New on the block

Saving Grace

Monse's POV:
"So you think I'm crazy?" I ask. "No, I just said you'd be mad." Cesar laughs. "Do you work today?" I ask. "No but I feel like I should. Kaia works three jobs I should probably be helping out." He says. "But you're only staying their until the surprise visits stop." I remind him. "I don't know, I might stay a little longer she needs the help." He says. "So you're just gonna stop going to school?" I ask. "No, I'll take the bus and walk the rest of the way." He says. "Seriously?" I furrow my brows. "Can you just watch the kid for a couple hours I have to work?" He asks with a straight face. "Cesar I don't even know what to do with kids." I resist. "It's easy you just stick him in front of a tv." He kisses me and smirks before he turns towards the door. "You guys can come over later and get some lunch." He smiles. "So kid, what do you like to do?" I ask. He just shrugs and looks back down at a piece of paper that Ruby gave him as he scribbles with a crayon. "Are you tired? Do you need a snack?" I don't understand kids. Honestly one minute they don't shut up and the next they're just tiny adults minding their own business.

Cesar's POV:
I start to mop the kitchen before we open but then I hear a door slam. I turn around and there is the human cockroach herself, Paula. "Why do you just keep coming back?" I ask. "Relax I'm leaving town today's my last day." She rolls her eyes. Before I can turn around she puts a hand on my shoulder. "You like your girlfriend right?" She asks. She starts to rub circles on my shoulder and I shift so she stops touching me. "Yeah, I love her... despite all your attempts to ruin it." I remind her. "Ok, so you'd do anything for her?" She asks seriously. "Trust me Paula I have done everything for her." I keep mopping because I don't have time for her. "Ok, so give me a few thousand and we'll make it even." She says with a straight face. "I get that you're a psychopath but are you stupid too?" I drop the mop and ask her. "Shh! Do you really want your daughter's first time hearing your voice to be like this?" She says with a smug smile. "What the hell is your problem? You can't leave me alone for five minutes without making up some stupid ass reason to ruin my life?" I ask. She takes a step back and I see tears in her eyes. "Oh God you're serious." I huff. "I don't want you involved at all and Monse doesn't need to know but I need money so I can get out of here." She persists. "Fine, I'll get the money. Meet me at the bus station at nine and Monse can't find out about this." I give in. I run my hands over my face and sigh. "This probably isn't even my baby." I can't believe I'm doing this. "Do you really want to take that chance?" She asks. "As long as the kid doesn't come looking for me in a couple of years." I pick up the mop and I see Jamal and his dad whispering in the corner. "I thought I'd get in early and mop up 'cause I forgot to do it last night." I smile. "Have you kids never heard of condoms?" Mr. Turner asks. "I just don't want to have to deal with this. I have too much going on." I say sternly. "Besides the only kid I want is Monse's." I mumble. "You got Monse pregnant?!" Jamal screams. "Man you are seriously screwed." Paula says while she sits on one of the kitchen counters and texts. "I didn't get Monse pregnant and I probably didn't get you pregnant either!" I exclaim. "Read my lips Cesar, this baby that is literally attacking me from the inside out is your kid!" She huffs. "Yeah and how do you know?" I ask. "Because me and my ex broke up two months before I got pregnant! Oh yeah and contrary to everything you think about me I'm not a skank." She grinds her teeth. "Both of you shut up and get to work! I have no problem kicking both of you out of here." Mr. Turner screams. "I'm gonna go call Mari... not about this! Something completely unrelated to this." Jamal says nervously. "No! No one is gossiping or getting pregnant today! You might be kids but you work for me. No one's going to hire any of you three so be careful what you do next." Mr. Turner storms out of the kitchen leaving us all in shock. "What the hell was that?" Paula asks. "I'm not supposed to say anything but some coffee place... or maybe it was pressed juice?" Jamal gazes off. "Not important! They keep trying to get my dad to sell and we aren't making as much money as we used to so the offer keeps sounding better and better." He admits in a kind of sad tone. "He can't sell, everyone loves this place... everyone loves your family." She sounds like she's actually trying to be sweet for the first time in her life. "People love us but money doesn't." Jamal shrugs. "Why didn't you tell us before?" I ask. "What is anyone else gonna do about it?" He asks. "Rollerworld." I sigh. "Worst comes to worst I give your dad an an anonymous donation and we can all keep our jobs." I say. "I can't let you do that." Jamal shakes his head. "No, it was your money in the first place... think about it as me giving you back what you're owed." I nod. "What about Paula's money?" He asks. "Relax, this place is more important." She smiles. "Are you serious?" I ask. "Yeah, but that means I can't leave until I make enough money and Monse's smart she'll figure it out." She says. "Don't be stupid Cesar just give her the money we don't need it." Jamal says. "No, you deserve it all, if it wasn't for your family I don't know where I'd be." I say seriously. "You're screwing yourself Cesar." Jamal says. "Yeah, I know... you gotta take risks for your family. Besides this is all worst case scenario, I'm sure everything will be fine. I roll up the metal sheet that covers the window in front of the window and a lady's standing outside taking pictures. "Sorry, just trying to send some last minute pictures to the buyers." She says without looking at us and I gulp. The three of us just look at her. We all of reasons to be afraid of what might happen if I have to put my money into the restaurant.