Chapter 26
“She’s a lovely woman,” his mother said when Montana and the girls were gone.
“Huh?”
“Montana. She’s lovely, and it’s clear sus hijas love her.”
“Well, yeah, and for once, there’s a girl I care about that actually likes having them around too.”
“You know they need a woman in their lives on a steady basis. I think it’s time for you to find those girls a mami. They’ve been without one too long, and before you know it, you’ll be close to thirty.”
“Oh God, here we go again,” Paul groaned, rolling his eyes. “Is there anything else you’d like to add to the list while I’m here?”
“I’m only say things for your own good,” she replied. “You’re my hijo de bebé; you know that.”
“Yeah, but sabes que, it’s every damn visit. This time around it’s my hair along with once again, my job and finding another wife. Anything else?”
“I should tell Montana to work on that mouth of yours. You’re getting sassy.”
“Oquela. Why don‘t you get on Jon about shit like this? I don‘t see him with a wife and kids and he is going to be thirty.”
“Mind your language, hijo, and this isn’t about Jonathan.”
Paul could only sigh and shake his head.
“I’ve been thinking since all of you got here that Montana would be a perfect mami for the girls.”
“What?”
“You heard me, Paul Michael. It’s very clear that that señorita loves you very much, not like some of those other prostitutas you went around with that were only after a thing or two from you and could have cared less about those little ones. But Montana! She looks and acts like a lady should, considering she was brought up without a mami herself. You’ve even told me how much she loves spending time with Mackenzie and Kira, and that is just what those niñas need. And frankly, in some ways, she reminds me of how Regina was in many ways.”
“So what are you getting at, Mami? Spit it out, since it’s clear you’re on a roll anyway.”
“I think you should marry Montana.”
“I don’t think she’s interested in settling down with anyone, much less me.”
“How do you know? Did she say that?”
“Not really, but she’s never brought up the subject period. Most chicks are into getting a ring, but Mon’s never much as uttered a word about it at all. And Mami, keep in mind I’ve only been with her a little over a couple of months, okay?”
“I still say I’m right about this.”
“Jesus Christ….” Paul groaned, his head in his hands.
“He has nothing to do with this,” his mother continued, “but I can say He likely sent you Montana for a reason. And if Regina was here right now, I’m sure she would agree with me too.”
Meanwhile:
Montana watched closely as Mac pushed Kira on the swings, chiding her to be careful and keeping an eye on the time in between. She had taken them to an ice cream stand earlier before finding the park they were now enjoying.
She hadn’t been in New Mexico for many years; she had still been under three years old when her father had had one of his final boxing matches in Albuquerque and then had been in New Mexico again when barely out of high school and visiting Sly at college.
But she loved where they were now; the little park was quiet and seemed the perfect place for kids to play.
Soon the girls had gotten bored with the swings and gone over to a sandbox, digging holes and trying to build a little castle before sliding on the sliding board, climbing the monkey bars, and then wrestling and tickling each other on the grass, giggling.
“Guys,” Montana warned. “Take it easy, especially you, Mac.”
“We will,” Mac replied. “We don’t copy stuff on TV or nothing. Papi says not to, because people train to do that kind of stuff and we could get hurt bad if we do it.”
“And he’s right,” Montana agreed, “but still, Kira’s little, so don’t get too rough.”
She let them play awhile longer before dusk arrived, rounding the girls up to go back to their grandmother’s before dark.
“Miss Montana,” Mac asked on the way back. “Can me and Kira ask you something?”
“Sure, honey, whatever you like.”
“Do you like Papi?”
Montana had to smile. “Very much so.”
“We thought so. He likes you too. We can tell,” Kira nodded.
“Your daddy’s quite a guy, I can say that much.”
“So when you gonna marry him?” Mac inquired, cutting to the chase.
“Uh, to be honest, Mac, he’s never even mentioned it. And I don’t think that with your daddy’s schedule, he’s really ready to get married.”
“I think you should,” Mac continued. “I bet if I asked mi abuelita, she would think so too. She likes you. She said so to me and Kira that Papi picked a nice lady this time.”
“Uh huh….” Montana was at a loss for words.
“So would you marry Papi and be our new mami?” Mac wondered hopefully.
“Mac, I really think that would be something for your daddy to decide. And as flattered as I am to know you girls want that to happen, he may be happy with things just the way they are.”
A short time later:
“I think your mom may be on to something,” Mariah said cheerfully during a phone call with Paul.
“Jesus, Mimi, don’t you start,” he groaned.
“Look, sunshine, I see how you are around that woman, and it isn‘t like how you had been around anyone else in the past since I‘ve known you. You light up like a kid at Christmas anytime Montana comes around. She’s wonderful with the girls, and hell, you’re already been having sex with her, so why not make it official?”
“Mimi, if I’d married every chick I’d fucked, I’d had a harem of at least 20 wives by now.”
“You know what I mean. Paul, really; it’s been almost four years since Reggie died and those girls need a mother.”
“Did mi mami by chance put any of you up to this? First I get an email sermon from Shaun, then I get off the phone from this same damn conversation with Brian, and now you.”
“Can’t speak for anyone else, honey, but I’ve been thinking this ever since you and the lovely Miss Hayes got together.”
“Christ. I’m surprised my pops hasn’t started on me yet.”
“Give him time,” Mariah said.
“Say one word to him, Mimi, and I will kill you.”
“No you won’t. That’s one less person around that would keep you sane, sunshine.”
“What’s the big deal with everyone wanting to marry me off all of the sudden?”
“I don’t think it’s ‘all of the sudden.’ People have been talking about it for awhile, from the offices to the locker room all the way down to the janitors.”
“Nice to know my personal life is an interesting topic of convesation. Oquela.”
“Did you ever stop to think that there are people in the world that actually are concerned about you and your little girls?” Mariah asked. “It’s for your own good, Paul.”
“Jesus, you sound like mi mami now.”
“Your mami may be on to something the rest of us may know nothing about. And if I were you, big boy, I’d start listening to her.”
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