GRINGA (24 page)

He looks really pleased
at my smile and
gives me the briefest of smiles.
His
first smile at
me
.
Well, he is responsible for my
current
happiness, so I guess I should thank him.

‘Thank you,’ I mouth and quickly avert my eyes.

             
He nods then suddenly stiffens.

             
Confused, I turn around and look at
Austin
, whose hand is on my shoulder. Quickly, I grab
Paris
’s arm and yank her towards the kitchen and everyone follows.

             
‘You two need marriage counselling,’ I say.  

             
‘You telling me,’ my father murmurs. ‘They do this all they ... ouch!’

             
Elaine pokes him in the ribs and he shuts up.

             
All the time? Wow. I had no idea they were having marital troubles. Although I must admit, I feel a deep thrill knowing they are not living happily after. After all, she did steal the love of my life. But I look at the beautiful bundle in my arms and frown. It’s not good for him. Once again I kiss his cheek and wish he was all mine.

I would love to have a baby of my own - my very own human being. I would be the best mom ever and make sure my kids have both parents at all times.

 
             
We step into the kitchen. ‘Maria,
Rosa
, this is baby Liam I always talk about.’ I don’t bother introducing Maria to my family as I fear they will ignore her anyway.

    
             
Maria looks at Liam and clucks. ‘She is so beautiful, Senorita. She looks like her daddy.’

             
‘It’s a
him
!’
Paris
snaps.

             
‘“
Its
”?’
Austin
sneers. ‘That how you refer to your
child
?’

             
Paris
glares at him. ‘Fuck off!’

             
‘Guys! Jeez, maybe it’s time you guys went back to LA,’ I say. 

             
‘To what?’
Paris
sneers. ‘Food stamps?’

             
‘I would like to see the fridge,’ Elaine say
s, trying to change the subject.
   

   
             
‘Yeah,’
Paris
says. ‘Bet they keep cool stuff like human skulls and cat there.’

             
‘Why? You planning on eating that too?’
Austin
mocks. ‘You have to stop sometimes, you know.’

             
Paris
’s bottom lip quivers. 

             
‘
Austin
!’ I chide. ‘What the fuck?’

             
‘She won’t stop eating,’ he grumbles. ‘Look at her – she’s put on so much ...’ 

             
I swing around to him.
‘Having your baby. Duh!’

             
He shrugs and walks away. I don’t know this side of
Austin
and I don’t like it. It’s ugly, mean.

             
I look at
Paris
and pat her back. ‘He doesn’t mean it.’

             
Elaine steps forwards and says, ‘It’s probably just nerves – the stress of things.’

             
‘“Things”? What “things”?’

    
             
‘Never mind, Payton’ Elaine says, her voice dismissive. Loosely interpreted – ‘None of your business, Payton.’

             
Rosa walks up to
Austin
. ‘Are you okay, gringo?’

             
He nods and touches the bandaid, a sheepish look on his face.

             
‘That is very good, gringo,’ she says. ‘
Y
ou from
America
, gringo?’  

    
             
‘Yes ...’ 

    
             
‘Do you know my cousin Syyyylvia.
She
live in
America
?’

    
             
I chuckle at the expression on gringo’s face and follow Elaine to the fridge.

             
‘There’s just food here,’ Elaine reports.

             
‘Really?’
Paris
sounds even more disenchanted. ‘Cannibals? Bah! The villagers don’t know shit about these people.’

             
‘Language Paris,’ Elaine rebukes.

  
             
Hours pass before they leave. I walk them to the car and usher them off.
Austin
gives me a two-arm hug while
Paris
glares at him for giving me so much attention. I’ve never seen
Paris
insecure before and deep down, I’m thrilled to know
I
make her so insecure. I never thought it’s possible for anyone to make her feel insecure, let alone plain ol’ me.

             
It’s a relief to see them leave - can’t handle the bickering and tension between Austin and Paris anymore.
Austin
has changed and frankly, I’m disappointed that he can be so nasty to
Paris
. She’s his wife, mother of his child for Christ’s sakes!

             
The party at the ranch has died and the place is quiet.

             
Deep in thought, I trudge slowly back to my room. In the dark I spot the burning end of a cigarette. Diablo? As I get closer, I get a whiff of tobacco - it’s him. I stop in front of him. He can see me, but I can barely see his face in the dark. I think about him rescuing me on the cliff, sparing
Austin
, arranging a home visit from my family and sparing me his nightly visits, and feel the need to say something.

             
‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘For everything.’

    
             
He does not reply.

             
‘Goodnight.’ 
             
             
             

I never thanked
Troy
for his kindness, for having the courage to stand up for me on many occasions, mainly because I never see him alone. But today he’s alone so I smile and say, ‘
Troy
, thanks for …
everything
.’ 

   
             
He grunts and looks down, reminding me of Diablo.
Troy
is the only man here who resembles Diablo – same facial structure, hazel eyes, long hair.

    
             
Tongue walks in and catches me smiling at
Troy
. He sneaks up behind me and circles my waist. ‘I like your
tits
,’ he whispers.

             
I shove him off and dart out of the kitchen, revolted by his touch.

    
             
He laughs. ‘My room is at the top bebe. Come visit me. Anytime! I leave my door open for you.’

     
             
Troy
starts to bristle and puts his face in Tongue’s and they start to argue. I prefer not to have any encounters with Tongue because I know he and Christa are close, and right now, Christa is really pissed at me.

*
             
*
             
*

I’m almost asleep when I hear a woman scream. I jump out of bed and race to the window. Tongue is struggling with a young lady I’ve never seen before. She has to be from one of the villages and judging from her sheer nightdress, I think she’s been abducted from her bed and dragged here for Tongue’s sexual
enjoyment
. 

    
             
I know exactly how she feels - the terror, the feelings of helplessness. But what can I do? I’m in exactly the same position, except I’m screaming
inside
.

             
Christa steps out of her room and puffs on a cigarett
es as she watches Tongue wrestle
with the young girl.

             
The girl sees Christa and says, ‘Senora, please help me
!
’

             
Christa
’s
smile is cynical as she throws down her cigarette, crushes it with her shoe and walks back into her room.

             
How could she do that? This is a young girl, for Christ’s sakes. 

             
Tongue drags the girl inside and shuts the door.

    
             
Being part of Diablo’s gang afford
s
his men a number of perks – they never paid for anything, they just took whatever they wanted. Nobody stopped them because nobody dared. One of their perks - women of all ages from the surrounding villages and tonight, Tongue was cashing in on his perk. Fucking pervert.

             
I can no longer sleep, so I just sit at the window and watch his room
and wait. I wish I was brave enough to march up to Tongue’s door and yank the girl out of there but I’m ashamed to admit that I’m too chicken to do that.
    

    
             
Hours later, she
’
s running away from Tongues villa. Without thinking, I race outside and try to stop her. She turns, looks at me, then runs on, probably distrusting me after her encounter with Christa.