Mouse

chapter thirty two

And it's lovely to see you again too Ricky," Alicia replied with a dry smile, seeming unperturbed by Ricardo's fierce glare, but then she never had been fazed by his temper, unlike me.

"You still haven't answered my question," Ricardo said coldly, his jaw clenched in anger.

And I found myself standing in between them, the tension making my head suddenly hurt, I really had enough excitement for one day, this was the last thing I needed

Alicia seem to decide to back down first, her shoulders sagging, and letting out a long resigning sigh.

"Look Ricky, I didn't come here to cause trouble and make things difficult, I just want to try and make peace with you, so we can both get over what happened in the past, then we can move on like two adults should do," she then told him,

"And I thought that well, now you were married with a child of your own and everything, you might have matured enough to be reasonable, but perhaps I was wrong," she eyed him almost challengingly

"Surely you didn't expect me to welcome you with open arms?" Ricardo retorted "Because that is not going to happen"

"No, I don't expect that, but I thought at least, after all this time you would have put the past behind you enough to no longer be quite so mad at me," she told him

"So what is you have come her for? To beg my forgiveness, to say you are sorry for the way you just walked out on us all, me especially?" he drawled tauntingly

"If that's what you want me to do.. Yes," she stated, "Only as I was saying to Melanie before you came in; my parents thought I should try and make some sort of peace with you. It's the only way they will let me come back and visit them here now and again.. They don't want you getting upset if you see me around, and falling out with them over it"

"I see," Ricardo replied tersely

"If you don't want to do it for me, at least do it for them," Alicia then pleaded

I could see Ricardo was struggling now, he was very fond of Alicia's parents, but at the same time he didn't want to appear to give in so easy, his pride was still smarting over what she had done to him in the past.

She walked over to him, looking directly into his eyes, so he could see her sincerity

"Look, I understand your anger at me...and I am sorry for the way I treated you in the past, I regret it, if I hurt you. But it wasn't easy coming here tonight... So if you can find it in that stubborn heart of yours to forgive me just a little, I would be very grateful, just so I know it has not been a waste of time even trying," she told him quietly

"You are asking a lot," he told her curtly

"I know," she shot him a faint smile, "But I still had to try anyway.. Perhaps I should give you time to think it over," she then suggested

"Perhaps you should.. But I am not promising anything," Ricardo replied

Alicia just nodded, "Fine, I guess that's the best I am going to get for now.. I should go," she then realised

"Yes, I think that is a good idea," Ricardo agreed. His voice still tight

"Right!" she forced herself to smile despite the tense awkward atmosphere that surrounded us, and now looked across at me

"It's been good seeing you again Mel, take care."

She moved towards the door, and Ricardo stepped aside to let her leave. As she did so, she then glanced round at him in after thought, "Oh congratulations on the triple somersault tonight, you were just great" she smiled.