"Does it still hurt?" Sofia asked, returning the disinfectant to its place. "A bit," James said, wincing slightly. "What's up, champ?" He nodded at Tyler."Were you two fighting over my mom?" He suddenly asked.Sofia, and James exchanged glances, and she came to get her son, "You don't have to answer that, Mr. Danson, I apologize, Tye can be very inquisitive at times.""No, no, it's okay," he assured her, then smiled, and immediately regretted it, the injury had begun bleeding again. "Let me get that for you," Sofia offered, leaving Tyler. She grabbed a box of tissues from the counter on the other side, and pulled out a few, then came back to dab at the injury again."What's your name?" James asked."Tyler DelaCruz."*TD,* Sofia thought to herself, chuckling. Then she noticed both of them were watching her, trying to understand her reaction."Oh, it's nothing, forgive me," she blushed, retrieving the cotton wipes and the disinfectant from a shelf."You're a smart kid," James acknowle
Sofia awoke around 4 AM and used the bathroom. She could hear low sounds like the TV was on downstairs. She slipped her robe on, over her nightgown, and left the room, careful not to wake Jessi. She went down quietly and peeped into the living room from the staircase.Tyler and James were on the sofa, playing a video game."What's going on?" She asked, frowning at both of them as she approached."Uh-oh, busted," Tyler muttered, dropping his pad."He should be in bed, James, you know that," Sofia sighed disappointedly. "You too," she added."Mom, please don't be mad with him, I woke him up while fiddling with the system, and then he helped me set it up, and taught me how to play.""You woke him to help you, right?" Sofia asked, knowing her son."Yes, Mom," he conceded with a sigh. "Ted wasn't budging, and I couldn't really sleep well because it was my first night away from the orphanage. Plus Ted snores loudly."Sofia didn't even know that she was smiling at him."I'll leave later this
A couple of weeks later..."What are your plans, Friday night?" Alicia asked, perched next to Fred as he sprinkled the scones."Nothing really," he replied, turning his attention to her. "Got any plans?"She nodded cheerfully and dug two movie tickets out of her apron's pocket."It's a movie adaptation of a work by only the greatest author of all time!" Alicia gushed."Shakespeare?" Fred asked, arching an eyebrow."No!" She looked horrified. "Paris Hills, dummy," she joked, play-punching him."Then why haven't I heard of him?""Because you have been busy making only the best tacos of all time," she chuckled sneakily, pulling him in between her legs."Don't let Paco hear that babe," he muttered, accepting her invite for a light kiss."So what, that's like our billionth secret now," she muttered, wrapping her arms around him. They kissed again."I already lost count," Fred replied, looking slightly thoughtful about it. "What are your plans for tonight?" He asked, and kissed her again bef
A couple of weeks later..."What are your plans, Friday night?" Alicia asked, perched next to Fred as he sprinkled the scones."Nothing really," he replied, turning his attention to her. "Got any plans?"She nodded cheerfully and dug two movie tickets out of her apron's pocket."It's a movie adaptation of a work by only the greatest author of all time!" Alicia gushed."Shakespeare?" Fred asked, arching an eyebrow."No!" She looked horrified. "Paris Hills, dummy," she joked, play-punching him."Then why haven't I heard of him?""Because you have been busy making only the best tacos of all time," she chuckled sneakily, pulling him in between her legs."Don't let Paco hear that babe," he muttered, accepting her invite for a light kiss."So what, that's like our billionth secret now," she muttered, wrapping her arms around him. They kissed again."I already lost count," Fred replied, looking slightly thoughtful about it. "What are your plans for tonight?" He asked, and kissed her again bef
Jessi, Rico, and Tyler arrived at the house in record time, thanks in, large part, to Harry's driving."I don't see any other car here," Rico noted as Harry pulled to a stop in the driveway."Maybe they're not back yet?""Look, there's Mom," Tyler said, pointing ahead. Indeed Sofia had just come out of the house in a simple floral print gown, under a long satin robe, and black fashionable slippers. She waved at them, smiling brightly, and they got down. Tye scrambled to his mother, and she squatted to embrace him in a bear hug."How was your tour?" She asked as they separated."I loved it, mom. The studio is amazing! We'll go again tomorrow right?"She tapped her chin, with her dainty index finger, and looked thoughtful, as if she was considering it."I don't know, perhaps you may decide not to come back home again," she pouted."Of course not, Mom," Tye chuckled, giving her a forehead kiss."Oh, you want to bribe me, Tye," she laughed, tickling him. Tyler giggled, trying to stop her.
Alicia knew she couldn't stay mad at Tanya too long. She had just finished breakfast, about to leave for work. Yet the door to Tanya's room was still shut since yesterday. She sighed deeply and glanced toward Tanya's room from where she sat, holding her coffee mug with both hands, with an empty plate of ham, cheese, and toast set before her. Only her coffee remained; about a quarter full.She set the cup down on the table, and grabbed her phone, dialing Tanya's number. It was still switched off.She got up and went to the door."Tanya?" She called. She didn't get a response. She called twice more. Still nothing. Then she began to get worried. She knew how dangerous Tanya could be to others, did she do something to herself? "Tanya!" She banged the door repeatedly, yelling her name louder each time.She didn't even hear the dragged footsteps until the key turned in the lock. She gasped, pausing mid-strike."What is it?" Tanya growled, looking disheveled.Alicia lost control, and embraced
"Doctor, doctor, how's my son?" Sofia asked, her, and James rushing to the old man as soon as he left the ER."Don't worry, he's stable now. We're just gonna keep him under observation for a while, just to make sure he's perfectly fine, and then he can leave with you.""Oh, thank God," Sofia gushed, making the sign of the Cross. "Can we see him now?""The nurses will move him to his room first, and then you can go see him. He's fine now, don't worry." He smiled kindly at Sofia."And when you get home, ease him into his normal routines. Right now all he needs is care, and rest.""Of course, doc. We'll take care of him," James said, hugging Sofia to his side. "Thank you, doc.""My pleasure," he replied."Doctor Patricio, doctor Patricio, you're needed on floor six, room 8." The speaker on one wall announced."That's my cue, take care you too." He left and took the nearest elevator.A nurse walked out of the elevator as the doctor went in, and she walked up to Sofia, and James. She was sl
"Ok, they've left Santa Fe, Harry. Take us to Sofia's place instead. We'll wait for her there." Jessi directed, ending her call with Sofia."Alright, ma'am," Harry nodded, changing lanes. He turned at the next intersection and went back in the direction from which he had come.They arrived at Sofia's quickly, and Jessi let herself, and Rico in with her spare key to the place. Tanya held the other spare."I'm starving, want something?" Jessi asked Rico as she went into the kitchen."A sandwich will be nice," he called after her. "No meat!" He added, and Jessi's head popped into view from the kitchen.She winked, "Of course, I know how to make a Rico sandwich, hun."Rico stared at her, caught slightly unawares. Just then the toast machine beeped, and Jessi slipped back into the kitchen.A few minutes later, Jessi brought a tray of sandwiches, and orange juice to the table, and they heard a car enter the driveway."That must be them," Jessi said, wiping her hands on the back of her pants.