Chapter 30

Manny

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the outcome from my earlier ride. When I saw the black skid marks, I pulled over and parked my truck, then looked around until I saw tire tracks that went off the road. Following them, I came across a car against several trees, and could see a body in the driver’s seat. I called 911 and relayed what I found then got closer to see if maybe I could help.

Only to see Leanna’s lifeless eyes staring straight ahead. The car was beyond fucked up; the airbags were all deployed, and the front end was crushed in and pushed into the passenger compartment. I couldn’t even see Leanna’s legs as they were covered by the dashboard. Still, I opened the door since the windows were busted and reached in to see if there was a pulse, but there was none to be found.

Hours later, as I hold my daughter in my arms while she cries, my thoughts are spinning everywhere. I sent her and Ricci off to do some shopping for her room at my house, but that was so we could start having overnight visits. I never anticipated or expected that I’d have her living with me, but there’s no one else and quite frankly, I want her there. Too many years have been wasted and I refuse to waste another minute.

Leaving the police department, I just presume that Ricci will follow us since she was heading out to my place when I called and had her turn around. So, when we arrive and she’s not behind me, I’m confused as hell.

“Did Ricci say anything?” I ask Marisol once we get inside the house.

“N-n-no,” she replies, still sniffling from her crying jag. “I thought she was following us. She has all the stuff for my room.”

“Hmm. Okay, let me show you around, including your room. It used to be my aunts’ bedroom, so it has an attached bathroom because my grandfather refused to fight for a toilet when he had to go.”

My comment does what it was intended to do; she starts giggling as I give her the grand tour of her new home before taking her upstairs to her room. There’s not much inside; a matching bedroom set, complete with a vanity, a walk-in closet, and of course, the bathroom.

“Can… can we paint it?” she quietly asks after checking everything out.

“Absolutely. Did you have any particular color in mind? I’ll get my brothers out here and they can get it done in no time flat.”

“Ricci and I picked out some of those paint chip thingies,” she says as we walk back downstairs into the kitchen. “We also got snacks and stuff I like to drink because she said you probably didn’t have that kind of thing.”

I chuckle because she’s right. If I feel like I want something sweet, I usually eat it when I’m getting lunch. If it’s not around the house, I’m less tempted. “Let me give her a call then, because I don’t want my girl to be without her snacks. Feel free to help yourself to whatever’s in the fridge.”

* * *

As I wait for Ricci to arrive, I try to push down my frustration. I sure as hell didn’t anticipate the reception I got when she answered, especially since we started dating and I thought we were on the same damn page as far as where things are going. According to her, Marisol and I need ‘time’ to get to know each other so while she’s bringing out the stuff they bought, she doesn’t plan to stay.

Something I desperately want her to do. I need her. Not because I find myself with a teenager living under my roof, but because she makes everything better. There’s a calmness to her spirit, one that helps me stay focused. So her saying that she’s backing off doesn’t sit well with me.

I can hear the television through the screen door as I sit on the front porch drinking a beer. Today has definitely been one for the record books, with me having to put my mother and the rest of the family off while I get Marisol settled. Still, that doesn’t mean I don’t want Ricci by my side, which I plan to tell her when she gets here.

Seeing her SUV pull into the driveway, my heart accelerates. Her eyes look puffy, and she won’t hold my gaze as she opens the rear hatch then gets out of the car. “Hey,” she says, looking over my shoulder instead of directly at me.

“We thought you would be behind us, sweetheart,” I reply, moving to where she’s now standing at the back of her vehicle.

“I just figured you’d need some time alone together,” she states, pulling the bags closer.

I start adding bags to my arms, determined to get the fifty-five thousand they bought inside in one trip. She smiles seeing what I’m doing, then grabs the final two before pushing the button to close the back. She follows behind me to the porch then waits as I navigate opening the door with two fingers.

“Oh! Hey, Ricci,” Marisol says, jumping up from the couch to try and take a few bags from me.

“I got them, baby,” I tell her as I head to the kitchen. “Let’s get your snacks and stuff out first, shall we?”

* * *

We leave Marisol in her room so she can start getting things put away and I walk outside with Ricci. “Sweetheart, talk to me,” I state, pulling her into my arms. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

“I just think… well, maybe we should take a step back until you get her settled in, Manny,” she replies. “I’ll still come in and work on the books, of course, but she needs to be your priority right now, not me.”

I growl out in frustration. “I need you by my side. What do I really know about teenage girls?”

“They just want to be loved and feel noticed,” she whispers.

Her comment breaks my heart because I know that until she was placed with the Billingsleys, she really didn’t have that once her parents passed away.

“This isn’t over,” I tell her as she moves to get into the driver’s seat. “Not by a long shot.”

“Take care, Manny. We’ll see how you feel once things settle, okay?”