Trying to Find the Man
She Married;
He Must Be Somewhere
In Me.
The things a man did for love. Alejandro didn’t know any more what was tails and what was heads. He felt like the past two years had been a rollercoaster ride and what had been tossed off was his marriage. Now, getting off the ride he was left with the broken piece of what his marriage had been. About a year ago his wife left him to move to a small town in the middle of no where. He’d just started getting his foot grounded. His company was just beginning to sprout. He couldn’t leave. Didn’t want to leave. What had been rocky between the two became more than shaky. Phone calls were far and few in between and Gemma made the decision that visiting the city wasn’t what she wanted. The last time she’d visited had been what three months ago. It had been just this week she’d called. Called him with news he hadn’t expected not in a million years.
She was pregnant.
Alejandro didn’t have to ask if it was his kid. Gemma wasn’t that sort of woman. If she was he would have never married her. Making their separation permanent had been an option that rose between them. But, he quickly swept away. Alejandro didn’t believe in divorce. For him, marriage meant forever. Not to mention, he still, in his own way, loved his wife. So after hearing the news he sold half of the shares in the company packed up his apartment and put it all in his truck. There really wasn’t any other option for him. He didn’t just have a wife; he had a family now. As, a mechanic he knew he could get a job anywhere. Besides, he’d keep in touch with the shop via emails to making sure everything was running smooth. The shares he still had in the company would be enough for him to live off for quite some time. The shop had a contract now with the local race track. The biggest deal they’d pulled in was fixing rental cars and limos. Alejandro worked his a** off to get that contract and when it fell through the business soared. The contract was good for five years. So, there were four more years to go. Hopefully, the company could hold onto that contract and get a few others. With a kid in the over he was going to need the extra cash.
The city disappeared almost two hours ago and he found himself still driving. He hoped the GPS wasn’t bullshitting him. Alejandro didn’t know why he hadn’t taken Gemma’s advice and simply caught a plane ride in. He’d been stubborn, as always. Now he was paying for it. With a sigh he turned the volume up on the radio. He’d slipped a cd in earlier so Jah Cure’s ‘Never Find’ boomed around in the truck. Of course, his truck was customized with the best. The speakers vibrated with life. Bass it shot straight to his heart as he tapped the wheel and continued on his way to his wife. Alejandro found himself singing along, “ You’ll never find...no one in this lifetime to love you like I do.” It had been a long time since love words had been spoken between him and Gemma. Alejandro knew alot of it was his fault. He’d been stubborn, unyielding. Gemma spoke but he hadn’t listened. In the end, she ran away from him. He knew it even if she didn’t want to admit it. There were some things you just couldn’t hide. Alejandro had never been one to run from the truth. He’d created this mess. Now it was up to him to set it right.
He was holding onto the hope that Gemma still loved him. The way she responded to him months ago told him he still had a chance. The fact that she decided to carry his babe in her womb told him he still had a chance. There were so many bars and walls for him to break down. He was coming to her on her turf even that sounded ridiculous to him. A husband and wife weren’t supposed to have turfs. Blowing out a deep breath Alejandro tried to prepare himself for what waited for him. He told Gemma when he was in town he’d give her a call. She’d give him the directions to her place. He didn’t see how he could get lost living in a small town but, she insisted he call her when he got in. Alejandro wondered if she wanted warning that he was near. The past two years had really been a mistake. If he had any sense he would have gone after her hte day she left and dragged her back to the apartment with him-- at his side where she belonged.
The turn off for her town came up two hours after he left the city. It took him another half and hour just to find the little town nestled in the middle of no where. Alejandro felt like he’d been tossed back in time. The town was like a clip right out of the movies. It reminded him of the towns in Chesapeake Bay. Great place to vacation, but too slow to live in. He was greeted with nothing but stares and he could only imagine it was because of the music blaring. The music switched from Jah Cure to Gyptian and by the look on the faces of the pedestrians they weren’t familiar with either artist. Turning the music down he looked for a place to park his car before calling Gemma and letting her know he was in town.
The gas station seemed the best resort. Pulling in, he nodded at the attended, “ fill it up will ya?”
