Seven Years Later

 

Even through the thick glass windows looking out into the backyard, I could hear the squeals of dozens of little girls filling the air as they whacked at a giant piñata hanging from the old cedar tree. Lillian, my oldest daughter, was turning six today and Joy, with Hannah’s help, organized the kind of birthday party all kids dream of. There was a bounce house, magicians, face painters, and even a cotton candy machine, though I think that was as much for my pregnant wife as anyone else. Right now, Joy was eating a huge blue mound of cotton candy. Our three-year-old middle daughter, Grace, clung to her long skirt with a big blue ring around her mouth from melted candy.

Inwardly, I groaned, knowing Grace was going to be pinging off the walls, even after the guests left. While Lillian was a girly girl, quiet and sweet, Grace was a handful even at three. She had no fear, none, and her curiosity about the world led her to wandering off more than once. At her preschool, the teachers had her wear a special wristband that would activate an alarm anytime she managed to sneak out of the building—which happened more than you’d think. She was just so small and quick. Hell, I’d lost her more than once, though I’d never admit it to my darling wife. Especially when she was pregnant. Because of the hormones, she became easily irritated, and I knew I couldn’t soothe her with an orgasm in the middle of a party.

Rubbing the back of my neck, I wondered how much longer I could hide out in my study before anyone noticed I was missing.

“Ramón,” my mother said from behind me. “There you are.”

Moving slower than she had in the past, my mother joined me at my study window, watching the crowd in the backyard with me. The sunlight glinted off her hair, almost entirely silver now, and deepened the heavy lines beginning to fill her face. Though she was getting older, she was still as active as ever, and I gave her a one-armed hug.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Why are you hiding in here?”

I wanted to say I wasn’t hiding, but that wasn’t quite the truth. Lillian was trying to guilt me into getting my face painted, and she was a master at getting me to do what she wanted. I was hoping that the piñata would distract her from her burning desire to see her daddy made up like her favorite cartoon teddy bear.

A low chuckle escaped me as I caught sight of Leo, looking very uncomfortable as he stood watching his and Hannah’s daughter clap and squeal as a little boy swung at the piñata with all his might. Leo had been trapped earlier by our little darlings and now sported face paint that made him look like a lion. A very grumpy, pissed off lion.

Mom must have followed my line of sight, because she laughed as well. “Poor Leo. He can’t just can’t say no to his girls.”

“I know the feeling.”

We watched everyone for a few more minutes before my mother said in a thin voice, “Ramón, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Distracted by the sight of Grace making a run for it, with my waddling wife following after her, I said, “What’s up, Mom?”

“I…let’s sit down.”

Looking over at her, I easily read the worry she was trying to hide. “Okay.”

As we sat down together on the navy leather sofa facing my desk, I stretched my arm over the back, waiting for her to continue.

Taking a deep breath, my mother laced her fingers together. She looked up at me with an expression so worried, so sorrowful, I immediately leaned forward and clasped her hands in mine. “Are you okay? Is it Dad? What’s going on?”

“No, no. We’re fine. Old, but fine. This is something…else. Something that I’ve been waiting years to tell you, until you were a father yourself, until you understood a parent’s endless love for their child.”

“Mom,” I said gently, letting go of her hands so I could grab some tissue out of the box on the coffee table then hand them to her. I kept some in every room while Joy was pregnant, because she tended to cry over any and everything. “You’re scaring me.”

Her thin lower lip trembled, but she said, “You never programmed Joy. I did.”

At first, her words didn’t make sense. “What are you talking about?”

“You never programmed her. That day at the spa all those years ago? The serum you used was fake.”

Stunned, I collapsed against the back of the couch, trying to make sense of what she said. “But…why?”

“I didn’t want you to harm Joy by double dosing her with it.”

I shook my head rapidly. “That doesn’t make any sense. You wanted me to program her.”

Fiddling with her ring, her hands shaking, she sighed. “It was a ruse so no one would figure out that I’d already programmed her on my own.”

“When?”

“The day you had the big fight with Joy, and she came to our house. I couldn’t let her leave without binding her to us. She’d heard too much, and I knew you weren’t ready, so I did what had to be done.”

