Page 77 of Misery In Me

“Like fuck she will.” Gage stares at the man. “You’re a lucky son of a bitch, you know. If I weren’t in this fucking uniform, I’d beat the shit out of your racist ass. Never talk to my wife like that again.”

“Or anyone, for that matter.” Morales steps forward. “I wonder if your fellow brothers in blue know what a piece of shit you are.” He pulls his sunglasses down. “Officer Brant.” Reading the name off of his uniform.

The other officer hands Gage a card and says he can get a copy of the report at the station or online. “Have a nice day.” The cop grabs hold of his partner and they turn and walk back to their patrol car. Gage stands there, staring the men down as they get in and take off.

“We gotta head back in, man.” Morales nudges Gage, and he turns to me and gives me a smile. “I’m sorry I had to meet you this way. I’m Victor, by the way. Do you want me to have my wife come over and stay with you? I’m sure she’d love to meet you.”

“Honestly, that would be really, really nice.” I try to hold back the tears.

“For sure.” And he steps away, his phone at his ear.

Gage finally turns around and he looks furious. I don’t think I have ever seen him like this. Sad and falling apart, happier than humanly possible and lost in lust but never anger. “Fuck the cops. Look, baby, California still has the Castle Doctrine. Do you know what that is?”

“No.” I shake my head. Zoe stirs and I unbuckle the carrier to hold her on my front. I’m surprised she slept through the whole ordeal.

“It means that you may protect yourself and your family with deadly force if you fear they will hurt or kill you. With me being gone, I want that gun on you or downstairs easily accessible. Can you do that for me, pretty girl?”

“Ye-yeah, I can.”

“Eres realmente asombrosa, Hermosa.” He leans in and kisses me. “I’m so sorry, but I have to go back on base.”

“Rebecca is on the way with our youngest. She’ll be here in like ten minutes.” Victor makes faces at Zoe, who has a very grumpy look about her.

“Okay, thank you so much. I really appreciate it.”

“Hey, it’s not a problem. Really, she’s super excited to meet you.” Victor pats my shoulder and heads toward the truck.

“I’ll see you when I get home, baby.” He leans down and kisses Zoe’s head, then me again.

Zoe and I watch as Gage and Victor take off for the base and as soon as they turn the corner, I run back into the house and lock the door. I make it to the living room couch before I collapse in a fit of tears.

How am I going to do this without him?

THIRTY

ALEJANDRA

Rebecca Morales is the sweetest person I have ever met.

This woman who doesn’t know me brought me some homemade tamales, a basket of baby stuff for Zoe, and the warmest hug. “Fuck thoseputos. The cops in this area are real assholes and you would think with how big the community is here, they wouldn’t be. But they still are. Victor gets stopped all the time for bullshit racial profiling.” I hand her some plates and she serves up the food.

“It’s not the first time I’ve dealt with the police since I came here.” I take the plate she holds out to me, setting it on the table and then putting Zoe in her high chair. Rebecca hands me a container of frijoles. “For Zoe, I made way too much for Luís,” nodding to her son, who’s playing on the floor with his toy cars.

“I haven’t given her beans yet. The doctor said only cereal and mashed banana.” I set the container on the table.

“She’s six months old, no?”

“In a few weeks, but not yet.”

“Hmm, I wonder why I thought she was older? Maybe it’s a baby in the playgroup.” She stands there confused, she shrugs after a moment. “You should totally bring Zoe sometime.”

“I think she’d like that. Is it at a park?” I pick up a tamale and unwrap it and take a bite. My eyes roll from how good it is. “Oh damn, that's so good.”

Seriously, my tamales aren’t this good.

“We’ll make them together sometime. You’ll have to show me how you make your flan. Mine always turns out like shit.”

“Mama, that’s a bad word,” Luís giggles.

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