Easter's Lilly (30 page)

“
It wasn’t rape to me,” he said. “Not to me.” He looked back at the water. I felt badly for him. He lost everything. Just like Jorge… everything.

“
I have more bad news for you,” I said. I looked down and saw a puddle of water underneath myself. “My water just broke.”

There was always FBI following us so Johnny whistled loudly and they came running. “Her water broke. We have to go to the hospital.” Johnny ran back to the house for my emergency bag and Dieguito and I were shuffled into an FBI issued car. The five of us drove to the hospital in record time. “Max!” I said to Miranda. “I need Max!”

“
I’m sorry,” she said. “John is going to have to stand in for him.” I was sick to my stomach and when they tried to get me to walk to the room I collapsed onto the floor. I knew I was panicking but couldn’t control it. I heard Dieguito crying and Miranda trying to comfort him. John and Steve were trying to pick me up until a doctor and a few nurses rushed over and got me up off of the floor. “We need to get her to a bed right away,” they said. “Are you the husband?”

“
Yes,” John answered reluctantly. But he knew it was time to step up. It was time for him to pay Maxwell back. What a way to do it.

Chapter 24

I Think we Should Name him Johnny.

I did what I was told and climbed into the bed. I was tired of being tired and tired of missing Max. John took my hand and leaned into me so that no one else would hear. “I know I’m not him. But I will be here for you just like he was when it was
my
baby.”

“
I loved him then,” I cried. “Even back then.”

“
I know,” he replied. “Call me Max if you need to. I’ll be right here holding your hand.”

I smiled. “Like I’m going to call you by his name.” He smiled back. “Ever.”

“
Okay, okay,” he said. “I get it. The most important rule.” I laughed a little. “A smile?” He put his hand on my cheek. “I always thought you were beautiful when you smiled.”

I laid back and he pretended to be my husband. It was hard but the baby came screaming into the world just like Dieguito did. “I think we should name him Johnny,” he said. “It’s only fair.” I laughed. I was exhausted. They put the baby into my arms and I looked at his tiny little blue eyes. He had a full head of golden hair. There was no doubt… he belonged to Max. “Well?” John asked. “What’s it gonna be?”

“
Max was very specific on not naming the baby after himself. He said it gets too confusing.”

“
What was Max’s father’s name?” John asked me. I laughed at that.

“
Diego,” I answered.

“
Next…” he said.

“
I
would
name him Hector but it would still be too confusing, being that we see him all the time,” I continued.

“
Why don’t you put Max in the middle?” he suggested. “Like…” he took a moment to think it through. “Like Michael Maxwell.”

“
I am
not
naming the baby after my dad.”

“
Think about names that you like,” he said. “I know this is hard without Maxwell.” He paused. “But I’m sure you’ve been thinking about names for a while now.”

“
How about Christian Maxwell Montiago?” I said. “We’ll call him Chris for short.

“
That is a perfect name,” he agreed. “May I hold him?” I put the baby in his arms and he smiled at him as though it was his own. The nurse came in and asked if I would like to nurse him. “Yes,” I answered. “As soon as possible.” John sat in a chair in the side of the room while I was trying to latch the baby’s little mouth onto my breast. “Cut that out!” I said to John, watching him watch me.

“
I missed it all the first time around,” he said. “Please don’t take this away from me.” So, I didn’t say a word and let him watch me nurse Christian. There was a huge hole in my heart as I fed Max’s newborn. I didn’t know if he was dead or alive and I was desperate for him to see the miniature Max in my arms. “It’s weird how much he looks like him,” John smiled.

“
Dieguito looks very much like you,” I replied.

“
Not
that
much,” he said. “Diego will know right away that this is not his baby.”

“
Yes, I supposed he will,” I answered. “But they are brothers. There could always be a resemblance.” He sat there contently watching me. It felt a little wrong. When the baby fell asleep, John took him and laid him down in the tiny bassinet they had for him while I closed up shop. He was still watching me.

“
I am so sorry he’s missing this,” he said again. “I’m so sorry I missed this the first time.” He sat down beside me and took my hand. Then he leaned in and kissed my lips. It was gentle and it was short. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I won’t do that again.” I was too tired to argue. I laid my head on the pillow and the next thing I knew it was morning.

Johnny was running in the room as soon as visiting hours began. He was as excited as if it were Dieguito’s birth. He had flowers and a teddy bear. I laughed. “You know this is Max’s baby, right?”

“
You know you’re Jane Smith, right?” was his response. I had forgotten that.

“
Just doing a quick reality check,” I replied. “I know
I
need those from time to time.”

“
I know who’s who,” he answered. “I can enjoy my time as your husband if I want to.”

“
I guess you may as well,” I answered putting my arms out for the baby. Little Dieguito climbed into the bed with me as I nursed Chris. John finally picked him up and sat him in a chair with a video game. “Making sure your view is not obstructed?” I asked sarcastically.

“
Stop being so mean to me,” he said. “I’m happy, let me be happy.”

“
You know they are freeing me today,” I said, avoiding the very uncomfortable situation that was happening here. Johnny was falling back in love with me. And I missed Max so much that I couldn’t breathe.

“
I heard,” he said. “I can’t wait to get you home so I can pamper you.”

“
Don’t go out of your way, John.” I was starting to get a little nervous.

He sat down beside me and took my hand. “I want you to be happy too.”

