Chapter two

Dinner ~

We drove down Valencia road and I watched the businesses past us as Sergio drove. We stopped at the traffic light and turned down a residential area. People who were outside watched us curiously. 

"Doubt any of them have seen a black Mercedes driving through the neighborhood," Sergio quipped and smirked at me. I shook my head and turned to look back out the tinted window. The car said turn right and you have reached your destination. I looked at the cute tiny home and smiled.

"Looks homey," I heard Sergio say. I nodded and climbed out to see the screen door open and Miguel came rushing out excitedly. 

"You made it mister," he said, smiling brightly and pulling on my heartstrings. 

"I brought an associate, I hope Maria doesn't mind," I said simply. Miguel stopped and looked at Sergio and grinned saying that his sister won't mind, there was plenty of food.

"Cute soulmate boss," Sergio teased and elbowed me. I glanced at Sergio when Maria came to the door and smiled at the sudden interest in both of their brown eyes. They greeted each other and we entered their small home. 

"Dinner is ready so we can eat, please sit around the table and Miguel will say a prayer before we start," Maria said in a demure manner. I saw a pitcher of Horchata and grinned. I sat with Miguel and Sergio next to me and Maria between Miguel and Sergio. I closed my eyes and bowed my head listening to Miguel say the evening prayer and the resounding Amens around the table. I poured myself a large glass of the rice drink and filled my plate with empanadas, refried beans, Spanish rice and flautas. My mouth was constantly full and I simply listened to Sergio and Maria flirt. It was cute and I laughed softly when I saw Miguel, who was also listening, roll his eyes. 

"This was delicious," I complimented Maria as I rubbed my stomach after three platefuls. Miguel was astonished by my appetite and I told him I was a growing boy. I helped clean up and noticed the family photographs on the wall. Their father was a tall Hispanic with thick black hair and their mother was a tiny petite blonde with vibrant green eyes. I finally got the information of what had happened to the couple and frowned. Miguel pulled on my shirt and asked me to come to his room to see his toys. I shrugged and said sure since Sergio and Maria were on the couch deep in conversation. I followed the little boy down the hall and into a blue painted room. A full size bed, book shelves and numerous toys were scattered throughout. He raced to the floor and lifted a red striped race car.

"This is the fastest car in the whole world vroom vroom," he claimed, flying it quickly through the air and I agreed with him. I sat on the carpet and played, rescuing the captured stuffed dog. Miguel yawned after a few hours and I raised my brow at him.

"Is it your bedtime," I asked him and he furrowed his brow and nodded. He looked up at me with his mom's green eyes and asked me if I'd read him a bedtime story. I couldn't tell him no, not my tiny soulmate and told him to pick a book. I sat on his bed and kicked off my shoes while he changed into his pjs in the bathroom. Miguel hands me a book and nestles against my side. I smiled at him and put my arm around him as I opened the book.

"Did your father read to you," I asked softly and he shook his head. I frowned and pulled him closer to my side and began the story of Jack and the beanstalk. Miguel rested his head on my chest and started  snoring lightly when we reached the giant's castle. I grinned, he was out like a light. I turned off the little table lamp and leaned back, closing my eyelids as I wrapped my arms around the little boy and drifted off to a comfortable sleep with a grin plastered on my face. Several hours later I growled at the rough nudge on my shoulder and squinted my eyes at the culprit.

"We need to leave immediately boss, um, Maria knows what you are and is yelling about her dead parents, saying you're responsible," Sergio tells me frantically. I opened my eyes fully and looked down at the sweet child peeking sleepily up at me.

"You hurted my daddy," Miguel mumbled in confusion. My heart dropped and I shook my head. I wasn't completely responsible for their deaths. I mean their father died in the stupid Iraq war and their blonde haired mother hung herself after getting the news. I dealt with death but not the way the individual died, that was solely on those fate bitches.

"This is bullshit, let's go, don't ever forget about me little man, we will meet again in the future, this I swear," I growled. I moved him off me, patting his head sweetly and hurried past Maria cursing me while holding a cross up at me. 

