Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

monster. Well, his blood carried a virus that could eventually kill, and he'd read somewhere that legally if he spread his blood to anybody this could be considered a weapon, so maybe his kin's reaction wasn't that wrong.
    In the end, his mother handed him a first aid kit, somehow he'd managed to mutter that he couldn't do anything holding his finger with his hand. He suggested that she use gloves and help, she was about to do so, when his father stopped her, saying that Javier simply needed a Band-Aid. She extracted one from the box and set it on Javier's lap, moving back to her position next to her husband. Javier put the Band-Aid over the cut, and walked to the kitchen where he dropped the orange in the trash, after putting the knife in the container of water with bleach.
    Now, he spent more of his time in the backyard under that tree, feeling like the dog the family never had. He wished there was some place he could go, but his mind was somewhat blank now.
    The sound of his cellular phone surprised him, because it rarely sounded at all, very few people wanted talk with him. The fact that it was Esteban Hidalgo's voice surprised him even more. Because he only called him at night, and it was only noon, he answered his greeting still in shock.
    "Javier, I'm leaving New York for the time being, and thought of coming to your place to pick up the letters."
    When Javier didn't say anything for a few seconds, Esteban quickly added, "I hope this is not a bad time for you."
    "No, on the contrary, I'm glad you called."
    "Are you sure? I don't want to impose myself."
    "Yep, when are you coming?"
    "In about twenty minutes, if that is okay with you?"
    "Sure. I was thinking of calling you to find out when was the best time for us to meet, so I could give you the letters."
    "It doesn't have to be today, Javier. I can come back when you're ready, and we can meet then."
    "Today is fine! It's perfect, trust me!"
    "Great, this is good timing for both of us. My usually busy schedule has been unexpectedly cleared, so we will be able to spend some time together. I'm looking forward to meeting you."
    "Oh, I'm so sorry if you got laid off."
    "I fired myself, or something to that effect. I'll explain to you better when we meet."
    "Okay. Esteban, you have no idea of how much I wanted to talk with you again."
    After a few seconds of silence Esteban asked, "Are you okay, Javier? Is your family giving you a hard time again?"
    That was the understatement of the century, but Javier didn't want to admit it.
    "We are not getting along as I thought we would; they've changed." he paused, "scratch that, they are the same, I have changed."
    "I understand. Javier, the offer I extended the first time we spoke still stands. If you want, you can come with me, and you can stay with us as long as you feel like. Diego will be pleased to share time with another musician."
    Javier's brother-in-law, Diego Alvarez, had always been nice to him, but suddenly he wanted to know if Diego was the "we" part of us. Because Esteban always talked in plural, like there would be a whole town waiting for him, or was it only Diego?
    When Javier didn't say anything, Esteban added, "Listen, you don't have to make your mind up right away. Come and visit us, and decide if we are a better option than your family."
    Javier thanked him again, and they agreed that he would be picking him up to go to Hoboken after lunch, and Javier probably would stay for dinner, or overnight, depending on how Javier felt.
    The minute Javier ended the call he knew what to do, and what he wanted, which was to be part of the life of Esteban Hidalgo, even if only as a close friend.
    For the first time ever, someone offered him a few choices that depended only on what Javier wanted to do. He liked that, because in the past it had been his father's will, and later Mauricio's that only mattered.
    Today, he felt like following his own will.
    In that instant, he realized that listening to Esteban became his only pleasure, maybe his musician's ear had been touched by the other man's rich baritone voice. Esteban definitely missed Ghetto 101, his manners over the phone were impeccable, and his diction, perfect.
    During the times they spoke, Javier tried to guess more about this mysterious person that had been his husband's best friend, and who somehow had become the only brightness in his current state of mind.
    Did he really grow up in the same neck of the woods as Mauricio? If not, how did they meet? He'd