Kimber Chin

Read Part 1 Here

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Eduardo added more and more verses to his song. He enjoyed how her humming blended with his words, like they were a team, a couple. She asked him questions about himself, as though she cared.

He should do the same. “What do you do in America?”

“I am a teacher. I teach music and languages.” There was pride in her voice.

A teacher. The Boss needed a teacher. Not for music and the children would laugh if she taught them Spanish but she was an intelligent woman. She could teach other things. “We have a school. A big school. Only one teacher. Many, many children.” They would adore her, especially Paz, he would never let her out of his sight. As Eduardo would never.

“Do you?” That earned him one of her face-lighting smiles. “I used to teach at a big school. We didn’t have enough teachers either but the kids, oh, the kids.” She clasped her hands together.

Used to. Did that mean she had no job? “Did you quit your job to find yourself in Belize?” Would it really be that easy to keep her forever?

“No. In September, I’ll be starting at a small but very prestigious school. It is quite an honor.” It didn’t sound like an honor. She snipped off the words as though it was a horrible fate.

Prestigious meant rich kids. Eduardo looked down at the leaves adorning Stacy’s hair. “That is not you, little dove.”

“It could be.” Her lips set mulishly. “Daniel says…,”

“Daniel?” Not Dan but a Daniel. Eduardo already hated this pretentious prig. “Who is this Daniel?”

Her dirty face went red. She unbuttoned her collar, tugged at a chain, and held up a ring. A lady’s ring. With a big diamond. Eduardo had worked long enough for the Boss to know it was an expensive piece of jewelry.

“You are engaged?” His gut seized. But no, she was here. Alone. What man would allow his future wife to be put in such danger?

“I will be.” She dropped the ring like it burned her fingers.

“Will be.” That meant not yet. His careless rival had given her a ring. He had asked. She hadn’t said yes, not yet.

“I think not.” Eduardo snorted. She would choose him, not this Daniel, this half man. This time he would be chosen. “He doesn’t love you, not the way you should be loved.”

“He is a good man.”

Eduardo pressed his lips together to prevent from retorting. If he pushed, she would only end up defending her almost fiancé more. “He is a lucky man.” The son of a bitch. “You will be very happy.” With Eduardo del Popolo Vicente Rodriguez Garcia, not the Americano. “Sit.” He pointed to a log. “We will rest for a minute.” He sat beside her, his thigh pressing against hers, before she moved her leg. The song he chose was of an unrequited love.

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Read Part 6 August 11