Must Wait by Ginger Sharp

call. Are you available to take me?”
I shake my head. “No, I have church. Ask Olivia to
take you.”
Katie put up her hand. “No, please do not say
anything to her. She does not want anyone to know
where she is. I need to check in with my grandfather. He
is worried about her. I need to let him know that she is
very happy.”
I nod. “How about tomorrow evening? I can take
you up there then.”
“I guess that can work, Pedro.”
I pull her into my arms, cuddling as we stare at the
moonlight.
CHAPTER 5
    Once church is over, my family heads to the Cantina
for family day. I look around the bar looking for Katie. I
spot her off at the tree line where she is alone. I walk off
to meet her as she walks further away from me. Once
near the backside of the school, I find her sitting on the
stairs. I sit one stair down from her turning to look at her.
She leans down to me, grabbing my shirt. She pulls me to
her as she kisses me boldly. She pulls away.
    “Pedro, I want to stay the night at your place tonight.
Can you make arrangements for Ramón?”
I pull back looking into her eyes, “Yes, but I thought you
needed to make a phone call?”
    She nods. “Yes, but I thought afterwards about
going back to your place. Once Mommy hits the couch, I
will sneak out to meet you. She plays her iPod loudly, so
she will never know I am gone.”

I nod. “I do not think it is a good idea that you stay
over. I am afraid of what might happen.”
She laughs. “No, that is not going to happen, Pedro.
We will have some fun, but then I want to breathe you in
as I sleep with your secure strong arms wrapped around
me.” I see the sincerity in her eyes.
“Okay, I will make arrangements for Ramón for the
night.”
She smiles and then kisses me tenderly. She stands
up running off back to the Cantina. I watch her, fully
knowing how concerned I am when she goes back off to
school. Knowing that she and Noelia share an apartment.
I am worried and jealous.
    My heart pounds as I wait for her outside Olivia’s house
in the dark. I had no problem getting Paolo to watch
Ramón for the night. Paolo is a hopeless romantic like
myself, but Lasaro is worried I will get hurt when she
leaves. I see movement at the front door then I flicker my
lights. The person moves towards me. I wait patiently in
the balmy jungle night air. My passenger door pulls open
and I see Katie standing there.
    She looks over at me. “Hey, Pedro.”
I nod. “Hello, Katie.”
She climbs into the truck keeping her eyes focused
    straight ahead. She glances over to me. “Let’s roll so I can
get this phone call over with then I can ravage your body
all night long, Pedro.”
    I throw the truck in reverse as I look over at my
beautiful prize in my truck. We drive in silence as she
pulls out her cell phone and looks at it. She reaches over
grabbing my knee.
    “Pedro, I have five bars now. That should be enough
for this call.”
I stop the truck and power it off. I watch her face in
the backdrop light of her cell phone.
She hits a button then pulls the phone to her ear.
“Grandpa, hi.” She pauses listening for a few seconds.
“No, Mommy is doing great. I will have her call you
Grandpa. What no? I do not want to speak to him. No,
not now.” She sighs. “Hi, Daddy, you are at Grandpa’s
house? Daddy, she is doing great. No, Daddy, please
don’t come down here. She has moved on, no, really.”
She listens as she shifts ears and her hand moves, tracing
a circle on my knee. “Daddy, there are many strong men
down here that will protect Mommy. No one is going to
hurt her. She is not weak, Daddy. No! I will see you when
I get home. Please just leave her alone.” She ends her call
looking up at me frowning. “Pedro, I am ready to go
now.”
    I drive back to my house, watching her closely. I glance
over at her a few times.
“Is your father that bad, Katie?”
She nods. “Oh my God, yes. He is so controlling. I
do not know what Mommy sees in him. Grandpa has not
been his biggest