by D. M. Cupp
“I agree,” my dad said.
“You do?” I asked about to fall out of my chair.
“I do son. I know that I wasn’t able to say the same thing a few years ago, but Javier is right. If you two want to get married you should be able to get the same rights and benefits that your mother and I have.”
“Well I think that is just absurd,” my mother added. “Two men or two women marrying are not the same thing that we have because they can’t have children naturally.”
“Not all straight couples can have children naturally either so does that mean that their marriage is less than ours because we were able to have Daniel?” my father asked her.
My mother had no response and for the first time I was proud of my father for standing up for me and my relationship.
“Well pointed out Mr. Miles,” Javier agreed.
“When you two decide to settle down you send us that invitation. I look forward to having you in the family Javier.”
“Thank you sir, I appreciate that very much.”
I knew I was smiling like an idiot but I couldn’t help it. Here I was worried that this evening would turn out to be a disaster but it wasn’t. No my mother hadn’t changed her opinion at all, but she was polite to Javier, but the my father had changed his mind and that meant that there was hope for building a relationship with at least one of my parents for now.
“Well we should really get going,” my mother said turning to my father. “I’m going to powder my nose while you take care of the check.” She said standing from the table. “It was nice seeing you Daniel, and nice meeting you Javier.” She said turning and walking away from the table.
“Don’t mind her, son. She’ll come around eventually, but I meant what I said. You two seem great for one another. You both have your head on your shoulders and you’ll know when it’s time.”
“Thanks dad.”
We all stood outside the restaurant and said our finally goodbyes and dad gave us a final hug, “don’t be a stranger you two. I don’t want to have to wait years to see either of you again.”
I could tell he was getting sentimental and to be honest I was getting a lump in my throat myself. “We won’t,” I choked out.
“Well that went well,” Javier said taking my hand and leading us to the car.
“It did. It really did.” I confessed.
Chapter Seventeen
After returning from Austin Javier and I started packing up mine and his places and began searching for a place of our own. This was a new chapter for us, and I liked this new step that we were taking together. It felt right and natural, and not an ounce of being rushed.
As we were looking at apartments the office staff would ask how many bedrooms and Javier would always answer, ‘my boyfriend and I only need one.’ It was nice having him call me his boyfriend to people in public. Charles would have called me his friend and insist on a two bedroom. We would end up using it for an office, but the office would assume we each had a room.
“How does one person have so much stuff,” I asked one day packing up Javier’s kitchen.
“Papí, you pack the kitchen last. We still have a month and a half left here.”
“I know babe, but I’m only packing the pots and pans that we have never use.”
“We might,” he said laughing knowing the truth.
“Your smile says it all,” I said standing from my place on the floor and leaning in for a kiss. “I love you, Javier Fuentes.”
“And I love you Daniel Miles.
There was a knock at the door and startled us from our embrace.
“Who could that be?” Javier wondered aloud.
“It’s probably Donna. She said that she might come over and bring more boxes and help out a bit.” I said walking over to the door to open it.
Over the past month since getting closure with Charles I had been staying at Javier’s and only going over to Donna’s to get clothes that never made their way back. Javier had made space for me in ‘our’ closet in ‘our’ room.
“Mr. Fuentes,” I said after opening the door and saw Javier’s father standing there. “Babe it’s your dad,” I said opening the door further and allowing him entrance.
“Nice to see you again Daniel,” Mr. Fuentes said shaking my hand.
“Hey dad, what brings you by,” Javier asked coming out of the kitchen and walking into the living room.
“Well I wanted to know if you and Daniel would be coming to dinner on Saturday,” Mr. Fuentes asked.
“I don’t know dad,” Javier said reluctantly.
Mr. Fuentes looked at both of us and then continued, “I understand why you haven’t brought Daniel back after what your mother said, and believe me the entire family is disappointed in her behavior and have told her as much. I wanted you both to know that you are welcome in our home.”
“Thank you Mr. Fuentes,” I said softly.
“You’re welcome, but the family is not stupid. We would have to all be blind not to see what you two mean to each other. We all see how you look at each other and lovingly. It’s the same way that I look at your mother.”
“Padre, no sabemos si podemos ir,” Javier said switching naturally to Spanish.
“What do you mean ‘you don’t know if we can go?” I asked Javier. I had been working really hard to get back my understanding of Spanish.
“Daniel, I don’t want you to get hurt again.”
“Babe, your father just said that wouldn’t happen again, but we can’t avoid our family just because they might not agree with our relationship.”
“You think of my family as your family?” He asked forgetting his father was there.
“Of course I do.”
“He’s a keeper Javi,” Mr. Fuentes added.
“I know he is,” Javier said smiling at me.
“We’ll be there Saturday Mr. Fuentes. What time do you want us? We can come by earlier and help with setting up if you need.”
“We might just take you up one that offer, m’ijo,” Mr. Fuentes said to me. “Let’s say one o’clock.”
“We will be there,” Javier said.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Mr. Fuentes said. “So you moving Javier,” he asked finally noticing the boxes.
“Daniel and I are looking for a place of our own when my lease is up at the end of July.”
“Well there are some homes for sale in our neighborhood. It might be a good idea since you two are looking for more long-term, don’t you all think?”
Javier and I both looked at each other. We had both said we were in this for the long haul, but owning a home together would really mean long-term.
“Yeah it would be something for us to talk about,” Javier said.
“Well talk it over. I better get going to the store. Have lots to buy to get ready for Saturday.”
“Well thanks for coming by Mr. Fuentes and we will see you at one on Saturday.”
