The Five Acts of Diego Leon by Alex Espinoza

Author:Alex Espinoza [Espinoza, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8129-8463-7
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2013-03-18T16:00:00+00:00

5.

November 1928

HIS PAYMENT WAS ENOUGH TO COVER THE RENT, PLUS A LITTLE extra, so he used some of his earnings to purchase a pair of plus four trousers, argyle socks, a new shirt, and a tweed checkered flat cap to wear on his date with Fiona. That night he bathed and dressed and adjusted his tie in the mirror. He placed the flat cap on his head, turned, and walked out the door, whistling all the way down the steps.

“Say,” Rose said, seeing Diego as he entered the lobby. “Don’t you look spiffy. You taking me out for a night on the town?”

Diego shrugged his shoulders. “I’m afraid I can’t.”

“Two-timing on me?” Rose asked. “What’s her name?”

“Fiona.”

“Fiona, huh? Bring her here. I’ll scratch her eyes out. Good-for-nothing hussy.” He laughed as she continued twirling, swaying her hips back and forth.

“You’ll always be my one and only, Rose.” Diego kissed her softly on the cheek; her thin skin smelled of lemon. “Always you, Rose.”

She laughed. “Liar. But I’ll take a lie like that over any old truth.”

Ruby came out from the back room with a pile of receipts in her hand. She shook her head and scratched her forehead. Her hair was a mess, and there were large bags under her eyes.

“Rose, honey,” she said, her voice exhausted, “stop fooling around now. We got a ton to do.”

“Is everything okay?” Diego asked.

“No,” she said. “No it ain’t. But thanks for asking.”

“The first of the month,” Rose whispered. “Always gets her tense. Goes around collecting rent—”

“I paid.” Diego interrupted. “Early. Placed my check in your box there.”

“I know,” Ruby said, handing him a receipt. “But it looks like we’ll be having a couple of evictions.” She thumbed through a ledger and shook her head.

Rose whistled and snapped her fingers. “They’ll be out by tonight.”

“Rose,” said Ruby, slamming her hands on the desk. “Get the locks.”

Just then Charlie came shuffling down the stairs, a suitcase in his hand. His coat was wrinkled and dusty, and his trousers were dotted with several black stains. “I’m going, ladies. I’m going.” He placed his suitcase down.

“Charlie,” said Ruby. “I’m real sorry. But I ain’t running on charity alone.”

“It’s fine. I understand,” he said. “You been good to me. Real patient.”

Rose walked over to Charlie and kissed him on the cheek. “What’ll you do now, honey?”

Charlie shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t know. Maybe go back home.” He took a deep breath, picked up his bag and moved toward the front door.

“I’m real sorry, Charlie,” Diego said, reaching out to shake his hand.

He only looked at him, staring intently into Diego’s eyes. “Of course you are. Of course you’re sorry, pal. I am too.”

Charlie walked out without taking Diego’s hand.

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