The Good Life

Chapter 73

Marla went on to work that day rarely speaking to Jamie and her co-workers. Jamie just plainly stated that she knew Marla wasn’t feeling well and they carried on with their day. They did the same for the next two weeks with Marla getting small notes from Bruno. She cried at them and then yelled at them and then threw them in the pile with the rest of them. She knew, though, that soon she would have to face him and what had happened head on. The day he was coming back was a Thursday in late August. As Rosalia was getting older they had more activities to do- Thursdays were for ballet and then Daisies. They had just signed Rosialia up to the Girl Scout program before Bruno left and this was the first meeting. As they hurried out the door she grabbed a piece of paper writing a note to put on the fridge

We’re at ballet and then going to my parents’ house. Be back.

”Come on Rose…let’s go dance…” Marla said to her daughter dragging big bag with her out the door.

”Mama…vamos a ver daddy tonight?” she asked.

”I think so, mi amor.” Marla answered flatly driving down the residential street.

”Mommaaa…why are you sad?” Rosie asked. ”Mommy…I can hug you…” she told her mother. ”They always make things better.”

”When we get home, okay?” she asked her daughter.

”Promise?” Rosie asked as they walked into the dance studio.

”Yeah, promise.” she answered.

**

Bruno pulled into the empty driveway with his stomach in knots. He finished the short leg of his tour putting the things that had happened in the back of his head. He had started writing again and was ready to get into the studio while he was home for a month. But, he also knew he needed to be with Marla. Shit. Where are they? He thought to himself seeing Marla lime green Porsche missing in the driveway/He drug his suitcase up to the door opening the door dropping his things in the middle of the living room. He looked over the pictures they had left in the hallway running his fingers along one that took right before Rosalia was born. I’m sorry. He thought to himself seeing a piece of paper on the refrigerator. No. She’s not going to her parents’ house….no…she’s not letting this happen….no…he said to himself. ”No, Marla…this will not happen. I’m going to fix it….” he said taking his phone out of his pocket to call her. ”Marla?” he asked in a soft voice hearing her pick up the phone.

”What’s going on?” she asked him. ”We’re at ballet still..it’s 6…” she informed him.

”You’re not going to your parents’ house, Marla. Please come home.” he asked her.

”Bruno…what are you talking about? We’re just eating dinner over there.” she answered confused.

”Wait..you’re not like leaving?” he asked her.

”Bruno…I’m not leaving you.” she told him forgetting that there were other mothers around that didn’t know them or that Rosalia’s father was Bruno Mars. ”Give me a second…” she said to him. She walked out of the dance studio making sure no one was around them. ”We’re going to talk about t his when I get home…which we will be, Bruno. Just chill the hell out. Geezus.”

”Okay…okay…” he answered.

”We’ll be home at like 8…okay?” she asked him.

”Okay…I’ll talk to you tonight.” he said hanging up the phone. Marla walked back into the building seeing the girls running out the door. Rosalia jumped on her mother.

”Mommmaaaa…is daddy home?” she asked.

”We’ll see him after we go to Abuelo’s house…okay?” Marla replied walking out the door with her daughter.