Chapter 23
“I will!” Lola burst. “I’ll do whatever I want!”
“Let's go,” Eloisa announced as she turned the key.
“It's about time!” Lola snapped. “All you brought me out here for was to aggravate me.”
Eloisa abruptly turned to her. “Aggravate you? I'm inconveniencing you, is that it?”
“Don't make a big deal out of nothing, Eloisa.”
“Talking about our lives is nothing? My life is nothing? Let me tell you, little girl, that I wasn't too lazy to go to school full-time!” Eloisa exclaimed, letting the flood of hot tears out. “Do you know how it feels to have to delay a dream? A dream that’s at your reach? That’s yours for the taking? If I would’ve gone full-time to college, I would’ve graduated a long time ago! I’d already be a teacher and going for my graduate degree. My heart shattered because I couldn’t get the full college experience, and I couldn't tell anybody. I couldn't let anyone know how much I hurt because I didn't want anyone to feel bad. I didn't want anybody to feel guilty because ultimately, I was completely responsible for my decision. No one made it for me. I know that!”
Lola looked at Eloisa in a frightened way. She had never seen her sister so out of control, and she put her hand on Eloisa's arm. “Calm down, Eloisa.”
“Do you think I'm a statue, Lola? That I don't have feelings and needs of my own? Do you think my only purpose in life is to fluff up my ego by telling you and Marta what to do? Do you think I'm that much of an egomaniac?”
“I just . . . just . . .”
“Just what?”
“I just think you're very hard on us.”
“I'm sorry if I've gone overboard,” Eloisa murmured.
“And. . .”
“And what?”
“Eloisa, are you ever proud of me?” Lola questioned quietly, her eyes pushing out tears.
“What?”
“You think I don't know that I'm the black sheep of the family?”
Eloisa’s eyebrows shot up in puzzlement. “Why would you say that, Lola?”
“Because I am,” she insisted. “I know Balbino Jr. has abandoned us, but at least he's successful. I'm just a goofball.”
Eloisa energetically shook her head. “You're not a goofball!”
“Then what am I?” questioned Lola, challenging her. “I'm not beautiful and serene like Carmela. I'm not smart like Marta. And I'm not responsible like you. So what am I?”
“You're our shining light, Lola. You’re such a fun person.”
“Big deal.”
“It is a big deal. It's a very big deal. Not many people have the talent to make people around them happy. And you’re smart despite what you think.”
“I am?”
“Yes, you are,” insisted Eloisa. “You may not care much for books, but you can figure out stuff that I can't.”
“Like what?”
“You figured out how to work all the features of the computer way before I did.”
Lola smiled. “I did do that, didn't I?”
“Yes, you did.”
“If I tell you something, will you promise not to be disappointed?” Lola murmured.
“I promise.”
“When I graduate from high school, I want to study to be a cosmetologist.”
“I think it's fantastic,” burst Eloisa. “Why would I be disappointed?”
“I'm not going to be a scientist like Marta,” muttered Lola.
“Do you want to be a scientist?”
“Heck no.”
“Then I don't want you to be a scientist,” declared Eloisa. “If being a cosmetologist is what you want, then that's what I want for you.”
“You do?”
“I know you'd make a great one,” Eloisa asserted. “You always help me with my hair.”
“And your wild hair is very hard to handle.”
Eloisa chuckled. “Very hard.”
“I'm going to make you proud of me someday?!” Lola blurted with a smile.
“I'm already proud of you.”
Chapter 24
Eloisa never thought that a normal day in her household could bring her such joy. No one was running away, no one was crying, and no one was in an uproar. It was the weekend and Lola, having gotten over Wayne, was now being chatty with another boy. Marta was experimenting with the new mini science lab Eloisa had bought her. Carmela was smiling as she tended to the flowers outside. Doña Chona was on the phone giving out one of her best recipes. Eloisa sighed deeply with joy but like a pea in a mattress, there was still had one gnawing discomfort, one major question she needed an answer to. She told everyone she was off to run an errand and headed to Chencha's home.
