of story that could shake a child’s world.
I myself still don’t understand what happened. She only knew that she was alive.
Margarita smiled. “Some things are more important than money.”
Jessica smiled back. “So does this mean you’re finally going to start dating again?”
“God, no. I think I’d like to focus on us a little more. There’ll be time for dating once you’re off to college.”
“What about that guy from last night? He seemed nice. So tall…and wow. So tall.”
Margarita frowned. She didn’t like her daughter appreciating Acan’s, errr…tallness or anything else.
“He is nice. In a way. But I don’t think we’re meant to be. His, umm…work takes up a lot of his time. And he loves what he does, so I couldn’t and wouldn’t expect him to change just for me.”
“That’s too bad. Because…wow. He was so,” Jessica sighed and shook her head appreciatively, “tall.”
“Yep. Tall. Among many, many other things.” Such as he’s hung like a stallion and kisses like the God of Panty Melting. Even right now, just thinking about it made her all toasty down there. And changing subjects… “Hey, want to go for a jog? We can stop for pancakes at the place around the corner on the way back.”
“Sure.” Jessica clapped. “Let me get dressed. Oh, and before I forget, my friend Kara is having a birthday movie thing at her house tonight. Her parents will be there. Can I go?”
“Just be home by nine. It’s a school night. Now, go get dressed. It’s a beautiful day outside.”
Margarita and Jessica had a fantastic day. Probably more fantastic for Margarita simply because she now knew how much she had to be grateful for. Being alive. Being there to watch her daughter grow and find love and maybe have her own children someday.
All it had cost her was Acan. But there was little choice but to put him out of her head and move on. She’d escaped with her life and that was what mattered. That and my daughter obeying my damned rules.
Five past ten, Jessica still hadn’t come home. “Dammit, Jess.” Margarita had sent several texts that Jess decided to ignore. You would think that after this morning, Jessica would change her damned ways.
But what could Margarita expect? Things were not going to change overnight, and her daughter was still a teenager.
Margarita called Kara, and when she didn’t answer, there was no choice but to get in the damned car and retrieve her daughter. Why did Jessica insist on making things so much harder than they had to be?
Wearing black yoga pants and a T-shirt, Margarita slipped on her running shoes, grabbed her purse and keys, and headed for Kara’s house only to arrive ten minutes later and find Kara’s mother at a complete loss for words. “I’m so sorry, but Jessica isn’t here. The party ended at nine.”
“What? Where did she go?” The rage pumped in Margarita’s veins.
“Come in. We’ll ask Kara.” Kara’s mother, a full-figured woman with short dark hair, disappeared down the hallway of their small ranch-style home. After a few minutes, she returned to their living room with Kara in tow.
“Tell her! Tell her right now, Kara, or so help me you will be grounded for six months!” said her mother.
“Mom, I don’t know.” Kara’s dark hair fell over her eyes as she looked at the ground.
She was lying.
“Kara, honey,” said Margarita. “I don’t know how to explain this to you in a way you’ll fully understand, but I am going through a rough time right now. And maybe Jessica is fine, and maybe she doesn’t need me, but I need her. I need to know she’s okay. Can you understand that?”
Kara grumbled under her breath. “She Ubered to some club with Ophelia.”
“A club? What’s the name?” Margarita asked.
“I don’t remember. It’s some big party for this billionaire guy who’s looking for a date.”
Oh hell no. “Is it called the Randy Unicorn?”
“Yeah. That’s the place.”
Shit. Shit. Shit. Why would Jessica go there?
“Thanks.” Margarita sprinted for her car.