Felix

  The commentators announced the score, and Grecco was barely ahead. The cameras went over to Grecco’s corner where you could hear his trainers telling a very tired-looking Grecco that he had it.

  “Yeah, he has it,” Hector said, shaking his head, “if his pussy ass keeps running.”

  Ella couldn’t blame Hector for being pissed at that, but even the commentators agreed that playing it smart and steering clear of any of Felix’s fire would be the smartest thing to do in this last round.

  “Grecco doesn’t wanna play here,” one of the commentators was saying, “not with Sanchez coming alive in these last few rounds. And look, Sanchez didn’t even wanna sit down in between rounds this time. The guy’s ready to go. Grecco better be smart here, or he may find himself in a world of trouble fast.”

  The bell rang, and Felix went right to Grecco. This time Grecco didn’t back away. The battle was on, and the crowd was going wild. Ella had seen this before—both fighters coming out on fire in the last round—but it’d never been this incredibly nerve-wracking. Felix landed one that had Grecco wobbling backwards, and Felix kept swinging, landing one after another.

  Ella was sure Hector was going to lose his voice. Everyone in the room with the exception of Ella, who watched clenching her chest, was cheering and hollering at the screen. Felix had Grecco cornered again landing punch after punch, but Grecco would not go down!

  “Finish him!” Hector kept yelling. “Knock his pussy ass out! You got this!”

  Grecco slipped and almost went down, but the ropes held him up. The ref stepped in between them just as Grecco’s knee hit the ground. He jumped up fast, but the ref still did the eight count. As soon as Felix was able to, he went at him again with a vengeance, but the bell rang ending the fight, and he’d never knocked him out.

  “Damn it!” Hector said, bringing his hands to his head, and walked around in a circle, letting out a long breath.

  “He got that last round too.” Ella’s dad offered.

  “Yeah, he did.” Hector agreed, but he still looked worried.

  The commentators were arguing their opinions. One thought Felix took it; the other said it was too little too late.

  “Grecco had control of the fight the majority of the way,” one commentator said, “and Sanchez came alive only when it was clear that he was behind and desperate.”

  But both agreed the judges had their work cut out for them because it’d been close. It felt like an eternity, watching both training crews in the ring now. Both sides were walking around congratulating each other as if both believed their man to be the winner. Both fighters were interacting with the cheering crowds, smiling as if they were both sure they’d won, but Ella could see it on Felix’s face. Even he wasn’t sure.

  Finally, the announcer with the scorecard in his hand took the mic. “Ladies and gentleman, we go to the Budweiser scorecard. Glen Ruiz scores the bout one fourteen, one fourteen. He has it even.”

  The split screen showed both fighters and their crews as the scores were being announced, and Grecco’s crew made an elaborate show of being upset about the tie. They obviously didn’t think the fight had been that close.

  Ella held her breath as the announcer went on. “Jerry Hollis scores the fight one fifteen, one fourteen and Theodore Sabada scores the fight one fifteen, one fourteen.” Grecco’s side was already lifting him in the air, and Ella closed her eyes. “The winner, by majority decision, the “Pride of East Los Angeleeeeees!”

  Ella’s eyes flew open. Felix, whose expression had been nothing more than pure seriousness up until that moment, started jumping up and down in the ring. Immediately, everyone in the room cheered as the announcer continued to confirm Felix as the winner and new champ regaining his title. Ella and Isidora hugged, jumping up and down until she heard Felix say her name.

  “Ella!”

  She turned to look at the screen, gasping when she saw the tears in his eyes as he looked straight into the camera. “This is for you baby,” he said into the announcer’s microphone. “I won for you! Remember our deal. I love you,” he said, swatting the tears away, then blew kisses at the camera. “I love you, Ella!”

  Ella covered her mouth, nodding as if he could see her as his mother hugged her and kissed the side of her face. “I love you too,” she whispered, the tears streaming down her face. “Of course I remember. It’s my turn.”

