Origin Chp 2 - Naive
Love doesn't make you lose your sense, does it?
Chapter 2
A knock at the door caused Leticia to shriek from the bathroom, “Shit! I’m not ready yet!”
Alejandra raised an eyebrow as she checked her leather strapped watch, “He’s early.”
“Why would he be early!? What’s wrong with him!? Damn!” Leticia continued to panic her eyes darting over herself trying to recall what still needed done.
“Don’t rush, he might as well get used to waiting on you.”
Leticia let out a huff but took her time trying to regain herself and finish getting ready. Alejandra adjusted her watch and answered the door. A shy Jimmy was there holding a single perfect rose. Interested she asked, “Where’d you get that man?”
“Just a little something that made me think of Leticia.”
Alejandra nodded and led him in saying, “She isn’t done with herself yet.”
“I dig it, perfection takes time.” He held up the rose, “A rose don’t just bloom in a second, you gotta wait for it and treat it with reverence and care. Nothing blooms without love.”
“Poetic, you gonna use that line on Letty?” When Jimmy smirked, she added, “How long did it take to come up with that one?”
“It kinda socked me when I saw this beauty and thought of my beauty. She’s my muse.” He smelled the rose before letting his eyes fall on his crutches, “She brings out the romantic and makes me tuned into the love scene.”
“That seems to be a first for you.”
“Yeah...She leaves my heart bursting bright…. there’s this fire between us and it melts my cool.” Jimmy took the pipe Alejandra was offering him and asked, “Can I lay something down?”
Intrigued she quickly replied, “You know I love spilled guts.”
He smoked the pipe and let his eyes cut to the hallway where Leticia lay still fretting over her appearance. Seeing the coast was clear he leaned in and whispered, “I love her… that’s never happened before. I’m so high I don’t know what to do, nothing brings me down. Hell, I don’t even give a damn about my blown wheel. The real deal coming back, everything was crashville, she was all I craved, and I had no idea if I’d ever see her again. He puffed from the pipe and finished, “I didn’t want to get my hopes up when I came back, especially with what all the birds were chirping…. Then the train pulled in and all I could see was her waiting for me. Even with her veil on I knew it was her, no other chick would wear that drape.” He smiled and moved the rose stem in his fingers, “It was the rose… I’ll do anything for her. Anything.” That final word was said with such conviction even Alejandra believed him. The look in his eyes she knew without a doubt that he would do quite literally anything for her even if it meant taking lives.
Adjusting herself Alejandra asked evenly, “You know she has expectations, yes?”
“Don’t all chicks?”
The two of them laughed until Leticia appeared a couple moments later. She was wearing a burgundy dress with short sleeves and a black belt, her long hair hung loosely down her back. With a sweet smile she waved to Jimmy saying, “Hola Tomás.”
He stared at her dumbfounded by her pristine beauty. It took Alejandra clearing her throat with a smug smirk for him to answer saying shakily, “Hey Leticia.” With a sweating hand he offered her the rose. She delicately took it letting her fingers graze his hand causing his heart to skip. Still lost he let out, “The big man upstairs must be real, there’s no denying you’re a pure angel.” Each time he looked at her, a brilliant white light emitted from within her. Snow white feathers danced around her and every time she smiled there was peace on Earth.
Leticia’s head tilted to the side inquisitively as she listened to Alejandra translate that and what he said about the rose. Her grin spread wider going from ear to ear. “Aye Tomás.” Bashful titters left her as he rubbed the back of his neck shyly. She smelled the rose letting its welcoming aroma envelope her. Leticia winked at him then tucked the flower behind her ear.
“You’re a divine work of art… You feel like home Leticia.” He blurted out only to quickly clear his throat and glance at his watch saying hurriedly, We better jet so I can get fitted for a new wheel.” Jimmy stood up stumbling causing Alejandra to titter to herself.
Leticia looked between them curiously causing Alejandra to say, “Let’s go.” While they made their way outside Leticia asked hushed, “What happened? He became nervous suddenly.”
“He said something he didn’t mean to.” Alejandra replied gently bumping her.
“What did he say?” Leticia asked becoming more interested.
“That you feel like home.” Alejandra said offering her a coy smile.
Beaming to herself Leticia asked, “I wonder if that means he wants to marry me?” Alejandra shrugged as they got outside to see Jimmy’s car. Perplexed Leticia quickly asked, “Did you drive?”
Wearing a smirk Jimmy answered, “I only need one leg to drive sugar.”
“You’re crazy!” Leticia exclaimed.
Chuckling Jimmy opened the passenger door for her, “I’ll show ya.”
Leticia got in and let her fingertips glide down his arm, her eyes locking with his. Alejandra got in eagerly saying, “This outta be good, especially if you still drive the same.”
“You’re tuned in.” Jimmy said giving his crutches to Leticia who hugged them tight. Her eyes were glued to him, and he quickly pulled out and sped down the street.
Tittering Leticia said, “I forgot you drive crazy.” She fell silent a moment later and dropped her eyes.
