Chapter 2 SANDRA...

The awkward silence in the early hours of the morning after I saw tears running done the cheeks of Mrs. Rosa. We all sat at the breakfast table, as she silently served all of us breakfast. Jack could not look at me directly. He just caught a few glimpses of I looked away, his face was always down.

Mrs. Rosa, even though I tried to give her a signal to explain what was going on, she did not budge. We were having the beacon as breakfast. I reached out to assist Mrs. Rosa as she went straight to the oven to get the cake for my birthday.

"Honey it's okay, you can sit down". Mr. Rosa said as she tried to collect the gloves from me.

I could visibly see the disappointment in her eyes, as she stared at me. It looked as if she were about to cry, but she just kept holding them back. She struggles a bit with me.

"What's wrong Mom?". I asked inquisitively.

This is an unusual set-up, we normally have a nice breakfast together before we all go to put on various endeavors. It seems as if my birthday will not be a wonderful one. Well, I have never had a stunning birthday.

As I went back to sit at my table, I watched Mr. Rosa rally around like a disturbed puppy seeking milk from its mother. I was very persuasive about the fact that something about me came up in that discussion with Mr. Rosa, and she would rather not tell me. I sat on my chair my arm across close to Jack's chair and I watched her do everything without the help of no one.

The autumn of silence seemed to become worse and more awkward when we heard the footsteps of Mr. Edwin Rosa, I could read the dead silence according to Jack and Mr. Rosa, seems the trio was hiding something from me. I became more inquisitive. Likewise, I stood up from my seat, headed straight to the door, and signaled Jack to join me with my head.

Jack stood up from the seat he was sitting on, crossed the table, and headed towards me, immediately Mrs. Rosa gave Jack an eye sign not to tell me anything.

"Can someone tell me what is going on?". I exclaimed,

The dead silence in the house made me furious, and I became angry, my pulse increased so much, that I wanted to tell out of frustration. Today is my special day, I want to make it special for me, and my foster family is not helping at all.

"You know what, I am not doing this with you people today". I said as I raised my hands with a gesture.

I walked straight from the door, passing Mr. Rosa who was about to take his seat at the breakfast table, and headed for upstairs.

"Sandra". Mrs. Rosa called out pitifully.

"Yes, mom". I replied.

"Why this everyone weird on my birthday, today is supposed to be a special day for me and this is what I get". I added as tears rolled down my cheeks.

I could see Mrs. Rosa trying to voice out something that choked her in her treat, but she couldn't the more she tried to talk. Mr. Rosa gave her that dead look in the eye not to speak at all.

"Dad, what's the problem?". I asked as I walked down the stairs towards Mr. Rosa.

"Nothing, to worry about love" He nodded as he bit his lip and his eyes wide opened.

"Sit down hun". He added with a gesture.

"Well I don't know what to say, right now, but this is your birthday; it should be a happy day for you."

"What's your age again? twenty-two, twenty-three?"

"twenty-three". I said.

"Well that is nice, you have come of age"... Mr. Rosa said as he jiggled a little with a sinister smile.

Immediately, Mr. Rosa looked at him abruptly, and he recollected himself, arranging his should be and sat upright.

"I do have a gift for you, I don't have it here, but I will get it when I take you to the office". Mr. Rosa said.

"Well thank you, Dad". I replied my arms folded and my back pressed against the chair.

Mrs. Rosa was done with the cake and served us at the dining table alone, she looked physically stressed. The one thing about Mrs. Rosa is that she would love to work alone when she has a problem going on, and this is that moment. The tension between Mrs. Rosa and Mr. Rosa was so obvious, that I knew something bad happened after she came out of that room, really in tears.

After breakfast, I went upstairs, he was to drive me to work as Mr. Rosa Instructed him.

"Oh my God, where is Dad?". I said, "Well I am driving today". Jack replied, "Finally you spoke to me, how wonderful and thoughtful of you". I replied sarcastically.

I made a turn and crossed through the trunk of the car went to the passenger seat, opened the door, and joined Jack in the front.

As I sat there, trying to adjust my work bag, I looked in the mirror to check if my makeup was done properly,

"About last night". Jack said as he hesitated a little bit,

"Yeah". I replied as I stopped looking in the mirror and looked straight into his eyes.

"Well forget about it, pretend like it never happened". Jack said with shame on his face.

"Why should I?" I replied sarcastically with a smile on my face.

" Well, you should, I was drunk last night and I have come back to my senses"

"uhmmm. I don't believe you, Jack"

"I mean it, Sandra".. Jack's eyes dilated and became wide.

"Everything I said last night, was from the place of intoxication". He added

I laughed sarcastically because I knew deep down he was lying, he just had the boldness to come plain disguised as alcohol intoxication.

"Oh my fucked God Jack, I believe you"

"Believe what"... Mr. Rosa interrupted us

For a minute I was scared, and I jolted immediately as I turned back to look at him.

"For how long have you been standing there Dad"... Jack asked.

"Not too long".. He replied with a smirk on his face.

An awkward silence filled the room, the shame on both of our faces that we couldn't look at each other throughout the entire trip. We arrived at the office station, where Mr. Rosa runs a small financial firm, I am his secretary while Jack served as his assistant. We got out of the car.

Mr. Rosa ordered Jack to get us some coffee, which was unusual because I usually get coffee for the three of us.

Mr. Rosa and I headed for the office room, as we got into the elevator, he turned around and looked at me.

"You say you are twenty-three years old?". Mr. Rosa asked

" I am"

"good, good"

"So do you have a boyfriend or something?"

"No Dad", this is embarrassing". I said as my face was covered in shyness.

"It is nothing to be embarrassed about".

"I know Dad, just that".

"What?".. Mr. Rosa interrupted, his eyes glowing for a response.

"Nothing Dad".. I responded

"Good, good"

"Alright ".. I replied and also nodded.

As the elevator opened, we both stepped out simultaneously and headed separate ways. Mr. Rosa turned immediately

"Sandra"

"Yes Dad "

"If Jack brings that coffee, I want to see both of you in my office, I need to discuss something significant about the firm".