37. Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Jake
I stood by the big double doors to Remington Estate, partially hidden by the stone pillars arching around the entrance. Vi was in charge of driving her parents in, under the pretense that they lived together, and we had found a special place for our simple dinner.
"I can't wait to see their reaction." Max rubbed his hands together, a charming, playful smile on his face.
He, Javier, Gabe, and I waited for the guests of honor by the door. Across the large hall behind us, Lina and Eva chatted while guarding the entrance to the ballroom.
Behind them, people buzzed about, catching up after years without seeing each other in some cases. Servers walked around offering drinks and finger foods, and laughter exploded randomly like popcorn.
I smiled. "They'll be here any minute now."
"Ope— they're here now!" Gabe made a sign to Lina, and she and Eva closed the doors to the ballroom.
Vi's car made it into the yard, slowly rolling to us. The guys and I waited by the door on the small terrace outside; seeing us would make it seem more of a normal evening. The car parked by the entrance stairs, the big fountain behind it. The four of us went down to meet them; I rushed to open Vi's door while Gabe opened his mom's.
"What a joy to see you all here!" Tía Sonia kissed Gabe on the cheek, and hugged Max and Javier hello since she hadn't seen them in a while longer.
I casually gave Vi a kiss hello, but neither Max or Javier noticed.
"Thank you for joining us for dinner tonight," Tío Raúl said, and he, Vi, and I joined the rest of the group by the stairs. "Did Eva make it, Max?"
"Of course, yes. She wouldn't miss it. We're in awe that there is such a thing as parental figures who made it to forty years together. We want to take notes!"
Tía and tío laughed.
"She and Lina are inside." Gabe ushered everyone into the building with a gesture of his hand.
The group went up the stairs, and onto the welcome hall.
"Such a beautiful place!" Tía Sonia said. "I didn't know they did small family dinners."
"We wanted something special for you." Vi grinned and exchanged a mischievous look with me.
"I hope you enjoy it," Gabe said, and I opened the door wide for them.
We let them go in, and a chorus of excited voices exploded to welcome us in.
"Surprise! Felicitaciones!"
Tío Raúl's mouth hung open, and Tía Sonia gasped. Applause started timidly around us, but soon it boomed through the room. The crowd took over the center of the ballroom, while tables with floral arrangements stood in wait at the sidelines, ready for dinner later.
Hints of ruby red popped around the hall and near us, while different fun sections gave people options: a photo zone with costumes and signs, which would produce two copies, one for the Sotomayors and one for the guests. A big paper frame, showcasing a recent picture of Tío Raúl and Tía Sonia at the lake house, invited everyone to sign it with their name and write a couple of words.
The photos would go to an album, and the frame would be placed on a shadowbox with some souvenirs from the party.
All the way across from the ballroom, a small stage waited for the speech the extended sibling group had prepared.
The people we had organized this for still looked around with eyes open wide; Gabe and Vi were the first to hug them. Max, Javier, and I followed.
"I hope the surprise is justification enough to have hidden this part," Vi said to her parents with a smile.
"You deserve the celebration. I hope you enjoy it," I added.
"Happiest of anniversaries, Mom and Dad." Gabe took Lina's hand, grinning at his parents. "Now come to the front. We have a little speech to share."
We guided them toward the stage; they yelled in delight at some of the faces, and waved at the people they recognized from afar. We had prepared the guests for this, so no one approached to say hello, and they let us set up for the intro uninterrupted.
Tío Raúl and Tía Sonia stood at the feet of the dais, surrounded by people who loved them. The usual culprits, also known as my chosen family, gathered at the platform. A Remington Estate staff member passed a microphone to Gabe, who held a piece of paper in front of him.
He had trouble unfolding it, and Lina helped him. He smiled at the crowd. "I promise we won't take long, but we want to tell Mom and Dad a few things to start with."
His parents gazed at all of us up on the stage, the remnants of surprise still on their features.
Gabe took a deep breath and started reading. "Mom and Dad, everyone up here put work in some way to put this party together for you. We all wanted to participate in showing you, with this simple gesture, how much you mean to us. Words or actions will always feel incomplete to express how grateful we are for the two of you, but we had to try. We hope that seeing the amount of people who appreciate you will give you a little understanding of how much love there is in the world for you and what you have built."
His words had roughened as he read, his emotions showing through. It tightened my throat, too, and I swallowed.
I took the sheet of paper from him. It was my turn.
"Who you are as people, as a couple— it has shaped us. Saved us, at times. All of us count ourselves lucky that your generous hearts welcomed us. That you've shown us what love that endures looks like."
Vi took my hand and I squeezed it hard, pushing aside the realization that my eyes had filled with tears, and that my voice could barely hold back my feelings behind sandpaper.
She took the piece of paper from me and gave me a soft, warm smile. Tío Raúl's eyes were glossy, while Tía Sonia patted at her cheeks to dry the tears falling freely down her face.
Max jumped down the dais and offered her a monogrammed handkerchief, before returning to the platform to hold Eva's hand.
Vi stepped closer to me and grinned at the crowd, and at her parents. "Of all the privileges we hold, having you is the source we will always honor. It's our joy. It's the example we want to follow. Forty years is a feat , and everyone here wants to celebrate you both and this incredible journey you've been on. We love you. Now go mingle with your people. You may find a few surprise visitors around."
Gabe took the mic again. "We love you. Enjoy."
The whole group went down the stairs. The same staff member took the mic back, while the guests of honor hugged Vi, then Gabe, then the rest of us.
"Thank you," Tío Raúl said. "Thank you."
"We love you all, too," Tía Sonia added.
"You can keep the handkerchief." Max grinned. "I hope you like the design I had made for you two."
In ruby red, the letters R Gabe and Lina squeezed us in simple, short hugs. The four of them and Eva broke the group and got lost among family, friends, and guests, but Vi and I stayed in place for a little longer.
I brought her close to me, tucking her against me. I sighed, and dug my nose into her hair.
"Tighter," Vi said.
She gazed up at me, the lights in the ballroom shining in her eyes. A tender smile curled her lips.
I sighed and crushed her to me.
A soft groan escaped her throat. "That's right. Your hugs are the best."
Happy people surrounded us; we were a drop in the ocean of guests and pretty décor. Even so, we swayed in the spot like we were alone.
"Is it because I'm big, or because it's me?" I asked.
"Yes." She lifted to her toes, and I bent down to kiss her.
"Good thing you can ask for one any time you want now."
Her expression turned playful. "Do you think I can ask for anything I want, whenever I want?"
"I would say yes, except that would be dangerous. You would take that too far."
"Spoilsport. Good thing I love you."
I grinned. "I love you, too."
"Feels good to say it, doesn't it?"
"I'm fond of saying it already."
"Good." She interlocked her fingers with mine. "I'll want to hear it a lot."
"That you can ask for, whenever you want."
"Yeah? For how long?"
"Until the wrinkles show on your nose. Until they're etched permanently on your skin."
"And beyond?"
I nodded, and kissed her again. "I'll write a song about it. Maybe a hundred."
Her laughter was musical, and it embedded itself at the core of me.
"Can't wait to hear it." Her smile, so bright it left imprints behind my eyes, was the smile I had missed for years… but better. Because it was mine .
The grin remained as she pulled me toward the groups of people around us. I followed, my steps grounded, and certainty like I had never felt before left marks under my feet.
It had taken this kind of peace and hope to truly feel like I belonged. A long journey, but a worthwhile one.
I planned to keep walking it, with Vi by my side.