"Come on, let's go downstairs and try itout," he urged.
Seeing everyone agree and begin to stand,Maritzia looked to Cade. "I haven't gotten Cade's gift yet. I think his isthe last. After that then we can go," she announced decidedly.
"Oh, yeah," someone remarked andeveryone turned to look at Cade.
Coming around the sofa, Cade carried the blackbags and gently set them at her feet.
Without preamble, Maritzia dug into them with anexcited grin. Cade always got her the best gifts. From subscription servicesthat sent her the most popular books each month, an expensive espresso machine,to a lifetime supply of candles from her favorite handmade boutique store, hisgifts were always thoughtful and perfect.
Clutching the soft material in her hand, Maritziapulled out the deep plum-colored outfit. Knowing immediately what it was,Maritzia shot up from her seat to everyone's surprise and started scrambling topull out the rest. With matching down-filled pants and a thick jacket, theplum-colored snowsuit was exactly what she had talked about. Reaching into theother bags she pulled out a book titledEverything You Need To Know AboutVacationing In The Alps, while the last bag held an exquisite pair of blacksnow boots.
Looking to Cade, her eyes watered. Ever sincethey were kids, they had talked about traveling and Switzerland had always beenright at the top of her list. On their shared Pinterest board, she had pinnedthe ridiculously overpriced snow outfit and boots for things she would need forthe trip. She didn’t actually mean it. She knew whenever she did get around toactually getting to the Alps she would probably find the cheapest and warmestoutfit available, but this—she never imagined this.
"This had to cost a fortune," shewhispered to her renowned cheap partner.
Standing beside her to inspect it, Valerie readthe tag dangling from the puffy snowsuit's sleeve and whistled under herbreath. "Yeah, the hell it was. Try a couple of grand. Sweet God."
"Can’t have you freezing when we eventuallyget up those damn mountains,” Cade remarked laconically from his leaningposition against the couch arm. “I myself will have just enough money for apair of long johns and that's it."
Looking at his phone and up to Cade, Carlos hadgoogled the brand's name and found the outfit’s full price and gave Cade ahorrified look that quickly mutated to outrage. "Oh, hell naw, you made mepay for food damn near every time we went out this month, man. What thefuck?"
Cade grinned evilly and gave him a shrug."I'm not sorry, you can afford it."
Reaching down, Victor turned the tag over in hishand, reading the black embossed cardstock before looking back up to Cade witha restrained expression. "This was generous of you."
And for the first time, Maritzia watched asCade's smiling eyes cut to Victor, their warmth fading into a cold hard edge ofa knife. Cade gave Victor a mean smile in reply. "I'm so glad you thinkso."
Stepping forward into their line of sight, shequickly interjected between the two men. "Let's go try the bike," sheannounced cheerfully.
Downstairs on the street, everyone gatheredaround the sidewalk as Victor and Pedro set up the bike, going over theinstructions once more. Wearing a light sweater, Maritzia and Valerie stoodclose to their cousins and brothers, using them as a human shield for the briskwind. Although spring was on the horizon, the air still had traces of a winterchill beneath it, leaving the days to feel great and the nights with a bite.
A firm hand gripped her shoulder and Maritziafound herself being smushed shoulder to shoulder with Valerie. Looking overtheir shoulders, Cade grinned down at the both of them and began to vigorouslyrub their outside arms in an attempt to warm them up. Both she and Valerielaughed. It was something her father used to do to them both when they werekids when he took them to baseball games.
"Can you even ride a bike?" Cadeasked thoughtfully.
"Yeah, she can," Carlos grinned evillyat her. "Remember when she rode mine down to the basketball court that daywhen we were kids?"
The memory dawned visibly on Cade's face as hiseyes widened. "You mean the time she fell at Park avenue and damn nearneeded stitches?!"
"First of all, I'm right here,"Maritzia growled, punching both men in the solar plexus hard enough to hearsatisfying grunts from both of them. "I can speak for myself," sheglared at Carlos. "And yes, I can ride a bike…I'm just not good atit," she added in a doubtful tone.
"Okay, babe," Victor said, clapping hishands together and giving her a large excited smile. "You ready?"
Sensing his enthusiasm, she smiled back, happyjust to see him happy for once. Nodding, she stepped forward and took hisoutstretched hand, letting him pull her away from her protective wind barricadeshe created with her family. Putting his arm over her shoulder, she smiled ashe nuzzled her ear.
"This is going to be fun," he told her.
Nodding, she stopped near the bike and listenedto his instructions on how to turn it on, increase and decrease the speed, anduse the kickstand.
"Okay, I think I'm ready," she said,reaching for the bike's black handlebar.
"Wait a minute."
Both she and Victor turned to see Luis and Cadestanding directly behind them, both of their arms folded across their chestsand giving them serious looks.
"Where's her helmet?" Luis pointed toher head while staring at Victor for an answer.
Victor gave Luis a tired look. "She is onlytest riding it. She doesn't need a-"
