The next day at 9:00, Javier brought his 5 kids over to Katey's house. She was outside waiting, holding Kerri. Jen, Miles, and Sam stood behind her. They piled into Mr. Miller's car. Javier drove with Katey by his side. The kids piled in the back. A half hour later, they arrived at the St. Louis Zoo.
Javier kept his most recent purchase safe in his pocket. He carried Javi while Katey carried Kerri. Tomas held Juliana and Josie's hands. Jen held Sam and Adrianna's hands. Miles stuck behind with the adults. The group walked up to the monkey cage. About 6 monkeys played and wrestled with each other. A little boy, about 10, was throwing things at the monkeys.
"Benjamin, don't throw things the primates," the boy's nanny scolded in a British accent.
Suddenly, the monkeys were fed up. They rampaged at the fence, knocking it down. They all ran out into the zoo. Katey and Javier tried to protect their kids. They didn't get to Miles quick enough. Four of the monkeys ran into him and kicked him over. He lay on the ground while the other 2 monkeys trampled him.
"Miles, oh Miles!" Katey cried out. She handed Kerri to Jen and ran over to her son. Some zookeepers ran over to assist her. Before long, a paramedic arrived. Katey was allowed to ride in the back of the ambulance with Miles.
Javier took the other kids back to Katey's house. Since Mr. and Mrs. Miller were away visiting family, he called Susie. A few minutes later, Susie arrived with Rachel in tow. She said she could handle all 9 kids as she rushed Javier out the door, telling him how to get to the hospital.
A nurse at the hospital directed Javier to room 354 where Miles was. He rushed to Katey's side and tried to comfort her. Luckily, his injuries were minor. He only had a broken arm. Everything else was scraped and bruised.
"Katey, I'm so sorry," Javier said, "I didn't know this was going to happen. I feel terrible for taking the kids to the zoo."
"Oh, baby, it wasn't your fault."
"Thanks, Katey."
She smiled and brought him into a hug. Six hours later, Katey and Javier brought Miles home. Susie was asleep on the couch. Rachel, Sam, and Adrianna were running around like mad with dolls. Jen and Tomas were trying to make Kerri and Javi stop crying. The twins were asleep on the floor by Susie.
Javier carried Miles to his bed while Katey woke Susie and tried to get the kids calmed down. After the kids were settled, it was nearly 8:00. Susie called Pat and told him that she and Rachel were staying the night. Then Katey and Susie started to make dinner. The older kids helped get the little ones ready for dinner.
A few minutes later, they all sat down the a nice dinner of soup and sandwiches. Midway through the meal, there was a knock on the door. Katey stood up and answered it. A look of shock came over her face as she saw a tall, beautiful, Cuban woman.
"Where is Javier?" she asked in Spanish.
Katey spoke hardly any Spanish, so she immediately called Javier over. He stood up and saw the woman at the door.
He began to ramble off things in Spanish. Katey was so confused. Finally, Katey told the lady to come in and talk it out civilly, rather than on the front lawn.
"Katey, this is my ex-wife, Rosa," Javier explained. "She wants to get back together and go back to Cuba… for the children."
"Are you going to go with her?" Katey asked, frazzled.
"I don't know. There was something I was going to tell you and ask you today, but I only want what's best for the children. My kids don't know that Rosa is here. I'm going to explain everything to them and see what they want. I know in my heart I want to be with you, but my kids need to be with a mother that loves them."
"Don't you dare think for a minute that I don't love your kids."
"I… I know you love them. I love yours too. I know I never loved anyone as much as I loved you until I had kids… and I want them to be with the mother that loves them most."
"Whatever decision you make, I will respect it. But it will be final. I'll get your kids and you can talk about it here." Katey walked away with tears in her eyes.
Javier knew where he wanted to be. Right here with Katey. But he wanted the kids to be happy.
Tomas walked in carrying Javi with Adrianna, Josie, and Juliana following him. None of the kids made any effort to greet their mother. Javi cried "Kay" meaning he wanted Katey. Adrianna started crying when she saw Rosa and took shelter in Javier's arms. The twins sat down and blankly stared and the ground.
"Well," Javier asked, "who wants to go back to Cuba and be a family?"
The kids sat there looking at Javier as if to say "Can't we stay here with Katey?". Rosa looked at the kids.
"After all these years of raising you little brats, you don't even love your mother?"
"You left us and hurt us and screw yourself over."
Javier and Rosa both stared at Tomas. He was never one to speak his mind on such important matters such as this.
"There's your answer, if you want to go back to Cuba with a family, start another one," Javier said.
Rosa started to cry and curse in Spanish. The kids and Javier began to cry. Javier showed Rosa to the door and they said their final good-byes.
Javier walked to the back room where Katey was, clutching a tiny box. Katey turned and saw the tears in Javier's eyes. She couldn't even look at him. She knew he was going to leave her… just like she left him all those years ago.
Javier sat on the bed beside Katey and put his arms around her and kissed her forehead.
"Katey, I love you very much," Javier began, his voice choked up with tears. "I hope our relationship won't be less meaningful because of today's events. The truth is, I couldn't see spending the rest of my life without you as my wife." Javier pulled a small diamond ring out of the box and held it up to Katey. "Will you be my wife?"
Katey began to cry hysterically as she fell into Javier's arms. "I love you too Javier. I would be honored to be your wife."
Javier slipped the ring onto her finger and gave her a kiss. They walked out of the room to share the wonderful news with Susie and the children.