A sudden rage filled me. I picked up the nearest object, a large brass statue of a horse, then hurled it at the wall. “How dare you! What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“I did it because I love you,” my mother yelled back. “And I love Joy. I never wanted to see her go through what Hannah did. I kept my instructions very simple. That she wouldn’t betray our family, that she would know that she was safe when she was with you, and that if she was ever threatened, she wouldn’t hesitate to save herself.”

I staggered to the wall then slumped down, ignoring my mother when she slowly crouched next to me. “All these years…you let me believe a lie all these years? Did you tell her to love me? Did you program her to love me? Tell me!”

“Of course not!” She stood and began to pace. “I told you, I kept it very simple. I never did anything that would have falsely bound her to you. That’s why I waited so long to tell you, so that you could see for yourself that Joy loves you for who you are, that I did the right thing.”

“Get out.”

“Ramón, listen to me. You’re a parent, you know you would do anything—anything at all—to keep your children safe, to make them happy. I was trying to protect you, trying to protect Joy. I love her like my own. Please forgive me.”

“GET. OUT.”

My mother began to cry, but I tuned her out, my mind swirling as I thought back to everything that had happened with Joy. The odd way she talked about killing Nova, how she didn’t sound like herself when she spoke about it.

We didn’t talk about it often, but when we did, Joy would always say it was like an out-of-body experience. From what she remembered, she had no qualms about saving herself. She found some hidden strength to do what needed to be done. Fuck, it had been my mother’s programming that saved her that day, my mother’s evil genius at work. My rage surfaced again, churning through my guilt and sorrow, making me wish my mom was still here so I could make her see how fucked up her actions were. I knew that, even now, she probably felt like she’d done the right thing for the family.

My chest hurt, and I stumbled over to the bar in my office, pouring myself a stiff drink with shaking hands.

Fuck, what did I do? I looked out the window at my beautiful, glowing with happiness, pregnant wife as she laughed at something Hannah said. I’d never told her about the programming, promising myself that someday I would, but that day had never come around. Now that I knew the truth, I’m glad I never said anything. Did that make me as big of a hypocrite as my mom?

I was tempted to pour another glass of alcohol, but a text came through on my phone from Joy, wondering where I was.

After a long moment, I texted her back that I was dealing with some business, would be out in a moment, and that I loved her. Through the window, I watched her smile down at her phone. Her text back a moment later sent her love in return. Even now, almost three kids later, my entire body lit up with happiness when she said she loved me.

I couldn’t give that up.

I wouldn’t.

Setting my glass down on the table, I took a deep breath and tried to let go of my anger, of my sense of betrayal. My love, my family, was real, no matter how my relationship with Joy started. She was still the same woman I’d spent practically every day with over the last seven years, still the mother of my children, still the love of my life. I knew, deep down in my heart, that our bond was real. It was strong, and no amount of brainwashing in the world could force it to happen.

As I made my way out of the house to rejoin the party, I was reminded again how easily it could all be taken from me in an instant. I decided I didn’t give a fuck what my mom had done. I was pissed, plenty pissed, that she’d hidden it from me all these years, but I’d hidden my actions from Joy, so that made me a hypocrite. The alcohol burned warm in my stomach, but it held nothing to the heat that filled my body when I finally had my wife in my arms.

As soon as I reached her side, I swept her into my arms—five-months pregnant belly and all—then kissed the hell out of her in front of God and everyone, not giving one shit.

Giggles broke out around us, along with adult laughter. When I pulled back, Joy’s beautiful eyes, now bracketed with smile lines, glowed up at me. “Well, hello there.”

“Hey, sweetheart.”

As I slid her down to her feet, she reached up and cupped my scarred cheek with her soft hand. “Honey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just work stuff.”

“Is everything okay?”

I gave her a kiss on the forehead. “It is now.”

Grace sprinted over, holding her arms out and jumping at me as she shrieked, “Daddy!”

I easily caught her small body, swinging her over my head, making her dark curly hair fly about as I tossed her up then caught her again. My little daredevil loved it, and she threw her arms around my neck, laughing as she kissed my cheek. “Again!”

