Witch Hazel Chapter 5 part 2

Witch Hazel 

Chapter 5 part 2

One beautiful late summer day found Leonardo determined to get his wife out of the house. He’d backed the truck up to the boat hitch and begun getting things together for a day out at the beach, just the two of them. The baby had grown quite well and Benita has hardly left her side for an instant. Leo loved his little family but if he didn’t get his wife to himself for a couple of hours, he would probably do something drastic. Like kidnap her.

He saw the old newspapers and decided to pick them up and carry them in to recycle while he’s heading in, anyway. His phone began to ring and he rummaged in his pocket for it while simultaneously opening the door to take in the newspapers.

He saw the name on the dial and worried for a moment before hitting the button to answer. “Buenos dias madre,” he said. “Is everything ok?”

“Benita’s great. She’s a doting mom, I’m trying to drag her out today so I don’t want to stay on the phone.” 

“What do you mean she’s coming back? They cleared her? I didn’t think that was possible. Is she stable?”

“Ma, it’s not that I don’t love my sister but I live in a two bedroom house. I’ll talk to Benita but she’s not going to like it.”

“I’ll figure something out,” Leonardo sighed. “Love you too ma. Bye.”

“Are you ready for a day of fun in the sun?”

“I’m so excited!” she jumped into his arms and hugged him. “We haven’t been on the boat in way too long.”

“I know. I miss the sea,” he said. He had stopped sailing with his father’s commercial fleet to settle down with Benita and start a family. His father might not have felt any qualms at leaving his children behind to sail the world, but Leo didn’t want to go without them. He’d go back to sailing when his daughter was old enough to go with him and learn the ways.

“Come on, beautiful,” Leonardo smiled as he carried her outside. “Let’s go.”

Benita was almost done with Diego’s first book. The second one would release in a few days and she was on tenterhooks to find out what happened! Will the Sinargles win? Will the Vipercats escape? What do the nipplebacks need so many nipples for?

“Benita! The baby sitter is here!” Leo called up the stairs.

“Look at the sky, Leo,” Benita said over the roar of the boat engine. “It’s incredible.”

Skinny dipping in the ocean with his mate, Leonardo was at peace with the world. They swam, splashed each other, joked and spent the last hours of sunlight making love in the backseat of the boat.

“It’s been an incredible day,” Leonardo said. He admired her where she sat in the passenger seat, glowing in the dying light. 

“I’m so glad we came out here,” murmured Benita. She looked over and petted his leg. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Oh Leo, your shoes are going to get soaked like that.”

“You worry too much.”

Arriving home, Benita started to feel sick. “Maybe I was on the water too long.”

“So there’s something I need to talk to you about,” Leo said after they’d eaten dinner and gathered on the couch for some Netflix and chill.

“What is it?”

“My sister has been released from the Institute.”

“Oh god. They managed to get her stabilized?”

“So my mom claims.” Leo grimaced. “They live in a tiny houseboat and can’t take her in. She wants us to.”

“And where is she going to sleep? The laundry room? Leo we’re working with limited space here.”

“I don’t know what they think I am, a miracle worker?” He sighed. “Maybe I can add another couple of rooms off the back or divide ours so Rosa can have the other half of ours.”

“Sounds cramped,” mumbled Benita. “Let me see what I can come up with. We can’t let your sister sleep on the streets.”