Author's Note: Another in my series of one-shots revolving around family. I will post any others that pop into my head here, though there's not going to be any real pattern or time they follow. In regards to Letty and Dom's daughter I can't think of a name for her. I debated just not using one to refer to her, so that readers can fill in whatever they like in their mind. Any thoughts? Suggestions?
An Afternoon
The LA summer sun beat down on the sidewalk, washing the concrete white and chasing all the little bugs and other critters for the shade. Cars lined the streets and the smells of smoky barbeque filled the air. Shrieks and the sounds of children's laughter echoed in the neighborhood. On the front lawn sat a red tricycle, silver streamers on its handles and a lightning bolt painted along one side. Sandals by the front door sat abandoned on the porch, a bucket still sandy from the last trip to the beach, orange shovel tucked inside.
Around the side of the house a little girl came running, bare feet digging into the grass and kicking up blades that stuck to her little brown legs. Her red swimsuit soaked through and her dark curls dripping with water she turned to shoot a jet of water behind her then squealed as she was pelted by a water balloon hefted by a boy slightly older than her, his brown limbs gangly and his hair gone sandy blonde under the summer sun. Flicking bits of green balloon out of her hair she squirted him in the face and took off running, her laughter gleeful.
She took the steps up the front porch at high speed, leaving little wet footprints on the wood. Yanking the door open she was inside and halfway across the living room before the screen door slammed behind her, trailing water and tracking grass and dirt across the carpet. Through the kitchen where she slid across the linoleum, barely hearing her aunt's scolding echoing behind her. She was out the back door, greeted by the laughter of her companion and a face full of water as he fired his high-powered water gun at her. Sputtering she launched off the rear step to chase after him.
The little girl clambered under the table set out in the yard, circling around her Uncle's chair and overturning his beer in pursuit of her target. She streaked past her father at the grill, who laughed at the predicament of his brother-in-law with beer on his pants, and skirted around her mother getting him another beverage from the cooler.
"Cool your jets, mija!" the woman called after her and the child grinned in delight.
"Mami pway wif us!" she demanded, standing still long enough to rock back on her heels.
"If Mami played with you she'd kick your little butts. Why don't you keep playing with your cousin?"
"Mami, kick V's butt!" she squealed delightedly, laughing.
"That's not fair," the little boy said, pouting. "If you get your Mom then I get Uncle Dom!"
The little girl's mouth went wide as her dark eyes. "My Papi!" she said, pointing a finger accusingly at her cousin. "Get youw own."
Brian shook his head. "Yeah what's up with that Vincent? No loyalty."
"He just knows I'd beat you at a water fight," Letty said with a grin. "Smart kid."
"Are you admitting you can't beat Dom?" Brian asked, his eyes sparking wickedly. The challenge was in the air.
Dom was still at the grill, laughing, that cocky little half-grin on his face when Letty grabbed the water gun from her daughter and shot him right in the face.
"Letty that's cheap!" he said. "You're getting the food wet!"
She only shot him again, painting a line of water across his white t-shirt while their daughter gasped and giggled, running towards the shed where the rest of the water guns were stashed.
Abandoning the food Dom ran after Letty but she laughed and ducked out of his reach, grabbing the high-powered water gun from little Vince's hands and turning to shoot both at him before disappearing around the side of the house.
"You're going to pay for that Leticia," he threatened, laughter in his voice and water in his eyes.
Putting a conspiratorial finger to his lips he winked towards his daughter and she trailed after him as he rounded the opposite side of the house towards where the hose was curled.
When Letty peered into the yard she saw Brian, now in clean shorts, tending the grill with Vince sitting on the lid of the cooler, swinging his legs. She frowned, stepping further into the yard only to be sprayed by a stream of freezing cold water from the hose that soaked her within seconds. She whirled on her attacker, who was laughing at the murderous look in her eyes.
"You're in trouble Dominic," she threatened, advancing on him.
0000
A half hour later when Mia stepped out in the yard she gasped. The cooler was overturned, ice melting in the grass and beer and soda sprawled across the ground. Her son sat amongst the mess, his hands muddy and his bathing suit and soaking wet and laughing. Brian was standing in front of the closed grill, equally wet and looking partially amused, partially annoyed. Her niece's squealing laughter proceeded her running around the side of the house, a mess of water, mud and grass. She was followed by Dom who carried Letty over his shoulder, the both of them soaked through and her sister-in-law pounding at his back and squirming as Dom laughed, smacking her ass lightly.
Mia's jaw dropped and she gaped wordlessly for a moment and then narrowed her eyes at Dom who promptly set Letty on her feet and looked innocent.
Letty pushed her hair from her eyes and turned, plastering a smile on her face. "Hey Mi. Dinner time?"
"Get cleaned up," she ordered, pointing to the house. "All of you!" she added when Brian didn't get moving fast enough.
"Children…" they heard her muttering under her breath as they filed dutifully inside. "All of them…"
"You'd better hope my chicken's not burned!" drifted through the closed door, and soft snickers followed the rest of the crew upstairs.