“Eloisa!” exclaimed Chencha. “You didn't tell me you were coming. What a nice surprise.”
“I've got to ask you something.”
Chencha’s eyes opened wide with concern. “You sound serious.”
“I need to know something.”
“Know what?”
“Who paid off the note to my house?” Eloisa blurted.
A startled Chencha stared at her friend a few long seconds before answering. “Why would you think someone paid it off?” she murmured.
“I went over the figures on the mortgage to my house. Ralph lied. There was no mistake, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t forgive us five years’ worth of payments. Somebody with lots of money must’ve paid it off. I don’t think it was my selfish brother or was it? Who did it?”
Chencha’s expression turned uncomfortable. “I don't deal at all with Ralph's business dealings,” she rushed, averting her eyes from the questioning ones of her friend.
Eloisa frowned. She wasn’t buying Chencha’s explanation. “You need to tell me.”
“I . . . I don't know. . . I—”
“Don't tell me you don't know,” Eloisa shot back firmly. “I can see in your eyes that you do.”
Chencha sighed unhappily. “You're my best friend. I can't lie to you,” she murmured. “The person who paid it off was . . .”
“For goodness sakes, Chencha!—who was it! Just tell me!”
“Dario Quintana paid off your house,” she muttered.
“Dario?!” It was like the wind was sucker punched out of her.
“Yes, Dario.”
“Why would he do that?” Eloisa burst.
“I don't know. It's Ralph he talked to and not me.”
“I've got to ask Dario why,” Eloisa declared, shaken.
“No, Eloisa, please don't. He made Ralph promise him that he wouldn't tell you. You're not supposed to know.”
Eloisa placed her hands on her hips. “This is very frustrating. Why would he not want me to know?”
“Isn't it obvious?”
Eloisa shook her head. “No, it's not.”
“You're very proud, Eloisa. You would've never taken the title to your house if you knew he was paying out your mortgage.”
“I don't need anyone feeling sorry for me.”
“I seriously doubt he feels sorry for you,” stated Chencha.
“Then why would he do this?”
“Maybe he's a nice guy after all,” Chencha declared.
“Nice?”
“Yes, nice.”
Eloisa nodded. She couldn’t deny that she had seen the kind side of Dario Quintana with her own two eyes. Where would Lola be if he hadn't helped with the Wayne situation?
As Eloisa arrived home, completely drained and perplexed, she noticed that Fernie's silver Porsche was in the driveway. She rushed into her house to find Doña Chencha, Carmela, and Fernie grinning with mega-watt smiles.
“What's happening here?” questioned Eloisa with acute curiosity.
“I've just asked your sister to start going out with me again, and she said yes,” burst Fernie.
Eloisa’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “What?”
“We’re together again!” Carmela exclaimed joyfully.
“Great caramba!” Doña Chona burst.
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world!” Fernie blurted.
In a private conversation, Carmela told Eloisa that Fernie had come to believe that she didn't feel the same for him as he for her. Now that he had come to his senses, he had run over praying all the way that he hadn't lost her forever.
That night, after everyone was in bed and the lights were out, Eloisa stared at the dark wall. She couldn’t get to sleep. The day had been too emotional. She wondered what Dario was doing. Did he ever think of her? Why had he paid off the note to her house? Was he really in love with her at some point? Was he with Jacqueline now?
Was he in love with Jacqueline now?!!!
Chapter 25
When Ivana and Balbino Jr. drove up to the Longoria house, Doña Chona had to rub her eyes to make certain it wasn’t a figment of her imagination. A startled Eloisa started cleaning the window with her sleeve. Carmela's expression froze in puzzlement.
“Caramba, is that Balbino Jr. or are my old eyes playing tricks on me?” asked Doña Chona.
“It's Balbino Jr. all right,” declared Eloisa.
Carmela nodded. “He hasn't been back here since forever.”
“One can only guess what he and his wife are here for,” Eloisa muttered, groaning.
