Chapter 23
In the privacy of our apartment, we sat on the couch while I told him about my strange dream with grandma. When I pointed to the items from the box, he smiled. "So, can I keep these in our safe?" I asked. The top envelope had AHH 08/01/2022. I knew it was for Angie Helen Holman to open on the date indicated. My curiosity was wanting to look at the other ones, but I felt it needed to wait. We can see the next person and date when we give Angie her letter. Grandma doesn't miss a trick… unless it involves her.
My husband pulled me to my feet and led me to our closet. I knew his gun safe was here, but I didn't know he had another one hidden behind a cabinet. Carlos entered the code and pressed his thumb on the scan pad. He typed a few commands on the screen and pressed my thumb on the pad to record my print. After he knew I memorized the code, he placed the envelopes in the safe.
I messaged Manny and invited him for breakfast in 30 minutes. Carlos and I took a short, but sexy, shower together. While I was dressing, Manny arrived with the food cart Ella sent up.
He listened as I told him what grandma asked me to do. I gave Manny his mother's rings and the envelope with his name. He gently placed the rings on the table in front of him and carefully opened the envelope. A safe deposit box key, a bank record book and account number written on a scrap of paper fell from the envelope as he poured out the contents.
He used his phone to check the account details. Someone had already changed the banking information to his name. The account activity showed regular monthly deposits dating from the time Pilar was six until the week before she died. Small yearly withdrawals for the safety deposit box was recorded. "She left me just over a million," Manny said as a tear dropped from his eye.
"Your mom loved you," I said as I lowered my head to his shoulder. "It looks like she saved every penny."
"I wish I could thank grandma," he whispered.
"She knows, Manny." I gave him a kiss on the cheek and started to clear off the table. Carlos quickly grabbed the plates from my hand and took them to the kitchen. "Come on brother, we have an important meeting to attend."
While Carlos was driving us home from the beach earlier, I sent a message to my Rangeman platonic soulmates, Valerie, Vince and dad. When dad took his seat next to me, I told them about the beach house. Each of them will be receiving keys. I told Valerie her family will use the upper bedrooms, Carlos and I will use the main floor bedrooms. The remaining men were to select a bedroom in the guest house. "Some of you will need to share since there's only four bedrooms. Ella plans to install bunk beds," I stated.
Lester and Manny started talking about making the guest house two stories and adding another four bedrooms. Then each of them will have rooms and only double up if we have too many. "Men!" Ranger barked. "Our Rangeman house is located next door to Babe's beach house. There are more than enough bedrooms." I stifled a laugh when both Lester and Manny looked like reprimanded children.
"Party in Point Pleasant on Saturday?" I asked. They started running through their schedules to see if they could both work and play.
We drove to our beach house after work on Friday. Ella worked hard to have the place fully furnished in time. I walked into the main house to find it furnished exactly how I imagined. Carlos grabbed my hand so we could see the rest of the house. Valerie's bedroom was decorated in the same style as her townhouse. Mary Alice and Angie's room contained everything they could possibly need during the summer.
I fell in love with the soft pink nursery. Reaching into the crib, I felt the softest blanket. It felt like cashmere, but the fibres were synthetic. The mobile had photos of Val, Ram, me, Carlos, Manny, Mary Alice, Angie, Dad and grandma Mazur. My eyes filled with tears when I saw the picture Ella used. Helen's photo was noticeably missing.
Carlos came to my side as I pointed out the photo. "It's me and grandma during my last visit here. I was fifteen," I told him.
"Edna was a very beautiful woman," he observed.
"She was, but unfortunately she didn't age well," I added. He nodded in agreement. I reluctantly left the room to see how Ella decorated my children's room. The crib had a similar mobile. A second mobile was added for Carlos' family.
Carlos pointed to one of the photos. "I'm fifteen here. This is my Abuela Rosa," he pointed to the woman beside him.
"I can see where you got your looks," I stated as I touched her image. I have yet to meet her since she still lives in Miami. Carlos said she's relocating to Newark after our children are born. His mother was a beautiful woman, but his Abuela Rosa Manoso was absolutely gorgeous. Mama and papa Manoso welcomed me with open arms when I first met them. They didn't care about my nationality. My in laws only wanted whatever made their son happy. I have a feeling they will spoil their grandchildren.
"Are you pleased?" he asked.
"Very pleased. Ella did a wonderful job decorating. It's like she knew exactly what I wanted," I replied.
He pulled me towards our bedroom. It was almost a replica of our room at Rangeman. "More blue tones," Carlos stated as he pulled my shirt off. Within a few minutes he had me stripped bare and riding him like a cowgirl. "One," he groaned as he emptied into me.
I didn't have to ask what he meant. It was like the Batcave all over again. We spent several hours christening every room. The men were ordered to stay away from here until tomorrow morning. If they arrived sooner, they would meet Ranger on the mats.
We took a shower to cool off before taking a nap. After I woke up, I slipped on one of my husband's shirts I borrowed. I pulled on a pair of bikini boy shorts. They sat comfortably under my baby bump. An amazing smell filtered throughout the house, causing me to walk barefoot towards the kitchen.
When I entered the kitchen, I saw Carlos cooking something on the cooktop. He had the oven preheating. "What are we having?" I asked.
"Chicken Florentine," he replied. "It's one of the pasta dishes I enjoy cooking." Nothing is sexier than seeing my husband slaving over a hot stove. My cellphone chimed as Carlos was cooking dinner.
Manny: I know we were ordered to avoid your beach house, but I need to see you tonight.
Me: Let me ask Batman if he minds… btw, it's fine with me.
I showed Carlos the exchange with Manny. "He wouldn't ask if it wasn't important," Carlos stated. "Give him the okay."
