“Hit me.”

The card was handed to the man on the other side of the table. There were two people beside him, an older man and woman, who had already busted by going over the number limit and now were simply watching the outcome for their friend. The cards on the table, a Jack of Spades, 3 of diamonds, and 5 of hearts, signified that he had a total of eighteen. Not a bad hand. A cocky smile curled on his lips and he looked up at the dealer on the other side of the table.

”I’ll stay.”

Brown eyes watched him, twinkling with amusement. It was a battle between the two of them now…too bad it was a battle already won. With slender fingers, the cards in front of the dealer were flipped and revealed to be a Jack of spades and an Ace of diamonds, or in other words a perfect 21. The ends of pink, slightly glossed lips upturned when the man’s eyes went wide and mouth slack jawed.

“Black jack, sir.”

The man began cursing, as many of them did after losing something that seemed like a sure thing. His friends had to pull him away from the table in order to avoid being kicked out of the casino. They didn’t tolerate threats; it wasn’t the casino’s fault that some people didn’t know how to take loss well.

Luciana James released a sigh as she gathered the remaining cards on the table. The late hour was beginning to take its toll on her. Briefly she glanced towards the large elaborate clock that could be seen from every corner of the casino. The small hand pointed towards the two while the longer hand rested on the 11. Again Luciana sighed, this time in relief. It was 2:55 am, and in five minutes she’d be free to drag herself out to her car to drive back to her run down, yet surprisingly comfortable apartment.  A small, soft smile lit her mouth as she thought of what else awaited her. More than likely sleeping away with not a care in the world looking foreword to the morning.

Suddenly another player approached her table, shaking her from her peaceful thoughts. He signaled her to hurry up to deal the cards and she hummed in annoyance as a response.

So much for leaving early. 

 ~*~ 

Luciana struggled in the dark outside her door for a full three minutes before she finally managed to find the right key. It didn’t occur to her to just knock as someone was probably waiting on the other side of the door. She pushed the door open and sure enough there sat her babysitter, Stephanie Atangan sitting on her couch-which had seen way better days- watching one of those over-the-top Asian variety shows. Rather than being startled, Stephanie barely looked up from her show and continued to watch. Luciana allowed her to finish it, it was the least she could do. It was very difficult to find someone to work this late, but Stephanie had been taken pity on Luciana’s situation. Luciana couldn’t help but think it was because of Stephanie’s own lack of children. Regardless of her reasoning, Luciana almost wanted to cry in gratitude on the older Filipino woman for agreeing.

 The apartment she lived in was…cozy. Philadelphia, Philadelphia was expensive to say the least and on her modest budget the most she could afford was a small place. She had to share the one bedroom, but she didn’t mind. Eventually she would be able to do better.

Luciana automatically made her way to the small kitchen just off the living room. Opening the fridge, she almost grimaced at the vacancy of it. There was only a half a gallon of milk, a couple of old condiments in the door, and other items that weren’t immediately edible. The freezer wasn’t much better off.  She supposed she was long overdue for a visit to the grocery store. It was just hard to find the time and money. Tomorrow she would have to make time. She had a mouth to feed, and she wanted to give him the best she could.

 “There’s paella in the microwave,” Stephanie called over her shoulder. 

Luciana bee lined for the microwave. Stephanie was one of the best cooks she knew. Occasionally the other woman would cook something and have leftovers she would bring over. Stephanie had opened a new world of food for the James household and Luciana was not one to complain or be picky. She gently removed the plate from the microwave; it was still warm enough to eat. It would be a waste of energy to reheat it. She pulled open one of the drawers and took out a fork before making her way to sit besides Stephanie. Though her fork was poised above the paella and her mouth ready to devour it after being deprived from food for a good 10 hours, she hesitated. 

Has Marcel eaten?”  

Marcel always came first. He always got the warmest blankets, the largest room, the nicest clothes they could afford, and ate first and most. Luciana’s own needs came as an after thought. She felt so guilty on not being able to provide Marcel a better environment that she concluded she could at least give him the best of what they had. Stephanie raised a brow as though Luciana had asked the dumbest question in the world, in retrospect it was. Stephanie was one of the few people she trusted to take care of Marcel. She smiled sheepishly.

