Seeds of Tomorrow

14

"I didn't think you'd take the time off work," Raquel admitted over dinner.

Victor sliced a chunk of meat off his tomahawk steak and popped it into his mouth with a smile, "We needed the time together," he told her, not wanting to admit how hard it had been for him to bring himself to follow through with requesting the time away. He had to remind himself that it was good to have a healthy work-life balance and even though he felt he was working hard for a good cause, he realized he was neglecting his lady.

"This place is so nice," she gushed, "I've never even heard of it."

"My dad told me about it," he said, remembering his father raving about the upscale Brazilian steakhouse, "It's good, right?"

"Oh my gosh, yes!"

Another fault of Victor's, something he didn't view as one but was often clowned on for, was being somewhat stingy. Yes, he had his car and dressed his family in nice clothes but when it came to going out to eat or have fun, he hated to waste the money. He and Raquel could cook, it made no sense in spending triple the price or more, to buy something that could prepare themselves at home. It drove Raquel nuts.

He accepted that he needed to learn to be a little more flexible on his finances. He had a sizable savings, close to six months of his normal income set aside in case of emergency, it wouldn't hurt him to treat his family to a movie or takeout even if it felt like a waste of money. Victor had to remind himself that the good memories would be worth it and vowed that he would take the time to make more of them with Raquel and Sergio.

His little boy was growing like a weed and turning five that summer. He'd be starting Kindergarten that fall and it seemed like he'd missed out on so much already because he couldn't pry himself from work. Victor remembered growing up the same way, his pops always on his grind and rarely home. Of course, his ole man was in and out of lockup on top of that but he still couldn't forget that feeling of never feeling like he saw his father enough. One thing he hadn't wanted to become was an absent father and that was what he'd ended up being.

They'd taken Sergio to the zoo earlier that day, nearly a hundred bucks to get in and that hadn't included food, drinks, and souvenirs. Raquel could see that Victor wasn't thrilled about the cost of things, gently reminding him that they never took Sergio anywhere and to enjoy it.

Sergio had a great time, they all rode the carousel and train together, he got to feed the goats in the petting zoo and was ecstatic to see the chimpanzees and elephants. Victor had bought him an elephant-shaped souvenir cup, a plush elephant, and a tee shirt announcing that he loved the zoo.

"You gonna want dessert?" Victor asked, propping his chin on his hands.

Raquel puffed her cheeks up and exhaled, "I'm so stuffed, I want dessert but I can't fit it," she laughed.

"You ain't too full to dance, are you?"

"Never!"

One thing Raquel had wanted to do for a long time was go dancing. She and Victor had used to go out constantly until he stopped having the time and she missed it fiercely. Victor was glad to hear that, he loved to dance almost as much as he loved watching her. He would make corny ass jokes about Shakira being right about them hips not lying. Daaaaamn.

And she looked good that night, extra good.

Raquel styled her burgundy-red hair in loose curls that cascaded down her caramel-colored shoulders and she had put on an asymmetrical cut black dress with tan and rose gold flowers that was short in the front but long and flowing in the back and the neckline...damn the neckline was so low that he almost wanted to put another baby in her. Almost.

He paid the check leaving a generous tip and escorted his lady out to the Monte Carlo, holding the door for her.

"Beautiful car," an older black man called from the sidewalk.

Victor grinned proudly, "Thanks, man!"

"Aye, I had one of them back when I was around your age, a nineteen-seventy. Black on black. Had some good times in that car and boyyyy did the ladies love to ride in it," the man smiled fondly, "Damn, I miss that car."

"Ain't too late to get another one," Victor told him.

The man took a drag off his cigar, "You right, maybe someday. You all have a good night, take care of that car!"

"You have a good night as well," Victor replied with a nod before slipping into the driver's side and giving the older man a wave. He pulled away from the curb, engine rumbling as he hit the street.

He took Raquel down to a club that had Salsa night every Monday. Although the crowd was mainly middle-aged and older people, they had a blast. Victor had been dancing since he was a little ass kid, another thing he'd learned from his pops before he'd gotten shot.

They'd go out to barbecues when he was little, pops and the tios would get drunk, throw on some cumbia and he'd dance wepa for them. Pops uploaded an old video of them to his TikTok, Victor had been probably Sergio's which made Fernando...in his mid-twenties, they were at Marisol's dancing just for fun. That shit got over a million views.

Victor always had this goal that he would teach Sergio to get down too and then they could recreate the video of Victor and Fernando. He just needed to make the time.

It had been a blast, at one point an older man, probably sixty had cut in and danced with Raquel while Victor danced with his wife. The older couple had actually taught them a few things out on the floor.

The couple had danced until they were drenched in sweat, their legs and feet sore, eventually retiring to the bar with the older couple who wanted to know if they'd be back the following week.

Victor sighed, "my work is crazy right now," he told the gentleman.

Raquel wrinkled her nose, " That's all he ever does, I had to practically threaten him to take a few days off so we could even see each other."

The man took a sip of his drink, "You've got good work ethic, you don't see that much in your generation," he began, "But it's alright to take it easy, don't work so hard you can't enjoy your life."