A smirk curled on Hector’s face as he leaned back on the bench. “You’ll get through this, Marc. You’re a good man.”
***
After Mia was done with her cycling, we headed to the garage. The sharp scent of grease and motor oil hung thick in the air as I spotted Alonso hunched over the open hood of a sedan, his face etched with concentration. He glanced up as we approached, his expression morphing into a grin.
“There’s my favorite niece!” Alonso’s rough, grease-stained hands lifted Mia, and she burst into giggles, squirming as his bristly kisses tickled her cheeks.
“Uncle Alonso, that tickles!” Mia squirmed in his arms, laughter bubbling out of her.
Alonso set Mia down, a smile playing on his lips as our eyes met. “Thanks for coming in, little brother. I know you enjoy your Saturdays off.”
I shrugged, offering a wry smile. “Family comes first, and Lord knows I owe you for all my shi—” I glanced down at Mia’s wide eyes and grinned. “—everything that’s happened this past week. Now, what’s this emergency transmission job?”
“Mrs. Chen’s Civic. Damn thing’s slipping gears like crazy. I promised her we’d have it done by noon. She’s working at the big carnival out on the fairgrounds this weekend and needs it as soon as possible.” Alonso wiped his hands on a rag, nodding towards the waiting room. “Mia can hang out there. I’ve got some snacks and juice boxes stocked up and got it on the television channel with the cartoons. Elena and the boys will be coming over soon, too.”
“Sounds great,” I replied. “Mia, why don’t you hang out in the waiting room? I’ll be just around the corner if you need anything.”
“Okay, Daddy!” she agreed, skipping off to the other room.
Alonso wiped his brow, leaning against the car. “So, how you holding up, little brother? This week’s been a real doozy for you.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “Honestly, I’ve been lying low, trying to keep Mia away from all the gossip and stares.” I reached fora wrench, focusing on the transmission. “But,” I continued, a small smile creeping up, “a few friends reached out—a couple text message, a call—letting me know they’re in my corner. It made a world of difference.”
Alonso nodded, his eyes bright. “That’s good, man. You’ve got people who care about you.” He hesitated for a moment before continuing. “So, you still thinking about heading back to Dallas?”
The wrench stilled in my hand, hovering over the engine. “That’s the plan,” I admitted, a knot tightening in my chest. “I can’t have Mia growing up with all this hanging over her head.”
Alonso’s hand found my shoulder, his calloused fingers gripping with a reassurance that spoke louder than words. His eyes met mine with an intensity that made me pause. “Marc,” he said, his voice low and steady, “I know you’d move heaven and earth for Mia. But sometimes, standing your ground is the bravest thing you can do.” He glanced around the garage, then back at me. “This town… it’s got its flaws, sure. But it’s also got good people. People who care about you both. Don’t let a few small minds chase you away from the life you’re building here.”
I leaned against the car, my mind whirling with conflicting thoughts. “I just want what’s best for Mia,” I answered. “That’s all that matters.”
Alonso turned to me, his eyes filled with concern and understanding. “Listen to me, brother. What’s best for Mia is a father who’s happy and content, who’s taking care of himself. You can’t pour from an empty cup. And—” Alonso locked eyes with me. “You can’t keep using Mia as an excuse when things get rough.”
Alonso’s words hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. I stepped back, my jaw clenching as I fought the urge to lash out. “What the hell, Alonso? You think I’m using my daughteras an excuse?” My voice dropped low and tight, hurt and anger bubbling beneath the surface.
Alonso held up his hands, his eyes steady. “I’m not saying that, Marc. I’m just asking you to think about it. Is this really about Mia, or are you embarrassed for yourself?”
I turned away. The accusation stung, but a small voice in the back of my mind whispered that Alonso had a point. “You don’t know what it’s like,” I muttered, more to myself than to him. “The whispers, the stares. It’s not just about me anymore.”
“I know, little brother. But running away won’t change who you are or what happened. Neither will hiding at home. People are gonna talk whether they see you or not until they get bored and stop talking.” Alonso’s voice softened. “You’re one of the strongest people I know, Marc. You’ve been through hell and back, and you’re still standing. But strength isn’t about facing everything alone. It’s about leaning on the people who love you.”
I nodded, understanding what he was trying to tell me. I thought about Ken, who’d respected my request for privacy. God, I missed him… “What if staying here is selfish? What if I’m putting my happiness above hers?”
“And what if leaving is robbing her of the chance to grow up surrounded by family who love her? What if it’s denying her the opportunity to see her father build something beautiful out of adversity?”
His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning, and I nodded slowly, letting his message sink in. He was right. I had been so focused on protecting Mia that I had neglected my own well-being.
Maybe I was using Mia as an excuse to run from my own fears.
But how could I find happiness when everything seemed to be falling apart around me?
Alonso must have sensed my inner turmoil because he asked, “Have you had any contact with Ken since, well, you know…”
I paused, unsure whether I wanted to dive into the murky waters that were my relationship with Ken. But Alonso had always been there for me, through thick and thin. If anyone understood, it would be him. “Yeah.” A flush crept into my cheeks. “He came over last week and we talked.
“So it wasn’t him that spilled your secret.”
I nodded.
