Chapter Twenty
The air was alive with vibrant energy as the sun shone on the Canal, casting a warm golden hue over the bustling Cinco de Mayo festival.
Brightly colored papel picado fluttered in the gentle breeze, and the intoxicating aroma of sizzling street tacos and elote filled the air.
Families, friends, and couples wandered through the streets, laughing and enjoying the festivities that had taken over the town park.
It was so heartwarming to see a community that suffered so much come together and be part of so much joy.
Amidst the crowd, Alma strolled through the maze of booths, her smile reflecting the joy of the celebration around her.
After she had gotten over her initial anger of being manipulated into attending, she’d looked forward to this event for weeks, and now that it was finally here, the anticipation had been worth it.
The journey through the festival was a sensory delight.
The measured beat of live mariachi music enticed her to watch a group of dancers in a lively circle, swaying and twirling to the infectious rhythm.
Kids’ laughter mingled with the music as the little ones attempted the intricate steps, occasionally stepping on one another’s toes, but always recovering with grace.
Alma checked on her stand. The town had approved her liquor license for the event, and she had created a small tequila-tasting booth that also served her famous spicy margaritas.
She mixed up some cocktails and helped her bartender.
Carlos had told her that they had already raised over one thousand dollars to support the community’s programs.
Jaime walked up to the booth. She hadn’t seen him since the night they’d spent together. He hadn’t reached out and she hadn’t seen a reason to either since she knew she’d see him here.
She wanted to ask him to go to Mexico with her.
She said hi to José, who filled her in on the sales. Then Alma turned her attention to Jaime.
“Hey,” Jaime offered with a head nod.
“Hey.”
“How’s it going over here?”
“Good. We’ve raised some money for the community.”
“That’s great. It’s a wonderful event.”
“And you? What does my brother have you roped into?”
Jaime laughed. “It’s not too bad. Julieta has a taco stand, and Ramón, Enrique, and I are judging some Miss Canal contest. But I guess more women than registered showed up, probably to meet Ramón.”
Alma laughed. “Ha, just Ramón? You’re the one with a zillion followers.”
“Alma, you know that means nothing. You’re the only one I want following me.” He stepped closer, caging her in on the outside of the stand. “About the other night—”
She held up her hand like a stop sign. “Don’t complete that sentence. We don’t need to define what happened.”
Jaime sighed.
Was that a hint of disappointment from him? Did he want to clarify their relationship?
Well, she didn’t. “For now, I just want to focus on my tequila.” Though she wanted to ask him to go to Mexico with her, now wasn’t the right time.
It was so crowded, and they were in public.
But being that close to him, with uncertainty in the air, was unbearable.
Besides, he lived a million miles away—and there was no guarantee he wouldn’t break her heart again.
And she wasn’t even sure she wanted to be in a relationship. That critic had printed the review, and she was already fielding calls from press.
She was going to mention that to Jaime, but she had already thanked him the other night.
“Got it. Sorry I bothered you.” Jaime walked away toward his brothers. She could see them look at her and then pat him on the back. Then Carlos escorted them to the stage to judge the contest.
This was for the best. She just wanted this event to end, and then she would ask him about Mexico.
If he said yes, they could have a great time on their trip, and then when they returned, Jaime would leave Marin.
And who knew what would happen after that?
But Alma couldn’t give him the power to break her heart again.
As the sun dipped lower, the lights strung across the park began to twinkle, illuminating the festivities.
The scent of churros and tacos mingled in the air, making her mouth water.
She wanted to try Julieta’s famous tacos but didn’t want to have a conversation with her about Jaime, so she sampled other delicacies as she walked along.
She bit into a crispy churro, the sugar rush taking over her body.
She sat on a secluded bench behind a vendor. There—a moment of peace.
After the contest concluded, Jaime found her stuffing her face with a tamale.
“Can I sit here?”
“Sure. How was it?”
“It was fine. Hard to choose. So many great women.”
“Isn’t that your motto?”
Jaime shook his head. “It’s not like that. I can’t even think of any girl but you.”
“Really? I haven’t heard from you this week.”
He clenched his fist. “I didn’t call because I wanted to give you space. I’m having real feelings for you, but I am leaving. I was trying to do the gentlemanly thing, so we don’t complicate this further. I thought I could do the fling thing but I’m incapable with you.”
Alma exhaled. “I’m sorry. You’re right. It still hurt. I like you again.”
“I miss you. Hey, I’ll be right back.” He got up and ordered them two cups of Mexican hot chocolate.
He handed her a mug. “Do you still like this?”
“I do. Thank you.”
“I remember your sweet tooth.”
They sipped their drinks, and she enjoyed the moment of quiet amidst the festive chaos.
The night was still young, and the warmth from the drink calmed Alma’s nerves.
As the main stage came to life with a captivating dance performance, Alma found herself drawn to the spectacle. She watched in awe as the dancers moved with precision and passion, their colorful costumes swirling with each graceful twirl.
As the final notes of the performance echoed through the stage, they clapped.
The announcer spoke in Spanish that they would be opening the floor for anyone to dance.
Jaime stood up and offered his hand to Alma, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “May I have this dance?” he asked, a playful grin tugging at his lips.
Alma’s heart skipped a beat, and she accepted his hand as her cheeks warmed.
“How did you understand that?”
“I’ve been trying, Alma. Duolingo helps. But I do know some words. I heard baila and the notes of a song.”
She laughed. He led her to the growing crowd on the makeshift dance floor, swaying to a slower, more romantic tune.
With each step, her body pressed against his in a gentle embrace, and the world around them faded away.
