CHAPTER TWENTY
Luisa—
It’s been two days, and when I come down the stairs, my mother meets me in the hallway.
“Where are you going?”
“Just out.”
“No. Tonight we're having family for dinner. Go back upstairs and put on something pretty.”
"Why?"
“Do as your mother says.” My father comes in from the living room.
Rather than argue, I roll my eyes and go back upstairs to change.
Five minutes later, there’s a tap on my bedroom door. I’m brushing my hair in the mirror above my dresser. My sister Consuela sticks her head in, and my mouth drops open.
“Consuela! What are you doing here?”
She comes in and hugs me. “Can’t I visit my little sister?”
“Where’s your handsome husband?”
“Downstairs talking to Mama and trying to steal a taste of what she’s cooking, I’m sure.” She smells the perfume in the bottle on my dresser. “Is this new? I like it.”
I take the bottle from her and set it down. “Did you want something?”
“Just to talk.” Her eyes take in my cotton skirt and blouse. “Is that what you’re wearing to dinner?”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Nothing.” She strolls into my closet and starts flipping through hangers.
I turn away and swipe some mascara over my lashes. In the reflection, I see Consuela come out holding a dress on a hanger.
“You should wear this one tonight.”
“Why?” I frown, suspicious of her interest. “Since when do you care what I wear to family dinner?”
“Tonight is special.”
I lower the mascara wand. “Why is tonight special?”
“Well… um, the cousins will all be here, and it’s my first time home in months. Please wear it for me?”
“If I do, will you quit nagging me?”
“If you let me do your hair.”
“Why the sudden interest in me?”
She comes over to me and brushes a lock of my hair back. “Because you’re my little sister, and believe it or not I’ve missed you, you little pain-in-the-ass.”
“There she is. I thought for a minute you’d turned into a different person.”
She smiles, searching my eyes. “I really do love you, Luisa. I always have. And I know I’ve given you a hard time some days, but I hope you know I just want the best for you.”
“Okay, you’re being weird again.”
She hugs me. “I love you, baby sis.”
Reluctantly, my arms come around her. “I love you, too.”
“Now, change into that other dress.”
Half an hour later, I’m in the pretty powder blue satin dress that Consuela chose for me, and my hair is swept up on one side, held with a sparkly barrette, the other side falling in soft waves over my shoulder. I stare in the mirror. I look pretty.
“Here. One last thing.” She unclasps the heart necklace she wears and fastens it around my neck.
“Consuela, really?” It’s the necklace I’ve always loved, the one she’d never let me borrow.
“Really. I want you to have it.”
“Okay, what’s up? Something’s going on.”
Her eyes travel over me, and they glaze. “My little sister is growing up.” Then, she threads our fingers together and walks down the stairs with me.
I can hear a lot of voices. My Tia Maria’s voice is loud, my uncle Tony’s laughter, the sounds of children.
When we get to the bottom of the stairs, Consuela leads me into the living room, and there, standing in the middle of the room in a black suit, is Mateo. The room is filled with people, and I see his parents and his brothers are even here.
Suddenly my sister backs away, and all eyes in the room are on me.
Mateo smiles. “You look beautiful, Luisa.”
What. Is. Happening?
Then Mateo digs in his slacks pocket and drops to one knee, holding out a ring box.
My hand slaps over my mouth, and my stomach churns.
Don’t be sick. Don’t be sick. Please God, don’t let me be sick.
“Luisa, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” He pops open the box, revealing a gorgeous ring sparkling from a velvet lining.
Everyone in the room is staring at me. My mother, my father, my sister, aunts, uncles, cousins.
I feel faint and sway. My father and uncle catch me before I slide to the floor.
The room spins, and everything is a blur. The next thing I know, I’m sitting in a velvet over-stuffed armchair, and there’s a ring on my finger. I don’t even remember saying yes.
I must have. Everyone is smiling and laughing.
My mother looks concerned, and my sister kneels at my side.
“Champagne,” someone calls out. “We need champagne.”
“Are you okay, Luisa?” Mateo asks softly.
I nod. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. The room started spinning.”
