Birthday Surprise

Chapter 10

Miranda
"What?!" They exclaim in unison.
"If you're still lying..." Mom scolds.
"I'm not. I swear. I purposely led the police to this house because I'm covering for him. I don't even know the people who live here."
"I believe you," Maria says.
We look at her with surprise.
"The only way that you would've known that Carlos sold the truck to Diego is if he told you. That's why you said it was this red truck, right?"
"Yes."
"But Carlos didn't have the truck anymore. Did he even use a truck when he got here?"
"Yes. He bought a new one a few years ago. He really liked that color so it was pretty much the same."
"Why did you do it?" Josh asks.
"And why were you even talking to him?" Mom adds.
"I'll answer everything. One day, Carmen was telling me about Carlos. It was pretty early on in the friendship. I could tell that she really missed him and as her friend, I wanted to help her. So, I looked him up and eventually spoke with him directly. But when I did, he made it sound like Maria took her from him. He said that he should've gotten custody of the kids. I believed him and let him know that we would be having dinner at the sushi restaurant for her birthday. That's when I saw his truck."
"Why did you cover for him?" Mom asks.
"Because... I care about him."
"What do you mean you care about him?"
I fall silent for a moment.
"Wait. Did something happen?"
"Yes. We were involved. I was only with Nathan as a cover up."
"Nathan?" Courtney asks.
"Wait. You were involved?" Mom asks.
"We kissed," I mutter.
"You're seventeen. That's yet another crime."
Maria looks furious.
"Let's inform the police and go rescue my daughter from that asshole," she says angrily.
"Go with one of them. I'm so unbelievably furious with you for hiding all this and I need to calm down," Mom says.
"I don't feel any less angry but you can come with me," Claudia says.
I nod and get in the car. She doesn't say one word as we follow Maria to Carlos's house. We park by the curb and get out of the car.
Josh
As I drive to Carlos's house, I listen to soothing music to keep me focused on the road. I'm furious that I ever became friends with Miranda. She has this way of seeming sweet when I first met her and continues to act that way. I never would've guessed that she would help anyone to get away with kidnapping someone. I don't want to think it but she probably would've let him get away with worse because she cares about him. I'm so angry that I don't stop to think about what that really means.
I arrive at the house after Maria and park behind her car. Sure enough, there's a dark red truck in the driveway. I can't even give her credit for telling the truth because that friendship is already over in my head. Once again, we wait outside as the police show up and search the house for Carmen. Eventually, two of the officers walk out and I see her.
"Carmen?"
"Mama," she says and hugs Maria.
After they have a long reunion hug, she looks over and see me. She rushes over to me. She practically tackles me and wraps her arms around me. I don't care though. I hold her close.
"I thought that I'd never see you again," she says.
"You're telling me. It's been hell on earth without you."
We pull away slightly and I lean in to kiss her. The past few days of missing her come out in the kiss and I can feel it from her end too. She smiles and talks to Claudia and Courtney. Meanwhile, Maria gives Carlos a dirty look as the police lead him to the patrol car in handcuffs. Miranda looks at one of the officers.
"You should take me too. I knew about this and kept it a secret until today," she says.
"You did what?" Carmen asks.
"I know. I'm owning up to it now."
"I can't believe it."
She looks at the officer.
"Take her away. She can become best friends with Olivia."
Carmen approaches me and I wrap my left arm around her waist. We stand around for a while until the police leave with both criminals. I give her a quick kiss before she gets into Maria's car and we all drive off.