Chapter 36

"Yeah, don't kill him. The paperwork will be a bitch," Tank said.

I whipped my head around to see Tank standing beside Hector. His blank face was on as he passively watched mama and Vince. I heard Lula snicker behind me. I bit my lip and held my breath for a second wondering how Hector would react.

Seconds ticked by while everyone waited. It was like one of those scenes in a western movie when the bad guy comes into the saloon and everyone gets quiet and the music stops. Then I heard a soft chuckle. From Hector. I giggled and then heard Lester, Bobby and our friends follow suit. I breathed a sigh of relief. Cue the music. I was so glad that all of mama's hard work on the party would not be ruined. Besides, I was really hungry!

Mama had been oblivious to the tension in the yard. Apparently she was in a Vince-induced fog. She was now looking at all of us and said, "What?"

Marlena came to her rescue and announced it was time to eat. Everyone started talking at once and moving to the buffet table. I saw that Cal had arrived and was leaning in to talk to Connie. I shrugged. Whatever they had going must be working.

Angela walked over to Hector and me followed by a familiar looking middle aged man. "Estephania, I want you to meet my husband, Raymond."

Raymond smiled broadly and shook my hand. "It is so nice to meet you, Estephania. Hector is a good man. He is like a son to me." He turned to Hector and they silently embraced. Raymond then spoke quietly in Hector's ear, in Spanish of course. Hector replied and Raymond nodded.

I narrowed my eyes a bit trying to think where I had seen Raymond before. I glanced at Gilbert and Javier and then realized these were the men Hector had talked to at the pawn shop. I turned toward Hector and opened my mouth but before I could say anything, Hector placed his hand at my back and guided me toward the food. There he goes again. Distracting me.

The food. Oh, my God! My mother could lay out a spread but she couldn't hold a candle to what mama and her friends had done. Smothered burritos with shredded chicken, enchiladas, rice, beans, tortillas, queso, tacos. Mountains of chips. Guacamole, salads, salsa and dips. I wanted it all. And I hadn't even gotten to the desserts yet.

We loaded our plates and joined Marlena and Tony at one of the tables. Tank and Lula sat down and the rest of the Merry Men pulled another table close and we were all able to talk back and forth. Hector went over to the coolers and brought back a couple of beers and a pitcher of margaritas.

After a few minutes of attacking my plate, I noticed Tony staring at me. I stopped chewing and looked around the table. "Is she OK?" Tony asked Hector. Every Merry Man answered at once, "Yes!"

I swallowed and said meekly to Tony, "Sorry. I love to eat. I can't help it. I make noise."

"Yup, that's why we love her. Dinner and a movie," Lester said and wagged his eyebrows.

Bridget smacked his shoulder and rolled her eyes. We all laughed at Lester's mock chagrin. He had definitely met his match.

For the next hour, food on the buffet disappeared at an alarming rate along with the beer and the pitchers of margaritas. I lost count of the people in the yard. Tony's parents had arrived just as we began to eat. They were very nice and I could see where Tony got his good looks. Miguel toddled between his grandparents and settled on Marlena's lap.

Tony had lit the Tiki torches and the guys moved tables to the side. He came over to Marlena and held out his hand. She grinned and handed Miguel off to mama. Tony and Marlena began dancing and were soon followed by the Merry Men and the Rivera boys. Hector slid his arm around my waist and led me to the dance 'floor'. After two margaritas, I was feeling pretty loose. All I had to do was lean against Hector and he could just bend me whichever direction he wanted me.

A couple of songs later, I was exhausted. "Let's go sit for a while," I begged Hector. We headed back to the patio where he pulled out a chaise lounge. He sat down, leaned back and then patted between his legs for me to sit. I leaned back against his chest. He pressed the side of his face against mine and said, "Querida, this night has been the best of my life. With you here, it could not be any better."

