Fighting For Us - Book 4

Old Love

STEF POV

"Love, why don't you just hang out here for a minute. Keep my seat warm. Ok baby?" I say to Frankie as I see Luisa has made eye contact with me waiting for me off to the side.

"What does she want? Why does she keep coming around?" Frankie asks as I look to her confused.

"What, babe?"

"She came looking for you the other day and Mama told her to stay away. Callie did too another time. She seems to have a hearing problem."

"Wait here. Do not move ok? Yes?" My heart hammering in my chest as I try to keep myself from panicking.

"I can go tell her off. Believe me, she will run when I'm finished with her," Frankie glares her way as I kneel in front of her and grip her chin.

"Love!" I frown as I look at her with a sternness which this child needs, for she is stubborn as all get out. "I need for you to stay put. Got it?"

"But I need to do this! Stef, she...I don't want her near you Mama."

"Francesca!" I warn as I move my face closer to hers, and she shuts up. "What did I just say? Tell me."

"Stay put and let you take care of it," she whispers, and I stroke the side of her face softly.

"Okay then. That's my girl. I'll be right back." Getting up and sucking in my breath I head over to this beautiful woman that broke my heart in half. Never in life did I think I would see her and I had no idea she was even back in the country. But why would I? I had left Washington Heights and that part of my life behind I think to myself as I now stand inches away from her.

"Hola, Stefanie." She smiles as I now look to the ground and back at her rather coldly. What did she want? And why did she feel she could just show up at my job like this? No, I wasn't bitter by any means for I had moved on in my life with Lena.

"Hey, Luisa. Can I help you?" I say rather coldly as she appears nervous and caught off guard. But I'm damn well caught off guard myself as her dark hair as grown even more but she had not aged a day.

"Um tienes un minuto?"

"I'm sorry I don't know what your saying. Can you speak English? Please?" Staring her in her dark eyes she nods her head and I can tell she is rather hurt but I simply don't have the room or space for this right now. Not at all and if I am honest I don't care if I hurt her feelings. Not in the least. "Luisa, this is my job, my place of work. And I sure as hell don't know how you found me."

"I know. I'm sorry I just, I needed to speak to you in person. And I went to your old precinct and ran into...your old partner."

"I'm rather busy." I glare at her, my arms folded.

"I understand. Only one minute? Then you will never hear from me again or see me. I just want to explain myself, Stef. That is all."

Knowing I could have a soft spot and also a curious side I can't help but agree especially after hearing that Lena told her to stay away from me and Callie. When the hell had that happened and why didn't Lena tell me? That was besides the point as I looked to her letting out a heavy sigh.

"Fine. Step outside." I say as I turn back to look at Frankie who is glaring so hard I wonder if she is going to jump Luisia. I know my girl is tough and she is not past speaking her mind. Ever. "Love I will be back in two minutes. Ok? Stay put." I say as she nods her head and Luisa and I walk outside front. Shoving my hands in my pockets, truth is I have no idea what the hell she wants to say or how I am going to respond. All I know is I'm both annoyed and anxious just from my conversation with Stefanie this morning and this was NOT helping. "So when did you come back? MM?"

"About eight months ago. I went looking for you in the old neighborhood when I got back."

"Why? From what I remember when you mailed the ring back along with a letter it said we were done and that you weren't coming back. What do you want from me? Why were you even looking for me?"

"Stef, I never meant to hurt you."

"Yeah no? Could have fooled me, honey. You knew how damn hard it was for me to open up my heart again. Yet you broke it anyway."

"I know and I never, ever meant to break your heart. I didn't plan on coming back. Ever. I wanted to marry you and be with you forever. This wasn't in my plans, Stefanie!" She says all of this in a pleading voice, as if to get me to see her side...which I really don't because I have too many walls up blocking any kind of emotion.

"I put everything out there for you, and I said that I would take care of you and protect you and your son. And I got it Lu. I did. And it took me some time to get over it. But I don't need to hear why, or any of what you have to say. I just don't. Please walk away now and don't find me again," I turn to walk inside, but she calls after me.

"Stefanie, he wanted his son to join his drug operation. He found us. I don't know how but I had no choice but to come back here...for Jesús sake. I thought, I guess I was stupid when I went back there. No one knew Jesus was my son. No one except my aunt that raised him from a baby. I should have gone to get him and come right back. But, that didn't happen. I was stupid and I made a terrible mistake when I went back. I'm sorry. I thought it was for the best and it wasn't. I needed to tell you how sorry I am. And I came back to give Jesus a better life away from that. I didn't want to break it off with you, but his father threatened me, and I needed to protect you, Callie and Jesús!"

I swallow hard as I keep my back turned to her, but I turn around slowly. "And you couldn't just tell me? MM? You couldn't tell me any of this Luisa!"

"It's not that easy. It wasn't that easy Stefanie. He found the picture of you, me and Callie. He said he would hurt you and was standing over me as I wrote the letter to you with the ring..."

"Oh, c'mon, Lu! You expect me to believe that bullshit?" My face flames as I spit out the question, but she looks at me with so much hurt, I know she's serious. We stand facing each other for a couple of seconds before I finally step back and raise my hands.

"I'm not lying. I never meant to hurt you. I loved you."

"Yeah? Well I loved you too Lu. I loved you with every bit of my heart!" Feeling my emotions take over we are quiet for what seems like hours as I now look to her seeing the hurt take over her face once again.

"Look, we'll sit and have coffee. Ok?" But I'm bringing my wife."

She shakes her head as tears come to her eyes, "No..no, I just needed to tell you so that you wouldn't wonder anymore. Don't feel sorry for me. Just don't. I know that I should have been stronger than I was, but when it comes down to it, Jesús is my world. I'm not here to win you back. I'm not. I know I broke your heart and I know you are with Lena. Stef, I know we never belonged together anyway. No matter how much you loved me or I loved you deep down I knew it. Bye." She quickly wipes her eyes and walks off before I can say another word. What in the fuck could I say to that? What?

"Mom you ok?"I hear as I turn around to see Frankie on the steps looking worried. "I know you told me to stay put but I got worried."

"I'm fine baby. Come lets go get that pizza."