Chapter 61: Cuteness Overload
A/N: Whew! Two weeks of heavy topics. Now for some FUN!
Steph’s POV
I flop back on the couch. Hector’s gone to pick up Nikki and Hector Manuel from the airport, and Nancy is cleaning the house.
“Less mess this time.”
I grin. “I’m doing leadership retreats with the company. The men cook and clean and I enjoy life.”
Nancy laughs. “Good for you. If you provide the space, they do the work. That sounds fair to me.”
I walk into the kitchen and peer into the tank. Rex is snoozing. My poor baby. I’ve barely thought about him but the Trenton man each week took over ‘Rex duty’. The other strategists and liaisons laughed each time.
Flashback
“Gotta make sure Rex is fed,” Manny says, filling Rex’s bowls with hamster nuggets and water. The guys crowd around and look. Les and I poke each other on the couch.
“Really?” Jorge asks. “This is a serious duty?”
Manny nods. “In the horrible event of the CO’s demise, custody of Rex passes to our office. Believe me, we like any pet who willfully and joyfully bites the unworthy.”
“The unworthy?” Chase asks, eyebrow raised.
I sigh from the couch. “He means my ex, referred to at RMTrenton as ‘The Cop’. Joe Morelli.”
Lester and Manny smirk while the guys all nod.
“He partial to a particular type of hamster nugget?” Diego asks, pulling out a notepad. I collapse in giggles.
“Nah. He’ll eat just about anything, but he prefers Tastykakes, doughnuts and raisins. Hamster pellets next. Don’t insult him with lettuce.”
“So, he eats the diet of his owner?” Manny asks, smirking.
Lester and I collapse in laughs on the couch. The next week, it was the same response.
“Yo, Steph?” Ram calls.
“Yeah?”
“You feed the office mascot?”
I peer into the tank. The rest of the liaisons crowd around me. “Nah. Manny refilled everything on the first day, but it looks like we need a refill. Definitely some water.”
Ram reaches for the water bowl. Rex comes rushing out of his can to defend his food bowl. I see the remnants of a churro.
“Yo, little dude, I’m not grabbing the food. Just going for the water,” Ram says softly. I see Rex’s beady eyes watching Ram closely for signs that he might try to steal his treats.
Bobby laughs from the couch. “The rat’s defending his territory again?”
“He’s not a rat!” I cry, turning around to face Bobby. “He’s a hamster, an attack hamster.”
“I know,” Bobby says, grinning. “I’d like to see him attack more often. I’d like to see him attack his favorite target more often.”
I sigh. “You guys love wishing Joe the worst, don’t you?”
“Nope,” Ram says. “We like wishing Joe gets exactly what he deserves.”
I shake my head. “You know, he is a good guy,” I say softly, leaving the room, but I still hear Bobby’s response.
“Yeah, but he’s not the right guy for you, Bomber.”
I call Tank. I’m not sure if he plans to show for XO week and, as the chief XO, he’s certainly welcome. Problem is, I think I need him not to show. I need time with Mark and Armando to determine if what I’m thinking is correct.
“Tank!”
“Hey, Little Girl!”
“How’s it going?”
“Got a personal question for you, Stephanie.” I sit. Tank called me Stephanie. This is going to be big. “If you had to choose, am I a blue man or a yellow one?”
I stare at the phone. “Huh?” Tank’s a black man. I’m confused on so many levels here.
“Just …which color? Which color could you see me in?”
I start smiling. “Neither, but if I had to put you in one, blue. You are not a yellow man.”
I can hear Tank exhale and I soon hear Lula’s voice. “Girl, you didn’t vote for teal did you?”
“Yeah. Wait, teal?” I thought Tank said blue.
“Yes, teal. Damn, Steph! You were supposed to vote for yellow! I know Tankie. This entire damn apartment will be black and teal and it’ll be boring as hell.”
“Not with you there, Lula. Besides, teal is a vibrant color. That’s pretty loud for someone like Tank. How many colors are you trying to put in that apartment?”
