“What's the matter?”
Quickly, she looked back at the floor waving away my concern.
“Nothing chica, just having one of those days.” Well that made two of us. I wondered did Aunt Flo show up on her doorstep this morning as well. Or...
Oh my goodness, could she be crying about what happened last night?
“Is it about what happened last night? What Gabe said?” Again, she waved that away.
“Oh no! Last night was great! It was the first time in a long time he didn't just ignore me flat out.” She sat up on her knees and tried to dry her tears with the corner of her apron. But she was crying so hard she might as well had not bothered. She was getting ready to make me cry. I put my hand on her arm.
“What's the matter then?”
Shaking her head, she wiped harder at her tears, but it seemed like the more she dried away the more they came.
“Yas, I'm the unluckiest woman in the world!” That's it, I took her in my arms and she erupted. She actually wrapped her arms around me and cried harder. It was as if a hug was all she had been waiting for to let go.
“Shhh!” I rubbed her soft hair as she sobbed.
“It's okay, mama. If you’re the unluckiest woman, I've got to be coming in as a strong number two.” I told her trying to sooth her with my words. After about five minutes, she sat back and this time she reached down in her apron pocket and pulled out a balled up paper-towel, blowing her nose with it.
“I'm alright, thank you so much. You are such a sweet girl. You got a good heart, and that's rare these days.” After shoving the paper-towel back in her pocket, she picked up her rag, dipping it back in the bucket before wringing it out.
“Umm, I don't think so!” I pulled the rag out her hands.
“You can't cry like that and not tell me what's going on. What happened?” She stared down at the floor for a little while before she shook her head slightly.
“I always make the wrong decisions.” Her gaze rose to mine.
“I had waited years for an opportunity to be able to once again breathe the same air as my little boy. It presented itself when he moved here.” She looked around.
“I knew he was going to need a housekeeper, so I all but stalked the woman that was in charge of making all the arrangement for this place. I worked here almost six weeks before he noticed me. And when he did, I begged him to let me just shine his floors.” Chuckling without any humor she wiped at her nose.
“Of course, he wanted to kick me to the curve, but I told him I’ll do it for half the price, and he agreed.” I frowned, feeling my anger rising again. Who the hell does that to their mother!
Stacy said he was completely ruthless to the people he considered an enemy, but treating one's mother like this was past ruthless, it was unequivocally beastly. Now I understood how he got that name.
“Yasmin, I know his actions sound horrible, but I deserve no less. I don't know that if I was him, and had gone through the terrible things he has, I don't know if I would’ve done any differently.”
I bit down on my lip to hold my question. She was suffering and I didn't want to cause her to suffer more, but I was so curious as to what she could have done for both her and Gabriel to think she deserved this treatment.
“I lost my place last week, and I've been living in my car. I picked up a second job waiting tables on the midnight shift at a little diner on 5th, but when I came out of work this morning, the city had towed my car, and now I don't know what I'm going to do! I've been on the phone all morning trying to see why they towed me. But they don't care... I hate this city!” Her tears began to flow again.
Gently, I picked up her hand from her lap.
“I know what you’re going to do!” She looked up at me.
“What?”
“You’re going to move in with us. I know the perfect bedroom for you.” She shook her head.
“No! Yasmin!” I stood helping her to her feet.
“Where are your belongings?”
“No mija!” I took my phone out my overalls and dialed one.
“How can I help you Mrs. Calhoun?” Jerome's voice came from the other end.
“Jerome can you please give me a ride somewhere.”
“I'll be right around with the car ma'am.”
“Thank you!”
“Yas no!” Gabrielle cried, now wringing her hands. I picked up the rags off the floor and put them in the bucket, sliding it to the side. I will take care of that when we get back. For now, we needed to get Gabrielle's car back with her belongings in it.
I took her hand and half pulled her toward the door. She was so stressed she began to speak in full Spanish. Stopping, I turned to look at her. Her eyes were going wild in her anxiety.
“You have to calm down!” She didn't stop her Spanish rant. It was ridiculous how afraid of her own son she was.
“Mom!” I nearly yelled. Her mouth snapped shut. I had to bite my lip to keep from grinning. She had been speaking to me in Spanish as if I understood her.
“You don't expect us to just sit back and do nothing now that we know your living in your car.” She put her hand on her head.
“What is this we and us you speak of? Gabe will rather see me live in his garbage than in his house.”
“Nonsense, you shouldn't talk so foolishly. We’re
