Spring Into Love

by Chantel Rhondeau

  “But isn’t that how you met Mama?”

  “Yes, your mother made me whole again. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me, even if it means putting up with Elena.”

  And her son, I add to myself. Maybe there are deeper reasons Papa doesn’t want me to go out with Romeo. He doesn’t seem too enthusiastic about the Genie project either, putting it down as my mother and Tita Elena’s silly notion. As much as my mother and Elena want to be in-laws, I can see my dad dreading it more.

  We drive down the freeway toward downtown in silence. Traffic is congested tonight because it’s game night. My father curses and slams the brakes a little too hard at each stop light.

  The outline of the stadium is ahead of us. Usually game nights mean brisk business for us, but since we closed the restaurant for the wedding, all of the added traffic is an inconvenience without adding to our profits.

  “Papa?” I tap his arm. “I’m not going to use Romeo.”

  “You can’t help it.” His face is twisted in frustration as a crowd of fans take over the intersection, oblivious to the traffic signals. “He will wait for you to his own detriment.”

  “I think you’re projecting your own experiences on him.” I’m quick to retort. “Romeo hasn’t exactly been a saint. You know he was dating his co-star?”

  Papa taps his chest. “The difference is, you’re in his heart. You think it’s a small matter to go to a girl’s father and tell him your intentions?”

  “No, but you didn’t have to to ruin it by telling him how indecisive I am.”

  “That’s because I want you to leave him alone. You’re going back to Harvard and that Harvard guy.” He nudges the large sedan between the pedestrians to our alleyway.

  “That’s where you’re wrong. Eric dumped me. I’m going back to nothing.” I cross my arms to hold back the anger boiling in me.

  “You want Romeo to fill the nothing. He deserves better.” My father calls Carlos on his cell phone.

  A few seconds later, Carlos emerges from the restaurant and moves the traffic cones from my dad’s parking spot.

  Papa cuts the engine. “Have fun tonight, and don’t play with fire.”

  # # #

  Laughter and loud talking punctuate the lively music bouncing from the overhead speakers. The entire restaurant is full from the small groups in the bangus room to folks drinking and hanging round the patio to the steamy atmosphere in the kare-kare room where people are seated two-to-three deep around the tables.

  Waitresses weave around with stacks of food, replenishing the tables while busboys remove dirty dishes. Three bartenders I’ve never met man the bars, and I recognize many of the wedding guests mingling with the film crowd and other strangers.

  “Elena’s here,” Mama says as soon as we step into the kare-kare room.

  Papa sweeps her into his arms and kisses her squarely on the lips. “I was just telling Evie about how sick I am of Elena. Now, where’s her boy?”

  I don’t have to look to find Romeo. He sees us and is already making his way over. He has a gauze pad taped to his forehead and a wide, eager grin on his face. His stretchy black tee hugs his tight muscles and he swaggers toward us, wearing jeans over cowboy boots. He still has stage makeup on, so his eyes are rimmed with black and his face is rosier than usual.

  He stops just short of me and takes a bow, then extends his hand. “May I have the pleasure of escorting this princess tonight?”

  My mother pokes my father. “You did give permission, didn’t you? Elena said you would.”

  I’m unable to hold back my smile as my father turns red, shakes his jowls and clamps his arm around my mother. “They’ll do what they want. This permission crap is all her idea.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Romeo says, still feasting his eyes on me. “You are more than beautiful. Shall we dance?”

  “Dance? I haven’t eaten yet.” I cast around to catch a waitress, but all of the food looks well picked over. The buffet table has the remains of nine whole roasted pigs, and I doubt anyone has left any vegan dishes for me.

  Romeo leads me to one of the larger tables where his crew is sitting.

  Dick points his unlit cigar at me. “Our newest co-star, Evangeline Sánchez. I signed her this afternoon for the motorcycle scene.”

  Everyone whoops and cheers, some raising eyebrows and others standing up and wiggling their hips. “Good job, Dick.”

  They appear to be well past the point of inebriation.

  Romeo pulls a seat for me and waves to one of the temporary waitresses. “A plate of garlic eggplant, tofu, and kangkong with steamed rice and a mai tai with an orchid on top.”

