Page 13 of Micah
Chapter 5-Weight
The plane cabin wasquiet as Alita sat staring at the super cute new boots on her feet.They were more for style than function, and before arriving at Las Tierras, she would put on her regular work shoes, but for now, she loved the cuteness of the boots.She'd never really had a pair of shoes in this type of leather, and honestly, her wardrobe of the past four years was more perfunctory than fashionable.Tomorrow was her birthday.She would be eighteen years old.
A random thought crossed her mind as the three new suitcases with dresses, shoes, and cool clothing were loaded into the plane.She thought for one second that the items Micah purchased for her were parting gifts for her life without him.Then, she dismissed the idea, secretly praying he remembered her birthday was tomorrow and had provided her with an early gift of an actual wardrobe.
At his grandmother's home in Argentina, she and Micah shared a Jack and Jill closet which was centered between the two bedrooms.The room she occupied was designed to be the living space for his wife once he married.However, since she was a minor, his grandparents didn't want her living separately from Micah in the servants’ quarters with other adults.Although the staff was properly vetted, Micah also preferred to have Alita’s sleeping quarters close to him.
In his quarters at Las Tierras, her room was now Andres’ former bedroom, who had moved to his wing of the home, giving more space to the two remaining boys.Micah's room was now Yuñior’s former bedroom at the top of the stairs with hers next to Micah's and Angel's on the opposite side.Catarina still stayed in the nursery, and Isabella, the older of the two girls, now occupied Angel's former bedroom.
She almost smiled looking at the boots.Her closet held five school uniforms that she no longer needed.There were a few pairs of dungarees for horseback riding when Micah wished to ride atLas Tierras; he rarely rode at Perona de la Mar since the smell of cow manure turned his stomach.Her work uniform, when she accompanied him, was a simple black pantsuit with black loafers.Depending on the weather, the shirt under the jacket was either a green turtleneck or a white shirt with a green tie.Seldom, if ever, did she wear dresses or skirts.She looked forward to starting college and wearing normal clothes like a regular young lady in life.
The clicking of the keys stopped.This meant Micah had reached a stopping point in whatever mad science idea was in his magical brain.Alita looked up to find her boss staring at her.
“You're deep in thought,” Micah said.
“Yes, so much to be grateful for in such a short span of time,” she replied.“Are you done with work, Boss?We are still an hour out from Las Tierras.Is there anything I may assist you with?”
“Yes, clarification,” Micah said.
“What may I clarify for you, Boss?”
“Why don't you call me by my first name?”
“I have before, but there is a clear delineation in our relationship,” she said.“Habit makes clarity.If I mistakenly sound too familiar in the presence of others, my role as your guard is questioned.I cannot have my role in your life questioned.”
Micah watched her face.She was a lovely young woman with a warm smile he didn't get to see very often.In his heart, he wanted that to change.He wanted to see Alita happy as he'd seen her when she was interacting with Bria and Ayana and even the little weird white girl Collette.
“May I ask, how did my brother Andres find and select you to come and be my guard?I have never been clear on it,” Micah said.
Alita took a breath.“The grandsons of Eleon Fernandez are widely known in my village,” she began.“Especially Andres, but not so much The Bocaraca.Word was spreading that Andres was shopping...”.
She said the last part and paused.Her lips pressed tightly together as she said the next portion, letting the words slowly leave her lips to share with her Boss an ugly truth she'd never mentioned to anyone before.She looked at her neatly trimmed nails, lightly buffed.
“My mother makes coconut candies, very similar to Cocada de Coco that she sells on the weekends at the local market,” Alita began.“My father sent me to the market where he knew Andres would be to purchase two coconuts.Funny thing was, I had just gone to the market the day before to purchase five.My mother didn't need any more coconuts, but I understood.”
“And you went and met my brother?”
“No, I went to buymi mamatwo coconuts like I was told,” Alita said, offering him a smile.“I just so happened to run into Andres, who spotted me at the same time I spotted him.He asked me how old I was, and I told him 14.Andres asked the question in English, and I responded in English.He then wanted to know if I could read and write in English and if I spoke any other languages.”
Micah scowled, “Well, do you?”
“Boss, I was 14.I think two languages in itself was an accomplishment, which I told Andres the same thing,” she said, offering a wry grimace.
“And what?You simply got in the vehicle with him, no questions,” Micah said.
“I was not the only girl he'd chosen,” she said.“There was another, who spoke English, but it was broken.She also asked Andres repeatedly about money and payment.He responded by stopping the vehicle, letting her out and giving her a few pesos.”
“I never knew there was a second girl,” Micah said.
“I didn't know what the job was, and honestly, it was better than living with my father who spent every day trying to figure out a way into Perona de la Mar,” she said softly.“Andres had me call my parents to say where I was and how long I would be, and that if his younger brother could relate to me, I would be offered a long-term job of up to four years if it worked out.”
“You didn't ask about the job?”
“No need,” she said to him, looking him in the eyes.“Once I stood at the end of the lineup and I saw the other women, I knew that is not why I was chosen, especially after seeing you.We were the same age, and word had spread, even to my village that the youngest two grandsons....were different.”
“That is polite,” he chuckled.
