Loving Cino

Chapter 10

Ramona

            I screamed and ran towards Cino to pull him out the way, but Carline intercepted me.  She yanked me back with the help of Derek.  “CINO!”  I screamed as we all fell backwards on the ground.  Carline’s body blocked my view.

 All I heard was something land on the hood and glass shattering with Melissa screaming.  I pushed her off me as I heard the car swerving and skidding into a loud bang.  I jumped to my feet and ran to the street as the street lit up with police lights.  I looked two houses down at Melissa’s car in another parked car.

 I ran towards it looking for Cino which I didn’t see.  Please be okay!  I begged running towards the front of the car.  I screamed as the passenger door flew open.  I looked at Cino who was stumbling out the car. He took two steps away from the car and collapsed in my arms.  We both fell over and landed with him on top of me. I sat up and held him in my arms.  He mumbled something before his head dropped in my chest.

 “Baby, look at me.”  I begged lifting his head up so I could see his eyes rolling around the back of his head.  “I’m okay baby.”  He said before passing out.  “If you’re okay why did you pass out and scare the s**t out of me?”  I asked him.

 I looked up as the police officer pulled Melissa out the car and handcuffed her as she fought against them.  My sisters stood around me watching the scene.  The paramedics came to take care of Cino who woke up the moment they touched him. 

He sat up holding his head.  He looked towards me.  “Are you okay?”  He asked.  “Yes, baby.  Let them check you.”  “Where is Melissa?”  “Sir don’t worry she’s been arrested, now let us take care of you.”  “Arrested?  Why?”  I looked at him.  “Because she tried to kill you.”  He looked at me annoyed.  “Baby.”  He stared at me a moment before I stood up and walked away.  I walked into my room and closed and locked the door. 

That day I distanced myself from everyone.  By Monday I was still avoiding everyone.  I snuck in and out of the backdoor and to my room.  I talked to no one only my patients.  I caught the bus to and from work for a whole week.

  My emotions were all over the place.  I wanted to cry but I was too angry to cry.  I felt so much love but had no one to give it to.  I wanted to f**k but wasn’t turned on enough to.  I wanted to eat but had no appetite.  I wanted to sleep but couldn’t get comfortable enough.  I wanted to throw up, but nothing came out.  I wanted to slap that b***h, but she wasn’t anywhere around. 

The weekend came and I locked myself in my room trying to control my emotions.  Before I knew it Monday came and it was the same as the week before.  I ignored all phone calls and avoided all contact with my family for two more weeks.  I just gave myself to my job.

  By the third weekend, enough was enough.  I walked home from the bus stop Friday evening. 

I walked through the backyard and unlocked the back door.  I looked at Carline and Daria sitting at the table with Kiara.  When they saw me, they stopped talking.  I quickly walked into my room. 

Before I could close the door behind me Kiara pushed it open.  “Hi friend!”  She said as cheery as she could which made me want to punch her in the face.  “Kiara get out.”  I warned throwing my bag on the floor. “Did you miss me friend?”  She said playfully poking me.  “KIARA GET OUT!”  I screamed.  She jumped on me hugging me and we fell over on the bed.  “KIARA GET OFF ME!”  “You missed me?  I missed you!”  She said sitting on me trying to tickle me, but I slapped at her hands. 

“LEAVE ME ALONE!”  I screamed at the top of my lungs.

 She stopped and watched the tears pool in my eyes.  “See what you did!” I cried making her smile at me.  She sat on top of me watching me cry.  I felt Carline sit next to me rubbing my head.  I covered my face and cried uncontrollably.  I cried so much I couldn’t breathe.  I felt the three of them hug me which made me cry even more.

 “If you hadn’t been avoiding us you would have known your car has been fixed for the last three weeks and you’ve been taking the bus for no reason.”  Daria said.

 I almost choked when laughter burst out of my cries.  It made them laugh as well.

  “I hate taking the bus.”  I admitted still crying.  “Girl who doesn’t.”  Kiara said holding my breast.

 “Kiara, I swear I will catch a charge if you about to do whatever it is in your head.”  Carline said making Daria and I laugh.  “No, they’re bigger, Oh my God!  Ramona!” 

I sat up and looked at her blurry figure. 

“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”  Everyone’s mouth dropped open. 

That wasn’t right was it?  I had just had my period about when?  Oh, s**t that was like two or three months ago. Oh my God I think she’s right!  Oh s**t!

“She is producing a lot of snot!”  Daria yelled as they laughed at me again.

 I ran into the bathroom and washed my face.  I then grabbed my keys and debit card and ran for my car with them behind me. 

We rushed to the CVS down the street and grabbed four tests paid for them and rushed back home. 

We made it back into my room.  I left everyone in my room where Cino was sitting on my bed and rushed into the bathroom.  I didn’t bother closing the door.

