Chapter 28
“I got my girls!” Paul laughed, going on the attack the next morning, lunging on Mac and Kira’s bed, tickling them and rubbing his face against each of them.
He hadn’t shaved yet, and the scruff made them struggle to get away, laughing.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Papi! Stop! Someone hellllllllllllllllllllp!” they cried.
“No one to help you! You are at the mercy of the big hairy man!” he growled before attacking them again.
The phone had rung shortly after, with Montana calling from her room next door.
“My God, Paul, what on earth are you doing to those kids? It sounds like you’re killing them.”
“My morning ritual wouldn’t be complete without tickle torture,” he replied.
“It sounded like torture period. Those poor babies.”
“How about I come torture you instead?”
“No thanks, not until after breakfast. Are we still on?”
“As always, mi amor. I hear McDonald’s is having—”
“You are not giving those kids that God awful greasy food,” Montana said. “Do you have any idea what is in that stuff?”
“All I know is it tastes pretty good when we’re hungry. And they have a drive thru. All I got to do is throw on a shirt and shorts.”
“Good grief, are you lazy. And that stuff does rotten things to your insides. It’s all grease and fat that kids don’t need. They are getting a good breakfast from a nice place.”
“You mean we have to get dressed decent and go out? It’s fucking raining.”
“Room service has a good menu,” Montana offered.
“They have such fancy shit on hotel menus. We're in America, I eat like an American . Jesus.”
“Don’t be difficult. This is the last week you’ll have with the girls on a regular basis until the holidays, at least give them a memorable send off.”
“All right, let me clean my ass up and dress these lovely angels and you can pick the place.”
“That’s much better,” Montana said.
“Te amo, mi Montana.”
“Same to you. I’ll see you over there in about half an hour.”
Paul hung up the phone and turned to the girls. “Think you two can watch TV for a bit while I get a quick shower? We’re going out to breakfast with Montana.”
“Yay!” they cried, jumping.
“Hey, again, no jumping on the beds. I’m going to have to get you guys a trampoline when we get home. Now, sit here, watch TV, and don’t answer my phone. Let the voice mail get it. Okay?”
“Even if Miss Montana calls back?” Mac wondered.
“She’ll probably come to the door next time. In any case, don’t touch the phone. The last time one of you did, I had some weird city in New Jersey I never heard of on my bill.”
“Okay, Papi. But if anyone comes, we’ll say you’re in the bathroom and have no clothes on,” Kira replied.
Later that morning:
“Denny’s, huh?”
“I thought that was what all you simple guys liked,” Montana smiled. “Plus they have real food, not that horse meat that tries to pass for it.”
“I have to pee,” Kira announced.
“Already? You guys just went to the bathroom before we left the hotel,” Paul replied.
“I have to pee again.”
“I can take her,” Montana offered. “Get us a table, would you? Non-smoking.”
“All right.”
Montana carried the younger girl back to the ladies room, letting Kira do her business while keeping a close eye. She always did feel a little nervous in public rest rooms and often heard what happened to children in them when they weren’t supervised. Kira may have been a bit shy, but she was a pretty little girl and an easy target for a predator. Montana couldn’t wait to get the child out of there quickly enough.
They had been on their way back to rejoin Paul and Mac when an older woman had smiled at them.
“I’m so sorry,” she began, “but I just couldn’t help what a beautiful little girl your daughter is. She almost looks like you.”
Montana had to chuckle. “Oh, I’m sorry, ma’am, but–”
“She isn’t my mami!” Kira spoke up. “She’s my papi’s friend. Papi’s over there with my sister.”
The woman seemed a little embarrassed. “Oh my….I am terribly sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Montana smiled graciously. “For some odd reason, I’ve been getting that a lot lately.”
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