Chapter 30 #2
I played the voicemail, anxious to hear him. His deep voice on the speaker made my whole body shudder.
“Hola, mi amor. Today’s message will be short, but I just wanted to say that I love you, I miss you, and I hope I can see you very soon. Te amo, Camilo.”
I almost called him then, because I was getting close to the point where my fortress of solitude was making almost no sense.
Needing a distraction, I opened the Facebook app on my phone to check if my mom had posted anything new about her mysterious road trip.
I had no idea who she was on this trip with, but she’d looked happy as hell on every picture she’d posted.
On the first day, she’d uploaded photos from Virginia Beach where they stopped, and since yesterday, she’d been posting a few from her old haunts in Miami.
She even wrote little captions about why each place was meaningful.
There were so many places that were special to her and my dad, many of which I didn’t remember or hadn’t been to.
When she called me last night, she’d said she was going to visit his grave today. I knew it would be emotional and hard, and I told her I was nervous for her. But she sounded calm on the phone, and said she was looking forward to it. I expected some photos to be on Facebook already.
As I opened the feed, I saw she’d uploaded a few of the cemetery, which was a little creepy. My mom, like everyone else these days, seemed to lack a filter when it came to posting personal stuff on social media.
There were some photos of the flowers she’d brought for my dad, and another one of her later in the day with two people who looked familiar.
In the caption she said they were her old co-workers from the hospital she’d worked for when we lived there.
She was smiling big in every picture, and she looked better than she had in years.
Suddenly, I felt enormous gratitude for whomever had done this for her. It was clearly the right time for her to take this trip after all.
I kept scrolling and when I saw the most recent post my heart stopped. I blinked and brought the phone closer, to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.
It was a photo of my mom at a restaurant, with a group of about five people. The post she’d written said:
At El Portal Restaurant on our last night.
They still have the best Cuban food in Miami.
These last few days have been a dream come true.
It’s been wonderful to revisit all the places that were so special to me and my family after more than twenty years away.
This has been a trip of healing, and I am so grateful for getting a chance to do it.
I can’t wait to get back home and tell Camilo about everything he missed.
She actually inserted a smiley face next, because I was in bizzaro world right now. The three words with which she ended the message were what almost gave me a cardiac episode.
Thank you, Tom.
There he was, my slippery as hell boyfriend sitting next to my mom and some random people in Miami, holding up mojitos for the camera.
That sneaky fucker.
He’d driven my mother down to Florida. I should have been pissed he once again did something behind my back, but the only thing I felt was gratitude, and so much love.
This was not just sending a check.
Tom had driven for two days with my freaking mother in his car and had taken her to Miami so she could see my dad’s grave for the first time in twenty years. And tomorrow was going to get in the car and drive another two days to bring her back. That was not light work.
That was love.
Shit. I was so screwed.
I quickly opened the text app and sent him a message.
Camilo: You sneaky fucker.
After a few seconds, I saw the three dots pop up and waited.
Tom: Am I your boyfriend the sneaky fucker, or just plain old sneaky fucker?
A laugh escaped my lips and I tapped another text right away.
Camilo: Just get yourself and my freaking mother back here in one piece, and we’ll see about your status. You stubborn, insufferable man.
I could feel my heart in my temples, and if I probed just a little, I knew I’d find I was feeling stupid levels of happiness.
Tom: You’re still texting, so it must mean I’m not at the very top of your shit list anymore.
He thought he was hilarious.
Camilo: Where’s Libe?
Tom: With Maxwell. He felt bad for all the interruptions…
Camilo: He should. Nosy asshole.
Tom: LOL
Camilo: When will you be back?
Tom: Saturday, early evening most likely.
Camilo: Okay.
I really needed to say this.
Camilo: And thank you.
Tom: Not necessary, but you’re welcome. Will I see you when we get back?
Camilo: Maybe. I’m calling my mom now and you better not be listening to what I say to her!
Tom: You’re the boss, mi amor. I love you.
Camilo: I love you, too, you greasy bastard.
Tom
“It’s about damn time! I’ve been waiting here for hours.
” My heart almost beat out of my chest when I saw Camilo waiting in the doorway of Dinorah’s apartment.
It was almost 9:00 p.m. and we’d been on the road for over twelve hours.
I was exhausted from all the driving I’d done in the last week.
But every ache and pain evaporated when I saw him with his hands on his hips, trying his best to look pissed and failing completely.
“Milito papí, don’t yell at us, we’re tired.”
He was not mollified in the slightest by Dinorah, and just kept glaring at us.
“Of course, you’re tired, who drives to Miami and back in a week?
” he said, throwing his arms up, as he came up to us.
“Do you think you’re still twenty-two, Dinorah?
You’re sixty years old, woman.” He grabbed her as she made it to the door and hugged her hard.
Closing his eyes as he put his nose in her neck. “I missed you, Mama.”
“I missed you too, papí, but it was a very nice trip.” She looked over at me and Camilo pulled back from her to turn his attention my way, then pointed in the direction of my face.
“You look like you’re about to collapse.
Leave it to your slithery ass to figure out a way to get out of me yelling at you for yet again doing some sneaky shit.
” He griped, as I stood there silently reveling in Camilo’s moody litany.
“Of course, you had to go and do something so fucking perfect and amazing. I now have no other choice but to take your shifty ass back.”
This last part he said softly as he grabbed my hand and dragged me into the apartment. I was still pulling Dinorah’s suitcase. He took it out of my hands and out of the way, so he could put his arms around my waist.
I looked down at his face, losing myself in those gray eyes that came into my life to light up my world.
“Are you taking pity on me then? Because, baby, I’m ready to keep groveling. I was always in for the long game with you, Camilo. From day one.” His eyes softened and his mouth fell open like he was trying to breathe through what he was feeling.
He looked over his shoulder when he heard his mom’s suitcase rolling down the hallway to the bedroom.
“Mama.” She stopped and walked back over to give us each a kiss on the cheek.
“We’ll talk tomorrow, papí,” she told Camilo then looked up at me with a fond smile on her face. “Take this poor man home, he’s exhausted. Thank you again, Tom. I can’t tell you what these last few days have meant to me.”
I looked at her, feeling so much for this woman. We’d spent hours talking while we drove and I’d learned so much about her and her strength. The things she’d lived through to come to this country, and those she’d experienced after.
The love she had for her son.
We were similar in so many ways, Dinorah and I. We’d come to this country clutching hard to our dreams, and we’d made the best of what we’d found here.
“Yo se, Dinorah. It was an honor and a pleasure.” She gave me a kiss and a tight hug, before pinching Camilo on the cheek. “Next time we’ll have to bring this one with us.”
I turned to look at him and saw the emotion on his face as he whispered in agreement. “Next time.”
She walked off again and closed the door of her bedroom behind herself.
“So now you’re my mom’s favorite?”
“Am I your favorite though? That’s what I want to know.”
He pushed up, putting his arms around my neck and kissed me. I felt his smile as our lips met. We stayed there for a while, our bodies swaying as we touched and stroked. Feeling each other again after so many days apart. After all that hurt and silence.
“I missed you so much, Camilo. It scared to think I could have lost you. I’m sorry. I will never take the easy way out in our relationship again.”
He nodded with his head pressed tight against my chest.
“I know.”
When we pulled apart, Camilo grabbed my hand, and started moving. “Come on, let’s get you home. I’ll drive because you look like you’re about to fall over.”
I nodded tiredly and smiled as he pulled me to the door and out of the apartment.
The world felt just as it should be with Camilo, once again, taking my hand and leading the way.