  Chapter 26

  Felix

  Because of who he was he already knew Ella didn’t like the spotlight, so Felix wanted something low key, though he did have big plans. They’d just spent another glorious day at Disneyland. It was the first time since Ella had been cleared and cancer free. He’d promised her, as soon as she was up to it, he’d bring her back, and the second she said she was, he made arrangements. He leaned against the planter, holding Ella’s balloon bouquet along with the bags of stuff he couldn’t help showering her with. He’d bought everything he’d seen brighten her eyes, even when she’d protested.

  She walked out of the ladies’ room, and Felix was instantly smiling. He’d never had a thing for girls with short hair, but the cute pixy haircut Ella got the moment it was long enough to style was adorable. It looked even cuter with her princess Minnie ear hat. But the moment he saw that look in her eyes, his smile fell. Everything had been beyond wonderful since she was cleared of cancer. Felix hadn’t seen this look on her face since . . .

  “What’s wrong?”

  She shook her head, pushing her phone into her pocket, but looked away.

  “Something’s wrong,” he insisted. “Tell me what it is. You’re scaring me.”

  When she glanced up at him, he saw the tears, and his heart nearly stopped.

  “I had a message from my doctor.”

  Dear God, no. Felix swallowed hard and waited.

  “He’d brought it up before, but he really thinks I should give it some serious consideration. And wants me to make an appointment to come in and talk to him about it.”

  “Give what consideration?”

  She wouldn’t look at him and this killed him. What hadn’t she told him?

  “I hadn’t told you because I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it,” she said, glancing up at him now. The tears were gone. She was being strong Ella again, damn it. “I don’t even know how I feel about it. It just seems so drastic. He highly recommends I have a double mastectomy. He says it’d decrease the chances of me getting sick again dramatically.”

  Felix stared at her, not quite understanding. “You weren’t sure how I’d feel about it? Who gives a shit what I think? This is your body, your health we’re talking about. Don’t worry about what I think.”

  “But”—she put her hands over her breasts—“I can’t even imagine . . .”

  Felix didn’t really understand how a procedure like that worked, but he could imagine her fear. “I can go with you so you can get more information on it, and it could help you decide.”

  “I already know most of what I need to know,” she said with a shrug. “I’ve been researching it since he brought it up. Basically, they’re removed completely, and later, I can have reconstructive surgery and possibly get fake ones put in. But I won’t be able to afford a boob job for a while, and before you even say it, I am not letting my boyfriend buy me boobs.”

  The relief came slowly, but it felt intoxicating. This was what she was worried about? That she’d be without breasts because she was going to be stubborn about it and not let him pay for them?

  “Do you remember this spot?” Her eyes pinched, obviously surprised by the sudden change in topic. Felix laughed. “This spot, the very place you’re standing.”

  Ella looked around; then her eyes went wide. He handed her the bouquet of balloons and set the bags down. It was the very spot on Main Street where they stood the first time he told her he loved her.

  Felix pulled out the small pouch in his pocket he’d checked so often all day was still there. He took the ring out, and her eyes opened even wider and sparkled
with tears again, only this time for good reason—he hoped.

  He got down on his knee before her. “Will you make this roller coaster we’ve been on worth every moment—good and bad—and marry me?”

  She brought her hand to her mouth. “Felix, it doesn’t seem fair. What if I get sick again?”

  “I don’t care,” he said firmly. “I’m not getting off this ride with you no matter what. Whatever happens we’ll ride it out together.” He tilted his head. “If you have the procedure done, the chances of you getting sick again decrease dramatically. And if you marry me”—he smiled—“you wouldn’t have to ask your boyfriend to pay for the boobs.”

  This was not the conversation he’d imagined having with her while down on his knees proposing. But then he never expected this wrench to get thrown in just as he was about to.

  Her eyes went from the ring to him as she seemed to ponder it. “Say yes, baby,” he whispered. “Make this the second happiest day of my life.”