  He knows me so well. Introductions are made and Dick mentions that Doris was fired today after the last scene because she kept smashing Romeo well after cut was yelled.

  “I expect combat pay for that.” Romeo touches his gauze pad. “I think I’m suffering amnesia. Who was that again? Doris Had-a-Shit-Day?”

  I spot Romeo’s mother at another table, staring at us with a smitten expression. She waves me over with her fingers.

  “Gotta greet your mother.” I tap Romeo to let me through.

  “Don’t be too long. I get the first dance.” He kisses me on the lips, his tongue giving mine a swirl.

  I’m not sure about all the public displays in front of my parents, but I make my way to his mother’s side.

  After she gives me the mano-po blessing, she touches my pale green silk dress. “You look gorgeous. I’m so glad you didn’t wear bright red, or yellow, or some other tacky color.”

  “Thanks.” I pull up a folding chair and clasp her hands. “How are you feeling? I’m glad to see you up.”

  “I’m doing great.” She leans forward. “I let them say they called off the wedding because of me, but the truth is, Steve got cold feet and drove to Mexico with some friends to go fishing.”

  “Oh, no. How’s Julia taking it?”

  “Not well, but we couldn’t waste the food and the cake, so we’re having a party to celebrate Romeo’s acting success. He’s been nervously waiting for your appearance all day.”

  “I have to keep up with my studies if I hope to go back to school.”

  “Yes, your father mentioned it. When are you going back?”

  “Probably after the 4 of July. I have directed studies with the professor who failed me, and then I have to make up the final exam.”

  “Romeo’s supposed to leave end of June, but he’s talking about staying with me and working at the bakery. I don’t want him to quit his acting.”

  I thought that was her grand plan, but maybe she doesn’t want him to think she’s manipulating him.

  “He’s concerned about you,” I say to assuage her feelings.

  “I’ll be fine. I’ve been on my own longer than with anyone. It’s good to be independent. To not need another person.” Her gaze seems to pierce through me.

  Is she giving me a message? Perhaps she also wants me to leave Romeo alone. I don’t blame her. I’m nothing but a walking ball of pain infecting anyone I bounce off of.

  “I agree, Tita.” I lean over and kiss her cheek. “You’re strong and I admire you.”

  Her eyes are damp. “You have fun this evening.”

  “Your food is here.” Romeo collects me from his mother and brings me back to his table. My chair has gone missing, so he flips me onto his lap and tucks a napkin over my dress.

  “What am I? Your big baby?” I poke his chest for fun.

  He slides his hand over my belly. “Are you telling me something?”

  Ugh… Why does he have to remind me? I don’t believe I’m overdue yet, but it’s hard to tell since I stopped tracking after the breakup with Eric.

  “You wish, baby.” I kiss his earlobe and give it a nip. “I’m not going to worry until the end of the month.”

  “Good, because I’m going to feed you your veggies.” He spears a piece of tofu and slips it into my mouth.

  “You two are sick.
” Choco slaps my back. I cough, and fortunately, the tofu comes flying out.

  “Are you trying to kill me?” I fan my face while Romeo gives me a sip of water.

  “Get a room.” She laughs. “Papa’s turning on the karaoke machine. Who wants to go first?”

  Carlos wheels the setup out with a dolly and flips open the laptop while Danny and some of the other guys plug in the cords and turn on the flat-screen TV.

  “Come on, you lovebirds first,” Choco says, swinging the mic.

  “Not me. I’m not drunk enough.” I push the mic toward Romeo who takes it.

  He leans in and says in my ear, “Listen carefully to the lyrics.”

  “Yay, Romeo’s going first!” Choco yells to be heard.

  I jump off Romeo’s lap. He stands and sticks two fingers in his mouth, making a shrill, ear-piercing whistle.

  “Romeo, Romeo, Romeo,” everyone’s chanting and waving their hands. He sure knows how to work a crowd.

  “Thank you all for coming to this celebration. As you know, the party isn’t over before we have all of you up here singing. First, I’d like to thank Tito Rey and Tita Anna for letting us party hearty at the number one, numero uno, Pilipino restaurant in the world, the fabulous Barrio XO! XO stands for extraordinary, but more than that it is the kisses and hugs, food and friends.”

