The Open Window: part 2

Chapter One: Lani and Cameron

"Noelani Scarlet Perez, will you do me the honor and marry me?" I said kneeling down at her favorite spot in the world, Rio.

May 15, 2001
           But let me go back to where we left off the last time. I just had gotten done getting my girl back at the hotel she stayed at. "So, are you still leaving to New York?" Lani writes on her phone while holding my hand with her other and looking into my eyes as she shows me. "Ya, I have to finish my education and make sure things are well. But you can come with me?" I said smiling. "You're funny, remember I have my husband here and a family. But I love you and my family and if you do love me, I need you to at least try to understand I can't separate from them right now, not because I don't want to but because my girls need their mom. And out of all people you should understand that my girls need their mom." She types again. I looked down and she lifted my chin up and gave me one kiss. "I need you with me, I do understand. I just lost my mother and you're the only one who can actually calm me down about the whole plane fear. But you don't have to come now. Figure out what you need and I'll do what I need to get done. We will write letters to each other." I said running my hands through her hair, which she LOVES. "So you're not upset." She types once again. "Of course not, I love you and I understand." I said. "Oh one more thing I forgot to mention, I'm in college and it took me awhile to find what I want to do but I want to be a social worker for foster kids. Ya so I'm a college student but I always thought I would be a at home mom." She types as she shrugs her shoulders. "You still can be, work from home."

           I hugged her, "I have to go now, I'll write to you every day and spend my money on stamps just for you." I tell her. "What are you going to do about you're hearing." She types. "I honestly don't know. I have so much that going back to New York is stressing me and I'm worried. But I have to go now and get home to get enough sleep for tomorrow morning." I said kissing her forehead slowly. Then she puts her index finger up in the air in showing me to wait and she started typing again. "First thing when you get home, look for a deaf school or someone who could teach you sign language. I will visit you at some point so don't worry about that. Second, why not spend the night here; it's closer to the airport and you could just bring your stuff here." She gave me puppy eyes as I read it and I nodded yes. She was so happy that she jumped on top hugging me both fell to the ground; looking at each other, and we kissed.

           Chica waited outside with her arms crossed and a smirk on her. "You got her back didn't you?" She typed with excitement. "Yes I did!!!" I said throwing my arms up like I just scored a touch down. I told Chica what happened and all. We drove to the hospital and got my stuff, which I didn't have much of because it disappeared—like—like my mom. My mom—. I started to burst out in tears and Chica got scared because it was unexpected. She puts everything down and mouths, "What's wrong?" All I could say was, "My mom. How could I forget about her for an hour." I said. I started to debate with myself if I should even go sleep over to Lani's. "Cameron, I think you should go over there. Only because you forgot about your mom doesn't mean you don't love her and it doesn't mean you disrespect her either. You're so in love with Lani that she takes your pain away and no women in your life will ever be more loved by you then your mom. And your mom knows that. So go to Lani and spend time with her because you never know when it's the last time."

           Chica's face changed from compassion to worried. She grabs my arm hard showing she's in pain putting her hand over her stomach and it obviously took me awhile to realize that Chica is in labor. I start yelling and it's so weird, it's frustrating not being able to hear my voice yelling or the people around me. Doctors come in rushing and get her into a wheel chair. Chica gives me her phone as she is pushed away in a rush. I call her husband, Lani and everyone else on her contacts. I went to the waiting room and a few minutes later, a guy with a baby bag and a pillow comes rushing. He says something looking around with worry but I couldn't hear him. I just said, "If you're looking for Chica she's in room 404. I'm her cousin that she was taking care of." The guy mouths thank you and goes. More people started to show up and I said the same thing to them like I told him. They waited and then Lani walks in with Julie and I stand up smiling going to say hi to her but a tall guy with long black hair and facial hair walks in behind her with a stroller and holding baby Camari. I already knew who it was and my face changed so fast.

           I didn't sit back down because I felt like a fool so I just went straight to the vending machine that was behind them. Lani looks at me then looks down. Julie looks at me also and starts tapping on her mom. I could see everything in the reflection of the vending machine glass pretending that I was choosing something. I didn't notice a guy behind me but I turned around and he punches me. Lani comes rushing to help me up and she mouths "Are you ok? Why would you do that!" Yells at the guy. "He wouldn't answer me and ignored me." (Cameron couldn't hear what the guy said but readers should know why.) "He's deaf you son of—." "Lani! Calm down." Her husband says. He helps me up and sits me down. "Thanks..." I said touching my eye, I'm lucky because it wasn't that hard of a punch or maybe I'm just numb from it.

            Maybe I deserved it for bringing my mom into a plan and getting her killed. Maybe I deserved it because I didn't listen to Lani and chose to chase her where ever she went. Maybe I deserved it because I love a woman who belongs to someone else. Lani taps my shoulder and hands me an ice bag. I grab it in a rude way but I wasn't mad at her, just at myself. "I got to go." I said ignoring eye contact with Lani and especially her husband, "My plane leaves in a few hours, bye." The good thing about not being able to hear is when I walked away, I have no idea what they said as I walked away and I didn't want to know. I realized that I have no car and no ride. So I just walk with my ice bag... then I just throw it as hard as I can into the bushes. Lani grabs my arm and mouths, "Please come stay with me. I need you and you need me." I take out my plane ticket thinking and I look at the time I'm suppose to leave. Then I realize that I looked at the wrong date, I leave the next day. "I have one more day! I looked at it wrong. So I'll stay." I tell her. She jumps and tries to kiss me. I back up because I don't want her husband to yell at her. "But we can't do anything Lani. I'll sleep on the couch; I'm not a cheater." I say. "I understand..." She mouths smiling. She gives me the second key to the hotel room and will text me when it's time to come over. Maybe I'll buy her some flowers, bring a movie and get some food.