ASCENSION Read Free Page B

.”
    “They ’re pretty. Is it as economical as people say?”
    “Definitely and cleaner for the environment.”
    “I hear that!”
    Th e front door opened before the car came to a full stop and Alfonzo emerged with Sal atop his shoulders. Shanda nudged her friend, “You got yourself a pair of hot ass men , girl.”
    Selange smiled at the sight of her family , “I know .”
    Franky exited the car and held open the door. The women slid out and Selange thanked him then walked toward the house. He nodded.
    “ M ommy ! Mommy !” Sal exclaimed as he clung to his father’s neck like a slippery monkey.
    Alfonzo slid the boy down to his side then step ped onto the cobblestones, “Yes , mommy’s home.”
    “Hey there ,” S handa cooed bending down to Salvatore’s height and planting a kiss on his plump cheek .
    Shanda stood up, “Hey big papa.”
    Alfonzo smirked and gave her a customary peck on each cheek, “ H o la Shanda, how are you chica? ”
    Shanda sucked her teeth, “ Much better if you had a brother .”
    He shook his head, “ Can’t help you there bonita . ”
    Shanda picked up Sal and carried him inside as Franky unloaded her luggage from the trunk. Alfonzo gripped his wife’s waist and they strolled in after the pair. There was a subtle tension between them ever-since she accused him of choosing business over his family. Her statement struck at his heart and in response he rearranged his schedule, canceled his travel plans for the week and devoted his attention to his family. Maybe, he was being unfair by not sharing the entirety of the responsibility forced upon him. Yes, she knew minor details about his father’s business but he omitted the more ominous ones.
    He could not burden her with his affairs . He chose to carry the burden a lone. All he wanted was his family’s safety . It required h e spend time abroad pacifying allies and dealing harshly with the opposition. However, his wife’s happiness and ending this simmering marital rift were his top priority. Inevitably, he must leave again but until then he planned to show her his dedication and love were unwavering.
    ***
    Alfonzo carried Sal upstairs to bed as his wife and Shanda sat chatting late into the night. He’d fallen asleep in Sal’ s colorful room after reading the boy numerous bedtime stories and awoke early the following morning with a stiff neck . He lay there on the twin mattress rubbing the tension away and listening to the cresting of the ocean as birds chirped overhead. There were times he waited for the reverberation of gunshots or the wail of sirens only to remember he was far away from the inner city , yet it insinuated its p resen ce in his mind. He rolled his neck trying to loosen the kinks when a small foot suddenly collided with his groi n. “ Geez !” He croaked then rolled to the floor, it was safer there.
    He stretched before starting a series of pushups and crunches to get his blood circulating. He wanted to get an early start and get to the construction site to find out why the project was running behind sche dule. He’d been so busy lately he left most of the responsibility in the hands of the General Contractor which was proving to be a big mistake!
    Selange appeared in the doorway clad in a pink silk slip , “Did you sleep okay ?” She smiled devilishly .
    Alfonzo grunt in response , completed a final crunch then leaned his back against the side of the child’s bed and spoke . “ Y ou could’ve w o ke me . Sal’s a serious kicker.”
    She became contrite, “ Sorry sweetie but you look ed so peaceful I d idn’t want to wake you. ”
    H is arms reached out to her , “ Ven aquí babe .”
    She entered the room and slid down beside him on the floor. His hand settled on her thigh and she leaned her head on his shoulder, “What time did he fall asleep?”
    “I have no idea.” He caressed her leg . His body began to become alive . “ Necesito amor , ” he said aloud.
    “ What?” She asked although