Dahlia

Arrangements

“Mommy, mommy, mommy!” Demetrius Vega was running through the house screaming at the top of his lungs. “What is it chulo?” Anita asked, quickly swooping him off the ground. Demetrius told his mother all about the things he did with Mrs. Hampton, the lady who baby-sat him while his mother and grandmother were at work.. Anita loved her son dearly and she was an excellent mother. Demetrius came first which is why she was forced to strip. Her plans were never to go to college like with Cortez but she still wanted to do some things before she had children. She felt horrible because she didn’t get to spend much time with her son. Her schedule didn’t allow her to pick him up or drop him off at daycare. He spent every night at her mother’s house while she went to work. So the precious few hours that she had with him before she took the train to Manhattan were the highlight of her day. During these hours she listened to her son’s stories, went over the alphabet and numbers with him, and they read books and watched T.V. shows. This particular day it was warm out so Anita took Demetrius for a walk in his stroller. During their walk they pointed out buildings and signs and practiced them in both English and Spanish. They sang songs and sat on the front stoop of Anita’s house while Demetrius played with his toy dinosaurs. Her quality time with her son was interrupted by the phone ringing. She looked at the screen and saw an unfamiliar number. She didn’t usually answer these calls but it was a New York number so it might be a club calling her for more work.

“Hello?” she said into the phone. “Anita, this is Cortez.” Anita got butterflies in her stomach. “Yes, may I help you?” She put Demetrius down and let him go play with his toys. “Josephina told me that you are ready to talk about Demetrius.” “If possible I would love to keep this out of court.” “Yes, I am ready.” Anita said. “If Demetrius is my son, I want to have joint custody of him.” Cortez started. “I will get him whenever you want me to as long as there is enough notice and it is fair.” Anita wasn’t at all surprised that Cortez was willing to take responsibility for his son, though she was annoyed that he did not take her for her word. He was always a very responsible man. Even when they were together, he had taken all the precautions he was supposed to. He even had a plan in case of an “accident” of any kind.. “Ok, sounds good.” Anita said. “I’ll lay down my terms right now.” She said “He’ll stay with me all week and with you on the weekends, we’ll meet at your mother’s house for pick up and drop off. Cortez was silent on the other end of the phone for a moment. He then asked, “But don’t you work all week long?” “And he stays at your mother’s every night.” “Why don’t you let me keep him during the week and every weekend other weekend from Friday to Monday.”  “I can provide him a routine and your mom and sisters have other things to do.” “If I can take some of that burden I will.” “If he’s mine of course.” 

Anita couldn’t stand the thought of having her son stay with that woman during the week. It was petty, but she didn’t care. “No,” she said thoughtfully. “I mean, he’s so used to staying with Mami, Josephina and Regina.” “He may not like staying with you.” “Well, he’s 2 Anita.” Cortez said. “Of course it would not be right away.” “There would have to be some type of transition time.” “I just think that it's a lot on your mother and your sisters.” “If I am his father, I want to have time to bond with him as well and I don’t think the weekend will cover it.”  Anita rolled her eyes. “I mean, just no Cortez.” “MY son is not staying away from me.” “He’s been fine for the last two years without you.” Cortez chuckled quietly. “Ok, Anita.” “If you don’t want me to be involved with him, why even mention the fact that I might be his father?”  Anita scoffed. “Because I am his MOTHER and I can do what I want.” “Ok, Anita.” Cortez said. “I guess we will just have to wait and see.” Anita tried to argue with Cortez but he refused to engage which infuriated her. “You know what?” Anita said. “Maybe you are right.” “Maybe he should spend time with you.” “Only you.” “I don’t want her to be around what’s her name.” “Listen,” Cortez started. “We might have a problem with that.” “My fiance's name is Dahlia.” “We live together so she will be around him and I’m getting married to her so she’ll be his step mother.” “That’s not something you can control Anita.” Anita sucked her teeth. “Well then he just won’t be going to your house then.” “You wanna see him, you come to my house..alone!” She hung up her cell and  stormed into the back room where she picked up her phone and called her sister’s house. 

When Josephina picked up the phone Anita started bawling. “Nita what on earth is the matter with you?” Josephina Matos said into the phone. Josephina was Anita’s older sister. When Anita was dating Cortez, Josephina got married to her husband Daniel. Cortez and Anita were both in her wedding. Anita related the story about Cortez marrying Dahlia. “Ay dios mio.” Josephina said slowly. “What are you going to do?” “I don’t know.” Anita said. “But I do know that I want that tramp to have nothing to do with my son.” “I think I can still get him back.” Josephina sighed. “Escuchame hermanita,” She said affectionately. “You cannot take Cortez away from his fiancée.” “If he’s happy then you should leave them alone.” “Don’t be spiteful, you of all people should know that.” “But he’s MY man.” Anita protested. Josephina knew that it was useless to argue with her headstrong younger sister. “Cuidado Nita.” Her sister warned. “Don’t get in this over your head.” “Te amo.” Anita hung up the phone and said to herself “I should have called Regina.” “She would have understood.” Regina was her younger sister of 18 years old. Regina was always with the s**t and ready to pop off. Anita went back to the room where her son was playing. She picked him up and kissed him softly on his forehead. “Mommy loves you” she said over and over again. “Daddy’s b***h will never get close to you.”