Doña Chona promptly asked for her grandchild but Balbino Jr. informed her that he was sick and with the nanny. Ivana carried such a smile on her lips that it unnerved Eloisa. She had never before smiled at them that way.
“I hear you and Fernie Quintana are an item,” Ivana told Carmela.
“Yes,” Carmela said shyly.
“We’re so thrilled you're dating Fernie,” burst Ivana. “What a catch.”
Balbino Jr. nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, thrilled!”
“Fernie's a good guy,” Eloisa said dryly. “And he's in love with Carmela. She's a good catch too.”
“Caramba, he adores my Carmela,” gushed Doña Chona. “I didn't think it would happen, but he showed up out of nowhere yesterday.”
“How did you know about it so fast?” Eloisa questioned.
“Dario. You know how he and Jacqueline are seeing each other. They're secretly engaged,” asserted Ivana, sniffing.
“They are?” Eloisa murmured, trying to catch the breath that had just left her body.
“Yes, engaged but of course Jacqueline can't keep a secret from her sister,” stated Ivana, her voice in a nasal tone.
“Soon there will be a marriage to celebrate,” announced Balbino Jr..
“Yes, a marriage,” Eloisa murmured painfully.
That evening when Fernie came to the Longoria house for dinner, Eloisa was uncharacteristically quiet. At first, no one noticed since there was so much to chat about. Catching up to time lost between him and Carmela swallowed up the minutes.
“Eloisa, why are you so quiet? Caramba, are you getting sick?” Doña Chona questioned after the dinner was over, and they were in the living room watching television.
“I've got a headache.”
Carmela eyed her sister with worry. “Is it very bad?”
“Have you taken aspirin?” asked Doña Chona.
“I'll be glad to go to the store if you need any,” Fernie chimed in.
Eloisa shook her head. “Thanks for offering, but I've already taken two.”
“Maybe you need to lie down,” Doña Chona declared. “You look very tired.”
“I think that's a good idea,” Eloisa murmured, standing up.
Fernie kept eyeing her with concern. “Are you sure you don't need anything?”
“How sweet of you for asking but no, I don't need anything.” Eloisa started walking to her room and then abruptly turned back around. “On second thought, you could do something for me.”
“Whatever you need,” Fernie asserted.
“Please tell your brother that I wish him well in his upcoming marriage.”
“Who is he marrying?” he asked, puzzled.
“Ivana came by today and told us Dario is engaged to her sister Jacqueline,” Doña Chona announced. “Caramba, what a pairing!”
“You didn't know about it, Fernie?” asked Carmela.
“No, I didn't.”
“How is it that you didn't know?” Doña Chona questioned. “Caramba, you’re his brother!”
“What can I say?—my brother is very discreet. I'm going to scold him for this one, though. How could he not tell me?”
“Maybe he's waiting for the right moment to announce it,” offered Carmela.
“Please convey my congratulations to him,” Eloisa murmured quietly.
“I sure will.”
Chapter 26
There was something about the dawn that made Eloisa feel shiny with renewal. With everyone still asleep, Eloisa sat on the porch watching the new day arise and the frolicking ducks in the pond. Because it was Sunday, a heavenly quiet permeated the air. There was much to say about solitude when trying to figure out a wide array of conflicting emotions. Why was life so complicated?
As if in a hazy dream, a car made itself up the driveway. At first, Eloisa couldn't fathom that it was Dario's dark blue Mercedes parking in front of her house. When he stepped out of his car, she was forced into realizing that he wasn’t a dream. He was actually walking towards her.
“Hi,” he murmured nervously.
“Hi,” she answered, still stunned by his presence.
His dark eyes locked into hers. “I was hoping you'd be up this early.”
“I like the dawn,” she informed, gazing back.
“I thought so. I love it too.”
“I don't mean to sound rude, but what are you doing here?” Eloisa finally asked the question needling her.
“Can I sit down?”
“Sure.”