It was as if they were the only two people in the universe, lost in the music and the magic of the moment.
But she knew he would be leaving in two days.
She needed to mention Mexico now.
But what did he mean about having real feelings for her? She didn’t want to get hurt.
As the song came to an end, their foreheads touched, their breaths intermingling. “You’re an amazing dancer,” Alma whispered, her voice a soft melody in the night.
Jaime smiled, his eyes holding hers. “Only because I have the most wonderful partner.”
They shared a lingering gaze, the connection between them deepening with every passing second. The stars above seemed to shine a little brighter, as if the universe itself acknowledged the love blossoming between them.
The festival continued around them, but in that singular moment, it was only them.
Their hearts beat in time with the music, and as they held each other close, the world seemed to fall away, leaving only the promise of a love and the threat of farewell that had taken root amidst the festivities of Cinco de Mayo.
At the end of the night, she worked up the nerve to ask him to go to Mexico with her.
He walked her to her car.
She opened up her mouth to speak, but he laid a simple kiss on her lips.
“Good night, Alma.”
—
Alma stood on the balcony of her oceanfront condo, her heart torn between nostalgia and uncertainty. A gentle breeze tugged at her hair, as if urging her to let go of the past and embrace the unknown.
Her phone buzzed on the table nearby—a text from Jaime. The message was simple, yet it stirred a whirlwind of emotions within her: Meet me at Caffé Acri in an hour. I have something to ask you.
Alma’s mind raced as memories of their time together flooded her thoughts.
They had shared laughter, dreams, and a love that had once seemed unbreakable.
But life had taken them down different paths, and their love had given way to heartache.
He was leaving. Tomorrow. And she was staying.
She had decided after the festival against asking him to go with her to Mexico.
Getting even closer to him seemed like a supremely bad idea.
As she scrolled through her phone, her mind churned with questions. What could he possibly want? Why was he reaching out after he had given her such a quick goodbye last night?
It had been so abrupt. Just like the time he dumped her in college.
Alma stood before the mirror, adjusting the sundress she had chosen for the meeting. Her heart fluttered like a butterfly, uncertain whether to soar or to retreat.
She walked down the street to the café. The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the melodies of quiet conversations.
Alma entered the café, her eyes searching the small marble tables with wooden chairs for Jaime.
And there he was, sitting at her favorite corner table like he could sense which one it was, his eyes lighting up as he saw her.
Jaime stood and pulled out the chair opposite him, a gesture she remembered all too well.
“Alma,” he said softly, his voice tinged with a mix of nerves and familiarity. “Thank you for coming.”
She took her seat, her gaze meeting his as a storm of emotions raged beneath the surface. “You wanted to talk. What is it, Jaime? You already said goodbye.”
He looked down at his hands, fingers tracing the rim of his coffee cup, as if he was searching for the right words. “I know it’s been awkward since I came up here, and I understand if this is uncomfortable. But I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately, about us, about what we once had.”
Alma’s heart raced, the memories of their love resurfacing with a bittersweet intensity. “Jaime, we both know that what we had is in the past.”
He nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. “You’re right. But what if the future still has something to offer us? I’ve grown. Or I’m trying to grow. What if we could create new memories, ones that reflect who we are now?”
Confusion gnawed at Alma as she struggled to comprehend his words. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
He took a deep breath, his eyes holding a vulnerability she had not seen in a long time. “I want to take you on a trip, Alma. Zoila called me. She told me she’s not going to Mexico with you. Let’s go on a romantic getaway to Mexico, just like we had always talked about.”
Alma’s heart pounded, torn between the traces of their past and the reality of today. “Jaime, we’re not the same people we were back then. Our lives have changed. And it won’t be all fun. I’m going to do some work also.”
He reached across the table, his hand gently covering hers.
“I know that. We can do whatever you want to do. But maybe we owe it to ourselves to see if there’s still something between us that could actually work.
A chance to rediscover each other, without the weight of expectations or the mistakes of the past.”
Tears welled up in Alma’s eyes, her emotions swirling in a tempestuous dance.
“I’m scared, Jaime. Scared to open old wounds, scared to hope for something that might not be there.
Last week stirred up all these emotions I thought I’d buried.
I don’t want to get more attached to you and have you leave again. You could dump me again.”
“I won’t. I promise.” His thumb brushed away a tear that had escaped her eye. “I’m scared too. But I believe in second chances, in the power of love to heal and to transform. I want to change. Will you take a chance with me?”
As the café bustled around them, Alma’s mind raced through memories of their shared history.
She looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity and yearning reflected there.
Could she open her heart to the possibility of rekindling a love that had once burned so brightly? Not just a fling, but a future?
And there were so many unanswered questions. He lived in San Diego. Would he move?
Doubtful.
But maybe they could try. No expectations.
With a deep breath, she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “Okay, Jaime. I’ll go with you to Mexico.”
His face lit up. “Really?”
She stroked his hand. “Let’s have fun. No expectations, but I’m open to whatever happens. And Jaime, you can drink and learn more about tequila.”
Jaime took her hand. “I’ll tell you what will happen. You will fall madly in love with me again.”
She laughed. “We will see. But we should go and have fun. Thank you. I didn’t want to go alone.”
His face lit up with a mixture of relief and hope, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “Thank you. I promise, whatever happens, this trip will be a journey of rediscovery, for both of us.”
As they left the café, the sun sat high in the sky, casting a warm and reassuring light on the path ahead. Alma felt a mixture of uncertainty and excitement, as the echoes of yesterday merged with the promise of a new beginning.