Page 90 of Fair Trade
And I made the mistake of opening a box in my office closet that holds old company files. I had forgotten how dusty they’ve gotten over the years. But by the time I found the file I was looking for, it was already too late.
The sneezing and watery eyes had taken over.
I knew if I took a simple antihistamine pill, I would be good as new within the hour.
It really was only allergies, but there’s no chance in hell I’ll stop my wife and her family from fussing over me.
In fact, I’m going to take great pleasure in it.
forty-six
I’m woken by thefaint feeling of lips on my forehead.
My arm instantly reaches out, because I’d know my wife’s touch anywhere.
She yelps as I pull her down to our large, plush couch and spoon her aggressively. “Mmm, wifey’s home.” I tuck her laughing body impossibly close.
“I see someone is feeling better.” I don’t have to open my eyes to know she’s smiling.
“I am. I love your family. Even your handsy aunt. They fixed me up. Made me feel better.”
“You’re talking like a toddler. How much cold medicine did they give you?”
“Haven’t needed any. After my first nap, I felt much better. Good as new. Then they hit me with two servings of sancocho. By then, I swear I was fully cured. But once I told them I haven’t had a home-cooked Dominican meal in almost two decades, they proceeded to make enough food for an army.”
“And you ate it all?” she asks in astonishment.
I nod happily. “And I ate it all. Made me sleepy and my brain a little fuzzy in the best way possible. I haven’t had a nap this nice in ages, much less two of them in one day.”
She traces invisible doodles on my arm that’s currently holding her flush against me. “Glad to hear it.”
I blink my eyes open and lift my head slightly to look down at her. “Are you tired? It’s been a long day. How did the meeting go?”
She sighs, and I don’t miss how she sinks into my chest, hopefully seeking comfort. “It went well. I think we can snag Vega, especially since he used to play with Martinez and Torres. Said his current team is missing that camaraderie, and I know we have that in spades.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Did I say there was a problem?” She scratches my forearm lightly, and I almost forget to speak. It’s nice to be touched by Luisa without an audience to prove our relationship to.
“No, you didn’t. But I know my wife, and there’s more to it.”
She sighs again. “Just Richard being Richard. He scouted a player years ago that finally made it to the major leagues but is warming the benches in Colorado, and he wants me to sign him instead. Claims he’d be cheaper too since he’s basically still a rookie.” I take a deep breath, preparing to ask why the hell Richard’s opinion even matters when she is the boss, when she continues. “But enough about work. Tell me what else happened while I was gone.”
I would have continued to push, but when she places a tiny kiss on my bicep and nuzzles into it like it’s a pillow, I relent. “Let’s see.” I think back on the day that had me feeling like a kid again. “I offered to help in the kitchen, and Tía Gloria threatened me with her spatula. Your mom made me drink an absurd amount of water, followed by two delicious lemon ginger teas. I’ve never needed to urinate as often as I did when she wasdone with me. Think she was really trying to flush the germs out of my body. But I’m sure they fled once they knew they were surrounded by lethal Dominican mothers.”
“Oh yes, the teas are the best when you have a sore throat or when the dreary and cold, endless January rolls around.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I kiss the back of her head. “We all ate here in the living room and watched one of Tía Marisol’s telenovelas.”
She scoffs. “Oh, yeah, right.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“All right, then tell me what happened on the show.”
“Ricardo was caught cheating on Valentina. But he didn’t know that Valentina had an evil twin named Carol, who was pretending to be her sister to get revenge on Valentina for not taking the rap for a crime she committed and therefore served five years in prison for. Christian’s wife was kidnapped, and she was so distressed, she went into labor. Her first love, Carlos, put his feelings aside to help save Asusena. They got there in time to save her and deliver her baby, but the baby came out looking a tad darker than anticipated, and Christian is light-skinned. Do you know who does have dark features, though?”
She gasps. “Carlos?”