 I began ripping open the boxes.  Kiara followed me and helped rip them open.  She passed them to me, and I peed on all of them.

 She lined them up on the bathtub and we all gathered in the bathroom and watched them change.  Two lines, blue box, a smiley and the words pregnant appeared across all of them.             Everyone looked at me and began screaming in shock and excitement.  Everyone hugged me and began talking all at once.

 I glanced in the doorway at Cino who was looking at us like we finally lost it.  His glance went to the tests and he went into shock.  He looked at me.  I smiled and shrugged my shoulders.  He pushed passed everyone and picked me up and hugged me so tight. 

“Don’t worry, I got you both.”  He whispered in my ear.  I smiled at him and kissed his nose.  “You got me, and I got you.”  He smiled before kissing me again.  “Where’s Melissa?”  Carline asked bursting my bubble.  “Still in jail.”

 I looked at her from his arms.  She shook her head at us and walked away.  He finally put me down and we all went in the kitchen and ate. 

After that I ended up back in my room with Cino.  He made love to me like I was his Queen.  Afterwards I laid on his chest with him rubbing my back. 

“How do you feel?” He asked.  I smiled.  “Right now?  I feel so happy, but what’s going to happen when you leave?”  He took a deep breath and let it out.  “Baby, our situation, is very complicated.”  “Yes, it is.”  “I know I can’t stay away from you.”  “Then don’t.”  “Baby, it’s complicated.”  “Yes, I know, so uncomplicate it.”  I lifted my head off his chest and looked at him.  “Stay with me and stop leaving me.”  “I haven’t left you.”

Cino

            “I am always here.  I’m just trying to keep her off your ass and cut down on the hell she’s putting me through.  I didn’t tell you she closed my bank account and now she has all of my money.”  “Are you serious?”  “Yes, I borrowed against my gym to pay for your car to get fixed.”  “You did that?  You fixed my car?”  “Of course, I did.  I told you I will fix this just give me some time.”

 She sat up and straddled me.  I felt myself growing against hers again.  “Some things you can’t fix baby.”  “I’ll try like hell.”  “I know, but what if that loan isn’t paid back?”  “Then I lose my gym.” “Why would you risk that?  You worked so hard for that gym.”  “You worked hard for your car.  Your car gets you back and forth to work.  That was more important.” 

I wanted her to prosper and grow.  I didn’t want her to sink and crash.  If I had to work three jobs to make sure that didn’t happen then so be it. 

“Baby, I won’t let you fall because of me.”  She said.  I couldn’t help but fall in love with her even more.  “That’s and easy fix.” I watched her yawn.  “How do we fix that baby?”  I smiled at her.  “We keep each other up.”  She smiled at me before yawning again.  “When was the last time you slept?”  I asked watching her yawn for the third time.  She looked at me.  “Probably the last time you did.”  I smiled at her.

 I loved how connected we were.  She was right, I hadn’t really slept in the past few weeks.  I had been trying to finish this last project we were working on for work, taking care of Isiah, taking care of Melissa behind bars and trying to take care of her from a distance.  Now that I had my Queen beside me, I could rest for a little while. 

            I awakened sometime that morning.  The smell of bacon drowned my nose and made my stomach growl.  I felt a kiss on my nose which made me smile.  I opened my eyes and looked at Ramona who smiled down at me. 

“Why do you do that?”  I asked stretching.  “Do what?”  “Kiss my nose.”  She shrugged her shoulders.  “I like your nose.”  I laughed and sat up to pancakes, eggs and bacon. “Dam baby.”

 No one had ever served me breakfast in bed before.  It made me feel loved and appreciated.  She was the one who was carrying our child, yet she got up and cooked for me because she wanted to feed me.  She loved me enough to give up her sleep she didn’t get enough of.  That touched in a place no one ever would. 

            I looked at the cup of coffee she sat next to me.  She kissed me on the lips before walking out the room again.  I sipped my coffee and waited for her to return, which she did a few minutes later.  She had her plate and a cup of milk.  I grabbed the cup from her so she could climb in the bed next to me.  We ate our breakfast together and washed the dishes.  We then went back to sleep until later in the afternoon.  We laid around and watched movies for the rest of the day.

            It meant the world to me that she was my peace.  I felt amazing not to have to fight in my home where I’m supposed to relax.  With her I step out the ring and can take my gloves off.  With Melissa I had to not only keep my gloves on when I stepped out the ring, I had to walk on eggshells.

 The choice on who I should be with seemed really simple, but it wasn’t.  Melissa had years with me verses just a few months.  I knew her backwards and forwards.  We worked together in the streets when we were younger.  I knew her way of loving me was by putting me through the hell she did.  That was how she was taught to love.  When she wasn’t raising hell, she was my best friend.  She was beautiful, and smart.  She calculated everything to the tee.  She was an amazing mother to her son. 