  That did it. Her face crumbled as she nodded. He knew he wouldn’t have to explain that. The happiest day of his life would forever be the day she told him she was cancer free. When they’d cried in each other’s arms over the news, he’d told her everything good that happened to him from that moment on would be a distant second. Even if they had kids someday, nothing would ever beat the feeling of knowing he had his Ella back—ever.

  “Yes,” she said, holding her arms out, and he stood up, placing the ring on her finger quickly then hugging her hard like he’d wanted to do when she was sick but was afraid to hurt her.

  After a few long moments of standing there kissing and enjoying the beautiful moment, they started their slow walk down the middle of Main Street just as they had that first time. Despite the feeling of walking on air because the girl of his dreams had just agreed to be his formally and forever, he knew they still had a few more scary turns to take on this ride. And he knew no matter how hard she continued to try and hide her fear this procedure couldn’t possibly be an easy thing to go through.

  Felix remembered how Ella had tried in vain a few times when she was sick to make light of things by joking around. So he thought he’d give it a shot now.

  “So let’s talk about these boobs your husband will be picking out now.” She turned to him with a playful glare. “Don’t worry. I won’t get ridiculous or anything. I’m thinking F’s.” She laughed but elbowed him. “Okay, okay,” he said, laughing. “Double D’s, but that’s as small as I’ll go. Look how much bigger I am than you. There will be no compromising on this.”

  Ella turned to him, smiling sweetly, and then promptly stomped on his foot. Felix yelped, pretending it hurt more than it really did then pulled her tightly in his arms again. “I love you, my ‘Mighty Little Ms. Ella.’”

  “I love you too,” she said, looking up at him with a big smile.

  “Full D’s maybe?” He grinned.

  She laughed, trying to push him away, but he squeezed her tightly as he always would from now until forever.

  Epilogue

  Gio

  Little G and Maddox both washed and dried their hands, horsing around as usual. Gio signed to them, reminding them both that their mom was waiting outside with their food. He tousled their hair as they walked past him out of the restroom.

  Bianca was at the large table in the area reserved exclusively for their large group at Goofy’s Kitchen. Bianca’s mom signed to the boys as they reached the table that their food was yummy and pretended to nibble on one of their tater tots.

  Gio leaned into Bianca, rubbing her swollen belly as he took the seat next to her. She turned and kissed him, smiling, then pointed at her waffles. She’d been craving some since last night.

  “You still feeling good?” Gio asked, smiling down at her loaded waffles. “Obviously, your appetite’s feeling great.”

  “Yes, I’m feeling good.” She nodded happily as she began digging her fork into her waffles. “I’m feeling very good actually.”

  So far her pregnancy had been perfectly normal, and the doctors said their baby girl didn’t seem to have any of the issues they’d picked up on with little G even before he was born. After the nightmare they’d had with him, nearly losing him when he was first born, they’d decided they wouldn’t have any more kids. Neither thought they could go through something like that again, and they’d seen what actually losing a child did to Felix.

  So many of the kids in the special needs program at 5th Street that Gio and Bianca, a special needs teacher, were in charge of were in foster care. Bianca began bringing little G in with her to participate in the program early on because they’d been told when their son was born that he may be completely deaf if not severely hearing impaired. Bianca, who’d been teaching school for the hearing impaired, began teaching little G how to sign very young. Fortunately, it turned out one of his ears was fully functional, but Bianca continued to teach him because she wanted him to be able to communicate with her mother.

  Maddox, who was G’s age, was one of the kids in the 5th Street special needs program. Legally deaf in both ears, he was able to communicate with little G so well through their signing that they quickly bonded. He was also one of the kids in foster care, and when Bianca found out his parents had relinquished all rights to get him back ever, the wheels in her head started turning. She’d always hated that, like herself, little G wouldn’t get to have any siblings. It took a while and a whole lot of red tape to get through, but they’d finally done it. They were able to adopt Maddox. Of course, just a few months after they did, Bianca found out she was pregnant.

