Read Inner Diva for Free Online

the whole outing.
    Instead, she said, “Hmm, how about this? In
my car I have my insurance statement and it may even show I have an
accident-free discount. Would that satisfy you? Or would you like
to speak to my agent? I could get you his number.”
    If he’d been trying to intimidate her, she
wasn’t having it. Unless he was mistaken, she was ridiculing him
with her offers. “No need. Do you plan to pay for my sister’s
supplies?”
    The tension on her face – that he’d placed
there with his interrogations – softened. “Yes, it’s no problem.
I’d like to do it.”
    But even as she said it, he dug in his
pocket. No way would he allow this woman to provide for the basic
needs of his own family member. He pulled two twenties from his
wallet and thrust them at her.
    She responded with a look of horror. “No, no,
Carlos. This is my treat. Really, it’s no problem.”
    He persisted. “Regardless, I’ll pay for my
sister’s supplies.”
    She focused on the bills in his hand for a
long moment, then shrugged. “Okay. Thank you.” She took the money
and tucked it in her pocket.
    Monica moved to the door, looking anxious to
leave. Carlos followed her and caught up in two steps.
    “One last thing. I’m coming with you.”
    This pronouncement caused a moment of alarmed
silence. Carlos held onto a last hope that she’d call the whole
thing off.
    “Why would you want to do that?”
    “So that I can observe your driving skills
first hand. For Luisa’s sake.”
    She stared for a moment, then she sighed.
“Okay, have it your way. I suppose you can come along.”
    He nodded and called for Luisa. The little
girl emerged from her room. “How many pencils can I get?”
    “As many as you need,” Monica replied and
held up the two twenties in his direction, smirking.
    He wasn’t quite sure if he’d won or lost, but
he was going shopping.
     
     

Chapter Three
     
    This child was quite possibly the sweetest
person she’d ever had the pleasure of sharing company with. It took
so little to cause her joy. Receiving the gift of a 12-pack of
yellow #2 pencils was a pleasure worth beaming over.
    “I hate to even ask,” she said, “because
you’ve already said yes to my pencils, pens and protractor, but I
do desperately need a ruler shorter than a foot long.” She looked
up with an expression so expectant Monica had to swallow a
giggle.
    “And why is that?”
    “I have the perfect spot for my ruler in my
desk at school, tucked way to the right, but slid straight back,
not sideways, you see?”
    Monica nodded.
    “But the desk is just an inch short of a foot
deep. So my ruler is always sticking out and I’m afraid someone’s
going to brush against it and either scrape themselves or break the
ruler in two.”
    “So, the perfect solution is to find a ruler
that fits the desk.” Monica internally congratulated herself for
saying it with a straight face, delivered with the same seriousness
Luisa addressed the subject.
    “I believe so.” The little girl nodded, her
forehead scrunched in concentration.
    “Go for it.”
    Those three little words, and Luisa whooped
with joy and sought out the ruler selection, her fingers tip-toeing
over the shorter ones, using many of her senses to pick out just
the right one.
    Monica beamed. Her gaze shifted to Carlos who
stood planted a few yards away, watching their interaction with a
scowl on his face, his forehead creased. When he realized she was
looking at him, he shook his head and turned. Her heart did a
little flip and she felt that ridiculous attraction she always felt
around him – since the first time she’d laid eyes on him.
    Why would she be attracted to someone who
obviously disapproved of her? He trusted her so little, he’d
insisted on accompanying them on their trip to the mall so he could
protect his sister from her.
    It was insulting, really.
    Did he think she couldn’t maneuver her car
through the traffic challenges and deliver Luisa safely to the
mall? And