the years just roll on by

Berto

June 15th, the Wedding day


         “Where’s Mili?” he rushed Lina


         “Mili, Mili, you know you getting married today right?” She rolled her eyes, “Don’t go upsetting my sister now, go help her out, she outside, by herself…” with that she sauntered off, in a hurry, after not seen her for almost a year, he couldn’t help himself, he saw her taking something out of what he assumed was her car


         “Mili, Mili!” he shouted, running and giving her a hug, he held her tight


         “You’re chocking me” she laughed, but he only held her tighter


         “God it’s good to see you, you feel…different…you look different” he frowned after he had let her go


         “Good different I hope” she laughed, he loved her laughter, husky and breathy, she had a glow about her that he had never seen before


         “Definitely, but different all the same”


         “Why don’t you come in for a drink, you look nervous” she grinned, taking about a baby stroller, he frowned at her


         “Let me get that for you…”


         “Yo…” a tall guy slightly shorter than him grinned at them, “I’ll get that, I’m Ty by the way, what’s your name?” he didn’t like the way the guy was looking at him


         “Back off Ty” Mili warned but he could hear laughter in her voice          


              “Jose” he said shaking the guys hand, recognition seemed to hit the guy


              “Ah that’s right, The Jose, we talked before, nice meeting you man, let me get that babes” he said taking the stroller from her


                “Who’s that?” he asked when they were finally alone


              “Ty? Oh his my friend” she smiled at him and made her way toward her house, “Oh you look good by the way, still weirdly obsessed with Milk?” she said as she took out a cup and poured cold milk in it


                “You know it, so how’s life been treating you?”


                “That’s so weird coming from you, I don’t know why but it do” she poured herself a cup, when she took a sip she cringed, “I hate milk” she made a face that had him laughing


                “You haven’t chan…”


                “Mili, here you go, li’l papi singing his songs again” Jose was bewildered to see a squealing bundle being giving to Mili, who naturally held the baby cradling him to her, and right away the baby quieted down


                “Are you giving uncle Ty a hard time again? I got it Ty” she smiled at him and jealousy hit Jose, she used to smile at him like that, with adoration in her eyes


                “Aiight, am’ma scoot, I just saw something yummy” they seemed to share a secret joke he didn’t know and he didn’t like it one bit


                “Whose baby is that?” he asked when Ty had left, he went to look at the baby, bright eyed, he laughed when he saw him, he smiled back.


                “Cute kid” he really was, a hat covered his head but unruly black hair still could be seen, the baby was a light yella, button nose and chubby with dimples.


                “Isn’t he? Looks just like his daddy” she smiled softly at the baby, “His name’s Berto”


              “Berto?” he sputtered, that was his middle name


              “Well yeah, you’re my best friend, I know we’ve had a rocky moment but no matter what, you’re my best friend” she looked at him


                “Is is he yours?” his heart sank because he already knew the answer, he looked at her, she had grown her hair and it fell over her back, straight down, she had put on a little weight, but not much, and nothing bad.  In fact he would say she had never looked better.


                “Of course, where do I go naming other people’s kids?” she smiled at him as if saying ‘duh’


                “Where’s the dad?” he whispered, she shrugged, “You don’t know?”


                “Don’t shout Jose, you’re goanna scare him, here hold him” she gave him the baby who stared at him with wide dark eyes, then his pudgy fingers reached out to pull his nose, “Careful with your face, his pretty strong, he gets a hold of you and…”


                “Shiit!” the baby grabbed his lips and pinched it hard laughing and unwilling to let go, Mili started laughing


                “Enough Berto, no making uncle Jose cry” as if he understood, the baby sobered and let go of him, “His hungry, let me make his food”


              “Is that why you moved to Philly?”


              “Huhm? Oh didn’t my mom tell you, I got a job down there, and just wanted a fresh start, I guess” she shrugged


                “How can you not know who the dad is Mili?” he accusingly asked, “Did you screw every guy you saw?” was he scornful? Yes, though he was getting married, a part of him felt as if this baby should have been his.


              “Yes Jose, I spread my legs out for any guy that wanted me” she rolled her eyes at him not seeming angry at his insults, “I know just fine who my baby daddy is…maybe I’m selfish, I want my Berto only to myself” she said looking at him, and a part of him felt as if she was talking to him, but that would be hopeful, right?  A part of him knew if she said right now that she wanted him, he would take her, damn his marriage, and that made him realize how he had become obsessed with Mili.  He breathed, dreamed, and though only of Mili with those smart daring eyes, the quirky, full sensuous lips, the body that he constantly wanted…


              “You should get going, they’re probably looking for you” she took the baby from him, giving him a kiss on the cheek


            “Mili…” what did he want to say, what was there to say, he was angry at her, he looked at the bitter and bitterness welled in, with that he walked out…he had been right about not getting serious with Mili, a one week relationship or two to someone that couldn’t be faithful wasn’t worth it, not even for Mili…