Damage

Chapter 31

"Isn't she pretty?"

"Yeah, she's real pretty."

"Angela, what are you going to name her?"

"Mia."

"Why?"

"It's a long story." She smiles. Some gifts are meant to be kept and not shared.

"Well, it's a beautiful name for the most beautiful little girl."

"What do you think she'll be?"

"Hey, maybe she'll be president."

She rolls her eyes and laughs. "No, deja de hablar pendejadas." A long sigh. "Not in this country."

Everyone laughs. "Well if not president, she'll be something. She has to be. For all of us."

"She doesn't have to be anything. All I want is for her to be happy." Watery eyes. "Sweet little girl. You and I, baby, we're gonna have so much fun. I promise."

***

For just a second, there in the doorway, we both let everything fall away. Nothing but his arms around me and blind reassurance that everything will be okay.

But now that I've actually stepped foot inside his place, there's unsureness - a feeling of "Where do we go from here?" Like being woken up from a trance, we have to face the crushing weight of reality.

And now each second feels like a held breath.

Luke's standing, leaning against a one-seater and I'm sitting awkwardly on the couch opposite him - wet hair, clothes and shoes. Taking up least amount of space possible.

I speak suddenly and break the silence. "I don't really know why I came here, I just...Thank you for....but...I should go."

"No, you don't have to go."

"I'm really sorry, I just didn't really have anywhere to go and this was a stupid, impulsive decision and - "

"There's no need to be sorry."

"No, I am. I'll just...I'll go." I get up suddenly, planning to say my thank yous and leave, like I should, but Luke quickly grabs my wrist and stops me from making a run for it.

"Don't go."

I look up at him from beneath my eyelashes and there's a stoniness about him, like he's concealing something.

"You're, um..." He clears his throat. "You're soaking wet, you shouldn't."

His grip relaxes but his eyes are still locked on mine and I feel like I should want to look down but I can't.

"Nilda. Can you get Mia a towel?" he calls out to another room without looking away and soundlessly she comes out with one in her hand.

"Here." Luke lets go to take the towel before giving it to me and I dry off, wiping the rain off my face before stiffly holding it my hand. It's a little better but I'm still practically making puddles.

Nilda, Luke's maid, the same one from the first party at Luke's I went to, looks me up and down with an almost motherly concern.

"Can you draw a bath for her, too?"

"Of course." She says quickly and scurries away.

I look at Luke unsurely. "Wait, a bath?"

"Yeah, you look like you're freezing." He says, his voice deep, turning away and adjusting the watch on his wrist.