“Sorry.”

While the fork made its way from her plate to her mouth, she took advantage of her ability to multitask and shuffled through the various envelopes spread across the rounded coffee table in front of her. It became obvious that none of the envelopes contained any good news. Eventually her plate went untouched as she ripped the envelopes open and read over the various bills she had. A dull ache pulsed in her chest at the burning red words informing her of her late bills. She would have to scrap together enough money so they weren’t living without water, electricity, or gas and she wasn’t sure she could do it time. Luciana ran a hand through her hair, discouraged. It seemed like she never got a break, always on her toes to fight off the next thing.

She felt a warm hand on her back and glanced at Stephanie from the corner of her eye. She attempted to smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. The massaging circles on her back helped her fight back the tears of frustration and the soothing words coming from the older woman kept the small light of hope alit.

“Things are going to be easier, Lulu. Everything happens for a reason.”

“Thank you lola.”

~*~

Luciana gently closed the door after bidding Stephanie good night. Taking the time to make sure the locks were all turned, she was able to finally make her way to bed as it neared 4 am. At least that had been her intention until her cell phone began blaring out Rihanna’s “Distrubia.” She was surprised that someone would be calling her this late- or early- for all of three seconds until she looked at her phone. Her brown eyes rolled as she flipped the phone open and placed it to her ear.

“Good morning Ana.”

“Didn’t I tell you to call me when you got off of work!” cried out a thick Spanish accented voice on the other line.

“I assumed you’d be asleep like a normal person.”

She could hear her friend of two years, Analiese Santos click her tongue on the other side. Whenever Ana felt an extreme emotion she would revert back into her Puerto-Rican roots and it took most of her effort not to slip into Spanish when she was talking.

“Now you know I worry. There is some psychos out there, what if you got attacked by some loser after work eh?” she continued talking about all the horrible things that could have occurred, unaware that she had transferred to Spanish.

“Ana! I can’t understand you,” Luciana interrupted.

“Lo siento chica. You know what I’m talkin’ about though, right?”

Luciana couldn’t help but smile. Even if Ana tended to be a little overbearing at times, she meant well and she couldn’t be annoyed with her for her concern.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry I should have called. I forgot. Now as much as I love you, I’m going to sleep.”

That seemed to placid the Puerto-Rican who agreed and significantly lowered her voice.

“Yeah, I’ll talk to you later. Buenos noches.”

“Night.”

Tiredly flipping her phone closed, she turned it on vibrate and left it on the kitchen table determined not to be disturbed. She carried herself to the hall leading to the one bedroom of the apartment. Careful to make a minimum amount of noise, she opened the door to the bedroom. Peaking in, she breathed a sigh of relief seeing the large curly afro still. She continued, already dressed her sleeping wear consisting of sweats and a large t-shirt. Rather than going to the empty side of the bed, she moved to the side with the sleeping form. She crouched down and cautiously moved the blanket away from the hidden face. A warm smile of affection overtook her features and she took in the sight of the young boy, no older than four, sleeping peacefully slightly drooling on the large pillow. Luciana reached out began to softly stroke the unruly curls sticking out in every angle.

“Hey baby…” she whispered, her heart swelling with the love she felt for her son.

After watching him for a few moments, she leaned foreword pressing a chaste kiss against his forehead. Pushing herself to her feet, she carried herself to the empty side of the bed and proceeded to bury herself into the warm covers. Even though her body cried out for rest, her mind refused to do so. Rather it began to wander, as it always did whenever she had time for herself.

 2 years ago 

She was nervous. More nervous than she had ever been on her life. However, there were no regrets. That thought helped calm her trembling hands a bit, that and the child in her arms. Resting on her shoulder, Marcel had fallen asleep on the plane long before they arrived. She didn’t have the heart to wake him up to walk so she opted to carry him. It was a struggle, carrying her large black suitcase and the sleeping boy but somehow she managed and was now looking around her ride.

Soon enough she saw a familiar face holding a sign with her name printed in large black letters. Luciana took her bottom lip between her teeth, gently chewing before she gained the courage to pick up her suitcase once more and move toward the man holding her name.  

