11. Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Lisa
"I don’t approve of your relationship with that man!" Dad’s voice booms across the restaurant, sharp and resounding, grinding against my last nerve. Heads turn, curious eyes settling on us, and I feel the heat rise in my cheeks.
I shake my head, trying to hold onto my composure, but the embarrassment is heavy, leaving me exposed under the harsh scrutiny of strangers—and my father’s unyielding judgment.
"I don’t need your approval, Dad." The words spill out, a mix of pride and terror surging through me as I finally stand up to him. My hands tremble beneath the table, but I lift my chin, meeting his glare head-on.
I brace myself for his next attack, the tension crackling between us like a live wire. "I’m an adult," I continue, my voice steady despite the anger raging inside me, "and I love him."
The truth in my words roots me, filling me with a strength I didn’t know I had. For the first time, I feel unshakable—sure of what I want, even if it means never having his approval.
"I’ll disown you, Annalisa," he barks, his words sharp enough to cut. "Don’t you dare test me."
I meet his glare, the pain slicing through me, but I refuse to back down. "I think you did that a long time ago, Dad," I shoot back, my voice laced with defiance. "You just never had the courage to say it out loud—until now."
"You're being absolutely ridiculous!" he exclaims, using his go-to defense every time he’s forced to justify his cruelty toward me.
When I spot Mateo, a wave of calm washes over me, and the smile he flashes when our eyes meet sends my heart soaring to the moon and back.
" Hola, hermosa ," he says, his voice a soft caress as he pulls out a chair and sits next to me. Leaning over, he brushes a gentle kiss against my cheek before turning to greet my father with a cheerful hello, earning a simple nod of acknowledgment in return.
His strong presence fills me with something that feels a lot like peace. I take a deep breath, inhaling the heavenly scent of his cologne, my gaze lingering on him. He's so devastatingly handsome. He’s wearing a blue dress shirt that brings out the cinnamon specks in his blue eyes, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing forearms carved with strength, veins rippling beneath his skin like roads on a map.
His large hand reaches for mine, and the sensation that courses through me is immediate and profound—a force I feel from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. This is the man I love. The man I’m going to marry.
"What are you smiling about?" Dad asks, his voice hard, a scowl deepening on his face.
"I was just thinking about how happy Mateo makes me," I say, deciding to be completely transparent, no walls, no hesitation—just the truth of how I feel about him.
"I love you, hermosa ," Mateo whispers, bringing my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against it as his eyes lock with mine.
"I love you too," I reply, the truth in my words radiating from my heart.
"Does your mother know about this?" My father’s voice cuts through the air, his ire clear in the way his eyes narrow and his lips tighten into a hard line.
"We video chatted with her last night," Mateo says, his grip tightening around my hand. "We had a lovely conversation. She gave us her blessing."
"Well. Well," Dad stammers, clearly struggling to contain his displeasure. "You never asked me for my blessing!"
"You were there," Mateo says calmly. "You were there when I got down on one knee and proposed. That would’ve been the perfect time to voice your objections, but you didn’t. I think the 'Speak now or forever hold your peace' part applies here as much as it does at the altar. You can’t protest now, Stan. It’s too late."
Dad's eyes snap to me, firing a furious glare. He takes a slow sip of his cocktail, as though debating whether to unleash a full-blown meltdown or seethe in quiet frustration. But with Mateo by my side, he chooses silence.
"We’d love to stay and chat," Mateo says, his voice smooth. "But I’m taking my beautiful fiancée to the farmer’s market." The look he gives Dad is edged with warning 'Don't you dare,' is the message and Dad receives it loud and clear. "We’d love for you to join us, but I’m sure you have more important things to do than spend the day with us lovebirds."
Dad gives us a dismissive wave, his hand flicking through the air as if we’re a couple of pesky flies—annoying and inconvenient—silently urging us to leave. Mateo doesn't miss a beat. He pulls a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet and places it on the table, his voice steady as he looks at Dad. "See you later, Stan."
We both rise, and a rush of relief mingled with guilt settles inside me as we turn to walk out—reminders of how much I still love my father, even if that love isn’t returned. When we reach the door, Mateo pulls me back gently, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glances toward the restaurant’s interior.
