Many the Miles

Part 4

Mia

I opened the door for my dad and stepmother Gwen. She looked just like Ella, she was blonde, lean, and elegant. She took me in her arms and kissed my cheek. "You look so pretty with your hair straight," she gushed as she removed her wrap and hat.

"Thank you, Gwen," I said as I hung her things. "Hi daddy," I said giving him a kiss.

"Hello, sweetie where's your sister?" he asked as we entered the sitting room.

"Stella's upstairs with the kids," John said as he came in to join us. "Gwen, you look lovely," he noted as he kissed her hand. "Rafe, it's nice to see you're not too busy for us."

"Yes, how is the hospital?" my dad asked as he entered the living room.

"Great, your donation has helped the children's ward a lot," John smiled. "We are bringing in new technology and trainers. The doctors and nurses are very thankful."

"Anything to help the kids get the quality treatment they deserve."

"Daddy," Rafaela called as she came down carrying the boys. "I didn't know you were coming."

"Your mother said you were asking for me," he smiled as he took Aiden. "Are you being a good boy for mommy?"

"He is not," I said taking Logan for Rafaela.

"Daddy, we actually finished decorating my room and I wanted you to look at the desk I got from Tio Edwardo," she said nodding to the steps.

"What's wrong with it?" he questioned.

I knew Ella was trying to get him away from her mother so she could ask about going to L.A. and I was going along for support. My dad was in a good mood, so she might be able to get him to say yes. "Mia this room is beautiful," my dad said as he entered Ella's room.

"Thanks daddy," I said sitting Logan down on the bed.

"I'm not sure if we put it together right."

"You put this together?" my dad questioned Ella.

"I helped her," she smiled.

"Mimi?"

"She read the directions," I laughed.

"See."

My dad examined the desk and found nothing wrong with it. "Mia did a good job on it. I think it's perfect sweetie," he said kissing my forehead.

"Thanks daddy," I said hugging him.

"That's great, and it reminds me. One of Mia's good friends invited me to her loft in L.A. for the week. She's going to this big music festival and wanted me to go. Do you think that would be okay with you and mom?"

"Rafaela, you know how I feel about you being in Hollywood. It's fine for a day on a class trip, but a whole week with strangers."

"Katie isn't a stranger. She and Mia are practically sisters."

"Mia," my dad said looking to me.

"Katie's really responsible and it would put Ella in a position to meet potential clients. She'd be surrounded by high profiled designers, and walking advertisements."

"See this could be very profitable and I might have a goodtime and decide to go to school," Ella said pleading with her big blue eyes.

"I'll talk to your mom, but I want to meet this Katie girl first," my dad said.

Ella jumped up and down and rushed my dad. "Thank you so much daddy. You are the best," she said.

"Ella can you take Logan down I want to talk to Mia for a second," my dad said.

"Okay," she said grabbing Logan.

My dad waited until we heard them going down the stairs to speak. "Mia I didn't get a chance to ask at Alyssa's party, but how's your mother doing?"

I laughed he was prying again. "She's doing great."

"And your brother and sister?"

"RJ is doing good he's still working on his business degree at Howard. He like's D.C. I don't see him coming home anytime soon," I said with a wink. "Dominique is doing good. She is working on getting her license and I think Grant got her a car."-

"He did what?"

"Yeah he just got her something safe to practice in."

"Your brother wouldn't know what safe is if it hit him over the head."

"Grant's a good teacher. He taught me."

"So you could drive him and his drunk friends around all summer. Wasn't that fun?"

"Daddy," she warned. "Everyone is doing fine. You should have asked mom. She would be more than happy to gush over how great everyone is doing."

"Without me."

"No."

"It's okay mija, I know the choices I've made."

"Well you made the right one with Ella. I give you my word on it. I know she'll be safe."

My dad hugged me. "I don't know what I'd do without you, mija."

"You'd be lost without me grandpa."

John

John watched as Ella, Rafe, and Mia walked up the stairs. He was relieved to have a moment to talk to Gwen. "We have a problem. Mia isn't getting with the program. She is testing my patience and I'm reaching my limit."

"I told you she wasn't the proper girl for you, but you didn't listen to me. You created this problem."

"She was fine until Rafela got involved."

"You will not blame my daughter. If anything, it's Gracey in her ear. That b***h wouldn't know a good deal if it shitted fifty thousand in her lap."

"Gracey's not an issue I have her. I have Grace under control."

"Well what aren't you handling? You worked through the cheating, right? Or, did you not stop that stupid tryst?"

"Mia's been talking to the donor? You said choosing him would work out best."

