Bayou Stix Series: Bayou Stix Limited Edition Box Set (142 page)

My eyes fly fully open and I groan as my head complains heartily. I mutter, “Hey, be nice to the dude who got hit in the head. And stabbed!”

Closing my eyes again, I hear her soft footsteps disappear into the kitchen. Tifanie scoots closer to me and moves to the floor near my hip. Her hands are rubbing my head softly and with the soothing gesture and her whispered voice, I drift into slumber.

I can’t be awake. I just went to sleep… But I am awake. Something woke me. What is it? Some whisper of a sound in another room woke me. What is it? What time is it?

Opening my eyes, I see that I’m in my childhood bedroom. What am I doing here? We haven’t lived here for fifteen years.

It’s a small house, but Momma always keeps it neat. It’s little, but it’s homey. We’re comfortable here. Momma works hard to keep us in this house. We always have enough food and I always get little trinkets and treasures when I’m a good boy. I try to be a good boy, but kids are mean. I don’t talk to anyone. I keep to myself. I’m different and I get teased a lot.

My eyes are really light blue and my skin is light brown. I’m not white and I’m not black. Kids call me a zebra. I don’t like it, but I just stay quiet and walk away and hope that they’ll leave me alone. They don’t though.

There’s a girl in my class. She’s small and really skinny. She gets picked on too, but she doesn’t just take it. She’s sassy, but she’s nice to me because she’s like me. Her brother takes care of her and she doesn’t have any parents. Her name is Clove. She’s kind of pretty. She talks to me and shares her snacks. I always have a snack, but I don’t really like Froot Loops and I get them almost every day. She usually has an apple or carrot sticks. I like those better, so we share.

Today at school a boy pushed her down at recess because he said I’m her boyfriend and he called me a zebra. I don’t like being called that. It makes me mad when people say it. Momma says people say that when they don’t understand something. She says they are kids and don’t know any better because they weren’t taught the right way. She said I’m perfect and her blessing, but it doesn’t feel like that. I don’t feel like a blessing.

I hear her crying sometimes. I don’t know why but I know something bad happened to her. I’ve heard things people say. I know people are mean to her… because of me.

It’s not fair. She’s a good momma. She takes care of me and loves me. She doesn’t like when people call me names either. I don’t tell her about what happens at school, but sometimes at the store or movies, people point and whisper and say mean things loudly enough that she can hear them.

I don’t like when Momma is sad.

Oh, that’s what I heard… Momma is crying. She has bad dreams. Sometimes, she wakes up screaming and crying, but when I go check on her, she’s not really awake. She’s just crying and fighting the bad man in her nightmares. The man who hurt her.

What is that? Is she talking? What is she saying?

I’m coming, Momma. I’m coming. I’m going to get big and strong and I’m going to stop the bad man from hurting you. I’m going to make the bad man never hurt you again.

I’m going to work really hard and I’m going to protect you from the bad man.

Don’t cry, Momma. I’m coming. I’m going to take care of you.

Tifanie

I
’m sitting on the floor in Cruz’s mom’s house while he’s asleep on the couch with a concussion and surrounded by a hell of a mess. This is not how I expected my day to go.

I woke up this morning in a good mood. He was lying next to me after staying at my house last night.

I’ve been thinking about everything that happened this weekend, all day, and then I went to work. And the first call we got today was about him and the man who raped his mom and has been stalking him for a couple of months getting into a fight.

Not that I blame him for the fight. I can’t believe Lucian had the audacity to show up here. But can I really say that? Am I really that surprised about it all?

I know the family he comes from. I know how they operate. The restraining order is a good idea, but I’m going to make a call too. I’m a Bellaforte dammit. I might not use the name in my daily life, but I have it and I’m a part of that family. I can help them because of it and I’m going to use that. For the first time, I’m going to use that.

Ms. Edwards, no, I’m sorry, Corrin comes back in with two cups. She hands me one. “I didn’t know how you took it, so there’s nothing in it. There’s honey, sugar, and Splenda on the counter in the kitchen though.”

