Chapter Ten #3
“It’s like a set from a movie. You better believe I’m stuffing some of those chocolate croissants in my bag for later, so come to my cabin if you want one.” She rushes to the bar to grab a rosé.
“Goddamn it.”
I turn around to see Valentina staring behind me. I turn around and see a line of tents set up and people walking into them to change and shower.
“I thought you got rid of those,” I whisper to her.
“I did.”
“Oh my gosh, you guys will not believe this,” Daniel says. “I came up here early this morning to make sure everything was all set for the brunch, and all of the tents and showers were gone.”
Valentina and I exchange a quick look.
“Well, I happened to find them over there in the woods and put them all back. Must have been a gust of wind or something that blew them away. Could you imagine if they weren’t here?
It would have completely ruined Sofia’s vision for the brunch!
” He smirks and flips his imaginary hair.
“I literally just saved the day. Hopefully, the bridal shower tomorrow runs more smoothly.”
“Yeah, that would have been terrible,” Valentina says between clenched teeth. “We should get changed, Isa. So glad you were here to save the wedding, Daniel.” She grabs my hand and pulls me toward the tents, where I wait for the next available shower.
When it’s finally my turn to step into the shower to get this mud off, the warm water envelops me, easing the tension from my muscles after that hike.
I can already tell I’m going to be sore tomorrow.
The steam rises, surrounding me in a cocoon of warmth and relaxation.
I close my eyes, allowing the water to beat down on my skin, washing away the mud and sweat of the hike.
After drying off and changing into my slip dress and flats, I head over to Valentina, who has already taken up residence on one of the seats.
I notice Silvana waving at Valentina to sit next to her and see Valentina shake her head.
I sit down next to her and can almost feel Silvana burning my skin with her glare.
“Your ex doesn’t like me very much,” I say.
“You mean your cousin?” She smirks. “Yeah, she’s intense. We dated for a summer. It was just a fling. This was also, like, five years ago.”
“What happened?”
“She just became too much. We weren’t on the same page. Always texting me. Getting mad if I spent too much time with Sofia. Complaining I didn’t give her enough attention.”
“So, like a normal girlfriend?” I laugh. “It sounds like you were just maybe caught up on someone else. As we both know.”
Valentina pauses, a flicker of something crossing her face before she shrugs. “Maybe,” she says, her tone softer. For a moment, she almost seems lost in thought, as if there’s more she could say but won’t.
Maria sits down to my right, which relieves me from the daggers Silvana is sharpening to throw in my direction soon.
Rosita sits in front of me, next to Maritza and Sofia.
Luciano sits on the other side with Daniel, the groomsmen, and Alessandro.
I’ll have to find a way to get to him this week, but I can’t stop thinking about the lipstick stain.
Maritza is wearing a bold red lip, just like Valentina said she often does. An empty feeling resurfaces in my gut. The air feels especially thin as I try to take a deep breath.
As everyone begins to dive into the array of foods on the table, I think of ways to bring up my father in conversation without appearing like a mood killer. No one wants to hear the dead-dad trope while enjoying a fresh mimosa.
“So Tía,” I say to Maritza. “How was it growing up with my mom?”
“Que cosa? What do you mean? She was a pain in my culo. Always wanted what I had.”
Rosita laughs. “Now you’ve got her started.”
“It’s true, and you know it too, Rosita.
Every time we had something new and shiny, Mariposa wanted it too.
Or she wanted a better version of it. It was so annoying!
Maybe it’s because she was the baby. Maybe it’s because I’m only her half sister, so I spent most of my time with my father.
Whatever it was, I was over it. Nothing was ever good enough for her. ”
Damn, I clearly struck a nerve.
“That sounds a lot like her.” I laugh awkwardly.
“Maritza,” Rosita shouts. “Be nice. That’s your niece.”
Maritza looks over at me almost apologetically.
“I’m sorry, Isa. I know she’s your mom.” She turns to Rosita. “But she’s my sister, and I’ve known her longer. A pain in my damn culo.”
We all laugh.
“So you must have been happy when she met my father, right? Keep her busy?” I pry.
“That shotgun wedding? I wish that were the case. Her getting together with your father was the worst thing that could have happened to this family. It brought nothing but drama. She was just greedy. Mari wanted everything. She even—”
“Maritza!” Rosita shouts more sternly.
Maritza looks over at her and then back at me again.
“I mean, not the worst thing to happen to the family, mija. You’re here now.” She grins, but it feels forced.
Silvana holds back a snicker, but I can hear it escape slightly, almost as if she did it on purpose. My ears feel hot. Did Maritza say shotgun wedding? I was right.
“She just…caused a lot of drama. That’s all I’m saying.” Maritza sips her mimosa and looks away.
“Mija, don’t listen to your Tía. You know how she is. Your mother and father were great together. No one had a problem with it. We loved Roberto.”
Maritza scoffs.
Her lipstick leaves a stain on her glass. It looks nearly identical to the stain I have on the note, but not an exact match. Still, I can’t eliminate her as a suspect.
“Oh God,” I whisper to Valentina.
“That was a train wreck, wasn’t it? What’s up?”
“I think my father had a love affair with my aunt.”