“I work for his uncle,” Ralph said, glancing at Eloisa. “I'm the supervisor of his uncle's accounting firm.”
“How is it that you know, Fernando?” asked Mrs. Cola, peering down at them.
Doña Chona's chin shot up. “He dates my daughter Carmela.”
“Fernando Quintana dates your daughter?!” blurted Mr. Cola, surprised.
“He sure does!” burst Doña Chona.
“People in his class usually only date those of their own social standing,” sniffed Mrs. Cola, peering towards Carmela and Fernie who were still at the door.
“He adores my Carmela!” Doña Chona exclaimed. “Caramba, he’s completely enamored of her!—like a cuddly puppy with a new owner!”
“Good evening,” greeted Dario, appearing out of nowhere.
Darn!!! Eloisa blurted to herself, upset. She was certain he had heard the inappropriate comments her mother had made. The evening was now becoming more and more miserable for her with each passing moment.
“Good evening, Dario,” returned Ralph. “You know my parents, don't you?”
“Yes, how are you this evening?”
“Very well,” declared Mrs. Cola. “Interesting party,” she sniffed.
“I walked this way to request the next dance from Eloisa,” Dario announced.
Chapter 10
Did Dario Quintana actually ask me to dance?! Eloisa wondered. “Uh . . . Well, okay,” she blurted as she stumbled up from the chair she was sitting on.
Dario led her to the dance floor in the middle of the expansive room where other couples were already swaying to the music. Along the way, Eloisa kept chastising herself for having agreed to dance with him. Why did he want to dance with her, anyway? she wondered. He took her by surprise, and she agreed before she could turn him down. And if she was truthful with herself, she wanted to get away from Ralph Cola and his obnoxious parents. As she and Dario stepped onto the dance floor, the rock music stopped, and a ballad started playing.
What bad luck! she said to herself.
As Dario awkwardly stepped closer to her, she did the same to him. He took her hand, his arms encircled her, and he started moving her on the dance floor. To her surprise, he had rhythm. Her skin broke out in goose pimples when she felt his light breath on her neck.
“I didn't think you danced, Dario,” she remarked.
“I do.”
“You've got a nice home.”
“Thank you.”
“You're supposed to ask me how I like the party.” Eloisa said.
“I am?”
“Yes, you should ask me.”
“What else should I ask you?”
“If the chair I was sitting on was comfortable,” Eloisa answered.
“Do you always talk when you're dancing? Do you prefer chatting to just quietly enjoying the moment?”
“Are you always so anti-social and unapproachable?”
“Maybe you'd rather I'd be more like Wayne, sleek and talking a million miles a minute,” Dario burst bitterly.
“There's nothing wrong with being outgoing like Wayne. Any sensible person would appreciate him.”
“May I cut in?” asked Ralph, walking up to them.
Dario glared at him, annoyed. “Yes, go ahead,” he muttered.
“I’m really a good dancer, Eloisa,” he declared. “Try to keep up.”
“I’ll try,” she responded dryly.
Thankfully for Eloisa the song ended and a disco one began. What could be worse than dancing up close with Ralph? But when Ralph started trying to do a John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever sloppy imitation, Eloisa wanted desperately to melt into the dance floor. Ralph was no more graceful than an octopus trying to play with one ball using all of its arms. When the song finally finished, a ballad began. Ralph grinned broadly as he stepped closer to Eloisa.
“I'm so thirsty, I've got to get something to drink,” Eloisa blurted, rushing off.
As she arrived at the refreshment table, she saw Jacqueline whisper to Dario. He led her to the dance floor where she rested her head on his shoulder as soon as they started slow dancing. They deserve each other, Eloisa thought. After pouring herself a root beer, she found her way outside where she sat next to the pool on a lawn chair.
“There you are,” announced Chencha, stepping over to her. “I've been looking everywhere for you.”
“I couldn't stand to be in there anymore.”
Chencha’s face scrunched in a perplexed way. “Why?”