"That doesn't harm me in any way, I respect your lord and savior just the same as you and you humans need to learn that  death is not an end but only a beginning," I mumbled as Sergio grabbed my arm and pulled me to the car. 

We were soon driving through the dark streets heading back to my home. I noticed that I was only in my socks. I exhaled harshly and eyed Sergio.

"Why in the hell did you break protocol Sergio? Do you want to be relieved of your position because I can easily replace you. What happened?" I glared at the young man that took my soulmate from me and waited for him to explain himself.

"Well um Maria promised me her digits if I answered some questions," he mumbled embarrassingly. I rubbed my forehead and cursed his stupidity. 

"You outed death for a fucking phone number Sergio, Jesus, I can hook you up with women, men if you swing that way," I snapped bitterly at him. He glanced at me and opened his mouth then thought better of it and closed it.

"Just get me home so I can return to wallowing in my loneliness," I grumbled and turned my head to look out into the darkness. My mind was twirling in thought as I debated if I should kill the fool with a snap of my fingers or not. I squinted over at him and shook my head.

"You're so damn lucky I respect your father," I grunted and sighed.

We finally reached the driveway and surprisingly I was back to my somewhat normal self. I debated if I should confront Maria or just watch Miguel in the shadows as he grew and matured before I approached him once again. 

"I'm really sorry boss," Sergio mumbled. 

"I'm now simply curious about how Maria knew which questions to ask that pertained to who I am," I stated while rubbing my tired eyes. 

"We will discuss this more at dawn, goodnight," I mumbled and headed to my bedroom to sleep.

The following day I woke to complete silence. I entered my kitchen to see a florescent pink post it note on the counter.

Coffee is hot and freshly made. I've gone shopping for groceries and getting a cell phone for you :), Sergio. I poured myself a cup of coffee and wandered outdoors to my personal deck. There was a light breeze and I could smell the pines from further up the mountains. I thought maybe I'd visit Summerhaven today and later walk through the desert museum or vice versa. I figured I had several years to entertain myself with, nothing but a spec of time in my existence. I sat in my deck chair and sipped my coffee, squinting my eyes at the bright morning sun. I finished my coffee and went to dress in blue jean shorts, gray t-shirt and sandals. I put my hair into a ponytail and heard the door from the garage open meaning Sergio was back. I entered the kitchen and watched him carry in groceries. He handed me a cellphone.

"Got you that, I'll help you set your ringtones and what not when I finish putting the food away." I nodded and saw a couple twelve packs of Modelo. Sergio followed my eyes and chuckled.

"Pops said it was your favorite," he said with a shrug. 

"Did you happen to get Maria's number by chance," I asked him, planning to give her a call to speak with her openly. 

"No, I didn't boss, but you know where the boy lives and I have relatives in the area that can keep me updated," he told me with a slight smile. I nodded and sat at the kitchen table and opened my new phone to charge it. I then thought I'd help Sergio with groceries. I wasn't a complete asshole. We finished and I heard a song. My monsters are real. I watched Sergio answer his cell. I shook my head at his ringtone. He looked at me and laughed.

"Miguel looked mad at his sister when going to school today." I raised my brow and asked where he went to school. 

"Think I should send gifts to all the students at Santa Clara, Sergio?" He shrugged his shoulders and I got lost in thought while he set my ringtone.

"What songs do you like," he asked. 

"Fur Elise," I grinned.

"Why, is it because you were there when Beethoven wrote it," Sergio teased. I chuckled and shrugged, letting him figure it out. 

He asked if I knew any cell phone numbers and I gave him the bar's and my three amigos numbers. 

"Wow, you actually have acquaintances, color me shocked," Sergio mumbled, handing over my cell after snapping on a black case. 

"Did you put yours in there," I asked and he looked blankly at me and nodded. 

"You've got unlimited data so you can look up things on the internet," Sergio mumbled and showed me the icon.

"I've had a cell before, but thanks for teaching this old guy," I chuckled and he huffed at me. 

"Let's go to the desert museum and then up to Summerhaven to cool off," I told my trusted caretaker. The pair of us spent many days together becoming fantastic friends. I rediscovered my southern home and creeped on my tiny soulmate for the next decade.