“Well, Grace, she’s the decorator, came back with this all-black color scheme that Tank loves. I mean, grey walls, black floors, looks like a fucking dungeon.” I laugh. That does sound grim. “But she met me halfway with purple, teal, and yellow to liven it up.”
I think about it and laugh. The main color is black. Tank will ignore everything else. “Sounds like a good compromise.”
“I thought so too until they started painting. Now I’m not so sure. It’s not bright enough. I wanna put more color on the walls and Tank don’t wanna hear that.” I can hear Lula sniff. “I need to be comfortable too.”
“Yeah, but Lula, your apartment isn’t comfortable on the eyes. Too much color. Too many things going on. The apartment is supposed to be a place to rest from the insanity going on downstairs.”
There’s silence on the line. I think of a solution. “Look, has Tank discussed buying a permanent home?”
“Yeah. We went house hunting. It was a bust.”
Damn. OK. “Look, you may want to call Mary Lou. I mean, she’s the only one of us who’s married. She may be able to help you better than I can.”
“Yeah, you’re right!” I can hear Lula perk up. “Call the married woman. She’ll know what to do. Thanks girl! How’s the beach?”
“Beautiful! Just waiting for Hector to show up with his cousin and son.”
“Son? I thought Hector was gay?”
“He is. His son is actually his cousin.”
“Oh. One of them relationships. I get it. Cool. You still need to talk to Tank?”
“Yeah.”
She passes the phone back over to Tank. “Thanks, Little Girl.”
“No problem. I would’ve vetoed the yellow right away.”
Tank chuckles. “OK, so what’s up?”
“Are you coming for XO week?”
Tank exhales. “Yeah, but I got a couple of bids here I need to follow up on so I may join you later. Say Monday evening. Why? You need me there badly?”
“Actually, it would help me more if you didn’t come.”
Silence on the line. “Ok ….”
“Not that you aren’t welcome, Tank,” I hurry to tell him. “But I already know I’m ripping Mark a new one. I also know I’m going to have to have a long talk with Armando. I kinda want to confront them on my own.”
Again, silence on the line, then, “If you need me, I’ll be there in hours. Just let me know. I mean it, Little Girl.”
“Will do, Tank! Enjoy decorating with Lula.” I hear Tank groan as I hang up.
I stretch out on the couch and smile. This week is Nikki, Hector Manuel, and Hector. Hec reminded me that his cousin knows he speaks English, so we can all speak English this week. Thank god. Keeping up the ruse this past week was killing me.
My nap is interrupted by tiny fingers poking my cheek.
“Angita! Angita!” Hector Manuel is trying, but it’s so cute to hear him mangle his uncle’s name for me. I sit up and stretch and Hector Manuel climbs right into my lap.
“Angita! I missed you and we took a plane here and we flew through the air and it was a long ride and Uncle picked us up and we drove and drove and drove to see you and Uncle said we get to stay with you and go play in the big water . . . “
I blink at the onslaught. My Spanish is getting much better. I understand ¾ of what he’s saying as long as I pay close attention. Nikki is beaming at me.
“Can you tell he was excited?”
“Just a bit,” I laugh. Hector walks in with the suitcases and carries them upstairs. Nikki is staying in one of the large bedrooms and Hector and Hector Manuel are sharing one of the rooms with the twin beds. I smile. Anything for his son.
Nikki smiles. “Manny, come on. Let’s clean up and get ready for dinner.”
“No!” Hector Manuel pouts, grabbing on to me. I smile and stand up, holding him on my hip.
“Bath time?”
“Yup,” Nikki replies. “Sometimes this is a fight, other times he goes right in.”
“Look, I know you’re tired from the plane ride. I’ll wash him and you can wash up in the master.”
“Thanks, girl. You’re a lifesaver.” Nikki smiles gratefully and heads upstairs. I immediately search for Hector.
“Hey, I offered Nikki my bathroom to clean up and said I’d wash Hector Manuel. Never done this before.” As usual, my mouth got ahead of my brain. “Help!”
Hector grins. “Easiest thing in the world. Run a lukewarm bath, strip him down and let him sit and play for a while. Biggest thing is you have to sit there with him. I’ll find his bath toys. By the way, he goes by Manny, too.”