Pulling his phone out he dialed Gemma’s number and listened for her to pick up,” Hey baby..., endearments were hard to drop, especially when you were speaking to your wife, “ I’m here. At the first gas station in town. You want to give me the directions or are you going to meet me here?” Needing to stretch his legs, Alejandro climbed down from his truck , taking his keys with him. City habit. He walked into the small store. He wasn’t really hungry but when he saw the snacks he decided to get a little something. It had been a long drive and he hadn’t had anything to eat since that morning. His sister came over with her boyfriend and they’d gone out for dinner. You’d swear he was moving out of the country the tears that pooled in her eyes. But, they were all each other had and never lived more than an hour away. Now all of that was changing. He promised he’d call Leslie when he got settled in. That would be a few hours still.
In a small town like this, Alejandro stood out like a sore thumb. He wore an old ragged tee-shirt and his jeans were well worn with a few patches where they’d ripped. His curly jet back hair had been pulled back into a ponytail and his facial hair needed a good trim. He looked like trouble, which was the reason the clerk watched him carefully. Her fingers were already dialing the sheriff’s office. The man had to be alerted that there was a stranger in town! Once she was done with that call, she’d have to call her sister! By the time he climbed back in his truck half the town would know he was there and what he looked like. Alejandro was oblivious. Grabbing a bottle soda, a bag of beef jerky and a chocolate bar he headed to the counter with the phone still glued to his ear. Lowering the phone he addressed the woman behind the counter, “ I got a full tank of gas too. You can add it all together.” Alejandro did his best not to notice the way the woman was staring at him. He also tried not to notice how quickly she finished her conversation with whom ever was on the phone. Quick as lightening she returned the phone to it’s cradle to serve him.
“ You’re not from around here. Just driving through are ya?”
His lips curled to the left revealing a few pearly whites. So, that was her game. Alejandro figured he could give her a little rise, “ No ma'am I'm not. An nope, I'm not just driving through.”
“Oh...you’re visiting. Got friends?”
“ Family.”
“ Family!”
“ Yes ma’am”
“What sort of family? Cousin or something?”
“ A wife”
The woman’s eyes widened in disbelief, “ did you just say a wife?"
“ Yes ma’am I did.” Alejandro laughed and collected his goodies. He’d finished paying his bill during the exchange. Now that he was done he felt no need to continue talking with teh woman, “ thank you for the gas and the snacks. I’ll be seeing you around” Before the woman could say anything else Alejandro walked out the door heading towards his truck leaving the woman staring behind him.
She was pregnant.
Alejandro didn’t have to ask if it was his kid. Gemma wasn’t that sort of woman. If she was he would have never married her. Making their separation permanent had been an option that rose between them. But, he quickly swept away. Alejandro didn’t believe in divorce. For him, marriage meant forever. Not to mention, he still, in his own way, loved his wife. So after hearing the news he sold half of the shares in the company packed up his apartment and put it all in his truck. There really wasn’t any other option for him. He didn’t just have a wife; he had a family now. As, a mechanic he knew he could get a job anywhere. Besides, he’d keep in touch with the shop via emails to making sure everything was running smooth. The shares he still had in the company would be enough for him to live off for quite some time. The shop had a contract now with the local race track. The biggest deal they’d pulled in was fixing rental cars and limos. Alejandro worked his a** off to get that contract and when it fell through the business soared. The contract was good for five years. So, there were four more years to go. Hopefully, the company could hold onto that contract and get a few others. With a kid in the over he was going to need the extra cash.
The city disappeared almost two hours ago and he found himself still driving. He hoped the GPS wasn’t bullshitting him. Alejandro didn’t know why he hadn’t taken Gemma’s advice and simply caught a plane ride in. He’d been stubborn, as always. Now he was paying for it. With a sigh he turned the volume up on the radio. He’d slipped a cd in earlier so Jah Cure’s ‘Never Find’ boomed around in the truck. Of course, his truck was customized with the best. The speakers vibrated with life. Bass it shot straight to his heart as he tapped the wheel and continued on his way to his wife. Alejandro found himself singing along, “ You’ll never find...no one in this lifetime to love you like I do.” It had been a long time since love words had been spoken between him and Gemma. Alejandro knew alot of it was his fault. He’d been stubborn, unyielding. Gemma spoke but he hadn’t listened. In the end, she ran away from him. He knew it even if she didn’t want to admit it. There were some things you just couldn’t hide. Alejandro had never been one to run from the truth. He’d created this mess. Now it was up to him to set it right.