“She’s overwhelmed by such a beautiful ring and the man she’s going to marry,” my father says. “She’ll be okay.” He pats my mother’s shoulders.
Consuela fans my face. “Perhaps some water.”
A moment later, her husband appears at her shoulder with a glass, and she passes it to me. “You’re probably dehydrated. I’m sure that’s it.”
My eyes connect with hers, and something passes between us, and suddenly I feel like she knows.
How could she?
My eyes drop to her stomach, and she rubs a palm over it. Does she know because she’s pregnant, too?
Oh, God. “I need some air.”
“Of course, baby girl,” she whispers, then turns. “Mateo, take her out to the porch for some air.”
He pulls me to my feet, and I slip my hand onto his arm.
Once we’re on the porch, he walks me to a rocking chair.
“Sit. I don’t want you fainting again.”
I lower into it. I don’t know if being alone on the porch with Mateo is better than being in that crowded room.
He squats in front of me. “Are you okay?”
“How long have you had this planned?”
“Luisa, the truth is… Ruiz came to see me last night. He told me you’ve been seeing another guy. Is that true?”
“So, that’s what this is about?”
His head drops, and then he stands, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I never thought anything like this would happen. You and me? We were always meant to be together. You know that. Why are you fighting it?”
“Do you love me, Mateo?”
“I care about you. I’m fond of you. You’re a good girl, Luisa, and you’ll make a fine wife.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“What does love have to do with it?”
“Everything.”
“I’ll make you a good husband. I’ll give you a good life. You’re the perfect partner for me. In time, those feelings will come, just like they did for my parents and for your parents.”
“You’re so calm and businesslike about this. Your cousin caught me with another man. Doesn’t that bother you? Do you not feel jealous?”
“Of course I do. Do you think I want it known my wife chose another man?”
Now his anger reveals itself.
He drags a hand through his hair and takes a deep breath. It’s like he’s making a business deal.
“I can’t blame you. You’re young. We both are. Of course other men find you attractive. But now is the time for us to settle into the life that has always been planned for us.”
“Is there no one else you are interested in? No one you feel you could really love?”
He hesitates, and suddenly I feel he does have feelings for some other girl.
I surge to my feet. “Mateo, if there is someone else, you should go after her.”
“No.” His response is sharp. “It’s you I want for a wife. My father approves of you.”
“He probably wouldn’t if Ruiz talks to him.”
“That won’t happen. Ruiz has sworn his secrecy to me. He will never speak of this again, but we need to plan our wedding as soon as possible.”
“What’s the rush?”
His eyes drop to my stomach, and he walks close to speak in hushed tones. “If there is a baby…
“A baby?” I’m stricken by his suggestion and immediately start to count back the weeks to my last period. My God, is it true? The nausea, my emotions… it all makes sense.
“I’m not saying you would do that, but if you did, I would raise it as my own.”
“I’m not pregnant.”
“Are you absolutely sure?”
My face flushes, and I cannot lie to him. He’s been nothing but good to me. “No.”
“Then we will get married as soon as possible.”
“Why? Why would you want this?”
He cups my cheek. “You can’t possibly want that other man, the one Ruiz told me rides a motorcycle, the one who belongs to that gang of outlaws.”
“Mateo—”
“Tell me you don’t want to throw your life away, Luisa.”
Tears spill down my cheeks.
“So it’s true.” His jaw tightens, and he’s silent for a long moment.
Then he takes me in his arms, and I sob against his suit jacket.
“Hush. Everything will be fine, Luisa. We’ll tell them we don’t want a big wedding.
We’ll plan it as soon as possible. We’ll say we can’t wait to be together and start our life.
I’ll be a good husband, and I’ll love this child as my own. ”
“You’re too good to be true, Mateo. I don’t understand why you would do this for me.”
“I care about you, Luisa. I always have. Perhaps it isn’t love, but it will be enough.
I’ll give you everything you want, and we’ll be happy.
Everyone will say what a beautiful couple we make, and soon they’ll say what a beautiful family we make.
I’ll speak with your father right now. You must see it’s the only way. Yes?”
I nod against his chest.
“Good. It’s settled then. You have nothing more to worry about. I’ll handle everything. You just worry about buying a beautiful dress.”