Hector goes to search Hector Manuel’s luggage. I look at Hector Manuel, Manny. I have two Mannys now and he’s grinning.
“Whaddya say, Manny? Bath time?”
He contemplates the question before nodding and telling me about his toys. I walk to the bathroom and follow Hector’s instructions. Hector appears with bubble bath and bath toys soon after I start running the water. By the time I have Manny stripped [and he pushed me out the bathroom in order to pee (“Piracy!”)] and in the tub, Nikki is back, looking calm and rested.
It’s a crowded bathroom. Manny is having fun in the bath and we’re all watching him and smiling. Cute, well behaved, and missing his curls.
“You cut his hair?”
“Yeah,” Nikki replies. “Someone complimented me on my adorably curly-haired little girl, so it was past time for a trim.”
Hector snorts. I know my partner. I can see him thinking Damn right. My son is not a girl.
“Not a girl,” Manny mutters, diving his Pokemón toys in the bath. Hec and I smile and switch places so Hector can wash Manny down. He pulls the plug and wraps Manny in a towel. Manny immediately wraps himself around my legs.
“He’s going to stick to you all week,” Nikki laughs. “I hope you’re ready.”
“I don’t spend that much time around kids. They scare me.” I pick Manny up and take him to the bedroom he and Hector are sharing.
Nikki looks at me and smiles. “Well, at the moment, you look like a natural. Hector Manuel doesn’t really like people at first sight and he loves you. I was pretty shocked by that in Atlanta. He asked about you for days after you left.”
Manny is fighting me on the shirt. The undies and pants went on OK, but I finally give up on the shirt. Everything is Pokemón. Sigh. When I was a kid, it was all Superman and Wonder Woman. Now it’s . . . what is a Pokemón? Now that it’s clear I’ve given up on the shirt, Manny runs for the living room, but Hector picks him up at the staircase and whirls him around, playing airplane. Manny laughs and screams for his tío to put him down and they head down the stairs, hand in hand.
OK, it’s official: Hector Manuel just might be the only kid I like. Cute, well-mannered, and I miss his curls. We’ll have to see if he has another temper tantrum this week. I turn to Nikki. “That exhausted me! How do you do it?”
She laughs. “Constantly juggling my schedule. I’m mommy and daddy so I can’t slip. I have to have it together.” I nod, smiling. “Hector is such a huge help. I don’t know how he does it, but he can scold Manny from New Jersey and it’s just as effective as if I’d done it in person.” She grins. “He can scold me from New Jersey and it’s as effective as if he’d done it in person.”
I laugh. “OK, so I’m not alone!” We head down the stairs to the kitchen. Hector and Manny are on the living room floor playing with toy cars.
“Oh god, no! Hector’s such an old woman. Always worrying, always watching. He tell you he made me move?” I shake my head and Nikki tells me about Hector’s call after some gang guys came to the house. “I have to admit, I take Hector’s warnings seriously and he really does try to respect my need to feel like I’m in charge of my life and Manny’s. He sent Cindy to help me find a house and we found a really nice townhouse in Atlanta. Nice area, good schools, gated community. We’re supposed to close in a few weeks.”
“A few weeks?”
“Yeah. Hector wants to hide the ownership of the house to make it harder to find us, so he’s doing something. He said he got the idea from Ranger.”
I shake my head. Anything for his son. “Well, I’m glad you and Manny will be safe. I have to admit, he’s about the only well-behaved child I know.”
Nikki grins. “You know what?” I tilt my head. “When Manny was first learning to talk and walk, I panicked all the time about everything. I was on the phone sobbing to Hector one night and he said, ‘Stop thinking of my son as some alien. Hector Manuel is just a small person. He has the same reactions, the same desires. He just has fewer words. Teach him words so he can tell you what he wants.'”
My eyes widen. Hmm ….
“So, whenever one of my girlfriends becomes a mom, that’s exactly what I tell her. Stop looking at your baby like they’re this impossible to understand creature. Children are people too. They just have fewer words.”