I smile. “I take it plain. I like my tea and coffee plain for the most part.” I chuckle. “Well, I like the frou-frou coffees too, but I drink it plain most of the time.”

She smiles softly as she gazes at Cruz, asleep on the couch. He’s so big, he’s hanging off of it, but he’s knocked out. His concussion is going to drain him for a bit as his body tries to repair the brain trauma.

Her sigh breaks my concentration on Cruz and I look at her. She smiles again and her face lights up. I can see the resemblance and I see that Cruz gets his good genes from her. She thanks me again.

I shrug. “It’s not a big deal. Really. I want to be here.”

“I know you do.” Her eyes are centered on me and it almost feels like she’s reading into my soul. “You love my baby.”

Am I going to answer her truthfully? Of course I am. I do love him.

Nodding, I let my gaze trail over him. I’m so glad he’s safe. Still looking at him, I answer her, “Yes, Ma’am. I do. Very much.”

She chuckles. “I wasn’t asking a question.”

Her simple statement makes my head turn.

“I know you love him. Everything you’ve done for him the past few months… he talks about you a lot. More than he realizes… I don’t think he knows what he gives away.”

What? What does she mean? I can’t imagine Cruz talking about me with anyone, even his mom.
The confusion on my face makes her grimace.

“Ma’am?”

“No, he doesn’t talk to me about you. He’s a very private man as I’m sure you know. He says a lot with very few words.”

I nod. I get that. He doesn’t open himself up. He has this wall, not a wall, a damn fortress.

She continues as she looks away from Cruz and right at me. “It’s what he doesn’t say that tells me as plain as day that you are good for him. You love him and I love you for loving him. He deserves to be loved. He deserves to be loved by a quality woman who will understand him and give him his space when he needs it. He deserves someone who’s willing to push him and not back down. He’s a stubborn, strong man so he needs an even stronger woman.” She smiles at me. “He has that now… in you.”

I can’t breathe. Cruz’s mom is telling me the things I need to hear. My heart is racing and my throat is tight. “I do love him. I know that. I’ve known that for quite a while. I know I push him, but it’s because I refuse to let him put himself down. I refuse to let him think he’s not worthy… of anything. He’s worthy of everything. He’s an amazing man.

“You have an amazing son. Yes, he’s gorgeous.” Chills race up my spine as I think of his utter beauty. “But, it’s so much more than that. He’s just a good man. He loves his friends. He’s loyal to a fault. He does for those he cares about without the first thought for himself. He’s just amazing.” My voice drifts off.

Corrin reaches out and takes my hand. Her hands have calluses, but are still soft. I look at her and feel slightly embarrassed at my declaration. Her face is lined with the force of her smile. “Some evil happened here today. In my home. I could be sitting here right now, shaking in the corner, about to crumble into a sobbing mess on the floor. But, I’m not. I’m here in the wake of that event with a beautiful woman who
loves
my baby as I’ve always prayed someone would love him. I’m here with you.

“You fight for my baby. You bulldozed his walls and I understand what a feat that was. You have a long and hard road ahead of you. Cruz is not an easy man. You can’t tear down a lifetime of hurt and shame in a few months. Shame he never should have felt to begin with because he’s done nothing wrong.

“God gave me that man. The way I got him I’ll never understand, but I do believe that God has a plan and I know that everything that happens in our lives happens for a reason. Yes, I was raped by a terrible man, a man who showed up at my home today and hurt my son, but that rape gave me that beautiful boy.” She glances at the couch before looking back at me and squeezing my hands. “His being attacked today and you showing up to be the one to care for him… I don’t believe in coincidences.

“You are here for a reason, Tifanie. This room has two women in it who are willing to fight for that man.

“You fight for my baby. You make him see in himself what you see… what I’ve seen all along. You make him want to take a chance. He wants it. He needs it. He deserves it. So do you.”

Tears are rolling down my face at her words. My chest is hurting from all of the emotion I’m holding in. His mom just not only gave me her blessing but told me that Cruz and I are meant to be together. I’ve been thinking that, but to have the mother of the man I love confirm it… there’s nothing better than that. Well, other than him saying he loves me too.