He sat next to Eloisa on an old wooden bench. “I understand you told Fernie to congratulate me.”
“Yes, I did. I'm sorry if you were trying to keep your engagement a secret, and I blabbed it,” she murmured, her eyes unlocking from his solid stare and nervously darting around.
His rigid gaze continued to try to penetrate into her. “He said you weren't feeling well last night. Are you better?” he asked with concern.
“Yes, much better.”
He nodded, relieved. His sight shifted to the ducks. Eloisa couldn't manage to think of anything to fill the silence with. A few quiet moments passed before a single word was spoken.
“I need to ask you something, Dario,” she finally uttered.
“What do you need to ask me?”
Eloisa’s eyes locked back into his. “Why did you pay off the note to this house?”
Dario grimaced. “Ralph wasn't supposed to tell you.”
“He didn't. Chencha told me. She didn't want to but I forced her,” Eloisa rushed to say.
“I hope you know that you don't owe me anything for that.”
“What do you mean I don't owe you anything?” she blurted. “My family and I owe you a great deal.”
“I sponsor many scholarships at UTEP. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of them,” he declared firmly.
She shook her head. “But it's not quite a scholarship, is it?”
“Eloisa, would you just let someone do something for you for a change?” he blurted, exasperated. “You never want to let anyone help you.”
“Am I that bad?”
“No, you're that good,” he proclaimed. “I know you don't need rescuing. I know you're not waiting for a prince. But this gift I made isn't for you as much as it is for me.”
Eloisa’s eyebrows knit together. “What do you mean?”
“The more of us brown people get ahead, the better it is for all of us. That's the reason I give so many scholarships out. As far as I'm concerned, I'm going to get much more from my investment than I gave when you start teaching kids to go for their dreams.”
Eloisa smiled. “Thank you, Dario Quintana.”
&
nbsp; “You're welcome.”
She stared at the pond. “You still haven't told me why you're here.”
“I . . . I . . .” he started to say.
“Yes?”
“I’m so awful with words,” he stumbled, “always putting my foot in my mouth!”
Eloisa smiled. “Don’t worry about that. Just say what you came here to say.”
“I came here because . . . I need to tell you one more time, just one more time, that I want you in my life.”
“But you're marrying Jacqueline,” growled Eloisa.
Dario groaned loudly. “No, I'm not.”
“But—”
“I would never marry someone like her!” Dario insisted. “She has zero appeal to me. Below zero preference appeal! You, on the other hand, are everything I've ever wanted in a woman.”
Eloisa met his dark eyes with surprise. “I am?”
“I've never admired anyone as much as I admire you.”
“You admire me?”
“Very much,” he proclaimed.
“And you're definitely not marrying Jacqueline?”
“No! Definitely no! Please believe me.”
“Why would Jacqueline think that you're going to marry her?” The whole situation still puzzled Eloisa to no end.
He shrugged. “I don't know. I imagine that my uncle has something to do with it. I feel nothing for her and everything for you, Eloisa.”
“But your uncle would never accept me.”
“Does that matter to you?”
“It matters to you, doesn't it?” Eloisa asked, her eyebrows knit together.
He chuckled as if it was a joke to him. “Do you honestly think I care about what other people think?”
“He's your uncle.”
“He isn't going to have a say over my happiness and my life no matter who he is,” Dario burst. “I own my life!”
“You sure you want to go against him?”
“This is driving me crazy,” he blurted with fierce energy. “I’m head over heels in love with you, Eloisa Longoria! I'm sorry that in the past I've been a pompous ass. I'm sorry that sometimes what comes out of my mouth isn't exactly what I mean. But be sure of this, I'm saying exactly what I mean now. I want us to spend time together enjoying each other and getting to know one another but if you feel differently, please put me out of my misery and tell me quickly, so I can leave and never bother you again.”
“I love you too, Dario,” Eloisa murmured quietly. It was the first time she had dared to admit it to herself.
Dario's startled gaze rested on her. He looked her over as if trying to dissect and discern what she had just said.
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