“Ralph seems to be on me all the time.”
“He's not so bad.”
“Yes, he is. Did you see the way he was dancing?” Eloisa questioned.
“I admit he's a creative dancer.”
“Creative?” Eloisa blurted. “More like gelatin during an earthquake.”
“Poor guy. Give him a break. He just wants to impress you.”
Eloisa shook her head. “That's not the way to impress me.”
“I think it's kind of neat that he's trying so hard to make you like him.”
Eloisa decided to change the subject. “What do you think of the party?”
“It's been fun so far.”
“Chencha, it hasn't been fun for me. I wonder about my family sometimes. You're so lucky that your parents don't do or say the most inappropriate things. I can't believe my mama was blabbing that Fernie was like an enamored puppy with Carmela.”
“She doesn't mean any harm. She doesn't think before she speaks.”
“Then there’s my brother who won't come near us. And there are my two younger sisters who can't stop flirting with all the young men here.”
Chencha grinned. “You're lucky, Eloisa.”
“What?”
“I'm an only child. I wish I had siblings to embarrass me.”
Eloisa sighed. “I do love them to death though.”
“Let's go back to the party. What do you think?”
“Okay, but you've got to do me a favor,” pleaded Eloisa.
“What?”
“Don't leave me alone with Ralph Cola.”
“I won't.”
Chapter 11
Wayne called early on Sunday morning as Eloisa readied herself for church. He nonchalantly but with charming ease invited himself to go with her.
“You're going to mass with my family?” she asked, surprised.
“Sure, why not?”
Doña Chona wasn't too happy about this new addition to their worship, but when Wayne took them to lunch after church was over, she started warming up to him. It was impossible to avoid his natural charm and good humor. When back their house, the Longorias chatted with Wayne as they sat outside on the porch.
“You've made this a very comfortable home, Doña Chona,” he remarked.
“Thank you, Wayne.”
Lola, who hadn't left his side since he had first arrived, grinned at him. “Where do you live, Wayne?”
“I live in the Northeast side of El Paso, but I wish I lived here. There's something to say about living outside of the city. I can't get over your pond with ducks in it.”
“They’re my ducks,” Lola gushed proudly. “I take care of them!”
“I'm impressed,” Wayne said.
“You met my Eloisa at UTEP?” asked Doña Chona.
Wayne nodded. “Yes, it was a very lucky day for me.”
“What are you studying, Wayne?” questioned Doña Chona.
“Business administration.”
“Caramba, that sounds very good,” declared Doña Chona. “But I still need to know the kind of person you are. Do you have belching competitions with your friends?” she questioned nonchalantly.
“Mama!” Eloisa blurted with horror.
“Caramba, quiet down,” snapped Doña Chona. “I have to ask these questions. “Now, Wayne, I need to know if you have farting or burping contests with your friends?”
Wayne’s eyebrows shot up in amused surprise. “No, Doña Chona. I can�
��t say that I’ve ever participated in such activities.”
“Good! Here goes some more important questions—are you a commitment-phobe?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Are you lazy?”
“No, ma’am.”
Doña Chona persisted in her inquisition. “Are you a liar?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Caramba, of course you could be lying to me about being a liar, so we’ll have to see about that one.”
Wayne grinned. “I’m confident I’ll pass any test you give me.”
“Well, I’ve got to say that so far so good,” Doña Chona remarked.
“Can we stop the inquisition now?” Eloisa grumbled.
“But I was having so much fun,” declared Wayne, grinning.
Doña Chona smiled at him. “See, Eloisa, my questions aren’t so bad.”
Wayne chuckled loudly. “Not at all.”
After he left an hour later, he was discussed by the family to the point of embarrassing Eloisa. It seemed that everyone in the house had something to say about the charming Wayne.
“He's so good looking!” gushed Lola.
“Yeah, a real babe,” chimed in Marta.
“He seems nice,” commented Carmela.