Putting my mug down, I lean over and hug her. She stiffens for a minute and then her arms come around me as she hugs me back. She whispers in my ear, “You’re going to make me beautiful grandbabies.”

Leaning back, I grin at her. We’re interrupted by Cruz moaning on the couch. He appears to be having a nightmare.

Corrin jumps up and starts rubbing his head. She looks at me in alarm. “He hasn’t had a nightmare like this since he was a child. Damn Lucian for doing this to him!”

As she murmurs soothing words to him, I check his vitals. His blood pressure and heart rate are elevated. I decide to wake him.

“I’m going to wake him up. He might flail, so please back up. I don’t want him to accidently hit you. It’s probably going to take a bit for him to understand that he’s here and not wherever he is in his mind.”

Tears are making trails down her cheeks and she looks pale, but she nods to me and with one last caress to his head, she steps back.

Standing near his hip, I call his name as I gently tap his chest. I don’t want him to jump and pop a stitch and I don’t want to be catapulted across the room if his instincts kick in and he lashes out. “Cruz. Cruz, it’s Tifanie. You’re having a nightmare. I need you to wake up.”

Nothing. I lean closer and start to carefully shake him. “Cruz, come on. It’s time to wake up. It’s just a nightmare. It’s not real.”

His moaning gets louder. I try harder.
“CRUZ. I need you to come out of this. It’s a nightmare. It’s not real. It’s just a nightmare. Nothing in your mind can hurt you. Wake up. It’s not real.”

He groans and flops back against the pillows as he gasps. He mutters, “Sadly, that’s not true.”

Corrin leans over him and kisses his cheek. “Hey, baby. You’re ok. We’re all ok.”

He grimaces. “We’re not. You’re not. Lucian is back.”

She sits next to him and talks gently to him. I make a decision and leave them as I head outside to the porch to make a phone call.

Scrolling through my contacts, I find the number I need. Taking a deep breath, I press the button to make the call.

A crisp, no nonsense voice answers, “Senator Bellaforte’s office.”

This is happening. Speaking absolutely clearly, I reply, “Hello. This is Tifanie. Tifanie Bellaforte. The Senator’s daughter. I need to speak with my father immediately. It’s important.”

The stunned silence on the other end makes me smile. She recovers quickly. “Yes, Miss Bellaforte. Just a moment. I’ll put you right through.”

Within twenty seconds, I hear my father’s voice on the other end of the phone. “Tifanie. Are you alright?”

I sigh. “I’m fine, Father. I’m not calling for me. I need a favor. A favor you can help me with.”

I hear something hit his desk and roll before he’s back on the phone. “You need a favor from me?”

I nod though he can’t see me. “Yes. I do. Lucian Wormer is Cruz’s father. He raped and beat his mother. He’s out of prison and assaulted Cruz today in his mother’s home. I need you to make certain the charges stick and that the restraining orders are swiftly put through. I need you to get the word out about what he did today. I need you to do this… for me.”

I can hear him swallow. “Tifanie… you and Cruz…”

Leaning against the porch railing, I give it to him straight. “Yes Father. Me and Cruz. I love him. He’s going to be in my life. Whatever happens down the road, he’s going to be here. You can choose to accept it or not, but I love him. He’s in my life. I’m asking you to help me make certain that the man who hurt his mother… who attempted to hurt mine, your wife, gets what’s coming to him. I’m asking you to help me protect the man I love.”

I don’t hear anything. He doesn’t speak. Everything is quiet and I’m wondering if he’s going to answer me.

I hear a deep sigh. “Ok. I’ll make the calls.”

He will? “You will?!”

He lets out a surprised chuckle. “Yes, I will. You’ve never asked me for anything before. You make it a point not to ask us for anything. Everything you have and everything you do, is yours. You’re my daughter and I love you, so if you love this man, then he is obviously someone worth getting to know. I’ll make the calls.”