21. EPILOGUE
Abuela Stella
Five
years later
J avi and Charlotte went out for their anniversary tonight, and I’m babysitting their little ones.
Gabriel was born almost exactly nine months after their wedding. He’s four. With Ana following a little over a year later, she’s three. Emma came next and is now two years old. I figure it won’t be long before Javier has his way and gives me another great grandchild. They are just as in love now as when they were newlyweds.
“Bisabuela, tell us a story about Mamá and Papi,” shouts Gabriel.
“Okay, Mijo, lets crawl into bed and I will tell you about when I knew Papi was in love with your mamá.”
As I get all the kids into a large bed I have in my guest room and tuck them in, I sit on the bedside and tell them about their parents.
“You know Bisabuela loves to read, and your mamá owns a bookstore. Well, your papi had seen your mother and started watching her. When I wanted to find a good bookstore with the kind of books I enjoy, he thought he was being sneaky by suggesting your mamá’s store. I already knew about him being infatuated with your mother.
“I caught on quickly because I saw him staring at her. He was distracted, and you could tell he had something on his mind all the time. One night, I even bribed my guard and driver to follow him when he was at your mother’s house. He would stand over her at night and keep her safe.
“The first time your mamá saw your papi, she couldn’t look away, and neither could he. I knew at that moment that they belonged together and started to plant little seeds in talks I had with your father. I would tell him how sweet the lady who owned the bookstore was and how nice she was to me.
“Your father was so taken with your mother. She looked like a beautiful princess but was very alone. Now, she has our family to love her and will never be alone again. She is our La Reina.”
As I look down at the three beautiful babies tucked into the bed, I form the signs of a cross and say a prayer that they grow up safe and strong. Javier and Charlotte are the best parents. I’m so grateful that he is nothing like his father.
I don’t know what went wrong with my son, but he was not raised to abuse his wife and son the way he did. It hurt to lose him, but I knew he couldn’t be allowed to live. Had Javier not put a bullet in his head, I would have done it myself. That man was not the child that I loved and raised.
Javi has yet to admit to me that it was him who took his father’s life, but I know it was. I don’t blame him. In fact, it’s something I should have done long before he was grown and had to endure so much pain. I blame myself for not being able to pull the trigger every day.
I thank God every day that he found Charlotte. I think she’s what keeps him from losing his humanity. The love he has for her and his children warms my heart, and I’m grateful to be a witness to their love.