Consent (The Loan Shark Duet 2)

“Perfect.”

I make sure she gets how much I appreciate her efforts with a soft kiss. The red of her cheeks darkens.

She first glances at Magda and then at the sliding doors. “Where is she?”

“Changing. She’ll be down in a minute.”

Carly takes her time to join us. By the time she walks through the door wearing a swimsuit and sunglasses pushed back on her hair, I’m on my second iced tea.

She kisses Magda’s cheek, but ignores Valentina and Charlie.

My blood starts to simmer, but I remind myself I’m solely to blame. Forcing patience, I count to ten and say, “Carly, don’t you have something to say to Valentina?”

She turns to Valentina as if she only notices her now. “Oh, yes.” She flops down in a chair and flips her sunglasses over her eyes. “Get me a lemonade. Plenty of ice. While you’re at it, bring me a towel.”

9

Gabriel

My vision unravels at the edges. Who is this mean girl? Carly has always been difficult, but this disrespect crosses a new line. The tea sloshes over the edges as I slam the glass down on the table. In two strides I’m next to Carly, pulling her up by her arm. She looks at me with a start, her cocky attitude slipping. Magda drops her book and jackknifes into a sitting position.

“Dad!”

Carly protests as I drag her through the sliding doors back into the house. It’s time the two of us had a talk. Not like the talk we had in the car. A serious talk.

The first available room is the reading room. I push her inside and am about to slam the door when Valentina rushes up.

“Not now,” I growl. This is between Carly and I.

Her soft hand on my arm pauses me, and it’s the look in her eyes that makes me falter. I can’t resist this begging, wide-eyed appeal.

“Just five minutes,” she says.

Educating Carly in manners is my responsibility, but it’s also Valentina’s right to stand up for herself. With much difficulty, I remove myself from the room, but I can’t move farther than around the door where I stop to eavesdrop shamelessly.

“You’re upset,” Valentina says.

“Damn right, I am.”

“I understand. The news about the baby must be hard to deal with. It came as a shock to me, too.”

“You only got pregnant to trap my dad.”

“It was an accident neither of us planned.”

There are tears in Carly’s voice. “How long have you been sleeping with him?”

“That’s private,” Valentina replies gently, “and not your business.”

“Did you seduce him?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“I don’t understand your question.”

“He said you didn’t ask for this.” There’s a long silence before Carly speaks again. “Did he … force you?”

My heart stops beating. Valentina hates me. She has no reason to protect my daughter from the ugly, raw truth. Yes, I forced her. I made her beg first, but I gave her no choice. Not really.

The tremble in Valentina’s voice is so minute, if I didn’t know her as well as I did, I would’ve missed it. “Why would you ask that?”

“It happened to friends of my mom. The maid is pregnant with the husband’s baby, and she said she didn’t have a choice because he forced her.”

Valentina’s voice is firm and reassuring. “It didn’t happen to us.”

“He didn’t … rape you?”

“Absolutely not. Please don’t think about your father that way.”

“So, you’re not a victim.”

“No, I’m not.”

“If you’re not a victim, I can’t feel sorry for you.”

“I’m not asking you to feel sorry for me. I’m asking you to try for us to get on.”

“Why? Why should I? I don’t even like you. You’re lower class and poor.”

“Fair enough. Then try for your dad’s sake.”

“I’m not doing anything for his sake. He didn’t talk to me before marrying you to see how I would feel, so why should I consider his feelings?”

“He loves you, Carly. Don’t push him away. If we put a bit of effort into it, we can all get along.”

“Give me one, good reason why I should get along with you?”

“You’re going to have a baby brother or sister. Doesn’t that count for anything?”

Carly goes quiet. For several seconds, neither of them speaks. Finally, Carly says in a broken voice, “I’ve always wanted a brother or sister, just not from you.”

“We can’t change that it’s me, but I’m sure this baby is going to love having a big sister.”

Carly sniffs. “You think?”

“I do. I was hoping you’d help me with some baby shopping.”

“Those tiny shoes and cute bunny-ear pajamas?”

Valentina laughs. “And a teddy bear. Every baby needs a teddy.”

“Oh, my God, I know exactly where to go. Tammy’s big sister had a baby last month. You should see the cute baby dresses and matching headbands we got for her. Can I help with the room?”

“Yes, you may.”

“Not the painting, though. Oh, and I’m not changing diapers.”

“No paint. No diapers. Got it.”