by P. Macias
“Si, he had some issues. He needed to resolve these issues before he could claim her. I know that he never doubted that she was his. He needed time,” says Christian.
I can’t tell my Cielo about the Cartel. It’s a great possibility that Lopez is the cause of my familia’s heartaches. This was preventing Tony to love his mujer, thinks Christian.
“Baby, I don’t understand, but I’m feliz for my amiga,” says Monique, smiling at Christian. She pulls him down for a hot beso.
“I’ll go and visit Cynthia after breakfast,” says Monique, smiling. “Let’s go and see what Gaby has been up to.”
They went into the kitchen to get breakfast.
“Bueno dias,” says Gabriella, going to talk to them. “Your primo Jose Enrique called. He wants you to call him back.”
“Buenos Dias, Gaby,” says Christian, smiling. He picks up the phone.
“Buenos Dias, have you had breakfast?” asks Monique, going to look for some cereal.
“Si, hermana, some cereal,” says Gabriella, smiling. “I’m going outside in the yard.”
“Okay, Gaby,” says Monique, turning to smile at Gaby, walking to get a bowl.
Gabriella is walking outside to the yard, thinking about Javier.
* * *
Jose Enrique and Javier are finishing their breakfast when Christian calls la casa. “Hola,” says Jose Enrique, thinking of calling Jessy.
“Hola, primo, it’s Chris,” says Christian, looking at Monique eat her breakfast.
“Hola, primo, do you have any plans today?” asks Jose Enrique, watching Javier smile.
“Not really, just going to Sunday Dinner. Monique and I have my sister in law with us,” says Christian, looking at Gaby go out to the backyard.
“Oh, that’s even better. I wanted to know if you wanted to go bowling with me and Jessy, you can bring your sister in law. I’ll even drag Javier so we have teams,” says Jose Enrique, grinning at Javier’s look of relief.
“Primo, I think that will be fun. Give me a minute,” says Christian, turning to Monique.
“My Cielo, my primo, Jose Enrique wants us to go bowling with him and Jessy. He says he’ll drag Javier with him so we can have teams. Don’t you think that Gaby would enjoy that?” he smiles at Monique.
“Baby that does sounds like fun and Gaby will be thrilled. Yes, I want to go,” says Monique, beaming, looking at Christian.
“Okay,” says Christian. “Primo, yeah, we want to go bowling. What time?”
“Primo, I was thinking about one. Maybe we should have lunch and then go bowling,” says Jose Enrique smiling, looking at Javier get all excited. “We should have some Italian food.”
“Si, primo, that sounds good. We will meet you at the Italian restaurant that we like at noon,” replies Christian, smiling. He observes Monique smile, nodding with pleasure.
“Okay, we will meet you at noon,” says Jose Enrique, ending the call.
Monique finishes eating and went to put their dishes in the dishwasher, smiling. “Baby, I’m going to visit Cynthia and I will be back in time to get ready for lunch. It sounds like lots of fun and I know that Gaby will have fun also,” Monique walks over to Christian and gives him a beso.
“Si, my Cielo, it sounds great,” says Christian, smiling. “I wanted to see a few taped shows.”
“Okay, and I have Gaby stay here. Is that okay?” asks Monique, looking out the window at her hermana.
“Si, it will be okay. It looks like she’s thinking out there,” says Christian, looking at Gaby walk down to the back. That’s where she had been talking with Javier last night. Hmmm, did I miss something, thinks Christian.
Monique goes to visit Cynthia’s to give her the urgent letter that Tony wrote her. I hope everything turns out for my amiga. She really does deserve to be feliz, thinks Monique. She parks her car in front of Cynthia’s casa.
Monique gets out of her car, strides to the door. Cynthia’s Mama answers that door. “Mi hija, it is nice to see you,” says Mama Melba, giving Monique a hug. “Cynthia will be feliz to see you.”
“Si, Señora, I’m feliz to see you. I will go to Cynthia’s room,” says Monique, smiling, praying that she doesn’t stop her.
“Si, mi hija,” says her Mama Melba.
Monique strides quickly down the hall to Cynthia’s room. She knocks on the door, praying that she opens the door quickly before anybody stops her.
