Stephanie
Carlos and I spent all of our time together. The weeks flew by in what I thought was a blink of an eye. For a few days, I was afraid I was pregnant. When my period started, I was relieved. Maybe, I should start on the birth control shot. It was something to discuss with Misha when I saw her for my next medical exam.
Sex with Carlos was phenomenal. It was great when we first connected. Since he healed, it was off the charts. I don't recall ever having that many orgasms in a day. Carlos could make me orgasm with a smouldering look.
I completed the scans on Carlos. His ribs and leg healed. The last few blood tests came back as clean. Carlos didn't have any sexually transmitted diseases or infections. It was a relief, and I didn't have the desire to get tested. What was the point when Carlos was clean? I know it was backward thinking and a poor decision, but Misha would sort things out in a few months. Why get more blood tests done than necessary?
Caleb received my text of Chunky Cherry Monkey Garcia, saying the scans were clear, though I wasn't one hundred percent sure. He replied with a laughing emoji, having understood the convoluted message, then asked me to email the results. Later that evening, Caleb dropped off the saw, which was his way of confirming I should remove the cast. The plaster saw was the only one he had, and couldn't afford to loan it during their clinic hours. I appreciated his assistance and his trust in letting me borrow his equipment.
It was time to take everything back to the clinic. Caleb and Misha were too busy to pick up the supplies. They asked me to deliver them before the clinic opened in less than an hour. I had loaded my car the previous night after removing the cast. Carlos had fun smashing it with a hammer. Men. Caleb recommended we keep the walking cast until Carlos rebuilt the muscle in his legs.
I smiled at Carlos lying in my bed, sleeping. He was ridiculously handsome. Carlos was my Cuban Adonis. I placed his clean laundry on the foot of the bed for him to find after his shower. Sighing, I leaned over to gently press my lips against his, hoping not to awaken him.
"Babe, where are you going?" Carlos huskily asked without opening his eyes.
"I have to return the equipment to Misha and Caleb," I replied. "Do you need anything from the store?"
I had anticipated the answer before he said, "A phone." It was his way of telling me it was time to go home. Carlos hasn't contacted anyone from Rangeman or home. His parents assumed he was missing in action, along with everyone else. Only I knew the truth. Carlos kissed me before I left the house.
The drive to the clinic was uneventful unless you count crying as something exciting. Ominous clouds in the sky promised an epic storm. I'd have to close and lock the shutters on the house when I returned. My stomach felt queasy, and my head was fuzzy. It was probably my reaction to Carlos preparing to leave. "It's too soon," I whispered. All good things must come to an end.
I called Caleb when I arrived to get help, parking as close as possible to the back door. "You're not looking too great. Are you okay, Mitch?" Caleb asked. I felt the tackiness of the sweat on my brow.
"I'm fine. I ran out of iron pills," I confessed. Caleb nodded and helped me unload the equipment from the car. "I appreciate you loaning me the machines and reviewing the scans when I needed a professional opinion."
"No problem," Caleb dismissively replied. "You saved us from having to dip into the uninsured patient funds. The cost of the supplies was a fraction of what we would pay for the round-the-clock care." I knew that was a crock of shit.
"Sure. You're happy you and Misha got to spend more time together," I scoffed.
Caleb laughed. "You got it. Mitch, I want to run labs to check your iron levels."
"You know how I feel about needles," I said, narrowing my eyes.
"It's the best way to check." I knew Caleb spoke the truth. "Mitch, you know what happens when your iron levels get too low," Caleb warned. "Please, have Misha run the lab. How would you feel if you got dizzy while driving?" That question convinced me to visit Misha to get the bloodwork done. I never wanted to be responsible for someone losing their life because of my stupidity.
Misha was gentle as always. She took an extra vial of blood. "I'm running a full panel," Misha explained. I rolled my eyes. Hopefully, she'd run those other tests too. I knew the full panel checked for increased white blood cells, among other things.
"Why?" I asked. "We know my iron level dropped again. I'm experiencing the same symptoms."
"It will save you the hassle of returning for more labs," Misha explained. "Is it possible the dizziness is a symptom of pregnancy?"
I glared at her. "I'm not pregnant. I got my period a few weeks ago. What makes you think I slept with my patient?" I asked, a little too defensively, basically admitting to sleeping with Carlos.
"Despite your pasty pallor, your eyes are glowing. I assumed it was from having sex," Misha replied. I felt my face heat in embarrassment.