“Maybe later.” I set her down on her feet, and she was off again, this time heading for Mark and his youngest daughter.

Joy slipped her arm around my waist and let out a deep sigh. “Thank you for all of this, Ramón. You’re the best husband and father ever.”

A pang of guilt went through me at the secrets I was keeping from Joy, but I let it go. “Anything, for you, my love.”

Holding my wife, surrounded by my friends and family, I knew my life wasn’t conventional. Most people considered me a monster, but I would do everything all over again, endure every bit of pain, just for the privilege of living this moment of perfect happiness with the woman I was born to love.

 

Nine months later

 

“Ramón,” Joy cajoled, “I know you’re mad at your mom about something, but can you at least act civilized toward her? Alexa’s baptism is today, and I don’t want our family pictures to be of you scowling at your mom.”

I watched her as she put our youngest daughter Alexa into her christening gown, the same one her older sisters had worn. Alexa was smaller than her sisters, taking more after her mom, and she had the same blonde curls as Joy, though Alexa’s hair was so pale it was almost white. She was a good baby, quiet and watchful, and she gurgled as Joy held her and fussed with her hat. I watched them from the rocking chair in the nursery, drinking in the sight of my lovely wife and child, thinking what a lucky bastard I was.

“Ramón,” Joy said with exasperation heavy in her voice. “Are you even listening to me?”

“I am.”

“Are you going to be nice to your mom?”

Ever since my mom’s revelation, things had been tense between us. While I wasn’t a big enough of a bastard to try to cut her out of my family’s life—the girls and Joy adored her—that didn’t mean I had to be welcoming. While I was civil to her, Joy had picked up on the underlying hostility, but she didn’t press me on why I was upset with my mom. She was used to there being things I couldn’t talk about with her. While she didn’t like it, she accepted it. At least, she used to accept it.

“I am nice to her.”

Joy rolled her eyes, then handed me Alexa so she could pack up the diaper bag, her pale pink dress swishing attractively around her full hips. “Seriously? You wouldn’t even speak to her at Christmas other than hello and goodbye.”

I focused on the baby in my arms, not wanting to meet my wife’s overly astute gaze. “I wished her a merry Christmas.”

Joy snorted. “And at Easter, she tried to hug you and you dodged her like a quarterback evading the opposing team’s lineman.”

“Did not.” I sounded petulant even to myself, so I sighed and shook my head. “Sorry, you’re right.”

“So, what happened? Why are you so mad at her?”

In my arms, Alexa began to wiggle, so I started rocking. She settled right down, her gentle weight in my arms easing the bitterness in my heart. “She did something that pissed me off.”

“Will you tell me what she did that made you so mad you’d give her the silent treatment for almost a whole year?”

“It happened a long time ago…something she did without my permission. Something that could have hurt you.”

She went quiet as she grabbed a stack of diapers from the changing table. “Did she finally tell you about the programming?”

I stared at Joy while she continued to straighten the room like she didn’t have a care in the world. “What?”

“Ramón, I know all about it. She told me years ago, after I had Lillian.”

Stunned, I began to rock so fast Alexa grumbled a complaint, so I slowed down while soothing her. “You knew? She told you?”

When Joy looked at me, the expression on her face wasn’t one of anger or betrayal, but compassion with a hint of exasperation.  “Yes, and while I was plenty mad, I understood why she did it.”

“What did she tell you she did?”

Joy crouched down in front of me, placing one hand on my knee, and the other over my arm holding a now sleeping Alexa. “She didn’t tell me, she showed me the recording she made while programming me…and she showed me the recording of when you programmed me, as well.”

Making a little unhappy sound, Alexa shifted in my arms as I tensed, waiting for Joy’s well-earned wrath. “I…I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. I heard what you said, what you tried to do. You never cared about my loyalty, you only mentioned it once. Instead you tried to heal me, to make me believe that I was brave, strong, wonderful, that I could do anything. You weren’t trying to make me into a robot or rob me of my freewill, you were trying to build me up the best way you knew how. Everything you said to me that day, you said out of love and a desire to protect me and make me happy.” She gave my knee a reassuring squeeze. “That doesn’t mean I’m not pissed that you hid it from me all this time, that you didn’t trust me with the truth. You should have told me.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I wanted to give you a chance to tell me yourself.”

