CHAPTER 26

“Van, can you please pass the salad dressing.” Bea Munoz said as she chopped up the tomatoes on the picnic table. Van retrieved a bottle of Italian dressing that Bea made the night before and placed it on the table.

“I wonder what’s taking them so long?” Van asked as the looked at his watch.

“Sorry we’re late.” A voice called out. Van and Bea looked to see Cris running with a basket in hand.

“Cris! I’m so glad you made it.” Van said as he planted a kiss on her cheeks. “Where’s Sen?” Cris motioned her head to her back. Behind her, emerged Sen, carrying Louie.

“Sen! It’s nice to see you again.” Van said. Sen smiled. The past week, the two had met up four times the past week- each time at Van’s discretion.

Sen put Louie down to play. A yaya who had been trailing Sen followed the little girl as she ran around the grounds. Sen stood beside Van as they watched Louie and the yaya play. Cris helped Bea in preparing their meals.

“Like a beer?” Van asked Sen. The older man nodded. Van proceeded to the cooler and grabbed a can of ice cold beer. He reached over to Sen. Hansen accepted the can, but before doing so, Van held his hand. Sen looked at Van, who had a smirk on his face. Sen, looked terrified, he trained his gaze to Cris and Bea who were busy preparing the food. He yanked his hand away from Van’s touch.

“Easy. I was just handing out to you the beer.” Van said pseudo-innocently. Sen took the beer from Van’s hand, opened it and took a swig.

“Van, please. Not here.” Sen whispered. Van just stared at him and smiled.

“Bea, I forgot the wine.” Van shouted towards Bea’s direction. “Sen and I will just get it in the car.”

“Ok.” Bea replied.

Van looked at Sen, he nudged his head to signal the older man to follow him. Sen was reluctant to follow. He wanted to run to Louie and pretend that his daughter needed him.

“Sen, let’s go.” Van said with finality. Sen let out a deep breath, then followed Van.

* * *

“Bea, this is good!” Cris exclaimed as she put some of Bea’s crab salad into her mouth. Bea smiled in recognition.

“I know that’s Hansen’s favorite so I brought some with us.” Bea explained.

“Speaking of which, where are those two?” Cris asked looking around. It had been almost an hour since the boys disappeared to get the wine.

“Oh, just let them be. Probably catching up on old times.” Bea side as she flipped a piece of chicken in the grill. “Besides, it will take at least another 20 minutes before the chicken is ready. I hope you brought enough plates.”

“Oh shit!” Cris suddenly exclaimed. “I left the plates in the car. I better text them.” She grabbed her Louis Vuitton bag and picked up her cellphone. It was dead. She felt like throwing the phone.
“Can I borrow you phone, mine’s dead.” She said to Bea.

“I left my phone in Van’s car.” Bea replied. “Maybe you can catch them.” Cris took a deep breath and started walking towards the parking lot.

Where in the world are those two? She thought to himself. Why does my heart beat loudly. She had heard about a rumor linking Sen and Van together before they got married. Sen dismissed them as nothing but gossip cooked up by showbiz reporters.

Besides, she thought to herself, he is straight. He got me pregnant, we’ve been having some of the best sex ever.

As Cris closer to the parking lot, she hear someone moaning, as if in pain. Concerned, she tried to listen where the sound was originating. It came from some trees towards the far end of the parking lot.