Part 10: The Letter
Mami & Papi were watching a Spanish movie in the living room when I walked inside.
"Hola Princesa. Did you have fun?"
I nodded. "Yep. Haley & I needed this shopping trip. How was your day?" I asked going to the couch to give them both a hug & kiss.
"Long as usual, but thank God I can come home & spend time w/my loved ones. Are you okay? You look tired."
I nodded. "Kinda. You have no idea how many stores we had to go to just to find the perfect bracelets for Haley."
"All right Manda. I think you should go to sleep already. We'll talk to you in the morning."
I leaned over to give her a kiss. "G'night Mami. I love you."
"G'night Manda. I love you too Mija."
"Buenas noches Papi. I love you."
"Buenas noches Princesa. I love you too." He kissed my cheek...
After putting away my stuff, brushing my teeth, & washing my face, I trudged to bed. That fight w/Kendall was still fresh in my mind.
He probably hated me. I accused him of ditching me for Leah, & calling him a liar.
The girl was definitely Leah; I could tell it was her anywhere. But the guy? Come to think of it, he was about the same height as Kendall, but that was about it. I couldn't see the color of his eyes or hair. Hell, I couldn't even see his clothes. Oh well, I'd apologize in the morning.
I snuggled under the covers until I felt something in between my feet. I reached for it & pulled it out. It was the thing from the adoption agency. I ripped it open:
Hello Ms. Miranda Peña,
Happy early birthday from each of us at Give a Little Love Adoption Agency.
Spend it well with all of your loved ones. You are so close to becoming an adult, but you'll always be a little girl to us here. We actually remember the day the Peñas adopted you. You were so frightened, that you didn't want to leave. Now we hope you're happy with them and having the time of your life.
By the way, we recieved a call the other day from a woman claiming to be your biological mother. She called us explaining how she left you at our doorstep some 12 years ago and how she was recently able to contact us saying she'd like to get in touch with you. She says she misses you and she would like to see you. Feel free to give us a call, if you're interested during the hours of 6 am- 9:30 pm. We hope to hear from you!
-Sincerely, Give a Little Love staff.
The room was spinning, the colors were coming together, & everything was just out of place.
My...mother contacted Give a Little Love asking for me? I knew nothing about her, or my father, or any if my siblings, assumimg I had some.
I'd always had some kind of hope she would like to get in touch w/me. But that was before Mami, Papi & all of the boys in my life became my family. I rarely had thoughts about my biological family; to me they were my biological family.
Still, I was sort of curious to meet the woman who gave birth gave to me, & if I looked anything like her.
I decided I'd give the agency a call when the mess I made w/Kendall was cleaned up. If he was willing to forgive me, I mean.
The only people I'd tell about this would be Mami & Papi. It wouldn't be worth giving anybody a hard time about this.
There was a soft knock on my door. It shocked me out of my thoughts & I thought it was Kendall. I quickly shoved the letter under my pillow. "Who is it?" I called out.
"It's me," Carlos's voice responded, disappointing me. "Can I come in now Mini-Me?"
"Um, sure." We each had our own rooms, but Carlos & I slept over like twice a week. I usually felt less lonely like that, but I'd never admit to that.
He came in w/a black T-shirt & plaid blue pajama pants. "We needa talk."
"About?" I sat up as he settled himself by the foot of my bed.
"What happened between you & Kendall exactly? I felt that tension as soon as he saw you when we picked you up."
"It's nothing," I mumbled.
"Mandy, he cursed at you. He never does that...much less yells at you like that."
"Haley didn't tell you?"
"Just that you guys supposedly saw Kendall w/Leah."
I took a breath. Might as well get it over with. Otherwise, he wouldn't stop bugging me about it. "Okay, well after school Haley & I were talking about the little dance coming up on Friday & Leah showed up & started...making some comments about us.
Then Javi came by & said Kendall had to cancel the plan we made for Starbucks, but he had something important to tell her. Do you know what it was?"
He nodded. "He broke the news that you & Haley were coming along to the tour & that he canceled their plans to spend the day w/you. Then what?"
I left out the part where I punched the locker after she called Haley a dog. "Haley & I went to the park & we made the plans to go shopping. When we went to Starbucks, everything was fine, until we were about to leave. Were you really at the bakery?"
He nodded again. "Kendall was the one placing the order. I was waiting outside when Haley asked me to pick you up. Continue."
"When we were about to leave, I called Kendall, but he didn't answer. I thought it was weird because he always answers me. Then Haley pointed to someone who looked almost like Kendall."
"Almost?"
"Yeah, he was about the same height & he had the same sweater he loves to wear."
"You mean, the exact same one that's hanging right there on your closet door?"
Crap! I forgot he let me use it. "Yes. Anyways, he was making out w/someone who I knew for sure was Leah. Of course, you see what I assumed. But Carlos, what else could I do? It wasn't coincidental!"
He pounced on the spot next to me & wrapped me into a tight hug, laughing. "Mini-Me, there's no need for you to be jealous."
I stared at him, shocked. "Jealous? Why in the world would I be jealous?"
"You & Kendall can deny your feelings for each other-"
I felt my cheeks warming up."I have never denied my feelings for him! The whole freakin' world seems to know I like him!"
"That may be true, but who am I to know how far you accept it. Haley & I think you're in love-"
"I am not in love w/Kendall!" I howled. "And even if I did, it's not like he'd catch on. He's busy going after a f-ckin' smartass producer's slutty daughter!"
"Why would you care who he goes after?"
"She's a whore Carlos. Do you honestly think I'd want someone like her to Kendall? It's bad enough f-ckin' Sarah & her smartass f-ckin' mouth told you guys to bring her along, & now that Leah's going, production's gonna find a way to f-ck you guys over."
He kissed my hair. "You overthink things, you know that right?"
"So, I've been told. What do you think I should do Carlos?"
"Apologize. I don't wanna see you fighting w/him. I don't think any of us do."
"Have you talked to him?"
"Yes," he admitted, "and he's very upset w/everything. He doesn't like arguing, especially when it's w/you."
"Can you do me a favor & call him?" I yawned, " I don't want him to me mad at me."
He smiled softly. "Talk to him first thing in the morning. You need your rest."
"I'm...not sleepy," I protested as my eyelids drooped. "I wanna talk to him now. Please?"
"No," he said firmly, "Tomorrow when you actually know you won't yell at him."
I sighed. "Carlos, us yelling will come out one way or the other. Let's just get it over w/now."
"I don't think you'd want everyone bursting in through your room, wondering what the hell is going on."
"Then everyone should just mind their own damn business," I grumbled.
"You are our damn business. Just wait until tomorrow. That way, you'll have your privacy w/him & you can yell & scream & curse all you want & nobody will interrupt your little lovefest."
"Carlos, please just let me talk to him. It's important to me."
"Tomorrow," he said firmly.
"Tonight. Please." I batted my eyelashes & pulled the puppy dog face.
He groaned. "Fine. But if you're gonna yell at each other, at least go outside."
I threw my arms around him. "Yes! Thanks Carlos!"
"You are such a spoiled brat Mini-Me. One day you won't get it your way."
"I'm your spoiled brat though. As long I'm your favorite sister, I'll always have it my way."
"You're my only favorite sister."
"Am I your favorite girl?"
"You're in my top four, along w/Mami, Haley, & Sydney. Am I in your favorite boy?"
"You're one of my top boys."
"Kendall beats me, doesn't he?"
"By a long shot," I admitted, our little fight popping into my head.
"I'll go call him," he whispered.