19 | Gin And Tonic
1579 Words
Five years later
The phone ringing catches my attention, I groan hearing the cries of Charlie behind me. I just put her to bed! I rush towards the phone and see Roses school calling; I lift the phone to my ears and grab the bottle of milk from the fridge before heating it up in the heater.
“Hello?”
“Hello, is this Ms Taylor?”
“Speaking.” I said, shoving the bottle into Charlies mouth, she laughs slapping my hand away gently.
“Hello, Ms Taylor, I am Principal Andrew from St. Catholic. I am speaking for Rose, she said she isn’t feeling well.” I sigh, rubbing onto my forehead as I look towards the date. I know exactly why she isn’t feeling well.
“Right, I will pick her up in twenty minutes.” I end the phone call, with Charlies screaming in the back and Rose feeling unwell. I wanted to burst out crying too. But I bloody well cannot. I grab Charlies baby bag and then her stroller. I open the front door, trying to kick open her stroller.
Why isn’t it bloody opening! “Kicking it won’t open it.” I blow the strand of hair that fell on the side of my face as I breathe out in happiness seeing Rodrigues stand there. He comes towards me and flips it open as if it was easy, it is not easy!
“Yeah, I know that.” He chuckles shaking his head, I give him a soft hug, I feel his arms slide around my waist before letting go.
“How are you Goblin?” We both step inside.
“Roses school called me.”
“What did they say?” I walk to Charlies room, seeing her colouring and drawing shapes on the wall. I groan slapping my head, this is the ninth time.
“Charlie! What did mummy say?” She screams with laughter as she runs past me, acting as if I wouldn’t be able to catch up with her in four steps.
“Uncle!” She shouts before hiding underneath his legs, I fold my arms as she sticks her tongue at me. This little rascal, exactly like her father. Look wise too. She has his hazel eyes, and black curly locks. Her eyebrows are thick and her lashes are full, her skin is tanned. Beautiful. Something I know Ace would call her by.
“They said she isn’t feeling well, and we both know why.”
“Ace’s death day.” I rose a brow. “Sorry, that just flowed.” I smirk, trying to grab Charlie. “Okay Charlie, how about we go for a walk to visit Rose.”
“Yay! Rose! Picky yuppies!” She flashes her hands out, Rodrigues picks her up and she pulls onto his hair. I thank the lord for a second or four before exiting the house, I make sure the doors are locked as I shove Charlies bag into the stroller. Then, I push my hair back and begin walking, with Charlie and Rodrigues pretending they are aeroplanes besides me.
She looks like him. I know, I am repeating myself but I just can’t get over the similarities. She has the same birth mark on her arm, from Ace. His genes are darn strong, sometimes people thing I kidnapped her. I look down at my necklace.
“So, I was thinking, leave the kids at my mums and we can go out.” He broke the silence, is he asking me out on a date?
“Go out?”
“Yeah, for dinner…if you’re up to it.” I hesitated for a second.
“I should be with Rose…”
“Right, yeah, sorry wrong timing..” Then guilt messes me up. I know he is struggling with this more than me. It was his step brother at the end of the day.
“Maybe after I put them to bed?” I suggested, he smiles nodding his head. We arrive at Roses school, I left Charlie with Rodrigues as I walk inside the school. I am greeted at the reception, “hello, I am here to see Rose.”
“She’s sitting over there.”
“How was she?”
“Sad…” I look around to see Rose sitting in the corner, staring down at her hands. I tread up to her, she doesn’t look up but I take the time and settle down besides her. I push the side of her head against my chest. She took Aces death the hardest, she may have been young, but she loved Ace with all her heart. Ace was basically her father.
“I miss him…” She whispers, I bite onto my quivering lip as I stroke the back of her head.
“I know, I know baby, I miss him too.” I admit.
“How do you do it mum? How do you lose someone you love? Are you okay?”
“I’m okay but I’m also stranded in the middle of the ocean with a thousand waves crashing over me, so I suppose in a way I’m drowning. He isn’t gone baby; he is right here.” I press onto her heart; she sniffles looking up at me. “He is right next to you, to the both of us. With his stupid smile telling us he told us so.” She chuckles, wiping her tears as she remove herself from my hug.
We hear a loud scream of heaps of laughter, I roll my eyes seeing that little monster rushing towards us. But this little monster makes Rose laugh brightly, I look up to see Rodrigues looking around as if he has lost her. Rodrigues. I don’t know where I would be without him. He has been my rock this entire time.
He helped me through everything, Charlies diapers, Roses schoolwork even though he failed high school. “She’s over here Rod.” I shout, he snaps his head and a wave of relief slaps him in the face.
“There you are!” He shouts, these people are in a church and are screaming like we own the school. He rushes towards us with the buggy, I pick Charlie up and put her in the stroller. She chews onto my hair; I try to get her to stop but those baby teeth goddammit.
“Charlie! Ow!”
.
.
.
“Okay, they’re asleep.” I see Rodrigues mother; I kiss her cheeks as in a way of thanking her but she just brushes me of with a huge smile. “Thank you so much Abuela,”
“Oh please, I love those munchkins.” I chuckle, grabbing my bag as my eyes meet Rodrigues. He looks me up and down before inhaling.
“What? Do I not look nice?” I wore a red satin dress, that dived where my breast were so I added a long gold chain along with the wedding ring Ace gave me. The last thing he gave me. Along with the dress and jewellery, I wore lace up heels.
“No, no you look stunning.” He shook his head, is Rodrigues nervous?
“Okay, so we should get going then.” He gulps, looking at his mum who slaps the back of his head.
“Si no se van en tres segundos, los echaré yo mismo.”
[If you both don't leave in three seconds, I will kick you out myself.]
We immidtaley head out of the house, we had a car but we would rather walk since everything we know is local and around us. The sunset was out as we took a stroll, it is suddenly silent between the both of us but it was a nice silence. “So, where are we going?”
“Okay, so, there is this bar down the road, more like a club but you are going to love it, then there is this beach right besides it and if you hear the waves just right, the culture is that they whisper what you need.”
I chuckle shaking my head, as I push Rodrigues jokingly. He covers my eyes half of the way whilst speaking to me about how much I would love this place. I had to hold onto his wrist in fear of tripping or falling.
He keeps my eyes closed until we reach a busy bar, it really is beautiful. The colours that shone were gold, the bard had a long table where the bartender stood behind. Calming music plays in the background. People talking, that is only when I realise what Rodrigues is wearing. A white t-shirt that clung onto his muscles and body.
Along with black jeans and black shoes.
He pulls me a seat and I thank him as I settle on the highchair. The bartender crawls towards us, “what can I get you love birds?” He shoots out, my eyes widen as I burst out laughing.
“I want the gin and tonic and you?”
“s*x on the beach.” The bartender nods his head as he throws his towel over his shoulders.
- Writer
