CHAPTER 21- FLORIDA

09/10/2009

We moved to Largo, FL. to be a family. The economy was bad at this time. Florida was in the under goings of a rescission. Obama was giving out stipends to boost the economy. All Saul and I could find were temporary jobs. I started working as a nanny. Pat was in daycare. My dumb ass was cooking empanadas and getting ready for an interview putting on my stockings and a grease fire started over the oven.

I immediately threw water on it which made it worse. I tried to smother it with a lid but it was too big. So I opened the front door. I picked up the pot by the handle and ran with the fire blazing and threw it out the front door. It is a miracle that my face and body did not have 3rd degree burns everywhere. I thank you GOD for protecting me. It could have been a lot worse. When the fire trucks came all I suffered from was smoke inhalations and a 2nd degree burn on my hand. The firefighter gave me some advice to next time throw milk on the flame during a grease fire or an extinguisher always does wonders.

The housing complex kicked Saul, Pat, and I out on the street. They wouldn't let us stay in our apartment due to repairs. Luckily, Red Cross put us in a hotel for a few nights, but now we found ourselves homeless. Saul did some research and he found a shelter that was willing to take us in Largo FL. It was convenient but we had to share our unit with other families.

The first family we lived with us was a mother, her two daughters, and her son they were from Africa. Her son and my son had to share a room. One day her son got this dumb idea to heat up the tip of Pat's toy and brand my son with it. Saul was pissed so he returned the favor by planting tacks in the kids shoes. The poor kid couldn't walk for weeks.

05/14/2010

Saul's grandmother had passed away while we were here. On this night Saul stopped by the bar on his way home from work and had quite a few drinks. Coming back he was pulled over by Largo police. They took him in and booked him for his second DUI. Largo police responded to a Church driveway the officer approached Saul and noticed a distinct odor of alcohol coming from his breath, his eyes were watery, glassy, and bloodshot, his face was flushed. Saul agreed to complete SFST's and performed poorly. He was arrested. While he was being booked Saul brown nosed the officer and told him, "I appreciate the job that you do. You saved my life, I had about 5-7 bud lights, I am not going to lie." During the investigation, Saul asked the officer to let him go and give him a break because he was Hispanic too. He did this multiple times.

Poor Saul couldn't catch a break. Lost his home, grandmother, job, and our car ended up getting impounded a couple of weeks prior. Everything was turning out to be a mess. Luckily, I was a student and was able to take out an additional lump sum from my loan due to economic hardship to plant us back on our feet in a new apartment. Getting through this time together with Saul made me realize how strong we were as a couple and I learned to appreciate him even more.

10/11/2011

As soon as our family settled into our little apartment Primo came to visit. Just like Primo to come follow us down to Florida from Boston. I decided to treat him by taking him to OZ which was a strip club. We sat at the stage throwing $$$ at the dancers and I asked him "Which girl do you like the most?" We compared besties and then I handed him over a $20 and told him, "Go get em' tiger." Primo say's, "For real B?" I replied, "That's all you, mano." Granted I was flirting a little trying to show some hospitality to my brother.

I still favored him a little which made it difficult on the ride home because I think that lap dance was just a tease to the main course because after I parked the car he was all over me. Now it had been 5 years since we last fooled around and I honestly did not see this coming which opened up a whole slew of feelings that I had packed away thinking it could never exist. I thought about Saul and I stopped myself and said to Primo, "What are we doing?" and Primo whispered, "I don't know you feel so good. " I was proud of myself for keeping my big girl panties on tonight and setting Primo in line. "I am with your brother. I love him. I can't do this." Primo said, "Of course, understood, my bad B."

We decided that's where we were going to leave it, no more fucking around Saul and I were taking our relationship to the next level. Primo was just going to have to except that, hopefully Primo could respect me, and it did get better for awhile until I found out Saul was cheating on me.

Chapter 20 - Our New Home

Chapter 20 - Our New Home

10/11/2007

Pat and I were able to get housing in Hyannis and Saul wanted to live with us. I told Saul the circumstances that because he was not on the lease he could not be living with us but he can still come and visit the baby and I.  Saul practically moved in any way until his erratic behavior started affecting us.

Saul had a serious drinking problem that was getting pretty out of control. He was taking it out on poor Pat. One day I don't know what Pat did to deserve this but; Saul put Pat out on the freezing cold balcony with no clothes on. It was just cruel. I wrapped a blanket around my baby and yelled at Saul. Saul just said, "You need to stop babying him." I said to Saul, "He's one years old, he IS a baby and you’re going to kill him." Then I kicked him out. I made an oath to myself never to leave Pat alone with Saul again.

Saul would get so shit faced and I was afraid to let him in. We had a chain on our door. Saul decided to kick in our front door and I had to call the cops because he was so belligerent scaring us while I was trying to put the baby to sleep.

I started talking to a therapist about what was going on with Saul and had Saul come in on some therapy session's to give Saul some help and direction. I think it might have worked because after Saul seemed more inspired to make some changes in his life. We were discussing our dreams and future together.

We spoke about buying a house in Florida. Saul told me he was going to stop drinking and get a job transfer down there so he could become established. That is exactly what he did. At the time Saul was paying child support $25/ wk for Pat. This helped me with diapers or clothes. Pat and I had just about everything we needed. I was working.

Pat was getting childcare and special services for his behavior. Pat had bi-lateral hearing loss which was alleviated by tubes put in his ears. I wasn't sure if this was cause for his developmental delay or Saul’s influence on him, but now that Saul was out of the picture he began thriving. I was able to potty train Pat and work with him on talking and understanding him more clearly. He was growing up fast. Luckily Pat had everything he could ever want or need.

Saul had been living in Florida for a few months now and he wanted us to move there with him. He promised that he stopped drinking and wanted us to get married and be a family. We were already engaged. Our dreams of owning a home finally seemed tangible. I was still very skeptical about how we could work out. Should we move?

Not the brightest idea in the world, but I decided why not give Pat and I our best chance with Saul. It was obvious that Primo was settling down with yet another girl and it was about time I try and take my relationship with Saul to the next level. So the whole family helped us pack up the U-Haul and we trucked it down from MA to FL.