Dark Paradise (Camren)

Know that I'm here (27)

The smell here was always very good, the atmosphere was fresh and the conversation with the old lady was good for me. I sat down on the old chair that was there near the table. This chair has been my favorite place for the last 3 months.

Within minutes, Maria brought a cup of coffee for me and another for her. Gently she handed me mine and sat on the rocking chair in front of me.

-How are you? – she asked.

She's been asking that every day, in fact I heard that question every day, but nothing compared to Maria's, she really cared.

-I'm fine and you?

-Ramon has been a pain in the ass. – she said like it was obvious.

-He's an adorable kid.

-Take him then. You don't know what you are saying. – Maria said and I laughed.

Her sense of humor was enviable, she was in her eighties and she was good-humored and wouldn't stop working for a single day. Ramon is her grandson, he's six years old. She takes care of him since her daughter died in a car accident with her husband. Ramon was always very polite to me, in fact he loved me, or the doughnuts that I brought for him. Weird, right? I managed to fill Camila's absence just by knowing this little family.

-Aunt Lolo! – the little boy shouted when he saw me.

-Hey champ, your grandma is here telling me to take you with me. – I said picking him up and sitting him on my lap.

-She says that to everyone who comes here. – he said hiding his face in my neck.

-I don't need to take you, I just have to bring doughnuts and you are mine. – I said tickling his belly under his shirt.

The little one writhed in my arms and I stopped when I noticed that he was out of breath.

-You already know what to do, right? – I asked and he nodded his head.

Coincidently or not, Mrs. Maria's flower shop was right next to the hospital that Camila was in. Since the first day I come here, Ramon takes the flowers to the hospital and asks for them to be delivered to Camila's room.

-We'll be right back, Mrs. Maria. – I said and got up with Ramon on my lap.

I went to the entrance where Maria had already left the flowers that would be delivered to Camila and grabbed the bouquet, going towards the hospital entrance with Ramon.

-This one is bigger than me. – the little one grumbled when I handed him the bouquet.

-Stop being grumpy, take this one and I'll give you a doughnut as big as you. – the boy's greedy eyes almost popped out of his face, then he turned around quickly and clumsily walked to the hospital's front desk.

I couldn't enter that place anymore, I was defeated. But while she's in there, I will send her flowers every morning so that she has me closer to her, so that she knows that I haven't forgotten her.

-Lauren? – I heard the familiar voice behind me.

-Dinah. – I said hugging the brunette.

-You came to bring the flowers?

-Yes, how is she?

-You know, the usual... But there's something I need to tell you, I was going to call you to have dinner today, but since you are here, I'll tell you now.

-Where's my doughnut, Lolo? Well, not a normal doughnut, but a giant doughnut. – Ramon said with his hand outstretched.

-And this midget? – Dinah asked, messing with Ramon.