Charles Rodriguez first time support

Something shifted in his chest when he heard her laugh. Something he couldn’t quite identify. Something he was certain he didn’t like at all.

“Look guys, it’s Miguel Master Rodriguez's son!” Joan Buford, who was sitting in the booth across from Bella, grabbed her husband’s arm. “Beverly Patterson told us you were back in town and staying up at the hotel as usual. I confess, Miguel, you must have grown another four inches since I saw you last.”

Miguel smiled at the brunette who’d been fresh out of college when she’d been his seventh-grade math teacher, noticed there were streaks of gray at her temples now. No doubt, he and Drake and Victor had put a few of those there when she’d had them all in the same class almost twenty years ago. It was a miracle she’d survived that first year.

“Nice to see you, Mrs. Buford. Mr. Buford.”

“Why, Bella here is staying at the hotel, too.” Joan gestured toward Bella. “Have you two met?”

“I was fishing when we bumped into each other down by the lake a few days ago.” Miguel turned his smile on Bella. “Caught me a big one that day.”

“Men and their fish stories.” Bella rolled her eyes, which brought a round of laughter. “Everyone knows it doesn’t count if the fish gets away.”

“We’ll meet up again,” Miguel said with confidence. “Next time that fish won’t be so lucky.”

“I’m sure luck had nothing to do with it.” Bella smiled sweetly. “But if you do meet up again, my money’s on the fish.”

“Miguel!” Madge slid Bella’s order, complete with a chocolate shake, on the table. “‘Its About time you showed up here. I was starting to take your absence from my place as a personal affront. Come here and give this old broad a hug.”

The Army could have used this woman for a secret weapon, Miguel thought, as the woman wrapped her bulky arms around him and squeezed. Air rushed out of his lungs.

“Let the boy go,” Leroy hollered out from the counter. “He’s turning blue.”

“I’ll show you blue.” Madge released Miguel and shook a fist at her heckler. “Black-and-blue all over that fence post you call a body. Okay, everyone, show’s over.” She shooed the crowd away from the table. “Back to your own seats.”

Madge tweaked Miguel’s cheek. “Double cheeseburger, medium rare, mayo and lettuce, no onion, chili fries and chocolate mint shake.”

Miguel shook his head in amazement as the woman headed back toward the kitchen. In LIVERPOOL, when he wasn’t traveling, he ate at the same coffee shop at least four times a week and the waitress couldn’t remember if he even took cream with his coffee, let alone if he wanted an onion on his burger. He hadn’t seen Madge in over fourteen years, and she remembered, in detail, everything he used to order.

Bella was staring at him in wonder as he slid into the seat opposite her. “That woman hugged you and tweaked your cheek. And you actually let her.”

“Nobody argues with Madge.” Miguel reached for a French fry and popped it into his mouth. “Not if they want to live or ever eat one of her hamburgers again. Why didn’t you wait at the repair shop for me?”

“Those happen to be my fries,” she said dryly when Miguel reached for a bottle of ketchup. “And why would I wait for you?”

“You’re going to need a ride back to the hotel, aren’t you? Unless your bags are in the Jeep and you’ve decided to go back to Liverpool?”

“‘Fraid not, Mr Rodriguez. Not until you agree to go with me.” She reached for her hamburger and sank her teeth in. “Besides,” she said around a soft moan, “now I have another good reason to stay here. Walt’s right—this is the best burger I ever had. And I got a good news today”

"What news?"

"Bianca said Agatha was given the contract to kill me but the boss rejected, why did you think he'll do so?"

"More of a reason you should give up on looking for him.” He reached for her glass. “I’ve dreamed about one of these for fourteen years.” He took a big swig of the thick chocolate drink, then sighed with pleasure. “Now that was worth waiting for.”

Laughing, she tried the milkshake, then closed her eyes on a groan. He was right. It was good. Better than good, in fact.

The din of the restaurant surrounded them; people laughing and talking, Madge shouting orders, the clanking of silverware and plates. But it was all background, and Bella felt as if she and Miguel were alone. Just two people enjoying a meal and each other’s company.

She took another sip of the milkshake, then scooted it back to him. “Why did you wait so long to come back, Miguel? Why are you against me going to Agatha? Are you that worried about me?"

He took another deep swig of the frozen drink, then shrugged and settled back in the booth. “I was never close to anyone other than Victor and Drake. We all scattered after high school. Victor went and became an actor whileDrake was busy building Blackhawk Enterprises.”

“And you work at where? Agatha?,” she said. “What made you decide that I'm a pawn? Why did you say I'll get hurt if I'm digging Agatha?"

He glanced away, but not before she caught something in his eyes, a hesitation of some kind. She thought it strange, since most men never stopped talking about their jobs or business. But then, she’d already discovered that Miguel wasn’t most men.

“I work but not for Agatha and you should give up on Agatha I'm sure of that” he finally said. “It’s a living.”

“A job should be more than just a living, a reason should be more precise,” she said firmly. “You do it, you're passionate about it. It’s like a marriage.”

He lifted a brow. “What do you know about marriage? Have you been there?”

“Not yet. But I will, when it feels right.” She took another bite of her burger and chewed thoughtfully. “What about you? Hasn’t the hearth-and-home bug ever bit you, Flash?”

“I lived with the old man that adopted me from the time I was nine.” He took another swig of her milkshake. “I got enough hearth and home to last me a lifetime, Blondie.”

There was something in his voice she couldn’t read, something in his eyes. “Were they that bad?” she asked quietly.

He shook his head. “They were fine. A bed to sleep in, food on the table. Everything I needed.”

“Miguel, come to Liverpool with me. Meet my dad and help us reveal the bad things about Agatha Please, just give her a chance.”

“You don’t give up, do you?”

She shook her head. “Never.”

"What will I get in return?"

"I'll help you in finding your real Family"

He sighed, then did something that shocked her. He smiled. Not one of his sarcastic, mocking smiles, but a genuine, eye-crinkling smile that made her stomach twist into several knots.