  The place erupts with cheers and foot stomping.

  “This first song goes to the woman who is my life.”

  “Whoo!” the audience shouts.

  “Some of you might think it’s my Nanay, and she is, because she gave me life. But tonight, I want to let the only woman in my heart know how I feel.”

  I cover my face with a napkin, not daring to peek at him or anyone else. We’re so different. He’s an attention hog, and I prefer to lurk in the background. At this moment, I’d steal Mr. Dee’s giant golf hat and gladly hide in the dumpster.

  A warm, strong hand tugs me. “Evie, come up here so I can sing for you.”

  He’s not doing this. Ohh, Emm, Gee. He is. My face boiling, I stare at my feet as Romeo pulls me onto the stage. The lights blind me and I think I see the red dots of video recorders.

  Romeo tips my chin so I’m looking into his smoky eyes. If I keep my gaze on him, I’ll relax and not do something stupid, like pee in my pants or trip on my toes.

  He turns toward Carlos. “‘Just Tell Me You Love Me’ by England Dan and John Ford Coley.”

  Too soon, the soundtrack plays and the lyrics appear on the screen, but Romeo doesn’t look at them. He’s focused on me, as he sings his heart, the years he’s waited, dreaming of me, savoring the memory of our first kiss and whispering through my silence.

  The lyrics urge me to tell him I love him. The words are so close to the edge of my tongue, but I can’t say them, because I have to be sure. My eyes become misty and even though I want to tear them away from him, I’m glued to him, tranquilized by his voice, suspended in time. If only I can tell him and know beyond a doubt, I would be his forever.

  He embraces me at the end of song and somehow we make it off the stage without any malfunction. The mic is passed to the next person, and before I know it, we’re dancing.

  Choco sings, Genie sings, Carlos takes a turn, even Tita Elena. She belts a mighty “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor and has the entire building rocking out.

  But when it comes to the last song, my father gets the floor. He takes my mother by the hand and selects “You Took My Heart Away” by Michael Learns to Rock.

  I look on with tears in my eyes. My mother mended his broken heart. She turned his gray world into one of color, love, and warmth. I want nothing more than to be like her: loving, forgiving, and the meaning in Romeo’s life.

  Chapter 22

  Monday rolls around. Our family day off. Only today, I’m going to the studio in Los Angeles. Dick arrives early in the morning to pick me up.

  He and Romeo are at the door talking to my father. I grab a water bottle from the refrigerator and take the sunscreen from my mother’s outstretched hand.

  I kiss her goodbye and wave to Choco and Genie. “What are you two doing today?”

  “Getting a haircut,” Choco says.

  “Prom dress alterations after school,” Genie says. “Mama, why do I have to go with Romeo?”

  “We went through this already,” Mama says. “You’ll have a great time and be safe. Evie won’t let anything happen to you.”

  “That’s the problem,” Genie mutters and plods to the kitchen to finish her breakfast and get ready for school.

  “You better watch her carefully,” Choco says. “I think she’s planning on giving you the slip. She thinks you’ll distract Romeo and poof, off she goes with some punk we know nothing about.”

  “If you know something, you better spit it out,” Mama says.

  “Nothing, just telling Evie to keep an eye out.” Choco passes the buck to me.

  Mama gives me the evil eye and takes her keys off the hook. “I have to drive Genie to school. See you later.”

  I get the feeling Genie is the one who’s now supposed to be watching me and Romeo. I’m going to have a talk with her. She’s always been the sneaky, quiet one.

  Dick makes a hurrying motion from the door, so I bid everyone goodbye and step after him to the Range Rover parked on the driveway. He jumps into the passenger seat while Romeo steers me into the back. It’s spacious, but I take the middle seat so I can cuddle against him the entire way to Los Angeles. He smells so sexy, like a dark, misty forest filled with mystery and musk.

  “Here’s your check.” Dick slides me an envelope. “Wanted to get that out of the way. Have you been to LA before?”