“That’s it?” I ask, incredulous. “That’s the secret?” We’ve been in the kitchen and I’ve somehow been conned into making another salad. Nikki is pan-frying chicken breasts and steaming green beans.
Nikki laughs. “There’s more, but that’s the biggest thing. You have to learn to understand your child. As they get older, they learn more words and they can communicate. But babies? You just have to figure out what need isn’t being met and meet it.” She grins and leans close. “When Manny was a baby, I audited a child development class at GSU. Made a world of difference. Any time I don’t understand, I pull that book out and read. Try to figure out where Manny is developmentally.”
“My mother would try to take over and lecture me all the time. I’m sure she can’t wait.”
Nikki frowned. “I’d kill for some attention from our family. Hector is really it. When I got pregnant, everyone wanted me to end it. I had a great scholarship to a different college.” I nod, solemnly. “Hector came down and said that he’d support me no matter what I did. Keep the baby, get rid of the baby, he would be behind me.”
“That sounds like Hector.”
“Thank god for it. He was my only support for months. I moved here because of his situation”–she looks at me meaningfully and I nod. Yeah, those murder allegations Hector was fighting at the time– “then moved back when school started. Hector stayed with me in Atlanta, working out of the office there while I went to school. Hector was there for the 2 a.m. feedings and the diaper changes and the colic that nearly drove me mad. He was there for the shots and the smiles and the teething. Hector is Manny’s father, no matter how he tries to deny it.”
I laugh. “Yeah, Hector thinks and refers to him as ‘mijo’ all the time. Has the rest of your family come around?”
“Yeah, it’s getting better. My mother will babysit on weekends and whenever she can, especially if she doesn’t have to work. She’ll take him in a heartbeat if I get a date.” Nikki’s nose scrunches and I smile. “She’s desperate for me to get married and legitimize Manny. I told her that whoever I marry, Manny has to agree. Hector told her that whoever I marry, he has to agree and the man will get a full background profile done by him personally. No one is getting close to his son without him digitally strip searching the poor guy.” I fall out laughing, which leads Hector to look around the corner, frowning. I shake my head and he returns to the living room. Nikki smiles. “My dad is really starting to help too, especially now that Hector can walk and talk.”
I laugh. “Well, Manny has lots of words. He just has them in two languages.” Speak of the devil. Hector and Manny walk into the kitchen and Manny hugs his mother’s legs. Nikki picks him up and sits at the table with him while Hector finishes off dinner.
Dinner is quiet. It’s clear Manny is fighting sleep and halfway through dinner, he falls asleep right at the table, still clutching a piece of chicken. I giggle while Hector cleans him up and puts him to bed. We finish dinner and, while wrapping up the few leftovers, Nikki surveys the fridge.
“Oh. My. God. Please tell me this is Hector’s bread pudding with dulce de leche!”
“Touch that and you die!” I move to the fridge to protect my dessert (Oh My God, it’s spectacular!) but Nikki blocks my access to the fridge.
Nikki looks at me and grins. “Are you prepared to give your life for it? Cuz I’m ready. That’s considered bribe food in my family.”
“Any sweets given to me by the RMTrenton men are bribe food. I’m ready. Besides, you’re a mother. You can’t give your life for sugar!”
Hector has been watching this for the last few minutes and laughing. “How about I just make another pan?”
Nikki and I eye each other. Nice, but there’s still a serving left in the fridge. Hector solves the problem by eating it himself.
Nikki and I look at each other and nod. We’ll kill him after he makes another pan.
Nikki was right. Hector Manuel attached himself to me all week. He loved to chat with me, play with my hair and follow me everywhere. At first, it made me nervous, especially since Nikki and Hector seemed to find it so amusing. By Sunday, I was on to Hector’s little scheme: Make Angelita spend time with the adorable little boy she can’t resist and let’s see if we can get her clock ticking.
Sniff. I’m on to you, Hector, but you’re right: Manny is too adorable to resist.