Lola nodded. “And so much fun! Really, really awesome!”
“He's a real gentleman,” Doña Chona expressed. “But he’s still on trial as far as I’m concerned.”
That evening Eloisa diligently worked on a research paper when her mother called for her. When she entered the living room, she was taken aback to find Ralph Cola shuffling his feet and looking nervous.
“Ralph wants to speak to you,” declared Doña Chona.
“Can we step outside?” asked Ralph, his voice shaky.
Eloisa, dreading it, followed him to the porch. “What do you need to speak to me about?”
“I've been doing a lot of thinking and . . .”
“Yes?”
He got on his knee. “Would you be my girlfriend?” he asked, nervously fumbling in his coat pocket.
Chapter 12
“What?!” Eloisa burst.
“Would you be my sweetheart?” he repeated as he finally found what he was looking for and pulled out a long, black box. “I got you a gift.”
Eloisa's throat closed. “Please stand up, Ralph. Stand up, for goodness sakes.”
He stumbled to his feet. “This is a very expensive necklace, Eloisa. I’m sure it’s worth much more than anything in this house.”
She refused to take the black box he kept shoving at her. “Put the necklace away! We need to talk first.”
He nodded disconcertedly. “Okay, I’ll give it to you later.” He put the long, black box back in his shirt pocket.
“I don't know why you're asking me to be your girlfriend,” she blurted. “We’ve never dated. I barely know you.”
“My dearest, Eloisa, don't worry about being good enough for me. I know enough about you to want you to be my girl. You're sweet and beautiful. I know that you like going to school, so it won't bother me that you continue your education, but you won't have to work anymore! I've decided that I’m going to take care of you and your family!”
“I don't need anybody to take care of me or my family.”
“Eloisa, stop being so proud. Your knight in shining armor is here!”
“I don't need a knight in shining armor. Ralph, believe me when I tell you that I'm not the right woman for you.”
“But you are. Stop putting yourself down. You are every bit good enough for me.”
“I'm not putting myself down,” Eloisa declared, gritting her teeth. “I'm telling you that I don't want to be your girlfriend. We’re not compatible. I can't say it any clearer.”
“But—”
“Not compatible, Ralph! Please stop making this harder than what it should be. We don’t belong together!”
Ralph grimaced in a hurt way. “Do you really know what you're turning down?!” he snapped. “You may never get an offer like this ever again. There are few men that would volunteer to help you with your family!”
“As I’ve said before, I don’t need that kind of help,” Eloisa declared firmly.
“Hi,” Chencha brightly broke in to the conversation as she arrived at the Longoria porch from her house next door. “I just wanted to say hello to you, Ralph.”
“Hi,” he mumbled.
“Hello, Chencha,” said Eloisa, relieved her friend had interrupted the very awkward talk.
“I was wondering if you could have a cup of coffee with me and my family, Ralph,” she said, winking at Eloisa. “My parents would love to see you.”
“Well . . . ,” he murmured, his hurt eyes on Eloisa for a few seconds. Then he stepped over to Chencha. “Come to think of it, I would love to have a cup coffee with you and your family.”
When they left, Ralph didn’t even give Eloisa a short bye. Eloisa rushed back into her house. Her mother ran anxiously to her.
“Caramba, what happened out there?” Doña Chona questioned.
“He asked me to be his girlfriend.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“What did you answer him?” demanded Doña Chona.
“What do you think I said, Mama?”
“You won't date him?” asked Doña Chona, disappointed.
“It was a nightmare out there. Thank goodness Chencha came to save me.”
“Won't you even consider it?”
“Mama!”
“Is it because of Wayne?”
“No, Mama, it’s just that Ralph and I are not compatible at all.”
“Mija, your mother may be an old fool, but you don't know how much I worry about you getting involved with a loser again.”
“Don't worry about me, Mama. I won’t go down that road again.” Eloisa hated thinking about when she had picked the wrong guy and gotten her heart crushed.
