Hood Rats | Sandy Milkovich

So Be It

The back door to the Garcia's home didn't have a deadbolt. For years Joaquin's dad complained endlessly that they needed the extra security, but Jemena insisted that there was nothing in the house for anyone to take. Which was good for Joaquin, because he still had his key.

"Are you even allowed back here?" Rosana chirped. She stood behind him as he fumbled with his key ring and adjusted her pigtails.

He leaned down to unlock the door. "It's still my house. I can come back."

Despite that they crept inside as quietly as they could manage. The kitchen smelt heavily of spices and chilies. The stove was lined with stained pots and pans, all clearly well loved, the counters cluttered with knick knacks, it was a stark contrast to the mostly bare kitchen at the Torres's house.

"Alfie!" Rosana cried.

The cat had scurried into the room at the sound of the door opening. Rosie crouched closer to the ground and stretched her arms out for her. Alfie's coat looked fuller and her face was a little chunkier, all good signs of her eating properly. Rosie embraced her, pulling her up to her chest so she could bury her face in the cat's soft fur.

Joaquin smiled at the reunion and ventured into the living room, where the kittens had been set up in a cardboard box of old blankets and toys. They were no longer mewling jellybeans blindly searching for milk, though. Their eyes were partly open now and they were crawling around the small space with ease.

"What are you doing here?"

He jumped. The voice was all too familiar, silvery and warm. It sounded strangled now, like the person could barely get the words out.  When he turned he was met with gleaming dark eyes. "Elena? What are you doing here?"

The young woman embraced him, wrapping her arms around his neck to bring him closer. "Mom told me she kicked you out! I thought you'd be living under a bridge by now."

Her younger brother laughed. Growing up the age gap between the step siblings had always been what kept them apart, but recently it was distance. Elena had gone back to Texas to start a career in real estate. "You know I always figure things out," he said into her hair before they pulled away.

She held him at arm's length to get a good look at him. Joaquin was a few inches taller than the boy she left after Christmas vacation, the remainder of his baby fat had melted away as he grew. He was unshaven, growing thicker hair around his jaw than ever, but he was clearly well fed and taken care of. 

"Look at you," she breathed. "Where are you staying?"

As if to answer for him, Rosana popped her head out from the kitchen. "Who's that?"

Elena frowned. "Who's that?"

Glancing between the girls, Joaquin realized that the last time they'd probably seen one another was years ago. The memory was surely faded from Rosie's memory and she'd grown up too much for Elena to even recognize her. "Uh, this is Rosana. I was taking her to see the kittens."

"No way!" Elena grinned and beckoned the girl over. "I can't believe how big you've gotten."

Rosie eyed her suspiciously. "Who are you again?"

"My sister," Joaquin said. "You probably don't remember her."

She shook her head, clutching her backpack awkwardly. "Are those the kittens?" She pointed to the box in the corner and hurried over to them, grateful for the distraction.

The others let her play with them and they moved their conversation a few steps away. Elena lowered her voice so just he could hear. "I thought Jemena called DCFS on them."