The Mafia Boyfriend

The Family

Ever since that episode in the ER, I have been obsessively looking over my shoulder, as if expecting that another gorilla will pop out of some door and kidnap me. I swear it's not healthy to feel this paranoid all the time.

For the next few days, I worked double time and made myself busy to try and forget about these creeping thoughts. Mr. Amistad staying a lingering threat in my mind, which scared me to death. As long as I was working, I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings.

On the third day of paranoia, I asked my head nurse for a few days off. Sleep deprivation was also increasing my anxiety over everything and I was starting to feel sick to even eat. And you can't help a patient when you're the patient. She eyed me up and down, as an attempt to persuade me to give up the idea, as we were way too short staffed. However she must have acknowledged my languish looks because in the end she ended up not even protesting much.

I had scheduled a short trip to my stepdad's house in the two days that I could actually manage to vacate. The two town away, Julian, was a small place for small people. But my stepdad would have liked nothing better. A small town offered the peace and quiet that he needed and loved. I had called him after I had gotten the go signal from my boss and started packing my sleepover right away. It made me so excited to be able to go. It had been months since I had last set my eyes on him and I was missing a night of poker and playing cards with my best friend, Charles. He was the real MVP. And he was able to make me feel like home like no one else.

I had packed two outfits to feel comfy at his small one story twin house. When I arrived after my 30 minute drive, I parked my old Ford Focus in the front yard. Charles opened the front door, after hearing the car's motor raging in front of his window. He welcomed me with open arms, a tight hug that swept me off my feet and a big white characteristic smile of his, contrasting with his dark chocolate skin. I looked at the scar above his eyebrow, once he put me down, relishing on the feeling of nostalgia. He had gotten it when I was 9 while trying to build me a tree house, that had appeared to be a major mistake. The tree had been too small and the woods plaques had fallen right on his head the moment he screamed: Done! I had laughed so hard that my stomach hurt. I could still remember it so vividly to this day. He was indeed a great father figure.

- Long time no see, kiddo. I missed your presence in this old house of mine. It wasn't the same without you.

Until I was eighteen, I had lived with Charles in this exact home. It had been what any other teenage girl needed, a safe haven of open communication and love. The complete opposite of when my mom would arrive home. Her presence had always made me feel like you could cut the silence with a knife. After that, college had pulled me away to the big city, which I loved, but there was nothing that could replace this feeling of belonging when I arrived in Julian.

Charles had baked me a chocolate and carrot cake. My favorite. It stood by the family table as a reminder of old times. He was the cook in the house, always filling our stomachs with his over-caloric food. I wasn't such a big fan anymore, but I couldn't deny that it tasted great. And for the two days I was staying, forgetting calories and comfort food sounded pretty great.

That night, I played poker with him. He would always win, no matter how much I practiced. But I didn't mind. Seeing his grisly few hairs and his open smile, I knew how much it made him happy. And the love I felt for him meant more than my winning desires, even though I was really competitive.

My mom had arrived late that day, as the hairdresser she was, she always worked late to score that one extra client who came in after hours. Her mind revolved over money and she could never reject an opportunity, even if it meant she would be miserable. She had often tried to fight Charles for his low income as a construction worker, but he would just fight her with his smile. And once Charles had pulled the pearled beauties, my mom would forget all about that fight and be rendered weaponless. They seemed to have been a match made in heaven.

Linda had tenderly kissed Charles hello, as her arms serpented his shoulders. When she saw me, she grunted, accompanied by a You're here? and nothing more. She quickly made herself scarce, leaving us in the kitchen while going to her room. We had never had a close family bond, which I often regretted. But I knew it wasn't up to me to solve it. At the end of the day, I was the "kid" and she was the parent.

Charles called back with slight anger in his tone.

- Now Linda, be nice. Your daughter, who happens to be a fantastic nurse, came all the way from L.A. when she has no time even for herself. 

His compliment warmed my heart and I half hugged him, as a mean to discouraged him from fighting my mom over me. 

My mom appeared to feel some kind of guilt and resurfaced back into the kitchen, giving me a half hug as a response to Charles' statement. I always hated these forced moments of affection. It hadn't changed one bit even after I had become an adult.

The rest of the night had been pleasant. I had put on my polar pajamas and sit comfortably on the couch against Charles, who had been fast asleep while watching the movie we had selected together. This usually always happened, but I knew he had a tough job and needed the rest. I could feel his deep breathing and his gentle snore. I felt my batteries charge fully as I allowed my eyes to slowly close and felt myself also drift to sleep. In the warmth of my stepdad's embrace, I had slept the best sleep I had gotten for the last 3 years.