They discharged me and John and Dieguito got me all set up on the couch. The FBI got me a bassinet for the baby with wheels so that he could follow me from room to room. We were the perfect little family except for the fact that we weren’t.

—

Months went by. I had officially been without Maxwell for seven months. I was so lonely. John was happier than I had ever seen him and Dieguito was now calling him daddy. There was still no word from Max or Hector and no sign of life. I was still nursing, much to John’s glee and he got up with me every night and every morning to feed the baby. Sometimes he gave him formula just to give me a break. “You know you can stay asleep,” I told him. “You don’t have to listen for me.” He was in the kitchen preparing breakfast for us.

“
I wish you’d let me sleep with you,” he said. “At least on the floor.”

“
I don’t want to cross any boundaries,” I reminded him. He walked over to me. I could feel what his body was trying to say before he even touched me. I put the baby down into his bassinet. He took my face into his hands. Before I knew what had happened he put his lips on mine. He lifted me up off of the couch and pulled my body against his. I tried to stop him then but I was unable to. He moved deeper into me and I couldn’t break free and I could feel him getting aroused. I was finally able to free my hand so I pushed him back violently and slapped him as hard as I could across the face. I started wiping my lips to try to remove his kiss. “It’s still there,” he told me. “I know it’s still there.”

“
Do
not
tell Max about this,” I said. “I mean it, John.”

“
I don’t have a death wish,” he assured me. “Besides, I want you to kiss me again sometime.”

“
I didn’t kiss you, let’s get that straight.
You
kissed
me
.”

He smiled and turned the television to the news, searching for information on Diego and Jorge like nothing happened.

“
Jorge Montiago has been spotted in the Las Vegas airport by FBI early this morning
,” the anchorwoman reported.
There was a picture on the screen of Hector hand- cuffing him.

“
Turn it up, turn it up!” I yelled.

“
Police chief Michael O’Hara, who has already been arrested by the FBI months earlier, is believed to be responsible for Jorge and his brother Diego fleeing from the state penitentiary. An FBI agent shot Mr. O’Hara during what appeared to be a break-in a few months ago at the home of the third oldest Montiago brother, Hector Montiago in Sedona, Arizona. No word on what Police chief O’Hara was doing in the home at the time of the break-in. No word on the whereabouts of Diego Montiago at this time. He was not with his brother Jorge at the airport. Any information on this man needs to be reported right away. He is assumed to be armed and dangerous.”

“
That’s not good,” John said. “Diego is missing and no word on Max. I don’t like it.”

“
I’m glad he still thinks Max is dead.”

“
Don’t count on that,” John said. “Mick knows.” We were quiet for a few minutes. “If Mick was dirty, who knows who else was,” he continued.

“
I still can’t believe it,” I said. “My dad, a dirty cop. I thought that was why Diego married me in the first place, to keep dad in line.”

“
And it worked quite well,” he pointed out. I suppose he was right. Dad did and had continued to do everything that Diego had asked him to do. I was still in shock.

Time went by slowly. We had been living there for too long. The news about Jorge made me think that it wouldn’t be long now before Max caught up with him. I hadn’t heard Max’s deep, Latin, accented voice in so long. I continued to replay it in my head so I wouldn’t forget the sound. Johnny cooked all of our meals for us every day and my son continued to keep a close eye on his newly found father. John made no further attempts to get me into bed but he was still watching me ever so closely.

“
Still no news?” I asked John and Dieguito as I started yet another new day.

“
Nothing,” he said. “I could so get used to this.” John smiled and passed me some eggs. My phone rang and I looked down at it for the caller ID. It wasn’t Max.

“
Did you hear about me on TV?” the voice said. “I’m famous now, you know.” I didn’t say anything. John looked up at me. “Lilly, who is it?”

“
I hope you have enjoyed your time screwing my brother,” he continued. “I’m on my way to come get you
and
my baby. He’s dead!” and the voice was gone. I dropped the phone and started screaming. Johnny picked up his cell and called the FBI from next door to come over. They raced inside.

“
What’s going on?” Miranda asked.

“
Mommy, mommy!” Dieguito was pulling on my sleeve. All the noise started running together and I couldn’t think. John picked me up the way he saw Max do and he put me on the couch. “Lilly, who was on the phone?”

“
Is Max dead?” I asked Miranda. “Is he dead?” I demanded an answer. She dialed the phone and said, “You all right?” I waited with my heart beat racing. “He’s fine, Lilly.”

“
Diego,” I said. “He called. He said Max was dead and he’s coming for me and the baby.” I swallowed hard. “For me and
his
baby.”

“
Max,” she said. “Diego knows you’re alive. Mick, you know. Diego called Lilly.” She handed me the phone. “He wants to talk with you.”

I grabbed the phone from her hand. “Maxwell! You have to come home.”

“
Baby girl,” he said calmly. “Do you trust me?”

“
Yes, of course.” I answered.

“
I’m going to find that dog. You have nothing to fear. He doesn’t know where you are. You are covered. I’ll ask Miranda and Steve to monitor the house more carefully at night, okay?”

“
I’m scared, Max. And I miss you.”

“
I know,” he said. “It’s almost over.”

“
Max?”

“
Look at your finger, Lilly.” I looked at the diamond on my finger. “Remember that you promised,” he said.

“
I promised,” I agreed.

“
I love you. I’m fine and I have not seen Diego. Everything is all right.”

“
Tell Hector I’m worried about him too,” I said.