She was terrified of losing me to something she was not. Ramona is beautiful and smart, also crazy but not necessarily in a bad way unless you’re the one who pissed her off.  She was so funny and kind.  I loved how she loved her family and how they loved her.  She was the type of person that could make a blood bath look beautiful and angelic.  She was who I needed, and Melissa was who I wanted.

 Being with Melissa I had to be used to change and also pushed me to be the man of her dreams.  She had high expectations from me.  Ramona just wanted me to be me. One used love as her tool and the other used rage.

I went back and forth like this for a while.  If life could work out to where I could have them both, I’d be the happiest man in the world.  I knew that would never happen and I had a choice to make.  I was so confused. 

Monday morning Melissa was released from jail.  I had a rental and was waiting for her to take her home.  When I saw her walking out, I got out the car.  She stood there staring at me still angry.  I watched her eyes tear up until she finally looked away from me.  I walked over and hugged her, and she began to cry. 

“You let them take me to jail!”  She cried from my chest.  “I’m sorry.”  “What kind of husband are you?  You didn’t protect me!”  I kissed her wild sweaty hair.  “Baby I am sorry.”  “You are a sorry husband!”  I stood there hugging her letting her cry and belittle me.  “You should have been in jail!  All of this was your fault!  You went outside our marriage!  You did this to us!”  I looked away trying not to get emotional.

 I just wanted to make sure she got home okay.  My mind wasn’t stable enough to do this right now.  “You are the worst husband ever!”  She shoved me into the car and walked away.  I stood there letting those words eat my brain. 

I found myself sitting by the water downing a bottle of gin.  The more I drank, the better I felt.  I just wanted to forget about everything and everyone. 

When that bottle ran out, I got another.  By the time that one ran out I had passed out.  When I came to, I went on my search for more.  It was nighttime now, so I ended up at a bar on the beach.  I had ordered six shots of whiskey and a bottle of tequila with three beers.

I couldn’t understand why my pain wouldn’t go away.  I had finished my shots and beer and was working on the tequila when I smelled a familiar scent.

  I looked at the man next to me.  He gave me a crazy look before grabbing his drink and walking away.  I took another sip and looked the other way.

 “Hi.”  Ramona said calmly.  She was sitting next to me at the bar watching my every move.  I looked at her scrubs she was still wearing. 

“Hey.  How’d you find me?”  She smiled and spoke very quietly.  “It wasn’t hard.  I just followed my heart.”  I smiled at her.  “Yeah, look where it led you.”  I took another sip.  “It led me to my King.”  I looked at her.  She smiled at me.  I was too disappointed in myself to smile back.  I turned to my bottle.

 “Your king huh? I don’t think your king is a king.”  “Why not?” “For one he’s drunk.”  “I can see that.”  “And that’s okay with you?”  She smiled again.  “I know my king well enough to know, he has his reasons for everything.”  I couldn’t help but laugh.  “You really believe in your king huh?  He can do no wrong in your eyes.”  I took another sip. 

That’s when I felt the bottle leaving my hands.  I watched Ramona take it and put it behind the bar.  She then leaned towards me on the bar. She captured me in her stare and all I could do was sit there and listen. 

“My king, is perfectly imperfect.” 

Ramona

            I watched him melt into my stare. I took that as my opportunity to lean in and kiss his soul.  I sat back and watched his eyes tear up.  I slid closer to him and laid my head on his shoulder and wrapped my arms around his waist.  “I love you, which is why I think you are perfect.  I was lucky enough to find the perfect man and I am not letting you go.  Whether you like it or not you are stuck with me.”  I felt him trembling trying to hold in his emotions.  I hugged him tighter.

I glanced beside me at Carline and Daria who were with Damien and Derek.  They brought me here to him.

 Derek told me he was going to take Melissa home from jail.  When he didn’t show up at work Derek called me.  Since I let him use my debit card for the rental he was driving, I called the company and had them locate the car.  When I found him, he was asleep in the car with the doors unlocked.  I took the keys out and locked the doors and let him sleep.  I went back to work and came back to see him still asleep.  I sat here and ate my food and waited for him to awaken.  Carline and Daria came for support.  When Damien and Derek showed up, we just kind of hung out waiting for him.

 “Are you ready to come up for air?”  He looked at me revealing his confusion, hurt, and fear.  “What?”  “We keep each other up, remember?  I see my King drowning.  I’m here to keep you up.”  “You love me that much?”  I smiled at him.  “I did bring back up just in case I wasn’t enough.”  I joked making him smile.  I watched a tear tumble down his cheek.  I quickly wiped it away for him.  He looked away and took a few deep breaths trying to compose himself.  I smiled at him and glanced at the empty dance floor.  I looked back at Cino who was holding his bloodshot eyes. 

