Chapter 11 #2
“Oh, I like her very much. She’s good for you,” my mom says with a wink, her voice almost at a squeal because she’s so excited about the possibility of Tania and me together.
I’m not going to add fuel to the fire by letting her know we’ve been spending a lot of time lately getting closer, sharing meals, dancing, and snuggling.
“I feel left out. I need to meet your roommate, your mother keeps raving about her. Bring her for dinner soon, ok?” It’s not really a request from my dad, more of a demand to meet the woman I’m living with.
I guess it’s time for her to face the Hernandez clan soon.
This is the segue I need to ask my dad about helping Tania’s foster sister.
“So I actually came by because Tania could use some help. Her foster sister is her only remaining family, and she’s in jail for aggravated assault.
A man at a bar kept groping her, and when he refused to back off, she beat him up pretty badly.
She gets triggered by unwanted touch, and I don’t even want to think about why.
The guy is well connected, and her court appointed attorney was useless, so she got jail with the maximum sentence.
Do you think there’s anything that can be done legally to lessen her sentence or get the charges lowered, considering she was assaulted and provoked? ” He rubs his chin thoughtfully.
“It sounds like she needs a proper defense attorney to talk to, this isn’t my area of expertise.
My friend Damian from law school does a lot of work for women who have been assaulted but aren’t believed.
I could see if he’d be able to help her.
He even does pro bono work if they need it and he has the capacity. ”
“Papi, that would be perfect.”
“I’ll call him when we’re done with dinner and let you know what he says later.”
“Thank you,” I tell him earnestly.
“Eat up while you tell me more about this wonderful woman you’re living with whom your mother loves so much already.”
We finish our meal while I tell him some bare bones details about Tania and how if she leaves or things don’t work out, she and I will have to work out a joint custody agreement for the cats.
I’m getting really attached to them. We never had pets growing up since my parents worked long hours, coupled with the fact that both Lucia and Anita are allergic to any type of pet dander.
I’ve always loved animals though, and now the thought of not living with Gomez and Morticia makes my chest tighten.
Almost as much as the idea of not living with Tania anymore, which basically makes my heart want to crack in two.
My parents press me to make a family dinner with her happen, hopefully next Saturday.
I feel lighter when I leave. My dad and I starting to get our issues talked out has me hopeful, although we still have some more conversations to come about how his comments affected me.
When I get home, I find Tania on the couch in a threadbare t-shirt and leggings, laptop on the table, and surrounded by the two furballs.
Her face is bare, and her hair looks damp all twisted up in a messy bun.
The way she is so painfully adorable, comfortable, and at home here makes my heart flip.
She looks up with a smile designed to melt me when she hears me come in.
“Hey, how was it at your parents’?”
“It was great! They fed me of course, and I had a good talk about a few things with my dad.” She sits up straighter, those warm chocolate eyes curious and hopeful.
“Really? Did you work things out more about his expectations for you?”
“Yeah, that was a shock. I’ve never heard him say he’s wrong about something but he said it was wrong of him to make those comments.”
“That’s great!” Her face completely lights up with genuine enthusiasm when she says it.
“He’s also bummed he hasn’t met you yet, would you want to come to a Hernandez family dinner in the near future?” Her eyes widen.
“I thought my ears were burning,” she jokes.
Then her face goes solemn as she worries her plush bottom lip with her teeth.
I barely resist the urge to pull it free and run my thumb over it.
“I’ve never been to a big family dinner.
I hope I even know what to say to your parents and sisters,” she tells me quietly.
“If it’s too much that is no problem at all.
We can wait until you’re comfortable, or you obviously don’t ever have to meet my crazy family if you don’t want to.
You know my mom already loves you. The others will, too.
They just want to meet my roommate that my mom raves about so much.
What do you say?” She chuckles at my blabbering eagerness.
“That would be fun. I’d love to meet them, too.”
“They were thinking next Saturday, so I meant it when I said the near future. They don’t mess around. Taran and Lyra are probably going to come too. Would that be ok?”
“Sure! I’ll be meeting everyone, then.” Her voice is now a little shaky and nervous.
“It’s very low key, and always a lot of fun. My sisters and Lyra will have you dancing and helping to make the pupusas,” I reassure her. She audibly gasps.
“I freaking love pupusas.” I can’t help it, because that sentence is complete music to my ears. I reach out and cup her soft cheek with the biggest, goofiest smile on my face.
“Then you are in luck, because the ones we make are the absolute best. Taran always makes the curtido, because he’s not allowed to cook in our house after the almost fire of 2012, and I make the salsa roja.
My mami makes the filling and dough, the ladies form them, and my dad cooks them off on our griddle.
It’s a whole assembly line project.” Her eyes are sparkling with happiness now, I could easily drown in their chocolate depths.
My hand is still on her cheek and she hasn’t moved away from it.
“I am so excited to learn how to make them, you know my cooking skills are limited to basically pasta and chicken dishes. My repertoire needs expanding,” she gushes.
Just then my phone rings with my dad’s ringtone.
“Hang on one second, it’s my dad,” I tell her apologetically as I go to answer it.
My free hand moves to her shoulder to keep her with me since this is about her sister.
“Hiya, Papi, long time no talk.”
“Wiseass. I just spoke to Damian. He thinks he could help Tania’s foster sister and he’d be willing to do it pro bono. Can you and Tania work with him to set up a time that they can meet? I’ll send you his information.”
“Of course we’ll get it set up. This means everything, Papi, thank you so much. I’ll let Tania know right now.” She looks at me with a divot in her brow, her head tilted in confusion. I tell my Dad thank you again and that I’ll talk to him soon before I fully turn to her.
“What did you do?” Her question is playful but also cautious.
“At dinner I asked my dad if he knew any good defense attorneys who would be able to help Celeste. His friend Damian from law school specializes in defending women who have been assaulted and is willing to look at her case pro bono. What do you think about getting him up to NY to see her soon and get her story?”
Her eyes fill up but she doesn’t say a word. All of the emotion is in her face as she launches herself into my arms, throwing her arms around my neck, and kissing me soundly on the cheek.
“Thank you,” she whispers into my ear, clutching the hair at the nape of my neck as she hugs me fiercely.