10 - Hold her

As always, Tom woke early. He had trouble falling asleep even after Katie stopped tossing and turning and her breathing became rhythmic. He lay on his side and looked at her in the light that was coming through the blinds. She looked peaceful, but her mouth had a frown. He had never noticed her full lips before and looked away as he reminded himself they belonged to Paco. He was certain they had been all over Paco. His friend didn't kiss and tell, but he had witnessed little things to know that Ricky and Lucy made each other happy in the bedroom.

He quietly grabbed his running shoes and left the bedroom. The house was quiet and as he stepped outside, the heat and humidity were already stifling. He didn't know how Paco could complain about Kuwait when he grew up in the sticky heat.

Tom stretched before he set out on his run. He liked to run, as it cleared his head and got him ready for the day ahead. He ran over the events of the day before and tried to think of ways to protect Katie. Maybe he should just pretend she was his girl. If he spent the day with his arm around her, Paco would eventually get mad. A part of him was pissed at his friend. Another part of him didn't want his friend to stand up to Mama C and lose her like he had his family. He found himself at the park and sat down on a bench.

He had his phone, and he took it out to see if he could reach his brother. He smiled when he saw Jon's face.

"Hey, you look like shit."

"Thanks, but I was running. I'm in Miami and it's hotter than Hades."

"I know about hot. How's your new family?"

Jon teased, although it was true. "Not good. Paco brought his girl and his mother refuses to accept her. He isn't standing up to Mama, which I kind of get. Actually, I don't. I would fight for the girl I loved against our old man."

"Says the guy who blew it with the girl he loved."

"We were nineteen. I couldn't ask her to wait eight years for me. In the end, we were only good if we didn't talk."

"You did things that didn't require talking in the pool house and the basement."

And hotel rooms. "Now, I might as well be a monk. What about you, any luck?"

"We have a new teacher who is very pretty. I'm working on the 'let me show you the ropes and be your friend' angle, hoping it might lead to some lust between us."

"Good luck with that."

"Have you heard from Mom?"

"Not since last week. I should call her, but the judge's usually around on Sunday."

"She said they were talking about a trip to see me. What will I say to the old man?"

"I don't know. I worry about regret if something happens to him."

"Yeah. I guess I'm the most mad at Trey."

"He's stuck living with the bitch." Jon laughed. Tom had decided that if Jon ever went home, then he would, too. "Do you think you'll ever return to the states?"

He paused. "Someday. If I ever want kids, I don't want them here. Maybe if I get lucky, I'll get Alana to fall in love with me and marry me and I'll show up with a wife."

Tom laughed. "That would go over worse than Paco bringing Katie home to meet Mama. I should probably go back to the house to protect her."

"Okay."

"Hey, good luck with your girl."

Jon smiled, and just before the screen went blank, he teased. "Good luck with Paco's girl."

Back at the house, Paco was sitting at the kitchen table drinking his strong coffee.

"Where's Lucy?"

He shrugged. "Still asleep. I'm banned from going near that room. Coffee?"

"After I shower."

He didn't want to knock and wake her, but he also didn't want to barge in on her. He slowly turned the handle and cracked the door and waited.

"Come on in."

He pushed open the door to find her sitting on the bed with her phone.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I was just texting with Alyssa. She said that I should pretend to be your girl and make Paco jealous. At home we're all the same, but here he's different."

"His heritage is very important. You know about church, right?"

"Church, I can handle. Believe it or not, I grew up going to church."

He thought for a moment and could picture Murph in church.

"My mother is religious, but we're not Catholic. My brother is in Africa with a mission organization."

"Do you want to be my date?"

He knew the correct answer was no. Instead, he nodded and smiled. When she smiled back, he decided it was the right answer.

"I have to shower."

"Okay, honey." She teased.

"Hey Luce, don't be too mad at him. Bringing you here is really a big deal. He never would have, if he didn't love you so much."

At church, he liked the music and the message. He could do without the standing and sitting and kneeling. Even Katie was part of a club he didn't belong to. He sat while the others went for communion. Paco's sisters were at church and his little nephew Alex climbed on Tom's lap while the others were waiting in line.

It surprised him the boy remembered him. He wanted to talk, but he had to shush him. He liked kids, and they liked him back. Katie smiled when she returned and saw he wasn't alone.

On the way out, Alex told his sister and cousin that Tom had a girlfriend.

"Alexis, come here!" Paco didn't look happy, especially when Katie put her arm around Tom.

The women were busy in the kitchen while the men gathered in the yard. Tom would be in the way in the kitchen. Children ran around, but he only knew three of them. The youngest generation had names that sound more American. Alex's sister was Sonia, and their cousin was Lilianna. He ran around the yard with the kids.

Katie, who wasn't helping in the kitchen, sat between Tom and Paco. Lilianna touched her hair and told her it was pretty.

Paco smiled. "Katie's beautiful Lilli."

"Tom, do you think she's boo-tiful?"

He smiled and winked at his friend's angry scowl. "Yes, I do." Paco's face slumped. Tom understood guilt. Leaving home had left him with guilt.

More guests arrived, including some young women who were excited Paco was home. They weren't cousins, and Tom suspected Mama C invited every single girl of Cuban descent.

The drinks flowed, and once the music began, they pulled Paco up to dance. Katie set her jaw as she watched the man she loved dancing with women who liked to touch him.

"Come on!" She stood and reached out her hand. "You can speed it up, right?"

He nodded and took her in his arms. Rather than holding hands, she planted his left hand on her hip to match his right. She looped her hands around his neck. They moved together as Katie swung her hips under his palms. It would have been fun if Paco wasn't frowning.

Every time her body bumped into his, he stepped back. He needed a date soon.

Eventually Paco freed himself from the girls. He pointed to Tom and Katie. "You two, come with me!"

"He's jealous, Lucy."

She frowned as they followed Paco out of the yard and down the street. He walked until he reached the park.

"I know what you're doing!"

"What are you doing?" Katie stood with her hands on her hips.

"Should I go for a walk?" Tom started backing up.

"No!" Katie yelled.

"Stay!" Paco ordered.

"Paco, this is hard on her. She's crying. I know Mama is a force."

"I know, I know. Bebé, I love you. I want my Mamá to love you too."

"What if she never does?" Katie put her hands over her face in torment.

"She will... someday."

Tom clenched his teeth. "Hold her idiot." Paco gathered Katie in his arms. "Lucy and Ricky together again." Tom joked as he walked away.

Paco would be lost without him. First, he had to ask Katie out, and then he had to help him apologize. Thankfully, they had a flight home that evening.

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