“Hello Bruce.” 

The double-take the man took when he first saw her couldn’t have been a good sign. She couldn’t blame him. The last time he had seen her, three years ago after being dropped off to be sent to a college out of state, she hadn’t had the extra…baggage. She had known the driver since she was a child though; she’d be lying if she said the disappointed look in his eyes didn’t hurt her a bit. 

“Ms. James…I-well…” clearly it occurred to him that he was being extremely rude and unprofessional. He cleared his throat and stood erect, his tone taking a more impersonal note to it. “Your ride awaits Ms. James. Your father has been eagerly anticipating your arrival.”

She was sure he was, but she wondered how long after he saw her would he still be eager to have her around.  

Present 

It seemed so long ago since she first stepped off that plane. She felt much older than her 23 years of age. Her life had spiraled out of her control and she had been unable to keep a grasp on it. She would have not changed a thing. She would never have any regrets for the decisions she made. Never would she trade away the only thing that brightened life. Without Marcel…she couldn’t even imagine living without him. He was her heart, her motivation for everything she did. Luciana rolled over to face the still slumbering boy. Her line of sight was filled with the form of the child up until her eyes finally closed under the heavy hand of sleep, a ghost of a smile upon her lips.

Things would get better.

~*~

The insistent sound of a mild air horn was steadily giving him a headache he was sure he would have for the rest of the day. Was something allowed to be that irritating so early? A toned arm reached out from underneath a heavy comforter and its hand palmed the side table until it rested on top of the source of the sound. The hand slammed down on the alarm clock immediately silencing it. It would only be a matter of time before the wretched sound reminded him of the time once more however, so with deliberate sloth a body rolled out of the bed landing on the floor with a loud thud. Olive-colored eyes peeked out from under his lids. They blinked a few times to rid themselves of the sleep before focusing on the ceiling

Perhaps it wasn’t a very good look for a professional such as himself to be lying on the floor of his bedroom at 5am when he should be getting ready. However he couldn’t bring himself to care at the moment. At last he managed to get enough energy to pull himself off the floor and stumble into the bathroom to engage in his usual morning routine. He was not a morning person in the least.

Colin Anthony exited the bathroom a few minutes later feeling a bit better than he did initially. He briefly glanced over at glaring white numbers that formed 5:30. He had to get going before six if he was going to catch his carpool. The driver was ruthless and wouldn’t hesitate to leave Colin in his dust despite their connection. He quickly made his way to the large walk-in closest of his bedroom, fingers trailing against the multiple suits and white button shirts hanging on one side of the closet. He took a moment to decide between the black and navy suit, ultimately determining that it matter little –after all he’d look good regardless- and grabbed the black suit.

He left the closet completely dressed, adjusting the jacket to fit more comfortable on his form then sliding his hands upward to straighten his tie.

A loud banging on the front door of his home caused him to jump. His eyes narrowed with displeasure dancing through them. The person on the other side of the door never had much patience. He kept them waiting, looking himself over in the mirror once again before ultimately gathering the items he needed for work that day. The banging had failed to cease since it began and he was sure that the neighbors would complain later. Grasping the door handle, he pulled it open forcefully and glowered at the person on the other side.

“Dammit Ben, what the hell is wrong with you! Don’t you have any common sense?”

Benjamin Anthony smirked in response to the fury burning in his brother’s eyes. He didn’t seem in the least bit sorry for his actions. In fact he seemed pleased to invoke such a reaction if the chuckle that escaped his lips was any indication.

“Well it took you long enough, let’s get going.”

Colin resisted the urge to smack his younger brother upside the head. If he did it would turn into an all-out brawl. Definitely not something he needed before work. So he settled for glaring at the back of Ben’s head as he turned to walk towards the elevator hoping that perhaps some higher power would hear his plea and the other man’s head would explode. Well, maybe that was a little too much, but it was nice to think about. Slamming the door behind him, he followed after the younger Anthony regretful that he ever agreed to carpooling with him. Even with a foul mood brewing, he attempted to remain optimistic. 

The day could only get better right?

…Right?

It all started with that damn alarm clock.