I thought about what Bobby said, about partners learning to think like each other, and I realized he’s right. I can tell when Hector’s up to something now and I know he can read me. I can’t practice blank face with him anymore.
I took Manny to the beach to build sandcastles and learned that little boys prefer demolishing sand castles to building them. We chased waves and ate cotton candy on the beach (Nikki is right. Hector is such a worry wart: “Not too much, Angelita. It’s not good for his teeth!”), and kicked a soccer ball around the backyard. I fell asleep at the dinner table Tuesday night and woke to the sounds of Nikki and Hector laughing. I still had a piece of chicken on my fork when it happened.
I honestly didn’t mind spending time with Manny. I never saw my nieces at this age and Lisa is still a screamer. Hector Manuel had a tantrum at the beach, but I remembered what Nikki said and tried to figure out what was wrong. I did what Hector did in Atlanta: I sat next to him, rubbed his back, and waited for him to calm down. Turns out, he was hungry and hot, so I took him home, gave him a quick bath and let him enjoy some apple slices. I felt brilliant. Nikki was right! It wasn’t that hard.
Doesn’t mean I want one any time soon though.
We run out of salad ingredients on Wednesday (my one contribution to meals) so I decide to try something dangerous.
“Nikki?”
“Yeah?” Nikki is in the backyard sunbathing and reading a Kindle book. Hector’s on the beach. Nikki and I laughed. Nikki’s pretty sure Hector’s out man-hunting and if we join him, that’ll ruin his good time. I really want to see what Hector’s like on the prowl but she tells me that I don’t. It’s not very different from normal, she says. I dunno. I’ve seen Hector at Chippendales.
“I need to pick up some supplies from the grocery store and Manny’s out of books. You mind if I take him with me to the store?”
Nikki grins. “Sure! Let me outfit you.”
I quickly learn that no trip to any store happens quickly. Nikki passes me her baby bag (toddler snacks, emergency undies and wipes, bottled water, toys) and we hunt for Hector’s car keys. We decide to leave the car seat in his Lexus. I stare at the car and hope it isn’t an expensive one. I’d hate to blow up Hector’s personal car.
The Barnes and Noble is 15 minutes away, so I strap Manny in the car seat and we head there first. This must be a favorite store because Manny immediately finds the children’s area. We spend an hour looking at different books and I purchase quite a few. I also purchase a few books for each of my nieces and make a note to stop and get a shipping box.
We hit the grocery store next. Nikki’s advice had been crystal clear: Feed him a snack, remind him that he can get one thing, and strap him into the shopping cart. Otherwise he’d tip it trying to get to the stuff on the shelves. I feed Manny some apple slices as we leave the B&N and we stop at the Stop and Shop 15 minutes later.
“Store, Angita?”
I smile and strap him in the shopping cart. “Yup. Remember: one thing.”
Manny scowls but nods. I quickly grab lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, a red onion, and croutons. I’m trying to decide on salad dressing when Manny tugs my shirt.
“Me too!”
I put the ranch dressing in the cart. “OK, what do you want?”
He grins. “Ice cream!”
I laugh. A child after my own heart. I zoom over to the frozen aisle and run right into Julie Wisneski. One of Val’s friends and head of the PTA. The kind of woman who reminds you that you’re still a nobody even after all these years. Great. I guess this little trip will update the book in Trenton.
“Stephanie Plum?”
“Julie. Hi! How are you?” I’m hoping to escape without injury.
“I’m fine.” Julie looks stunned to see me. Her three kids are in the basket, screaming. “I never thought I’d run into you here.” She peers at Manny. “Adorable little boy. Is he your . . . friend’s?” I can tell she’s trying to ask about Ranger.
“My training partner’s nephew.”
Her face clearly shows “Aha!” and she peers into the basket. Jesus, she’s nosy. “On a diet?”
“No.” I’m trying to decide on ice cream flavors. Phish Food? Chunky Monkey? Cherry Garcia? Half Baked? So many choices.
Manny grabs the Phish Food and grins. “Mine!”
I laugh. “OK. That’s yours. Now, I need to pick out one.” I finally decide on Half Baked and Cherry Garcia.