  “Yes, many times,” I reply. “Been to Universal Studios and Hollywood.”

  Romeo has his face in my hair, breathing against my ear. “Tell him to cut the small talk.”

  “This place is low budget, but we’re prepared.” Dick opens his jacket to show me a gun holstered to his side. “Just playing with you.”

  “I’ve been to South Central, except I was driving a ratty Toyota, not this thug magnet.” I squirm because Romeo’s hand wanders down the small of my back and hooks under my waistband.

  “We’re only going to Long Beach. It’s not that bad, so, do we want to go over the script? We have two hours.” He hands me a clipboard with directions. “Or, did you want to warm up with your co-star?”

  Romeo nips my earlobe and growls, “Tell him to turn around and stop gawking at you.”

  “Uh, sure. I think I’ll explore my co-star so I can be in the proper mood.” My voice comes out porn star sultry. “Please turn around and look out the window.”

  The driver guffaws, “Too bad we didn’t bring a stretch limo.”

  “Go for it,” Dick says. “I want you hot and bothered for the scene. If you do this one well, there may be more.”

  Thankfully he pumps up the radio and turns his eyes away from us.

  “I bought the outfit you’re going to wear today,” Romeo says. “But I couldn’t ask you to put it on this morning in front of your parents.”

  “That’s okay, I missed you, why didn’t you call or text?”

  “I knew we were getting together today. Besides you were probably busy all day at the restaurant.”

  “You’re telling me. The Padres played in the afternoon so we were packed before and after the game.” I shake my sore wrists. “My arms are killing me.”

  He rubs my forearms and spreads my fingers out. “These are surgeon’s hands. You shouldn’t be slaving away in a restaurant. Are you planning on going back?”

  “Eventually. Can we not talk about it? I just want to be with you as much as I can.” I smear a kiss on his lips, leaving a trace of lipstick.

  “You can’t get around it, Evie.” He pinches my chin, a little too forcefully. “I have feelings for you and I’m not going to let you go back to Boston without knowing where we stand.”

  A wave of nausea sweeps over me and I fan my face, turning
toward the A/C controls on the console. I crank up the fan and point the air flow toward my face. Prickles and tingles flood over my chest and I’m seriously wondering if I have a heart valve issue.

  “Are you okay?” Romeo swipes his hand over my sweaty forehead.

  “A little carsick.” I lie, even though it’ll cost me my makeout session. Anything is better than confronting my feelings. I think I’m over Eric, and I want him out of my life, but I haven’t confronted him. Everything’s in limbo and I’m afraid.

  “Here, close your eyes and lean on me.” Romeo holds me against his chest. “Do you mind if I talk about myself?”

  “Oh, please. Go ahead.” I love the way his voice rumbles, and his scent is driving me wild. But starting something with Romeo would be too crazy, because losing him forever would kill me.

  “I’m thinking of quitting,” he whispers so Dick and the driver can’t hear him. “I’m twenty-four and haven’t hit the big screen yet. And I’ve been type casted as a soap opera actor. The only places I can get parts are Philippines and Latin America. If you haven’t noticed, Americans don’t watch soap operas anymore. Even All My Children was cancelled, so that scotches my chances of going to New York City and being a few hours from you.”

  I squirm and adjust myself so I’m more comfortable, my hand on his tight belly. So far I’m behaving. A warm glow draws a smile to my face. He’s thinking of relocating for me, but the truth is as he says, no film acting jobs in the East Coast.

  He plays with my hair and loops it around his finger. “So, I’m thinking of staying on in Southern California. My mother’s going to need more attention. I hate the thought that if I hadn’t been around, she might not have gotten to the hospital in time. She kept saying it’s nothing, just indigestion, but thankfully I was able to drive over.”

  “I wish we hadn’t turned off our cell phones,” I mumble. “I feel like it’s my fault.”

  “No, don’t think like that. You gave me the best night of my life, so far. I’ve no regrets. Do you?”

  I shake my head. “I don’t regret a single minute I spend with you. I only wish things were simpler, like they were when we were growing up. We used to see each other in school every day, eat lunch together, hold hands in the hallway and sneak off after school.”