"Oh," I whispered. I didn't want Misha to think I slept around. "I never slept with the others."
"I know, Mitch. Your patient must be a special man to turn your head." Misha pulled the needle from my arm. She covered the punctured skin with cotton and held it in place with tape.
Misha deserved to know. I wanted to tell her everything, to spill the beans, so to speak. Protecting Carlos Manoso's identity was more important than revealing my secret to my friend. I took a deep breath, then said all I was willing to share about my unique situation. "We have a connection. Please, don't ask me to explain because I don't really understand it myself. He said it was like a soulmate thing. Misha, I've never felt this way about anyone," I explained.
"I'm happy for you, Mitch. You deserve to find the man of your dreams. I understand what you mean about soulmates. When I met Caleb, I knew he was the only man for me." Misha stared into space for a few minutes, clearly reminiscing about the day she met her husband. I cleared my throat to get her attention. "If you get a bruise, use ice," Misha distractedly reminded me.
"Thanks. How long will it take for the results?" I wondered.
"A few days. I'll call and leave a message," she replied. Misha wanted to ask more questions, but she had another patient to see. We would have to catch up another time when she wasn't on the clock.
Down the road from the clinic, further away from home, I found a store to purchase a burner phone for Carlos. After I paid the clerk, I went to my car, climbed inside and cried. Carlos would call his friends, then leave. I wasn't ready to leave my corner of paradise, and I didn't want Carlos to go home. We needed more time together. Why was I crying so much? Could Misha be right? Was I pregnant? I quickly dismissed the thought, reminding myself that I had my period. Carlos and I were careful to use protection.
I drove home while talking myself off the ledge. Carlos didn't need to see me unhinged. The windows in my house got sealed by shutters to protect them from the pending storm. It felt incredibly domestic. I wanted that life with Carlos. My heart beat a quick rhythm as the panic built. It was almost time. I selfishly wanted to ask him to stay.
Carlos had the shutters closed when I got home. He was at the back of the property, securing my garden. "What are you doing?" I asked.
"Protecting your crops," he said.
"That's obvious. But why are you on a ladder? Should you be doing that on a newly healed leg?" He was wearing the boot cast. It must have been clunky while climbing the ladder rungs.
Carlos climbed down the ladder after securing the board. "I'm fine, Babe. Stop worrying so much," he said. He kissed me to remove the sting of his words.
"I got your phone," I whispered against his lips, fighting the emotions threatening to overtake me again. He kissed me before tugging my hand. I followed him into the house. The crock pot sat on the counter, plugged in. I raised the lid to look inside. "What are you cooking?"
"Ropa Vieja," he replied. "It's my favourite Cuban dish." I loved when Carlos shared details about himself. He told me about his family and Julie. From the stories he shared, it felt as though I knew them.
"It smells mouthwatering. You didn't have to cook for me," I said. Carlos pulled me in front of him. He tucked the loose hair behind my ear. His fingers stroked down my jaw, then gently lifted my chin to look into his eyes. Carlos pressed his lips against mine. I gave into the kiss as he ran his tongue against my bottom lip.
Carlos carried me to the bedroom, where he worshiped my body for over an hour. "Babe, come home with me," he whispered.
"I really want to, but I can't. I'm not ready to face everyone," I replied, tears streaming down my cheeks. "Please, Carlos, give me more time." My answer hurt him. I could see it in his eyes. It broke my heart to say no.
"Okay. I have to call my team for an extraction," Carlos said, slamming a blank expression on his face. It was the first time Carlos hid his emotions from me. I prayed it wasn't going to become the standard. His announcement felt like a slap across the face. I wanted him to stay longer. It was selfish. But Carlos had a company to run. He couldn't afford to stay with me. Carlos had to debrief after his mission.
I needed some distance from Carlos. "I know." I climbed out of bed to take a shower. Carlos didn't join me. He was giving me the space I silently demanded. Carlos waited in the bedroom for me to return. I slipped into a tank top and shorts.
"Babe, are you okay?" I wanted to scream that I was anything but okay, but it wasn't what Carlos needed to hear. It was time for me to be strong.
"I'll be fine. Did you call your team?" He knew when I said I was fine or nothing was wrong, that I meant those words. I wasn't like the typical woman who said everything was fine when it was anything but fine. Life was confusing enough to mislead people with words.
"I have. The storm is supposed to pass over us tonight. They're collecting me from the airport tomorrow," Carlos replied.