Manny blinks. “Two,” he says, holding up two fingers and pointing. I smile. He’s a busy little man, counting ice creams and trying to pull the top off the Phish Food. I push the top back on and put it in the cart.
I grin. “One for Tío.” Hector will never eat it.
Manny tilts his head then nods. “OK. Now?” He starts twisting in the seat trying to reach the ice cream again.
“Let’s get home first.” I pass him the baggie of apple slices and he abandons the pursuit of the ice cream to happily munch away.
The entire time, Julie has been watching us in astonishment. “He’s so well behaved.” Her kids are still screaming and I feel smug. She smiles. “So, what brings you to the beach?”
“Vacation.” I’m done here and it’s none of your business. “See you later, Julie.”
I wave but I don’t give her time to respond before heading toward the registers. The fact that I was here, with a child, will be all over Trenton before the night is through and my mother will call all night. Working at RangeMan and not being in the field, I haven’t had to deal with that and I’ve enjoyed it. I still want to get back out there though.
It’s something else to consider. I wonder which question that falls under on Ella’s list.
Sure enough, my phone starts ringing an hour later.
“Hi, Mom. Yes, I was seen with a child in Point Pleasant. It’s Hector’s nephew.”
Silence on the other end then, “Hello Stephanie. It’s good to hear from you. You haven’t called since we left. How have you been?”
Great. A lecture on manners. Sigh. “Fine, Mom. Sorry. Thought I would just go ahead and answer the questions I knew were coming.”
“You have no idea what I intended to ask.”
Yeah right. “I might not have an idea of all the questions you might ask, but I’m sure the gossip in Trenton is that I was seen grocery shopping with a Hispanic child in Point Pleasant. I thought I might go ahead and answer those questions.”
“Stephanie, I already guessed the child was related to Hector.” Really? “Yes. You said Ranger has a daughter. Hector was the only possibility left, plus you were seen driving a Lexus and Mother says Hector has a Lexus. She won’t tell me how she knows that though. Anyway, I wanted to ask if the baby needed anything. Do you have everything you need to care for him for a week?”
I’m stunned. I honestly have no idea how to answer. “Uh . . . yeah. Actually, Hector’s here with his cousin and the baby is almost three.”
“OK. What are their names?”
“The child is Hector Manuel and his mother’s name is Nikki.”
“OK. Are you sure you have everything you need?”
“Yes. They leave Friday. We’re fine here.”
“OK. That was my only concern. I didn’t think you were equipped for children, other than that crib, and if you needed a high seat or stroller, we could easily get you one.”
Who are you? “Umm …no, we’re OK here. Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome. Goodbye, Stephanie.”
“Bye, Mom.”
I walk back into the living room and sit on the couch, shocked.
“Angelita?” Hector looks worried and concerned. I tell him what happened on my little shopping trip and about the call with Mom. Hector’s eyebrows shoot up.
“Yeah. Exactly.”
Hector nods slowly and we consider the possibilities. Alien abduction? Lobotomy? Personality transplant?
My phone rings non-stop the rest of the night, but I ignore it. The important call had been taken care of.
Hector’s POV
I need to think of a way to thank Angelita for her hospitality. My son spent his time either playing in the sand (Dios mio! How many places can a little boy get sand wedged on himself?), playing in the water (nothing over knee high. Those waves look dangerous.) and playing futból in the grassy backyard. Best of all, Angelita showed none of her customary fear with children.
Before Nikki arrived, I asked her to allow Angelita to spend time with Mijo and take care of his needs. Nikki was surprised, then thrilled. It really would be a vacation for her. I confided that Angelita was scared of children but she seemed to be OK with Mijo, so I wanted to gently push her into a Mom role. I was betting she wouldn’t even notice she ended up taking care of him all week.
“Is that fair to her, Hector? I mean, she’s at the beach to relax. Children aren’t always relaxing,” Nikki said, a frown on her face.