Little happy tears filled my eyes as I snuggled into his arms. "Your family and friends and our friends from RangeMan are like one big family. I still can't believe I get to be a part of it. Thank you, Hector."

I watched as Carolyn took Miguel from mama and cuddled the little guy while Woody grinned. Yeah, I thought, they are always so cute when they belong to someone else! Just wait!

Vince and mama started dancing and soon it was clear they had forgotten about everyone else in the yard again. Holy shit! I felt my face flush as Vince drew mama in close to his body. His hands ran up and down her sides and hips. He had one thigh between mama's legs. He cupped her face with his hands and then pulled the combs from her hair. He kissed her neck as her hair cascaded down her shoulders and back.

"Um, Hector?" I turned my head and saw that he had closed his eyes and his head was back against the lounger. He replied with a "Hmmm?"

"How old is mama?"

He raised his head and looked at me, "She was 20 when I was born. She is 46. No, she is 47 now. Why?"

I did the mental math. We had celebrated Vince's 40th birthday a couple of years ago. So, say he was 42 and mama is 47. Made sense to me.

Hector's head jerked as he caught sight of mama and Vince. He stiffened for a minute and then muttered, "Dios."

I placed my hands over his arms that were wrapped around me. "She deserves to be happy, Hector. She has done so much for her family and for me. Vince won't hurt her, I know. He is an honorable man."

"I know," he replied. "It is hard to see her in the arms of another man not my father. Just as it was hard to see you in the arms of other men." He kissed my neck just below my ear. Tingles ran down my spine.

"It is time for horseshoes, man." Tony was standing in front of us. I saw Marlena take Miguel into the house presumably to put him to bed.

Hector looked at Tony while he carefully slipped out from under me, "You want me to kick your ass again?" They both laughed and headed to the garage. A few minutes later, they were setting up the stakes.

I went to pour myself another margarita and wandered across the patio to find the best spectator seat.

"Estephania, come sit by me," Raymond said. Angela and Sophia were starting to put away the remnants of dinner just as mama came hurrying to help. Vince had joined the guys at the horseshoes.

I sat down and looked at Raymond. "I saw Hector talking to you at the pawn shop. Your sons were with you."

Raymond nodded. "Si, I know. I saw you in his truck. He loves you very much, Estephania. He has talked of you many times with my wife and me. I am very happy you have moved here with him." He smiled and his eyes crinkled at the corners. I liked his man.

"You said he was like a son to you. You have known him a long time?" I asked and sipped my margarita.

"Si, a very long time. His father was still alive when we became neighbors. The pawn shop you saw belonged to my father, Raymond, Sr. When Hector's father was killed and he quit school, my father gave him a job at the store. That is where he started to learn about electronics. We looked after Elana and the kids."

"How did he become involved with a gang, if I may ask?" I wanted to know but then I didn't want to know. I took a big drink of my margarita.

Raymond looked down and when he raised his head to look at me, his face had become hard. "One day, while Hector was in the back, some young punks came into the store. They were going to rob my father. Hector heard the gunshots and ran to the front. My father was dead. Hector chased the punks and caught one. He beat him almost to death. But he got the name of the one that shot my father."

I put my hand on Raymond's arm and whispered, "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to."

"No, it is OK. I think you should know. For two years, Hector tore the streets apart searching for the bastard that shot Papa. He was joined by some others and they became a gang. A lot of people got hurt and Hector became feared. One day, Hector found him. He walked up behind him and slit his throat. The police did not care. Just another punk off the street."

Raymond took a drink of his beer and looked over to Hector. "He did not have to do that."

I blinked away tears and asked Raymond, "Is that when he got the first teardrop?"

"Si. He got the second one when someone in the rival gang tried to avenge their leader's death. Then he got the third one," Raymond said quietly and looked into my eyes.

"I know about that one," I said softly.

"Good. Now, you should join your friends. It is time for the old people to go home," Raymond said, his eyes twinkling again.