He was holding onto the hope that Gemma still loved him. The way she responded to him months ago told him he still had a chance. The fact that she decided to carry his babe in her womb told him he still had a chance. There were so many bars and walls for him to break down. He was coming to her on her turf even that sounded ridiculous to him. A husband and wife weren’t supposed to have turfs. Blowing out a deep breath Alejandro tried to prepare himself for what waited for him. He told Gemma when he was in town he’d give her a call. She’d give him the directions to her place. He didn’t see how he could get lost living in a small town but, she insisted he call her when he got in. Alejandro wondered if she wanted warning that he was near. The past two years had really been a mistake. If he had any sense he would have gone after her hte day she left and dragged her back to the apartment with him-- at his side where she belonged.
The turn off for her town came up two hours after he left the city. It took him another half and hour just to find the little town nestled in the middle of no where. Alejandro felt like he’d been tossed back in time. The town was like a clip right out of the movies. It reminded him of the towns in Chesapeake Bay. Great place to vacation, but too slow to live in. He was greeted with nothing but stares and he could only imagine it was because of the music blaring. The music switched from Jah Cure to Gyptian and by the look on the faces of the pedestrians they weren’t familiar with either artist. Turning the music down he looked for a place to park his car before calling Gemma and letting her know he was in town.
The gas station seemed the best resort. Pulling in, he nodded at the attended, “ fill it up will ya?”
Pulling his phone out he dialed Gemma’s number and listened for her to pick up,” Hey baby..., endearments were hard to drop, especially when you were speaking to your wife, “ I’m here. At the first gas station in town. You want to give me the directions or are you going to meet me here?” Needing to stretch his legs, Alejandro climbed down from his truck , taking his keys with him. City habit. He walked into the small store. He wasn’t really hungry but when he saw the snacks he decided to get a little something. It had been a long drive and he hadn’t had anything to eat since that morning. His sister came over with her boyfriend and they’d gone out for dinner. You’d swear he was moving out of the country the tears that pooled in her eyes. But, they were all each other had and never lived more than an hour away. Now all of that was changing. He promised he’d call Leslie when he got settled in. That would be a few hours still.
In a small town like this, Alejandro stood out like a sore thumb. He wore an old ragged tee-shirt and his jeans were well worn with a few patches where they’d ripped. His curly jet back hair had been pulled back into a ponytail and his facial hair needed a good trim. He looked like trouble, which was the reason the clerk watched him carefully. Her fingers were already dialing the sheriff’s office. The man had to be alerted that there was a stranger in town! Once she was done with that call, she’d have to call her sister! By the time he climbed back in his truck half the town would know he was there and what he looked like. Alejandro was oblivious. Grabbing a bottle soda, a bag of beef jerky and a chocolate bar he headed to the counter with the phone still glued to his ear. Lowering the phone he addressed the woman behind the counter, “ I got a full tank of gas too. You can add it all together.” Alejandro did his best not to notice the way the woman was staring at him. He also tried not to notice how quickly she finished her conversation with whom ever was on the phone. Quick as lightening she returned the phone to it’s cradle to serve him.
“ You’re not from around here. Just driving through are ya?”
His lips curled to the left revealing a few pearly whites. So, that was her game. Alejandro figured he could give her a little rise, “ No ma'am I'm not. An nope, I'm not just driving through.”
“Oh...you’re visiting. Got friends?”
“ Family.”
“ Family!”
“ Yes ma’am”
“What sort of family? Cousin or something?”
“ A wife”
The woman’s eyes widened in disbelief, “ did you just say a wife?"
“ Yes ma’am I did.” Alejandro laughed and collected his goodies. He’d finished paying his bill during the exchange. Now that he was done he felt no need to continue talking with teh woman, “ thank you for the gas and the snacks. I’ll be seeing you around” Before the woman could say anything else Alejandro walked out the door heading towards his truck leaving the woman staring behind him.