"What are you talking about?"

"Mia is talking to the singer guy. You said once he's famous he'd do anything to make this go away? What happened to that?"

"First off Mia should have never had access to your files, and why would you keep something like that."

"I wanted security. Who knows what that asshole thinks now that he knows about the kids? He isn't going to take everything I built."

"He won't?"

-"He who?" Rafela asked as she brought Logan back down the stairs.

"Ella!" Gwen smiled at her daughter.

"How long has Mia been talking to him?" John asked.

Ella straightened her spine and looked into his eyes. "I'm sorry I don't know what you're talking about."

"Rafaela answer him now!" Gwen demanded.

Ella looked at her mother with disbelief in her eyes. "I don't know anything," Ella said.

"Don't you lie to me," Gwen pressed.

"Its Mia's life I don't know what goes on in it. You're her husband if you were more concerned about what she was doing instead of hooking up with your nurses none of this would be a problem. If you want to know something go ask that floozy you f****d?" Ella said and her mother slapped her across her face.

"Ella you don't know what you're doing. This is none of your concern."

"She's my sister and he treats her like shit."

"I'm your mother."

"You don't act like it."

"This stops now. Get Mia's phone."

Ella did as she was told and came back with Mia's phone. "Unlock it," Gwen demanded. Ella complied. "It looks like he's been here since Alyssa's birthday party."

"That's great," John said reading the text message between Mia and Ben. He could see by the concern Benji has for Mia and the kids that he was just a nice guy. That infuriated John the most. He saw how much Benji deserved the life he built with Mia. John started to text.

"What are you doing?" Ella asked as he typed.

"I'm following your advice," John said as he tossed her the phone.

The doorbell ringed and John went to answer it. Ella looked at her mother with fire in her eyes. "Mia is never going to forgive you if you ruin this for the kids. They deserve a father."

"You know nothing, Ella. John is their father-end of story," Gwen yelled.

"He has never acted like a father. He always put everything on Mia, because we all know before Alyssa she was on her way out the door."

"Ella let it go."

Mia

When my father and I came downstairs, John's parents arrived and Ella looked upset. She was speaking to her mother and I assumed it has something to do with her staying here instead of at home. John came over and wrapped his arm around my waist and I felt bile in the back of my throat. He kissed me on my cheek and I pushed away from him and walked to get the dining room table setup for dinner.

"Mia," Ella said taking the pasta from me.

"Yeah," I turned and the color was draining from her face. "What's wrong?"

"John took your phone I think he messaged Benji," she said and left.

I was livid. Who does this son of a b***h thinks he is f*****g with? I tried to breath and calm down, but a fear quickly washed over me. I went looking for my phone.

"Mommy," Alyssa said coming into the kitchen. "Papa wants you to come and eat."

"Lyssa have you seen my phone?"

"Papa has it."

"Okay," I said.

"Are you okay?" Alyssa asked studying my face.

I looked down at my little girl and tried to make my smile reach my eyes. "I'm just starting to feel a little sick. I'm going to get some water and go up to bed. I'll have Auntie Ella get you ready for bed. Can you tell her to come here for a second?"

Alyssa studied me carefully for a moment. After a minute she hugged me. "I love you mommy. I hope you feel better."

My heart sunk at the sincerity in her voice. I wrapped my little angel in my arms and I took in her sweet scent. "I love you bunny," I kissed the crown of her head.

Alyssa went to the dining room and did as I asked. It didn't take long for Ella to come into the kitchen. "You ok?" she asked.

"I need you to put the kids to bed," I said.

"Mia are you okay?"

"I need to fix this, just help me?" Mia asked him.

"I will."

I went up to the guest room and looked for the message John sent and there was nothing there. I decided to call Benji and he answered on the first ring. "I'm about to turn in the drive way," he said.

"Ben leave," I yelled.

"You said you needed me to come back what's wrong," he demanded.

"I didn't send you that message it was John. Just leave please," I begged him.

"Mia," he groaned. "What's going on with you two?"

"Ben I'll explain it to you later"-

-"You keep telling my that yet I'm still in the dark here Mia."-

-"but you can't come here with my dad. I just need to explain to him first. Please," I said on a hard sob.

I could hear Benji groan. "Mia please stop doing this. You're miserable and staying in this for your dad is stupid. You're not stupid and your dad wouldn't want this for you." Though his words where kind, Benji's tone was icy and cutting. It made his words hit hard.

"Ben," I cried. "Bye."

"Mia..." I sobbed softly. "I love you."

There was silence. "Good night, Ben."