“Mama, mama!” cried Marta, running into the living room.
“Stop scaring me,” chided Doña Chona. “What's wrong?”
“It's Carmela.”
“What's wrong with Carmela?” asked Eloisa.
“She received a horrible E-mail.”
They rushed to Carmela who was looking tragically at the computer screen.
“What is it?” asked Eloisa.
Carmela couldn't speak. She only pointed at the screen.
Dear Carmela,
Because of circumstances, I have to end our communication. I'm sorry.
Fernie
“Double Caramba!!!” exclaimed Doña Chona. “How could this happen?!”
Eloisa’s blood steamed as she thought of how it must've happened. It was his pompous brother, of course. He probably threatened him like he did with the Wayne situation.
Arrogant merciless jerk!
Egotistical snobby creep!
Chapter 13
Sometimes, Eloisa wished that Carmela wasn't so reserved. She wished Carmela could let all the pain tumble out, but instead she walked around the house saying she was fine.
“Really, Eloisa, I'm over Fernie.”
“I know he loves you, Carmela, despite that E-mail.”
“It doesn't matter,” she assured, forcing her voice to sound steady. “He's out of my life.”
Eloisa glanced at her sister sadly, knowing how difficult it must’ve been to say those words.
“I think mama is more upset about it than I am,” continued Carmela.
“She's very upset all right.”
Carmela grew pensive for a few moments. “Tell me something, Eloisa, do you ever think about Todd?”
“No, not anymore.”
“But you loved him greatly, didn't you?” Carmela questioned lightly.
Eloisa sighed. “Yes, I loved him once.”
“He's out of your heart?”
“Anyone who doesn't understand the importance of family doesn't belong in my heart,” Eloisa declared.
It was Carmela's turn to look at her sister sadly. A year had passed since Eloisa thought she had found her significant other in Todd Bergman. He had proposed and they were engaged until Todd realized that Eloisa intended to keep helping her family once they were married.
“You can't be serious about this, Eloisa,” he had said. “Your family can take care of themselves.”
“Mama doesn't make enough money to do it. My family needs me.”
“This is not acceptable! When you and I get married, we have to make our own lives without anyone hanging onto our coat tails.”
“I’m not going to forget about my family,” Eloisa had snapped.
“You don't see me acting all codependent towards my family. I hardly see them at all. You need to do the same and separate yourself from those apron strings.”
“Separate myself from my family?!” Eloisa burst with disgust. “Not a chance. It's you who needs to change towards your family.”
“Don't start on that again. So what if I forgot to call my mother on mother's day? She didn't care.”
“Are you kidding me? Of course she cared that her only son forgot about her on, of all days, mother's day!”
Todd shook his head. “The more I think about this, the more I think you and I don't have a chance at working out.”
“You're right. We shouldn't get married,” Eloisa blurted with ice in her voice. “We shouldn’t be together.”
“First you give up full-time college for them and now you give me up. I hope you don’t wake up one day and realize that you've ruined your life over bad choices.”
“I wouldn't worry about that, Todd,” muttered Eloisa.
If Eloisa thought about him at all, it was that last conversation with him. It was what kept her from ever yearning for him. It was what kept her from ever shedding a tear for him. It was what kept her from ever wanting him back. He had completely broken her heart, also shattering Doña Chona’s spirit at seeing her devastated daughter. But now Eloisa was over Todd. And their cruel and sudden break-up no longer affected her at all. At least that was what she told herself.
“I'm sorry, sister,” murmured Carmela.
“What about?” asked Eloisa.
“You've sacrificed so much for us.”
“I haven't.”
“Yes, you have, and I want you to know how much I love you and admire you.”
Eloisa's eyes filled with tears. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
When Wayne wasn't calling her, he made contact with her at the university. At the end of one of her classes, he'd pop in out of nowhere. There were times she wanted to tell him that she couldn’t talk to him, that she needed to review her notes while they were still fresh in mind.
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