Healing Old Wounds
Chapter Two: Casa a Cuba
Three days later Marianna surveyed her empty apartment. She'd sold all her furniture and given ample warning to her landlord and boss. It was time she returned to Cuba… for good…
She didn't have much to pack; most of everything she owned was either in Katie's home or in her ratty suitcases. She sighed, money was hard to come by but she figured perhaps she had enough to achieve her childhood dream. Smiling she hopped into the taxi that would take her from her little ramshackle apartment to Katie's duplex.
She ran up the stairs to find Katie sitting with a sleeping Ramon in her arms and five suitcases around her, "How long do you plan to be away?"
"Until I find him Marianna, and then…" Katie smiled sadly, "Then we'll see."
Marianna nodded her understanding, grabbing the last of her belongings from Katie's home and putting them into her bags. Now all that she owned were in the four suitcases and twin duffels she had with her.
Two hours later had Marianna, Ramon, and Katie on a plane to Cuba. Marianna slept soundly on one side and Ramon on the other, but Katie was wide away. Somehow it seemed that after all this time she was coming home.
Marianna led Katie and the young boy helping with their suitcases to her home, "This is it."
"It's so like…" Katie looked around and gasped, images of the past playing before her eyes, "This is so close to La Rosa Negra!"
"Well my parents were king and queen of that club," Marianna smiled sadly, "It was much easier if they didn't have to commute."
Katie giggled, "I imagine that's true. Hey… Marianna why did you… you brought everything!"
"Yes…" She sighed softly, "I wasn't telling the complete truth before Katie. I'm not here to look through they're things, I'm here to stay. I've already signed the papers and I've bought La Rosa Negra… I'll send for my sister when things get better, but until then…"
"Stay! But…" Katie didn't know what to think. She'd missed Cuba so much and now she was confused because she was more jealous that Maria was staying than she was upset. She went through all the things she'd be giving up at home and then grinned, "What do you say to dual ownership? I have money saved up I can contribute, especially after all my things at home are sold."
"But Katie what if… what if you don't find him?"
"It doesn't matter Marianna this is my home," Katie smiled softly, "This is where I want to raise my son."
Ramon smiled sleepily at his mother, "Cuba…"
Marianna laughed, "Think it through a little longer, give it a month and if you still want to stay then it's a deal ok?"
Katie nodded knowing that she would stay, "Yes."
"Now lets go to the market ok?"
Katie nodded, "You can show me around hey?"
"Ah it is so good to be home," Marianna smiled, "It's been far too long since I was in Cuba."
"Yes?" Katie smiled and winked, "Then why do you still have so thick an accent?"
Marianna feigned shock, "Are you insulting my talking? Oh you know better than that Señora… Hey!"
Katie looked around, but could not see what Maria was yelling for.
That's when she saw a strange man with her son, he'd wandered away from his usual position latched to her leg, "Ramon come here now!"
"Hey! Suelte ese niño!" Marianna shouted running forward as the strange man hefted Ramon into his arms. Let go of that boy!
She grunted softly as she jumped up and grabbed onto a nearby bar using it to swing herself in front of the fleeing kidnapper. She dropped ungracefully to the ground but landed solidly and glared, "Let him go."
The man looked around for an escape route and was about to disappear down an adjoining alley when another man appeared, this one blocked his exit, "Do as the lady says Jose, you will not like what will happen if you don't."
The mysterious man dropped Ramon and bolted past Katie who didn't slow, her eyes were only for her baby who was in a heap on the cement. Katie scooped him into her arms sobbing with relief and whispered to him quietly.
Marianna turned her attention on the stranger, "Thank you Señor…?"
"Suarez," The man replied and Katie choked behind them.
The man stepped out of the shadows and Marianna nearly fainted, "Javi?"