Through the glass, we watch as Dad reaches for the hundred-dollar bill, his movements slow and deliberate. He tucks it into his wallet, then replaces it with a couple of twenties from his own funds—a small but telling gesture, one that reveals more about my father’s true character than any words ever could.
"How did you know?" I ask Mateo, my voice tinged with second-hand embarrassment over my father’s behavior.
"It's greed, hermosa ," Mateo says, his voice laced with quiet frustration. "And your father wears it like a badge of honor."
I glance away, feeling the weight of shame on my father's behalf. Mateo doesn’t let me hide. He gently pulls my gaze back with his thumb on my chin, his eyes locking with mine.
"Your father’s actions have nothing to do with you," he murmurs, his words a soft balm against the sting I feel. "We all have to account for our own behaviors. What he does... that’s squarely on him."
***
The farmer’s market is alive with energy. Vendors are setting out their fresh produce, and the air is filled with the chatter of people strolling by with baskets and bags, while children laugh and race around, reveling in the crisp morning air. Mateo’s hand, firmly interlaced with mine, feels so right, grounding me in this perfect moment.
We decide to buy everything we need for a simple lunch at home—fresh bread, ripe tomatoes, rich cheeses, and cold cuts from the corner deli. As we stroll along the river's edge, the scent of the water mingles with the sweet, earthy fragrance of homemade candles being handed out by vendors.
I spot a candle, its scent a calming blend of vanilla and lavender. Lifting it, I hold it toward Mateo. "This one smells like my condo," I say, my voice soft and almost reverent, the memory of my home filling me with nostalgia. "Here, smell it."
Mateo takes a deep breath, his eyes closing for a moment as he inhales the scent, then leans in close, nuzzling my neck with a tender, almost possessive affection. "I much prefer your scent, hermosa ," he murmurs, his voice a low whisper against my skin. He smiles—the kind of smile that’s just for me, the one that tells me without words that his heart belongs to me and no one else.
He buys the candle, gently securing the lid and slipping it into our bag. "You can put it in your room tonight," he says. "It'll make you feel like you're at home."
I glance at him, curiosity in my voice. "What do you do to feel like you're at home? You must miss Mérida."
He pauses, his gaze turning tender as it meets mine. "Since I've been here with you," he whispers, "I haven't thought of Mérida once. You are my home, hermosa ."
He tucks a wayward strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers tracing a path on my skin. Then he leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.
"Kiss me again," I whisper.
"Yes, ma'am," he responds, his eyes dark with promise.
But before he can close the distance, a little voice calls out, " Hola , Mateo!"
"Davey!" Mateo exclaims, his face lighting up. " Hola, amigo . How are you?"
I glance up to see Katherine and Adam heading our way, hand in hand. Adam is pushing a stroller, their youngest cooing contentedly, while Jon and Tori follow closely behind. The sight of them fills me with warmth.
"Well, hello!" I exclaim, enveloping them in warm hugs.
I turn to address Mateo, but he and Davey are engrossed in conversation, their words flowing effortlessly in Spanish.
"Those two are like two peas in a pod," Katherine remarks, taking my hand to admire my ring. "It's beautiful!"
"Let me see," Adam chimes in, peeking over Katherine’s shoulder to inspect it. His eyes widen. "That’s not just any ring," he declares. "That’s a Bel Air, baby!"
Katherine turns to him with a raised eyebrow. "And how, exactly, do you know that, babe?"
Adam grins, his confidence undeniable. "I looked at a lot of rings before choosing the Statton you have on your pretty little finger, Katie," he says, his smile widening as he winks at her. "I know my rings."
"You never cease to amaze me," Katherine says with a teasing grin before pressing a kiss to Adam's lips. The chemistry between them is palpable, a shared devotion that makes my heart flutter.
"I'll take the baby for a little stroll so you two can talk," Adam says, before nodding toward the kids. "I'll be back. Come on, kids!" He motions for Jon and Tori to follow, and we watch as the little group heads toward the playground, their laughter carried on the breeze.
"So," Katherine begins, her eyebrow raised in playful curiosity, "how are things going? Loren told me Mateo asked Aaron for his blessing."
"If I could've chosen any man on the planet to be my dad, I would've chosen Aaron," I reply. "Mateo knows that.
"I think it was a very romantic gesture on Mateo's part," she says. "I know Lily's concerns about her dad is something you'll have to address, but if he's got your attention, he must be pretty special."