  Bianca, who’d always had an overactive thyroid gland, was told when they were trying to conceive little G that the only way she’d ever be able to get pregnant was to get on meds that would slow it. She did and they’d conceived within months. After they’d had G, the doctors had told them she’d need to get back on the meds when she was ready to try again. So Gio and Bianca had decided she never would and they’d be safe as long as she didn’t get back on those meds.

  Wrong.

  At first, they’d been scared. But then that quickly turned into cautious excitement. As the months went by, unlike her pregnancy with G, everything so far had been normal, and the caution in their excitement was slowly beginning to fade. Bianca even said this pregnancy felt completely different than with G. She was even more excited about the fact that they’d be having a girl because it seemed the 5th Street guys were hell bent on having boys.

  Hector jumped from where he was sitting but wasn’t able to catch the syrup his eldest spilled. Gio laughed. “C’mon man!” Gio said to Hector as little Hector stared at his dad, beginning to pout. “You gotta be faster than that.”

  Hector frowned, cleaning up the mess, and then glanced up and smiled at his son whose big blue eyes were beginning to well. “It’s okay, pops. It’s just a little syrup.”

  Charlee was holding their latest son, who was only a few months old. Both their boys were born with Hector’s dark hair, which was kind of a bummer for everyone who was hoping to see some redheaded Ayala’s. After what Gio and Felix had gone through with their first kids, Hector said his boys could’ve been born with green hair and as long as they were healthy he would’ve been happy. His eldest, however, had been born with his momma’s big blue eyes.

  “Is Felix coming down for breakfast?” Abel asked them as he and his brood arrived. “Hey!” he said, turning back to his eldest son, who was already trying to wrestle little Hector out of his chair. “Knock it off. Not in here.”

  “I’m assuming he is,” Gio said. “He’s the one who reserved this whole section.

  Hector laughed. “They don’t have kids. Of course they’re making the most of their room before they have to come down.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what they were thinking, bringing us all along on their anniversary trip.”

  “I think it was very sweet and generous of him,” Nellie said, helping her littlest monster into the high chair. “Our kids will rememb
er this trip forever.”

  “Maybe not that one,” Abel said, pointing at the little guy in the high chair. “We’ll have to make a few more trips back.”

  “I’m not as dreamy about Disney World as Ella is,” Charlee said, placing the baby back in the baby carrier next to her, “but Ariel, for obvious reasons, was my favorite princess of all when I was growing up. I must’ve watched that movie a hundred times.”

  Gio turned when Bianca pulled his hand and placed it on her belly. The baby was kicking away very actively, another difference between this pregnancy and her last.

  “She likes waffles,” Bianca said, smiling brightly.

  Gio would never tire of seeing those big beautiful eyes of hers sparkle as they did now. While Bianca had been ecstatic that little G had been born with Gio’s green eyes, Gio was secretly hoping his baby girl would have her mom’s big brown doe eyes. He did his best to smile back as brightly as Bianca, but it was tough. Despite how well Bianca’s pregnancy was going so far, he was still worried.

  Bianca leaned into kiss Gio. “Every day that passes,” she said between kisses, “I feel more and more certain that she’s gonna be just fine.”

  “You really think so?”

  “I know so,” she said.

  This time Gio leaned in, feeling very relieved, and kissed his beautiful wife.

  ~*~

  Hector

  “That’s him,” Hector said, reading his text from Felix.

  Overslept but we’ll be down there in a few for breakfast and definitely in time for the walk.

  Hector smirked. “I figured as much. He says they overslept but they’ll be down in a few. I can’t believe he wanted to get us all season passes to this place. He’s gonna be flying down here all the time? Florida’s nice once or twice a year, but that’s it.”

  Noah and Roni had now arrived too with their two boys. Roni had sat down next to Bianca with their youngest. Those two were constantly comparing pregnancies since they were due almost at the same time.