Cynthia opens her door and is surprised to see Monique. She quickly pulls her into her room, hugging her best amiga. “Amiga, I’m so happy to see you,” says Cynthia, crying. She holds onto Monique as if she was a life line.
“Cynthia, you need to calm down. I came to give you a letter from Tony,” says Monique, sitting down on the bed. She pulls out the letter out of her purse.
Cynthia gets all excited. She quickly takes the letter from her amiga and anxiously reads the letter. Cynthia looks up with tears in her eyes, looking out to the ocean.
“Amiga, my padre has guards stationed around the casa. I probably need to wait a few days to be able to convince my papa to allow me out of the casa,” says Cynthia, smiling. “Monique, I want to see Tony.”
“I know amiga. Amiga, I’m having my Baby’s bebe and I’m so feliz,” says Monique, jumping up. She twills around in felicidad, laughing, and she feels dizzy. She’s queasy and runs to the restroom. Uh I think I cannot do that.
“Monique, you okay?” Cynthia runs after Monique into the restroom, giving her a glass of water. “You shouldn’t do that anymore.”
“Yeah, I think not,” says Monique, rinsing her face with water and drying it to take the glass of water from Cynthia. “I’m feeling better. This is the first time that I felt nauseous. I’m only a couple weeks.”
“Amiga, that’s great,” says Cynthia, smiling with felicidad.
“I know that Christian is real feliz. He told our padres that I was pregnant, even before we could confirm it,” says Monique, blushing. She remembers how embarrassing it was for her to have their padres know that they made love before marrying.
“Amiga, you’re so lucky that your padres were okay with you and Christian. I really don’t get it. My padre had nothing but wonderful things to say about the familia De La Cruz. All of a sudden he hates them. I don’t know why. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him. He’s real furious,” says Cynthia, starting to cry again, deep aching sobs.
“Stop crying, I know that everything will work out. I know it. Maybe we all can think of something,” says Monique, hugging her amiga.
“I need to talk to my baby,” says Cynthia, wondering what Tony is doing and thinking now. She gets up to get another tissue to wipe her eyes and nose.
“Okay, do you want to write Tony a letter? My Baby can give it to him tonight at la familia Sunday Dinner,” says Monique, smiling. “The entire De La Cruz familia has Sunday Dinner together on every Sunday. My Baby says that’s how it has been forever. I will be going tonight for my first time. I’m a little nervous. All of his tios and primos will be there.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun. I wonder if Tony would have taken me tonight?” says Cynthia, looking out the window, thinking of Tony. “I still don’t know why Tony had issues with our relationship. We haven’t had a chance to talk. Everything happened so quickly,” Cynthia blushes.
“Si amiga, los hombres De La Cruz’s love to make love, and I just love it,” says Monique, grinning, blushing looking at her amiga blush also. “Well, are you going to write Tony a letter? I need to get back soon. We still have lots of errands to do before my Baby returns to the base.”
“Si, amiga, I’m on it. Gracias for doing this for us and I love you,” says Cynthia, going to get some paper to write Tony. Cynthia writes Tony a letter and seals it. She sprays it with her perfume grinning at Monique. “Please tell him I miss him,” she pouts, looking out to the ocean.
“Si, amiga, I will,” says Monique, standing. She gives Cynthia a hug. “Dios will help you two get back together. Just be patient and
don’t do anything crazy that can cause you to get hurt. Tony will die if anything happens to you.”
“Si, amiga, you’re right and thanks,” says Cynthia, returning her hug. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
At the door, Monique gives Cynthia another hug and whispers. “Don’t give up,” She walks out the door.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Monique returns from visiting Cynthia. She strides to the familia room to talk to Christian about the visit. “Baby, I’m back. I did talk to Cynthia. I have a letter for Tony. She said that her papa has hired some guards. She wants Tony to wait until manana to see if she can sneak out,” says Monique, smiling at Christian.
“Dios will help us and Tony,” says Christian, hugging her. “It makes sense to wait until we have all the details.”
Gabriella walks into the family room and sits down on the love chair. She hears Christian and Monique talking in the kitchen. I need to know if we’re going bowling, thinks Gabriella.
Gabriella enters the kitchen. “Hola,” says Gabriella, smiling at them. “Do you think I can walk to my casa to get some clothes?”