I groaned and reached out with my free hand, cupping her cheek and stroking her skin with my thumb. “I was going to.”

“When?”

“Um, after the girls got married?”

Laughing softly, Joy rolled her eyes. “Ramón.”

“I didn’t want to lose you. I thought if I waited that long, you’d know in your heart that we were meant to be, that our family was meant to be. That I didn’t brainwash you into loving me.”

“I already know that, silly. And you can’t brainwash someone into loving you. Hannah said that’s not how it works. Considering Leo is the one who came up with the whole crazy idea, she would know.”

“You’ve talked to Hannah about this?”

“Of course, but she’s the only one. I haven’t mentioned it to the other wives.” She cocked her head to the side. “Were they programmed, as well?”

I nodded. “They were.”

She stroked her finger along my leg, my cock twitching at the touch. “The same way Hannah and I were?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t part of their programming.”

She sucked in her lips and began to fidget. “I have something I need to tell you, as well.”

My already racing heart picked up speed. “What is it?”

“Your mom just thinks she programmed me, but she didn’t. You did.”

“I don’t understand.”

“After your mom informed me about her actions, I went to Hannah and Leo was there. He took me aside and told me that, all those years ago, he’d give Judith a version of the serum that had been watered down with saline solution to the point of being basically useless. She may have messed with me a little bit, but nothing major.”

“Holy shit…why didn’t he tell me?”

She gave me a half smile. “You know Leo; he’s loyal to a fault. He knew if you found out your mom had tried to program me without your permission, you would have flipped out. At the time, he was barely holding his shit together. He admitted he wasn’t doing it as much to protect me as to keep you from going crazy on Judith. Plus, he gave you the full-strength serum when you programmed me, so he figured there was no need to rock the boat. Only he hadn’t counted on Judith telling me the truth, so she forced his hand.”

“Jesus, I can’t believe he did that.”

“Well, I’m happy he did. And I’m glad you programmed me, Ramón. If you hadn’t, I’d be dead. During the tape, you kept telling me to protect myself, that I was strong and brave, that I was smart, that I had nothing to be afraid of because I was an amazing woman. You told me not to feel any guilt about defending myself or my loved ones, told me over and over again that I could protect myself, that I had no reason to be scared.” She closed her eyes and let out a long breath. “You gave me the tools I needed to fight off our enemies, Ramón. Not just Nova, but all the bastards since who’ve tried to hurt me and my family. You gave me the strength to protect everyone I love, and I’m endlessly grateful to you for that.”

Shaking my head, I took a deep breath as a weight I didn’t know I was carrying around lifted from my shoulders. “You’re amazing. I love you so much.”

“And I love you, even if your family is insane.”

“They’re your family now, too.”

She gave me that bright, dimpled smile that never failed to make my heart beat a little faster. “Yes, they are, and I couldn’t choose a better family. Crazy and all.”

My phone beeped, letting me know it was time to leave for the church. “Shit, we’re going to be late if we don’t get moving. Ready to go?”

“Will you be nice to your mom? Please, for me?”

I sighed then stood, shifting Alexa onto my shoulder as I grabbed the diaper bag. “Yes.”

Leaning up on her tiptoes, Joy kissed me then Alexa. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, my love. I mean it.”

“I know.” She winked. “Now let’s go baptize this baby and hope you don’t burst into flames as you walk through the church doors.”

“Ha, ha.” I smacked her round ass lightly. “Funny girl.”

“You love me.”

“More than anything.”

 

 

 

Dear Beloved Reader,

Thank you for giving me the chance to entertain you. I really hope you enjoyed Joy and Ramón’s story. Please consider leaving a review and let me know what you thought of it. Up next…Mark! He never thought he’d fall in love again, but fate has different plans. A broken and battered woman desperately needs him in her life, but can Mark let go of his past enough to give her hope for the future?

Ann

 

 

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