Jimmy nonchalantly slid his hand over to hers and offered, “I’m here Leticia and I’m still crazy.” Forcing a heavy smile her mind went back over the last couple of years without him. It was still difficult for her to wrap her mind around just how long he was gone for. Even now, it felt like that had met for the first time all over again. She couldn’t help but relive that day and the special feeling it left imprinted on her. Butterflies fluttered wildly in her heart as she met Jimmy’s gaze. “What’s twistin your noodle?”
Pulled back all she could do was stare at him puzzled and let out, “Eh?”
“He asked what you’re thinking in his bullshit slang.” Alejandra said enjoying the whipping ride.
Embarrassment flushed her cheeks as she admitted, “When we meet”
“That was the most far out trip ever. Fate definitely made sure I made the scene. Stevie and me were actually gonna blow by, but something said stop man, your destiny is waiting in that hen house.”
“Wait… what? I don’t understand.” Leticia said in Spanish and stared at him intensely unsure of what exactly he meant.
He met her gaze, “Something told me to stop and go in that day, boy am I glad I listened. We were just passing through, but I stayed for you.”
Once Alejandra finished translating Leticia stared at him speechless a moment. Her heart burst and she threw her arms around him and refused to move.
When they pulled up to the building Jimmy became visibly nervous. He said shakily, “Umm…. Well… uh not to be twisted or anything… You know the scene so I uh… I said I was bringing my maid.”
Laughter burst from Alejandra who was immediately in tears holding her sides. Alejandra was half shrieking as she leaned forward. Leticia stared into his eyes blankly before slowly releasing her hold on him. Her eyes went to Alejandra, and she asked at a loss, “What did he say? Why are you laughing so hard?”
It took several seconds for Alejandra to compose herself to answer, “He told them you’re his maid!” She broke down into another round of laughter.
“Why would he do that? Does he want me to be angry with him so quickly?”
“It’s illegal for the two of you to be together, especially in this fucking place.” Alejandra said matter of factly.
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Letty, they don’t like races mixing here. If you’re caught together people will throw a fit and do God only knows.” She said looking at Leticia seriously.
“Fuck them, I love Tomás, and he loves me. There’s nothing wrong with that, they won’t do anything.”
Alejandra took her hand and squeezed it saying sincerely, “I need you to understand, white people see it as a problem. They will put you in jail or worse if you’re not careful. You know how much these people hate blacks and Mexicans here, you read the fucking paper right?”
Leticia folded her arms and said, “I’ll go next time, I need you to explain this. I don’t want to cause him trouble, this is upsetting.”
Jimmy hugged her and said defeated, “I’m sorry sugar…”
As she watched him go inside, she felt her eyes begin to seer and turn raw. A hand on her shoulder caused her to look at Alejandra who said, “I just want you to be safe.”
“What exactly are you talking about?”
“For instance, there was a story in the news a couple weeks ago from a city north of here. They found a Mexican man with a white woman, and they hung him.”
“That’s not true!” Leticia gasped out.
“These people are monsters Letty; you have no idea how badly I wish it wasn’t true. The two of you have to be very careful about who sees you and what you do. You can’t even drink from the same water fountain in public, you’re not this naive.” Alejandra’s voice was stern but desperate causing Leticia to nod her head slowly.
“I understand Aleja, I’ll make sure to be careful. You’re right I’m not this dumb, I know better.”
“So, is your pride the only reason you didn’t go in?” Alejandra nudged her playfully.
Leticia looked down and let out a breath, “I still need to get used to it, every time I look…” Leticia teared up, “I see how close I was to losing him and it scares me. He’s the only man who sees the real me, past the surface into my soul. Out of all the people here he’s the only one who sees past my nationality and accent. I love him so much…. I really don’t know what I would’ve done if he wasn’t on that train.”
“You would’ve lost your fucking mind. Hell, you did for an entire year. Why don’t you try to think about your future together? You have an entire life to look forward to.”
“We seem to want different things and that makes me nervous. I’m worried that I have my hopes up and will only end up disappointed. In our letters to each other all he ever talked about was traveling all over the world and finding the answers of life. It made me unsure so all I ever told him about was school and work. Aleja, you know all I want is to settle down and have a large family. What will I do if he can’t give me that?”
“Have you even brought this up with him? He does know you studied domestics for a reason.” Alejandra teased.
“No, because what if he doesn’t want that?”
“Why would you give yourself to him if you had a single doubt about him?”
A frustrated yell left Leticia as she began to fidget in her seat, “Shit! Why must everything be so damn complicated?”
“It’s not, you’re overthinking. You have a dog, give him a list of commands and watch him obey and don’t let the white people catch you together.”
“It’s not that simple!”
“Try it and see.” Alejandra said with certainty.
Leticia let out a sigh and looked out the window only to see Jimmy furious yelling while he held the front door open. “Well, there goes that idea, he’s upset.”
“That doesn’t sound like him.” Alejandra said interested and leaned over her shoulder watching Jimmy throw the door closed and come back over, his flesh as red as his hair.