"I'll give you a ride," I offered. "Please, Carlos. Let me. I'm not ready to say goodbye." My last statement was whispered. My voice nearly gave away my emotions.
"Okay. We'll just make the most of tonight," Carlos promised.
Carlos spoiled me. We ate dinner. He refused to let me help with the dishes. Carlos found candles and bath beads to fill my tub with fragrant water. He washed my body but refused to let me reciprocate. The massage Carlos gave me after our bath was heavenly. Carlos released the tension from my shoulders and back. I felt like a jellyfish when he finished. Everything was too relaxed for me to move.
"Babe, do you trust me?" Carlos asked.
"Always," I replied. Carlos gave me a night I wouldn't soon forget. He was everything I wanted and more. As we made love, he shared his thoughts and dreams for our future together. I wanted whatever he could offer. Getting remarried wasn't in my plans, though I'd change my mind if it was important to him. "I don't need a ring," I whispered.
"But a condom comes in handy?" Carlos joked. I playfully smacked his chest. "Tell me what's on your mind, Babe."
"How will this work when you go home?" I asked. I needed to know we were on the same page. I wanted him to promise to wait for me.
"You can always come home with me," he replied. Carlos trailed his hand down my spine, then across my waist. His hand settled on my hip, drawing circles with his fingers.
"Carlos, we discussed that already. I need a little more time," I whispered. "I promise not to take too long." If he kept touching me like that, I'd give in. His hand stilled. Carlos rolled onto his side to look me in the eyes. He wanted me. No, Carlos needed me to see the emotions in his eyes. He needed me to see the truth in his words.
"Babe, you have all the time in the world. I have to visit DC to debrief before returning home. My handler would ask where I've been hiding for the past two months. Let me know when you're ready to come home," he said.
"Okay."
As Carlos predicted, the storm passed over us during the night. The shutters rattled on the window frames as the gale-force winds blew across the house. Carlos held me as the glass broke at the back of the house. We investigated it in the morning.
I had forgotten to bring my vase in from the table outside. It smashed against the house, making it sound like a window blew in. Carlos picked up the larger pieces of glass as I swept the area. He grabbed the garden hose to wash the water towards the side. "What are you doing?" I asked.
"Protecting your feet from stepping on shards of glass," Carlos replied. "You don't access that side of the yard."
"How do you… never mind," I said. He probably watched me as I tended to the gardens while I thought he slept. I wrapped my arms around his waist. "When do you leave?"
"Dinner time," he replied. "I wanted to remove the boards from around your garden."
"Thank you," I said. Carlos worked around the garden while I unlocked the shutters on the windows. The breeze was cooler from the passing storm. I opened the windows, letting the wind blow the stagnant air and heat from the house. It was refreshing.
Carlos loaded the dishwasher after we ate a late lunch. I gave Carlos my number to call when he got home. "May I borrow your laptop?" he asked after cleaning the counters.
I grabbed the laptop from the living room and logged on. Carlos opened my email to send one to his account. He deactivated having the emails automatically forwarded to mine. I read the reply from his account, which included his Rangeman details. "Use the number in the email to call me. I'll program my phone to accept all calls from your cellphone," Carlos explained.
"Okay. I don't want you to drop everything to take my call. You can call back later," I replied.
"No, Babe. You're important to me. I will always take your call unless it's too dangerous to answer," he said.
"What classifies as too dangerous?" I asked. "Are you talking about missions?"
"I'm finished with my government contract once I debrief. When I'm in the field chasing a skip, I won't be able to talk unless I have someone to cover for me," Carlos explained. I knew how dangerous skip tracing was from my cousin Vinnie. He got shot once when going after a low-bond FTA.
"I'd rather you wait until you're safe and nobody is pointing a gun at you," I said.
Carlos laughed. He closed my laptop before pulling me onto his lap. "Thank you for everything, Babe."
I checked the clock and frowned. It was time to take Carlos to the airport. "We have to go," I sadly said. Carlos kissed me and rested his forehead against mine until he motioned for us to leave. I held his hand as we left my house to get into the car. My stomach flip-flopped as I thought about sleeping alone. I got used to Carlos sharing my bed. I'd miss having his muscular arms wrapped around me.
We didn't talk as I drove Carlos to the airport. I tried to be brave as we approached the terminal where I'd drop him off. Carlos kissed me chastely before getting out of the car. When he disappeared through the doors, I said, "I love you, Carlos."