“True. But I think that this could be very good for her. Manny is not a baby and can express his needs but he’s not so old that you have to deal with an attitude. He’s just the right age to give her some experience. Angelita is surrounded by . . . “I searched for an appropriate word, then gave up. “Brats, at best. All the children she knows are not well-mannered children. Manny is. She needs to see that children can be well-behaved and well-raised.”
Nikki smiled. “Thanks, primo.”
I patted her hand. “You know Mijo is a very good little boy. You are doing a wonderful job, mommy. Now, you need to meet the right man and give my son a daddy.”
Nikki stuck her tongue out at me then grinned. “He has a daddy. You. You will always be his daddy.”
I looked at her out the side of my eye. “I will always be Tío. I can’t be Daddy.” I shuddered playfully. “How could we explain that? You’re my cousin and Manny looks nothing like me.”
Nikki looked at me, laughed, and punched my arm.
The plan went off like a dream. I’m pretty certain Angelita figured it out because she was giving me knowing looks by Sunday afternoon. By Monday, Angelita didn’t even look concerned that Manny followed her everywhere. On the contrary. She took him to the beach, to the boardwalk, and even played with him. She gave him his bath every night and dressed him. (“He doesn’t seem to like shirts,” she told Nikki, who smirked. “He’s just started consenting to pants,” Nikki replied.) I still did story time, but Manny also read to all of us.
It was wonderful. I woke up every day with his warm heavy weight on my chest. No matter how many times I put him in the bed by himself, he always climbed in with me the next morning. I woke to find Nikki and Angelita taking pictures Wednesday morning. Even I had to laugh at them later. Mijo had stretched out all across my chest, with his fist in my face and his foot uncomfortably close to Tío’s jewels. Meanwhile, I’d gone to sleep with my tongue sticking out, so it looked like Mijo had successfully punched his Tío out for the count.
Nikki and Stephanie spent time on the boardwalk laughing and having fun. My heart hurts for my Angelita. She is having fun with Nikki, but I can see the pain of her sister’s betrayal is deep.
I decide to do some digging. I ask Hal if anyone is available to go check up on the bookie keeping the pot on Morelli vs. Mañoso. Find out how it’s updated, who updates it and how they’re paid.
Vince calls back three hours later. “I went. Hal’s not good at calculating odds.”
“And?”
“Book is updated on Wednesday nights. Valerie is not paid to keep it informed. Until recently, it was based on the gossip assumptions of Mrs. Plum and the number of trips to the alley between Bombshell and Ranger, although they were also basing odds on other gossip occasionally passed along by Valerie.”
I’m pissed by almost all of that. The alley trips put Angelita’s reputation in question, Mrs. Plum’s gossip means people make money off her child, and Valerie is gossiping about her sister. “Who’s paid to keep it informed?”
“No one. It’s all based on gossip and sightings. The more the CO is spotted in the company of one man or the other or the more often the CO does favors for Ranger, that’s how the odds are calculated. Who does she spend more time with? The assumption is the person winning in face time will be the ultimate winner.”
“Until recently?”
“Yeah. Apparently, the book was based primarily on how often Mrs. Plum mentioned The Cop in her conversations. Now that Steph is working here and Mrs. Plum appears to have become a RangeMan fan, according to the gossip, the book is in uproar. It went from even money odds to strongly tilting to Ranger, then it blew.”
Hmm …Mrs. Plum is a RangeMan fan? Still, she remains on probation. “Addition of the RangeMan votes?”
“RangeMen betting on the draw threw the pot out of whack. It’s nearly meaningless now. It was paying 20-1 on Ranger. Now, it’s paying 10-1 on Ranger, 8-1 on The Cop and 2-1 on the CO. It was 15-1 on Ranger, but gossip says the CO was seen with a Hispanic kid in Point Pleasant. Temporary bump but I’d bet that the odds will change to 8-1 on Ranger, which makes him even odds with The Cop. First time ever.”
Perfect. It’s still tilted in Ranger’s favor, but anyone betting now isn’t going to win much. “Odds before RangeMen joined the pot?”
“20-1 on Ranger, 15-1 on The Cop.” Nice. “Anyone who bet on Ranger was going to make a fortune before we upset the pot. Now they’ll still make some money, but not much. If we can get The Cop to 100-1 odds, the pot will be meaningless.”