“Dance with me.”  He looked at me.  “There’s no music playing.”  “I know.”  He looked straight ahead for a moment and then stood up.  I stood up and took his hand.  I smiled at him and let him lead me to the dance floor. 

Carline

            I smiled at my baby sister as she faced Cino on the dance floor.  He looked very annoyed and uncomfortable.  She looked happy and excited.  Everyone fell out laughing as she began dancing and snapping her fingers with the biggest smile on her face.  Cino couldn’t do anything but stand there and laugh while she danced around him.  When she made it back in front of him, she hugged him. 

“You are crazy as s**t, you know, that right?”  He asked her as they slowly danced together. “Duh!”  We all laughed again.  

 It was so beautiful how she loved him.  The only thing that scared me was the fact he was married.  From the way things looked he was having the hardest time letting go of his wife.  It looked like he would never be able to and Ramona would never be able to let him go.  That scared me the most. 

I knew my sister’s heart.  When she loved, she loved whole heartedly.  Getting in her heart was hard because she did not let anyone in easily. But Cino not only got in easily, he stepped in and out as he pleased.

 What kind of effect did he think that would have on her?  Was he even thinking about her best interests?  What about this baby?  Was he considering this child at all?  He set off a lot of flags and it made me very uneasy. 

Daria

            I watched my beautiful sister dance with her heart’s desire.  I loved seeing her so happy, but I couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take for him to disappear and break her heart again.  I have seen Ramona in relationships before, but she was never like this.

 Since we bought this house three years ago, she has only been in one relationship and they never went further than the living room. Now, here was Cino practically living with her.  I watched them together and they literally became one.

 I know he loves her too, but I couldn’t understand why he kept disappearing from her life.  Each time it destroyed Ramona and now she was pregnant. It was only going to get worse.  They both had a decision to make.  

I tried to stay out of their relationship so they could make their own decision.  Over the next month I watched him leave her three times for days to weeks without communication.  I watched her heart break over and over.  

She tried to go through it silently and by herself, but we know her so well.  We knew when she was around us and she was distracted she was worrying about Cino. 

It was now a month later and we were at her ultrasound appointment. It was her, me and Carline watching the monitor.  My mouth dropped open when I saw two blobs on the screen with flickers.  I looked at Ramona who was staring wide eyed at the screen. 

“Why are there two flickers?”  She asked the tech.  “Oh, because you’re pregnant with twins.”  We looked at Carline who burst out laughing.  I looked back at the screen to keep from laughing.   I looked back just in time to see Ramona shoot her middle finger at her.  “They are identical.”  The tech reported.  “And you are about fifteen weeks and four days. And it looks like boys.”  “Ramona!”  We hugged her and continued watching the screen.  After the tech finished, she printed some pictures and we left and went home. 

I watched Ramona just stare at the pictures in awe.  “How are you feeling?”  I asked her.  She looked up from the pictures.  “So happy and excited and at the same time scared shitless.” 

“Yes, that sound about right.”  I said smiling at her.  “Welcome to mommy hood.”  Carline added.  “How dose Cino feel about it?”  I asked.  She looked up from the pictures to me.  Uncertainty filled her face, but she forced a smile.

 “I’m sure he’ll be ecstatic.”  “He doesn’t know?”  Carline asked.  She looked from her to me.  “I’m sure he will be ecstatic.”  She repeated.  Carline and I looked at each other and then back at Ramona.  “When was the last time you saw him?”  Carline asked.  “I don’t know, about two weeks ago.”  “Ramona.”  I breathed filling her with annoyance.  “Look its fine.”  “No, it’s not.”  I said.  “He has things he’s trying to work out.”  “Ramona at some point, you have to stop making excuses for him.”  I ranted.   “He is a grown ass man.  He got you pregnant.  If you and your kids were the most important thing to him wouldn’t he be here?”  I watched her face fill with anger and then it seemed to disappear.  She sat back very calmly and looked at both of us. 

“Thank you for your concern.”  She started.  “I really appreciate your support.  It means the world to me.”  “But?”  Carline asked.  “But nothing.  I understand it is hard to sit back and watch the situation from where you are sitting.  I do get that.  Just know it’s not how it seems.  He will be here, and he will support us.  He is trying to get his s**t together.  That is all.” 

We stared at her a moment before we looked at each other.  I knew he was going to break her heart if he didn’t step up, so I prayed that she was right. 

“Okay, I hope you are right.”  I said making her smile.  “You’ll see.  He’s going to surprise you.  Don’t worry.”  She stood up and walked out the back door.  “He’s going to hurt her so badly.”   Carline said making me nod my head in agreeance.