"I love him," I confess, my voice more certain now than ever. "I’ve loved him for a really long time. I just didn’t want to admit it—especially to myself. The more I got to know him, the more I liked him and the harder I fell. He's sweet, gentle, kind. A complete gentleman—protective, funny, and a great cook."
Katherine laughs before lowering her voice and whispering, "I thought you were going to say a great kisser."
"That too," I smile.
"Have you two set a date?" she asks, glancing over to Mateo and Davey who are playing a game of catch football.
"I need to talk to Lily first," I murmur. "She's one of my best friends, and her rejection over this would devastate me."
I follow Katherine's gaze and take in the full picture in front of me—Mateo and Davey playing like father and son. I feel a shiver run down my spine, remembering that for a split second, Mateo thought Davey was his son. The unpleasant memory still makes me uneasy.
"Earth to Lisa," Katherine’s voice pulls me back from the fog of that memory—the moment when Lily told me Mateo had had an affair with Noah's ex-wife while they were still married.
"I'm sorry," I mutter. "I was just thinking about Davey's mother—how she lied about Davey's paternity to try and split Lily and Noah apart."
"Don't remind me," Katherine says, shaking her head. "That was insane. Thankfully, that's all in the past. As long as Marian keeps her distance, we can all breathe easier."
But a cold, foreign sensation coils deep inside me at the thought of Marian ever returning to Cold Spring. She's Davey's mother, and the idea that she'll stay away permanently is just wishful thinking on our part. She'll be back, and we all know it.
"I'm so happy for both of you," Katherine says, pulling me into a warm hug.
"Do you think I should call Lily or wait until she and Noah get back from their honeymoon?"
"I think you should wait," she says. "Let them enjoy their honeymoon without any distractions. And in the meantime, you can enjoy Mateo without any distractions."
***
"Davey asked me if he could call me Grandpa," Mateo says casually, unpacking the groceries.
"What did you tell him?" I ask, unsure how to untangle the emotions swirling inside me.
"I told him we'd have to ask his dad—and Lily," he replies, leaning back against the counter and crossing his arms.
"What about Marian?" I ask. "She might have some feelings about it."
The sharpness in my tone must have caught his attention because he glances over, his gaze searching. "What are your feelings about it, hermosa ?"
I swallow the lump in my throat. "None of this involves me," I say.
"Of course it does," he replies. "You're going to be my wife. Though, I highly doubt you'd want him calling you Grandma."
I laugh out loud, and he joins in, pulling me close until we’re face-to-face. "Would it bother you?" he asks softly.
The fact that he's asking again tells me two things: one, he wants Davey to call him Grandpa; and two, he cares about having my approval.
"No, of course it wouldn't bother me," I say. "But the idea of you having any connection to Marian rubs me the wrong way. I’m not going to lie— that bothers me."
"What about it bothers you?" he asks, his arms securely around me, as if anchoring me in place.
When I look away, he gently tilts my chin back with his thumb, guiding my gaze to his. "Hey, hey, hermosa . What is it?"
"You had an affair with her before you met me, but then again after we met," I say, my voice uncertain. "It stings, I'm not gonna lie."
"I went out with Zoe, Mandy, and Meredith—all after you and I met. Why does Marian bother you so much?"
When he catches the uncertainty flickering in my eyes, his expression softens. "It meant nothing," he says, his gaze open and honest. "And I can assure you, it didn’t mean anything to her either."
"But Marian was the only one you were with again. And again," I murmur.
"Wait," he says quickly, his tone defensive. "Nothing happened the last time she was here. I told you that."
"Lily mentioned Marian had an adjoining room to yours," I counter, my voice trembling. "She said that when Marian opened that door, she looked like she was expecting something to happen between the two of you."
"I can't be blamed for her actions, Lisa," he says, the edge in his tone—and the use of my given name—letting me know he's feeling defensive. "But I am responsible for mine. By the time Lily arrived and overheard our argument, I had already told Marian I wasn't interested. Hermosa , I haven't been with anyone in six months."
"Six months?" I ask, my mind racing to pinpoint the moment we both realized what we felt was more than mere attraction.
"The last hike we went on," he says, as if reading my mind. "That's when I knew dating anyone else would be futile. My mind, my thoughts, and my heart were already yours."