Me: Batman says it's okay. Btw… are you okay?
Something was telling me he was very upset and he needed his platonic soulmate sister.
Manny: I will be. See you in an hour. Love U.
Me: See you bro. Love U 2.
He must have sped the entire way since he arrived 45 minutes later. "Hey Manny," I said as I opened the door. "Oh Manny." I pulled him into my arms. My brother looked devastated. "Please tell me you didn't drive."
"I didn't. Hector's staying next door," he whispered. My stomach growled. I didn't know if I should eat or comfort my brother. "Feed my niece and nephew."
Carlos brought each of us a plate of food. Manny raised an eyebrow when he noticed I had much less than I usually eat. "I can't eat too much at a time or I get indigestion. It's not easy growing two babies at once," I said with a shrug.
We ate in companionable silence while I observed him. He looked sad, confused, happy and uncertain all at the same time. I finished eating and watched him for visual cues.
"What's up?" I asked as I pulled his empty plate from his hands.
Instead of answering, he said, "That was very good. Did you make it?"
"I did," Carlos answered.
"You're one very lucky woman," he stated.
"I am and Carlos knows it too. Why did you need to see me? Did something happen?" I asked.
He told me about his visit with Juan and Nissa earlier that day. They continued with their lie even after he supplied proof. "Nissa and Juan were furious when I refused to believe their lies. They don't want to have anything to do with me." Manny continued to tell me his great uncle Alexander Ramos was very happy to learn he was my brother. I met Alexander when I worked for my cousin Vinnie. He was very kind to me. It's possible he knew I was Manny's sister. "Did he already know?" I asked.
"He thought we were cousins," Manny confessed. "Uncle Alex assumed you worked for your brother."
"So he didn't disown you?" I asked.
"No, he hasn't. He wants to take us out to dinner to talk," he answered. It sounds like they had a very nice visit. His grandparents, Silvia and Javier refused to acknowledge him.
"Oh Manny. You have me, Val and Daddy," I reminded him. "Did you open your safe deposit box?"
He didn't answer my question. Instead, he opened the duffel he brought with him and pulled out a beautifully carved box. I had the same box in my Rangeman apartment. Valerie has her box stored on her dresser. Grandpa Plum carved them for us when our mother was pregnant.
I stroked my fingers across the top of the box and whispered, "Grandpa Plum."
"Is he the creator of this masterpiece?" Manny asked.
"Yes. Val and I have similar boxes, with a slightly different design," I stroked the small letters across the bottom. "Fatto con amore per mio nipote." I interpreted, "Made with love for my grandson. Mine and Val's box has mia nipote for granddaughter. Our boxes has flowers along the perimeter. Your box has baseball bats, hockey sticks and basketballs." I could almost feel grandpa's presence as I ran my fingers over the design.
"Open it," Manny whispered. This must be the reason he was so distraught. I carefully removed the lid to see the contents. A stack of photos was bound by a blue ribbon. I pulled the photos from the box and untied the ribbon. Looking at the pictures, I realized just how much daddy loved Pilar. They looked so happy.
"She's very pretty," I said as I took a closer look at her.
"Mom looks very similar to you," he observed.
"Daddy told me the same thing. They look very happy together."
"Keep looking sis," he prodded. As I looked through the photos, I saw when dad was deployed. His hand was placed lovingly on her stomach. They were laying on the grass. Pilar's curly hair was splayed on the ground. Dad was leaning into her as someone snapped their photo. Pilar continued taking photos as her stomach started to expand with Manny. Her love for the baby was obvious.
Another ribbon bound bundle was in the box. It wasn't pictures, but letters written to dad and the unborn baby. The last letter was one she wrote when she was at the hospital in labour. She explained how she met an amazing woman named Edna who kept her company as she waited for tests. Pilar said she gave Edna a letter to take to her bank. A letter to the bank manager gave Edna permission to access her security box in her absence. As I unfolded the last page of the letter, a photo of grandma and Pilar fell out.
"They knew each other," Manny sobbed.
"I know honey. Grandma told me already. It wasn't her place to interfere. We had to find each other just the way we did and at the time we did. Otherwise our first words wouldn't have made sense," I added.
"You're just like her. Did you know? I asked dad to tell me about mom. He said to look at you and I'll know exactly what she was like," he told me. "Do you believe in reincarnation?"
"Not really, but I guess anything's possible. If I am a recycled soul, I don't think I'm Pilar. I can feel her around you, so she hasn't decided to return yet," I replied.
He carefully piled the letters and photos into their neat piles. I helped him retie the ribbon round the stacks. "I'm putting these in a secure place," he announced as he gently placed them back into the wooden box.
"I think your mom would be happy to know you have these." I wrapped my arms around him. "Manny, you are a wonderful man. Daddy says you remind him of Pilar. I'm so glad we found each other," I said as my hormones took over and I started crying.
"My beautiful sweet sister, everything makes you cry," he said as a tear leaked from his own eye.
"I'm pregnant. What's your excuse," I said with a laugh while wiping the tear from his face. "Are you feeling better?"
"Much better. Thank you. I could have talked to Valerie, but I had a feeling it should be you," he answered.
"Thank you for sharing these with me," I said as I rubbed the area where my words were written. His breath hitched a few more times before he placed his head on my shoulder and his hand on my belly. I let him be comforted by my embrace until he started to lightly snore.
Carlos helped me lay him out on the sofa and cover him with a light blanket. I removed the box from his hands and placed it in our safe. "Do we have…" I started to whisper when Carlos brought me a post it note with 'secured in safe' written in his tidy script.
While I was talking to Manny, Carlos had taken care of the dishes. We armed the house and went to bed. I sent Hector a text telling him Manny was staying with us.
