Chapter 3
Triana~
Thursday nights were family night, and if Tomasco and I didn’t make it to dinner at our parents, then it would upset my mother greatly, and while I thought that it was a bit of overkill, it wasn’t worth hearing my father berate us for the next two days.
Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if he cared about our family dinners, so much as that he didn’t want to hear my mother’s complaints.
Now, while that might sound like I didn’t enjoy time with my family, that wasn’t true.
I just didn’t think that dinner every week was necessary when we both worked for them and saw them all the damn time already.
Seriously, some people would consider us too close, and I could admit to feeling like that often at times.
After helping my mother set the table, we all sat down, then my father recited gracias a Dios before we began helping ourselves to dinner.
With this being family night, my mother usually made enough to feed the whole neighborhood, arming us with leftovers for days.
We were all far from starving, but that didn’t stop her from always making too much.
“Well, I ran into Lordes Ramirez at the store the other day, and she mention how her youngest daughter is engaged,” my mother remarked, and because she usually had an ulterior motive for her gossip, I could only wonder if this was going to be about me or Tomasco.
“Good for her,” my father replied. “It’s a good feeling when all your children are finally settled.”
I shot my brother a look, and like a coward, he kept his head down, shoving rice in his mouth.
While my brother had a girlfriend, it was more about convenience than it was serious for him, and by all accounts, Veronica felt the same way.
So, if this was my parents’ subtle hint for something more, they were wasting their time.
At the height of the new movement, religion had been re-introduced with a vengeance, and with Rancher Hills being predominantly Catholic, the citizens of our community didn’t divorce, and so I couldn’t see Tomasco marrying anyone that he wasn’t completely serious about.
“Yes, it is,” my mother agreed. “Of course, I couldn’t let her think that Triana and Tomasco were still running the streets, and so I reminded her of how Tomasco has been dating Veronica steadily for a few months already.”
“Christ, Mom,” Tomasco grumbled.
“Watch your mouth,” Dad chastised. “There is nothing wrong with your mother bragging about her children.”
“I’m a grown man, Dad,” Tomasco pointed out. “I don’t need Mom gossiping about me.”
“Twenty-six is hardly a grown man,” Dad argued. “You’ve still a lot to learn, son.”
“I never said that I was wise in my old age, Dad,” Tomasco retorted. “I’m just pointing out that my life doesn’t need to be fodder for neighborhood gossip.”
“Oh, so, I guess speaking fondly of your kids is no longer acceptable,” my mother huff, and it was a swift reminder that emotional manipulation was a real thing.
“That’s not what he said,” I told her, defending him. “He’s just asking that you respect his privacy, which includes his relationship status.”
“Well, since we’re on the subject, Romelio Fuentez asked me about you,” my dad said, pausing my mother’s dramatics. “He’s interested in marriage, and since we’ve known each other’s families for years, I see no reason why you and Romelio won’t pair wonderfully.”
It was a good thing that I didn’t have anything in my mouth, or else I would have choked on my food at such a statement.
While it was true that my family and the Fuentezes had been family friends for years, Romelio and I had never had a relationship beyond that.
Not once had we ever dated, and I’d never had any interest in him in that way.
When I thought of Romelio, I thought of a pseudo-distant cousin situation, and his interest in me was surprising me just as much as my father’s opinion on the matter.
“I don’t think of Romelio like that,” I told him when I finally found my voice.
“Well, why not?’ he asked obtusely. “He’s a fine young man, and he’s practically family already.”
“Which would make a relationship with him feel like incest,” I countered.
“Triana,” my mother gasped. “Do not speak of such things.”
I could feel my temper threatening to get the better of me, so I did my best to rein it in. “I am not interested in Romelio,” I repeated. “So, I will not be marrying him for any reason.”
“Because you can’t grow to love him?” my father questioned.
What in the hell?
“Wh...what?” I stammered, feeling flummoxed.
“He’s a good man, Triana,” my father repeated. “He’s smart, works hard, and I’d feel comfortable knowing that you have someone like that looking out for you.”
“You guys can’t be serious,” my brother finally chimed in. “You can’t honestly be asking Triana to marry someone that she doesn’t love. I mean, you just can’t be.”
“What better than to marry your friend?” my mother asked, finally shedding light on the ambush that this was. “Friendship often leads to love, and it’s a better option than letting your hormones dictate your future.”
“Are you guys even listening to yourselves?” I practically squawked. “Are you seriously suggesting that I marry a man that I’m not even attracted to in hopes of eventually falling in love with him?” I looked back and forth between my parents. “You cannot be serious.”
“You’re twenty-four,” my mother remarked like I was already knocking on seventy’s door. “It’s time to start thinking about having a family.”
While I’d never had anything against having a family, incredulousness had me in its grip.
“Who ever said that I wanted one?” I shot back, not caring how personally they might take it.
“Who ever said that I wanted a husband or kids? I’ve worked really hard for my degree, and I’m not going to just set it aside because you think it’s time that I get married. ”
“Well, of course, you’re going to have children,” my mother snapped. “How can you even say such a thing?”
“It’s okay if she doesn’t want to have kids,” my brother said, trying to defend me. “And if she doesn’t, then the last thing that she should do is have them, don’t you think?”
“That’s enough,” my father bit out. “We are not going to discuss you two not having children as if that’s even an option.”
I had no idea where this was coming from, but I was not going to allow it to continue.
While I was grateful for everything that my parents had done and continued to do for me, the price for that gratefulness wasn’t my future.
I was not going to marry a man that I didn’t love or have children that I might not want just to satisfy their opinion of what was expected from their children.
The new movement had already taken so many choices away from me, so I was not about to allow my parents to take more of them.
I love them, and I respected them, but I was not about to let them guilt me into a life that I didn’t want, no matter how much it might hurt them.
“And I’m not going to discuss how you two think that you have the right to dictate our futures,” I fired back. “On what planet do you guys think that you have the right to tell us who we should marry and whether or not to have children?”
“We are your parents,” my father snapped. “We are your parents, and not only have we provided a good life for you, but I’d like to remind you that we still make your lives possible. Do not forget, you work for us, Triana. We pay your salaries.”
“Then I quit,” I practically snarled, making my brother step in.
“Okay, whoa...hold up,” Tomasco said to the table. “Let’s...I think it’s time for everyone to calm down a bit.”
Before either of my parents could say anything, I said, “Maybe you’re right, and I think it’d be best if I left.”
“You will not leave-”
“I am leaving,” I repeated, cutting my father off. “It’d be neither productive or comfortable if I stay, and I’m not interested in experiencing any more of whatever this is.”
“You’re being disrespectful,” my mother huffed, and it took everything in me not to scream at the top of my lungs.
“No, mother,” I replied coolly. “Disrespectful would be making decisions about my life without consulting me, and then going on to dismiss my wants completely.”
“Triana, you will sit and finish your dinner,” my father ordered, but I had more backbone than that.
“No, I will not,” I told him. “I’m going home.”
Before anyone could say anything more, I stood from my seat, then left the kitchen, stopping only long enough to grab my purse and coat.
Once I was in my car, I called Sonia to schedule a girls’ night, ASAP.
Luckily for me, Sonia was always down for some drinks, and so we quickly made a date for tomorrow night, and I couldn’t wait.
Finally heading home, as childish as it was, I ignored my parents’ phone calls and texts, having had enough of them for one night.