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“Lots of breakfast there, Chiquita,” Sarah said.
“Auntie!” Antonio said.
“Tee!” Lucas chimed in. He was not even two, Antonio three, and Lucas had one syllable names for most of us. I was Tee and Tommy was “Me”. Sarah was “Sah”. Antonio was “Toe” and Tess was “Ma”.
“G’morning everyone,” I greeted sunnily. Tommy stood and pulled the window blind cord to close the drapes, blocking The Strip from my view. I walked right to him. He kept the phone to his ear but his eyes hit mine.
I got up on my tiptoes and put my arms around his neck. He bent so I kissed him on the mouth quick and went to move away. My mannerism was sunny but he’d know different.
He grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze but his eyes were hard. He was angry but he was still giving me affection, likely a reward for my going right to him. We definitely had stuff to work out.
I gave him a tight smile and moved to the table filled with food and put my cup down as I lifted the lids off chafing dishes to see what was there. I made up a plate of fruit and pancakes. By the tall stack of dirty plates and cutlery, evidently I was the last person to eat breakfast. It was after ten o’clock. After that long and rough night, I could’ve stayed in bed longer but thought of Tessa out here with the boys and just wanted to lessen her burden in any way I could.
Tommy ended his call with, “Right, later.” And put his phone down. I’d felt his eyes on me the whole time I served myself.
“Gotta go deal with some stuff so girls, there’s a lady named Suzette coming with dresses for you girls to try on,” he said.
I looked at him.
“She’s the one who you saw last time we were here. She’ll be up here in about two hours with some racks and she’s having someone come with her for hair and all that shit. I’ll be back in time for dinner. Sarah’s talking to room service to arrange dinner for before we leave, around eight thirty. Baby, I’ll be in our room making a couple more calls. Come in when you’re done breakfast. Gotta talk to you.”
“Kay,” I said.
He got up and disappeared back into the bedroom with the phone. Tessa turned her attention back to the television.
His demeanor was all business. I knew that was partly because of me and partly or probably mostly because he was getting geared up for revenge.
My eyes moved to Tess as I forked up some cantaloupe.
She had her eyes aimed at the television but it was clear to me that she was staring off into nothing, lost in unpleasant thoughts.
I took a few bites and, without much of an appetite, I moved to her. I sat down and touched her shoulder and she jumped about three feet.
“Sorry,” I jumped back, “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Sorry, Tia. Miles away.” She gave her head a shake.
“Tee!” Lucas climbed up onto me and I cuddled him on my lap and blew a raspberry on his chubby cheek. He squealed with delight and grabbed my face and tried to do the same. A raspberry sound came from his throat instead of his lips and because he didn’t get it quite right, I wound up with baby slobber on my cheek.
Tessa gave us a bit of a watery-eyed smile while I tickled her son. He climbed back off me so I put my hand on her shoulder and gave her a squeeze but didn’t say anything. She swallowed painfully and blew out a slow breath.
Tommy’s head popped out the door of the bedroom we were using and he crooked his finger at me. He wasn’t smiling. Tess reached for her son and I moved to the bedroom and closed the door behind me.
He sat on the edge of the bed and crossed his arms, “Didn’t I tell you to come here after you were done?”
“I wasn’t done. I was just speaking with Tessa,” I returned, crossing my arms.
“Get over here,” he ordered.
My scalp prickled but I moved toward him, wiping my still wet cheek on my shoulder . He pulled me onto his lap and had my ponytail. He pulled it a little so that my mouth was an inch from his. But his eyes weren’t angry, they were searching mine.
“Your head still fucked up?” he asked.
Emotion surged through me. I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in his neck.
His arms came up around me and he held me tight. After a minute, he let out a little sigh.
“I’m sorry, Tommy.”