“Hola, Gaby. I think so, but you can take one of my new outfits,” says Monique, smiling. She enjoys seeing Gabriella’s pleasure.
“For real?” says Gabriella, smiling. “Which one can I have? I really want to take a shower and change.”
“Si, hermana, you pick the one you like. Gaby, you can wear something comfortable because we’re going to lunch and bowling. We’re meeting Christian’s primos and his novia Jessy,” says Monique, smiling at her Hermana, Gaby.
“Oh, that sounds like fun,” says Gabriella, grinning. “Okay let’s get my outfit so I can get ready.”
“Okay, Gaby. Give me a minute, Baby,” says Monique to Christian. She gives him a small beso before leaving.
“Okay,” says Christian, hugging her for a few moments and letting her go. “I’ll be in la family room.”
Monique and Gabriella go to pick out an outfit from Monique’s closet.
“Hermana, gracias,” says Gabriella, smiling happily. She’s thinking of how cute she’s going to look for Javier.
“What do you want to wear? Some shorts, pants or a sundress?” asks Monique, smiling at her hermana Gaby. Hmmm, she does look a lot like me and will someday have a novio, thinks Monique.
“Hermana, I would like a sundress,” says Gabriella, smiling. “Which one do you want me to wear?”
“Gaby, I don’t care, you can pick the one you like,” says Monique, smiling, watching as Gabriella grows excited. Gabriella looks at all the new outfits.
“Wow, hermana, you have some real nice outfits. I like this dress,” says Gaby, looking at a real cute Eve’s Pleasures dress, a hot pink halter top with a chrome ring on the side of the strap.
“Okay, that is fine, try it on and see if you like it,” says Monique, smiling. “Here are some matching panties. I think those sandals you have on will do. They have a little heel but not too high for bowling.”
“Okay,” says Gaby, going into the restroom to try it on. Hmm, it is so sexy and beautiful. I know that my baby is going to go wild. Too bad he’s going to have to wait, thinks Gabriella. She walks out to show Monique.
“Hermana, what do you think?” asks Gabriella, smiling at how grown up she looks. “I really should get some new clothes. The one’s I have are very little niña outfits. I’m going to college now and I’m not a little niña.”
“Si, hermana, I agree. I will ask my Baby for some money. I will pay him back with my paycheck. I will get you some outfits,” says Monique, smiling at Gaby. “You look toda una mujer.”
“I am una mujer,” replies Gabriella, nodding. “I want to take a shower,” she runs to Bella’s room to get ready.
Monique walks back to la familia room smiling. “Christian my hermana looks so grown up and bella in the new dress. She’s not a little niña anymore and mis padres treat her like one. All of her clothes are for a niña. Baby I want you to lend me some money. I will give it back to you with my paycheck. I want to get her some new outfits. She’s going to start college in a few weeks,” says Monique, smiling at Christian.
“Baby, you don’t have to pay me back. Buy her anything you want,” says Christian, pulling her into his arms and kissing her. “But you have to do that when I’m not here. I don’t want to share you.”
“Baby, I love you,” replies Monique, hugging him with all of her amor.
Gabriella finishes getting dressed and walks to the familia room, elated with her outfit. Today is my birthday and I’m seventeen. Oh yeah, and my awesome present is Javier, thinks Gaby.
“Okay, I’m ready,” says Gaby. She smiles, looking at them.
Monique and Christian turn to look at Gabriella. “Hermana, you look beautiful. You are grown women,” says Monique, going to her. She hugs Gaby close. “Feliz cumpleanos, Gabriella, I love you.”
“Oh, dios mio, Gaby, you look hermosa and toda una mujer. I didn’t know it was your cumpleanos,” says Christian, smiling. “We need to celebrate, feliz cumpleanos,” He gives her a hug.
Wow, my sister in law is incredibly gorgeous. She’s going to have all the college hombres crazy for her and especially if she dresses like that. My in-laws were really dressing her like a niña because I even thought that she was a niña. Hmmm, is that why Javier stayed around last night? Could he be interested in her? I need to find out, contemplates Christian.
“Oh, gracias,” replies Gaby, blushing, not expecting this. “It’s just a dress.”