“How do we do that?” It would make me very happy if he was out completely, but Ranger says he’s still alive. Damn.
“He has to remove himself from the pot somehow. Death, incapacitation, and marriage will all do the trick. At that point he becomes a non-runner and Ranger wins by default. Something interesting I learned.”
“Go on.”
“Odds were almost decimated because Valerie called both men non-runners two weeks ago.” After the family visit to the beach. Interesting. I guess she decided to take her sister’s words seriously.
“How does Stephanie win?”
“If both Ranger and The Cop are removed from the pot. This is part of betting Hal doesn’t get. Voting for the CO is still voting for an outcome. In this case, you’re voting that she chooses neither. So …” Vince is nervous, but he presses on, “every RangeMan in the pot actually has two bets in.”
“Explain.”
“We bet on the draw, although that’s not the desired outcome. We also bet on Ranger. That’s the desired outcome. His odds are still running high only because he’s not here and he’s still considered a long-shot in the Burg’s eyes. He’s not Burg so they don’t really want to bet on him to win. They’d rather see the hometown boy win.”
“If The Cop removes himself from the pot first . . . “
“No payout until there’s resolution on Ranger. That’s why every man has two bets in. The pot wouldn’t pay unless Ranger died, was incapacitated, or married someone else. That’s why betting on the draw threw the pot off. We went from two acknowledged outcomes to three. If the CO marries someone else, then she wins. If the CO and Ranger get together, Ranger wins.”
Ah. So yes, bets on Ranger are the preferred outcome. “Good job. Thanks, Vince.” Click.
I find Angelita on the beach with my son. They look cute, building another sand castle for Mijo to destroy.
“I did some checking on the book.” Angelita looks at me with a frown. “We’ve decimated it.”
She grins. “How?”
I plop on the sand and attempt to create a window. “You need to talk to Vince about it because he understands odds, but he said that the RangeMen betting on ‘the draw’ ruined the book. Bets on you are paying 2-1. Bets on Ranger are paying 10-1 at the moment but Vince expects it to die down to 8-1. Bets on Morelli are paying 8-1.”
“Meaning?”
“For the first time, Ranger and Morelli are tied but you’re winning. Bets on you are 2-1, meaning it’s being acknowledged as the most likely choice.” Angelita smiles happily. “The fact that RangeMen are the ones voting for you meant that the bookie had to take it seriously. The RangeMen would be considered as having inside information. If they appear to be betting against their boss, he and Morelli don’t look like good odds right now. Also, your sister is not paid to inform on you. The book was based on your mother’s enthusiasm for Morelli and how much time you spent with Ranger.”
Angelita nods thoughtfully. Manny creates another window in the sandcastle then destroys it.
Ranger calls Thursday night.
“Yo!”
“Yo!”
“I have some digging I need you to do in Newark ASAP. I need you to follow up with the Newark Reyes on the stuff I’ll send you.”
“OK.” My voice is ice cold. I’m still furious about what Vince told me about those alley trips.
“Babe?”
“Fine.” Silence, but I can last as long he can.
“Hector?”
“Did you know that the book on your woman is partially based on your trips to the alley with her?” Silence and the longer it stretches the more certain I am. He knew. “Why?”
Silence, then, “Let’s see how well you handle it when it’s your turn, Hec.” Click.
I leave the house and walk the beach. I try to learn from everything I see around me and one thing I’ve learned is not to blame one person or another in any situation, especially romantic ones. Blame can always be shared and, in this instance, my Angelita shares some blame. She allowed my brother liberties while in a relationship with another man. She contributed to the gossip about her. She hates gossip but she fed it just as much as her mother and sister.
Sigh. I hope Lester’s and Ella’s plans work. I love them both so much and this insanity between them has to end.
I look around. There’s a man on the other end of the boardwalk. Tall, willowy, tan . . . nice ass. He looks over and smiles. I must not look scary right now. Let’s go try my luck.
A/N: Two side stories, Cold Water and Boundaries.
