Chapter Two

Gabriel 

I've been wanting to punch Lucille in the face for years now and after seven years... I still don't feel differently as I stare at her from across the room. She'd trashed my clothes and shoes and the whole thing is nothing but a mess. 

Not that I mind the fact that I'll have to buy a whole new wardrobe - it's just the fact that she keeps repeating the same old thing every day for the past seven years that has me so pissed off. 

She wants another freaking baby. She's yet to show one ounce of love towards Kareena and she wants another baby. If she can't love the one she already has, how can find it in herself to love a newborn baby?

Could it be that Simon was telling the truth about Lucille cheating on me and wanting to pin the baby on me? But then, I don't think Uncle Carlos's doctor would have had any reason to lie to me about the test because Kareena is the female version of me.

"Damn you!" I couldn't help but yell. "I will never give you another baby. Hang me by my balls for all I bloody care - which I don't."

"I am going to get pregnant by another man and you're going to father that child." She warns me. "You know I can do anything."

She is standing in front of the sliding glass doors leading to the balcony and I imagine myself rushing at her with a shout and then pushing her out through the doors and throwing her down. 

I know I won't mind going to jail because if I plead insanity... I will definitely be confined to a mental asylum. She drives me so fucking mad that it's a miracle my brain is still functioning properly. 

The only reason I have not completely lost my shit is my six years old daughter Kareena who I named after someone I'd waited my whole life to meet again but never did meet.

It was like she'd vanished into thin air or worse - I'd been dreaming on my eighth birthday that I met a girl like her.

"Gabriel!" She shrieks. "Are you listening to me?"

"You get pregnant for another man and I'll throw you out on your ugly ass, out of my house before you can say jack." I snarl. "I dare you to try it Lucille."

She glares balefully at me and I return the look until she turns her head away, then her body altogether towards the sliding glass doors. I hear a sniffle and I growl which cuts her off.

"Don't even bother using the crocodile tears to your advantage because it won't work on me. It didn't work before so it can't start now." I tell her.

"Why can't you love me?!" She yells. "I know I annoy you sometimes..."

"Sometimes? Try every time!" I yell back. "You're the bane of my existence Lucille. I wish I had never met you but unfortunately! wishes aren't fucking horses." I throw my hands up in the air in exasperation.

"I just think that having another baby will..."

"Drop it." I hiss. "This," I point to my manhood. "Will never make another acquaintance with that." I point to the juncture between her legs. "Get that into your thick skull and leave me alone in peace." I stalk to the bathroom and slam the door for emphasis.

~~~~~

Kareena Meira Brillantes Cruz is only five but she is wiser than most kids her age. She knows when her parents get into their never ending arguments just by looking at their faces and eating breakfast with them when that happens is like swallowing acid.

She uses her fork to roll her spaghetti on her plate, lift it and then drop it. She didn't want to upset the cook Theresa but she couldn't sit there and eat while her parents look as if they want to gouge each other's eyes out with their forks.

"Daddy." She calls tentatively.

"Yes sweetheart?"

"Can I go and visit aunt Gabi today?" She asks.

"Of course. I'm going over there after breakfast." Gabriel smiles at her. "I bet Brielle will be so happy to see you."

"Gabriel, have you forgotten we're going to visit my parents?" Lucille speaks up. "Go visit your sister another day."

"But mommy, I went to visit Grandma Ethel last week." Kareena whines. "I want to..."

"Stop your whining." Lucille snaps.

"Don't snap at her." Gabriel snaps back. "She went to see your mother last week so she's not obligated to go today."

"But you have to." Lucille smiles. "They want to see both of us."

"You're seriously trying my patience." He then faces his daughter. "Don't worry sweetheart, I'll drop you off at your aunt Gabi's place then I'll pick you up later."

"Can I stay over? It's the weekend." She pleads.

"Sure." 

"Yay! Thanks daddy. I love you."

"I love you too baby. Now eat up so Theresa won't get upset that you didn't like the food she prepared." He says.

"What's to like?" Lucille sneers as she drops her fork and pushes the plate away from her then takes a sip of water.

"You won't know how to boil water if the instructions to do so hits you in the face." Gabriel seethes. "So don't hate on Theresa's cooking."

"It's about time we replace her." Lucille says. "Don't you think?"

Gabriel's fork clatters noisily on his plate making Kareena jump but he is too angry to notice. He wipes his mouth with the napkin, shifts back his chair and rises to his feet then turns and storms out of the dining room.

"You're so mean mommy." Kareena pouts.

"Shut your dirty hole before I do it for you." Lucille orders. She gets up from the table and goes in search of her errant husband.

~~~~~

Gabriel 

If I listen to one more word from Lucille's mother about having another baby, I'm going to flip my top off. I glance at my stupid wife and catch her smiling at my discomfort but when I glare at her, she sobers up and her smile disappears.

"Oh my!" I exclaim suddenly as I check my wrist watch.

"What is it dear?" Her mother asks, looking concerned.

"I totally forgot that I told Kareena I'll pick her up from my sister's house." I say and get up. "I have to get going."

"But she said..." Lucille starts to say as she rises with me but I grip her wrist and squeeze tightly.

"You're free to stay with your parents if you want." I send her a saccharine smile.

"I'll go with you." She says.

"Fine." I say, through gritted teeth.

We say our goodbyes and we exit the house but immediately we are inside the car, hiding behind the tinted windows, I turn to glare at her.

"Don't you ever, ever interrupt my plans again, do you understand me?" I snarl at her.

"Why? Do you have a mistress you want to go and meet?" She lifts her chin defiantly. 

"If I do find myself a mistress, you'll be the first one to know." I rumble as I start the car.

"I'll kill both of you if you ever try such a thing." She warns. "I love you too much to let another woman have you."

I scoff in derision, honk for the security man to open the gate and when he does, I drive out of the compound.

"I wish I never came back to this country with my parents." I say. "My life would have been so much easier."

"So, you're telling me you regret Kareena?"

"She's the only thing I don't completely hate you for." I tell her. "But I'd have preferred to have her with someone else than with you."

"You're so mean." She mutters in a petulant voice.

"I'm not. You just bring out the worst in me." I turn on the radio to shut her out.

Not even up to a minute later, she turns off the radio and stares at me as if waiting for my reaction but I only shake my head at her without saying anything. She is delusional if she thinks I'll open my mouth to exchange words with her after the fiasco this morning. 

I'm exhausted... emotionally and physically and I want reprieve from all things Lucille but getting that will be like meeting the Easter bunny in person. 

"Since you obviously lied about going to pick up that daughter of yours, make up for it by treating me to a movie." She says. "We've not gone on a date in years."

"And we won't start now." I tell her.

"It's men like you that make their wives cheat on them." She huffs, crossing her arms. "I hate you."

"Good for you." I tap my fingers on the steering wheel as I begin to hum to myself. If I can't use the radio to tune her annoying voice out then I'll block her by humming.