“Si, hermana, but it’s a very sexy dress. You look hermosa,” says Monique, smiling. “Let’s go and have fun.”
“Si, I want to have fun,” says Gabriella, smiling.
They arrive at the Italian restaurant and Christian, Monique and Gabriella are waiting for the primos.
Javier turns the corner. He stops when he sees Gabriella. “Feliz cumpleanos, Gabriella,” says Javier, giving her a hug and a beso on her check.
“Gracias, Javier,” replies Gabriella, smiling at him.
“Primo, so you knew she was toda una mujer,” asks Christian, looking at his primo’s reaction and amor in his eyes? Hmm, what’s going on or better still what went on? I need to look into this. It’s ok if he’s serious, but if he’s playing, no way in hell will I allow that.
“Si, primo, Gabriella is all women. She’s going to college to be a Medical Assistant,” says Javier, smiling. “She knows what she wants.”
Jose Enrique and Jessy walk up to them. They see Javier greet Gabriella with a beso on her cheek and a hug. They didn’t hear the exchange until they approach them.
“Hola, primos,” says Jose Enrique, looking at Gabriella.
“Hola, primos,” says Christian, observing Javier still holding Gabriella in his arms, not realizing that he still does.
“Hola,” says Monique, smiling, watching Gabriella and Javier. I wonder if Javier is interested in my hermana. It would be great. I know he’s a gran hombre. He looks like he doesn’t want to let her go, thinks Monique.
“Hermano, Jessy, this is Gabriella Acosta. She’s Monique’s hermana,” says Javier, smiling, looking at his hermano. “It’s her cumpleanos today.”
“Gabriella, this is my hermano Jose Enrique, and his bella novia Jessy,” says Javier, grinning.
Jose Enrique walks over to her. “Mucho gusto, Gabriella, and feliz cumpleanos,” says Jose Enrique, giving her a hug, stepping back.
Jessy goes over to her. “Feliz cumpleanos, Gabriella, mucho gusto,” says Jessy, giving her a hug and a beso on her check.
“Gracias,” says Gabriella, blushing.
“Okay, let’s go inside and have lunch. We need to celebrate,” says Christian, smiling, entering the restaurant.
Jose Enrique walks over to Javier. “Hermano, we’re going in,” says Jose Enrique, smiling at Gabriella. “I’ll give you a few moments.”
“Si, hermano,” replies Javier, smiling at Gabriella.
Jose Enrique and Jessy went
into the restaurant. They follow Christian and Monique. Damn, this is real complicated because they can’t hide their feelings. I know that Christian and Monique noticed it. Maybe I need to get them on board, ponders Jose Enrique, with concern.
They take their seat around the table leaving the other two chairs for Javier and Gabriella.
“Primo, did you notice that Javier appears interested in Gabriella?” asks Christian, looking at his primo.
“Si primo, will that be a problema?” asks Jose Enrique, looking into Christian’s eyes to evaluate his reaction. “I think that Javier is sincerely interested in Gabriella. He wants to be her novio.”
Monique is pleased with this information. “I don’t see why it should be a problema. They’re both young and single,” says Monique, smiling.
“Si, if Javier is sincerely interested in a serious relationship as her novio, I don’t think there will be any problemas with my in-laws,” says Christian, smiling, nodding in agreement.
“I think that he’s interested in Gabriella. I think that we should be supportive,” replies Jose Enrique, smiling.
“Okay, I agree. I only need to confirm that he’s serious,” says Christian, nodding. “He still needs to talk to my in-laws. My in-laws is traditional.”
“Si, I agree. Then when he’s finished with his duty in the Navy, he can go and speak to her padre’s,” says Jose Enrique, smiling at Christian and Monique.
“Primo, I see your point and I think it will work until he is out of the Navy. When he’s out, he will need to talk to my in-laws. I don’t want any problemas,” says Christian, looking at Monique. “My Cielo, what do you think?”
“Baby, I think that if they love each other, we should support whatever they want. I know that my hermana is a little young, but she’s toda una mujer. She is going to college. I know that she knows what she wants. I don’t have any issues as long as she doesn’t get pregnant. My padre will be pissed about that,” replies Monique, smiling. “I don’t know what’s going on with them, but I will find out.”