“Sounds good, but you can call me Javier, or dad,” he said giving me a hug and then giving one to Javier.
After closing the door Javier turned to me with the biggest smile on his face.
“What,” I asked stupidly.
“Just that you’re amazing,” he said.
“Why’s that,” I asked.
“First for caring so much for my family,” Javier said clarifying.
“Like I said, they’re my family too. But what I didn’t understand was when he called me m’ijo.”
“He called you his son. He thinks of you as family too. That’s why he told you to call him by his first name or dad because he doesn’t want you to be so formal with him. Remember in Spanish they have formal speaking and informal speaking?”
“Yeah,” I said plainly.
“Well he was telling you to use the informal speaking, and your Spanish is getting really good because I wasn’t speaking slowly when I was speaking to him.” He said pulling me into his arms and looking down at me.
“Well thank you papí, but I guess I
had a really good teacher.” I said kissing him gently.
“I love you more and more every day.”
“Well I love you from here to the moon, papí.”
“You always have to one up me,” he said smiling.
“Maybe,” I said smiling.
***
Javier and I arrived at his parents fifteen minutes to one on Saturday. I was still slightly nervous about talking to Javier’s mother due to our lack of success last time I was rather calm. I knew Javier and I had the support of his entire family and knowing that his father was thinking me more like family after briefly knowing me made me feel more confident.
“Danny!” Mari said opening the door and hugging me.
“Hey Mari, how are you?” I asked.
“Thanks sis, I’m here too,” Javier said feeling ignored.
“Awe, is someone feeling left out,” she asked sarcastically finally releasing me and giving him a hug.
“Sorry we’re early but I wanted to come over just in case y’all needed some extra help.”
“Brother, we never turn down extra or early help,” Mari said placing her hand on my arm and laughing.
“Well I figured we could start by setting up the tables,” Javier suggested.
“That would be great, abuela and mama had been cooking all morning so there’s isn’t much left to cook or prep.”
Javier and I walked in the backyard and began to set up tables one by one as we laughed and joked and Javier would mention some funny moments from past gatherings.
“Are there more people coming this time? It seems like there are more tables than there was at the Cinco de Mayo fiesta.” I asked to Javier setting up my twentieth table.
“I guess there must be, but mom and dad always invite everyone they know…even if they just met them at the supermarket.” He said laughing to himself.
It really amazed me that there were families that got together on a regular basis to just enjoy each other’s company and to just talk. I can’t remember my family every having a get together of this magnitude. Mom had never been close to her sisters and brothers so I never really knew my cousins, aunts, or uncles. I had tried a few years ago to reach out to them via Facebook, but it was no use I guess the estrangement was too big for us to fix. Dad was an only child so after his mom and dad had passed away it ended that family connection.
“Well it looks like this is it,” Javier said setting up the last table.
“Finally,” I said laughing. “You really have a lot of family and friends.”
“M’ijos, everything looks great.” Javier’s father said as he walked into the backyard seeing all the tables set up and covered with plastic tablecloths.
“You’re welcome. It’s the least we could do having missed so many of the past few gatherings.” I said.
“Well you’re gonna give Travis a run for his money on best son-in-law. He misses a lot due to work but he doesn’t come over and help set up like this.” Mr. Fuentes said laughing.
“Well he has Trevor,” Javier said.
“I’m not fussing I love all of my sons.” Mr. Fuentes said.
I smiled it was amazing how comfortable Mr. Fuentes had gotten. I only wished that Mrs. Fuentes could feel the same way.
“Your mother is going to love it.”
“Love what,” Mrs. Fuentes said walking into the backyard.
“I said that you would love the setup that the boys did,” Mr. Fuentes clarified.
“It does look very festive, and I love all the different tablecloths. It does make it feel more like a celebration than just one of our regular family meals.”
“It was Daniel’s idea,” Javier said boastfully.
“Well you did an excellent job Daniel,” Mrs. Fuentes said.
“Thank you Mrs. Fuentes. I’m glad that you like it.” I said. I didn’t know what else to say. I wanted to break the ice, to apologize for making such a bad first impression, for not being what she expected for her son, but I wanted to clarify that I loved her son more than anything.
“Mrs. Fuentes,” I said catching her before she could turn and walk back into the house. “Te amo tu hijo,” I said as confidently as I could. I knew that I was getting better at my Spanish, but I always felt unsure when I was speaking with a native speaker, but Javier was helping me with that aspect telling me that I was getting much better.
“So you love my son?” She asked with a questioning look in her eyes.
“Yes, I love your son, and I know that I’m not the guy that you pictured for him. I know your dreams for him changed the moment that he told you that he was gay, and when he brought me home I know that I was not what you expected. However, I do not want to erase his culture or heritage, but I want to embrace it.
“I want to raise our kids speaking the language, and having this sense of family and the importance of being there for one another. That’s why I’m working hard to relearn my college Spanish. So I can speak with you and your family and teach our children. I never grew up in a family that talked at dinner let alone gathered the entire family on a weekly basis. I want our children to know that.”
“I see,” she said matter-of-factly.
“I’m sorry if that’s too fast to be speaking of our future children, but I wanted your family to know that I don’t see this as just some temporary relationship.” I said looking at Javier.
Javier closed the tiny distance that was between us and took my face in his hands and kissed me gently on the lips. “I’m on the same page. I want children with you. I don’t want a relationship with you I want a lifetime with you. Now do you see why I love him so much?” Javier asked his mother without breaking eye contact with me.
“I was wrong about you, Daniel Miles.” Mrs. Fuentes finally said.
“You are just the man that I want for my son. Yes your skin color might not be what I imagined, but you have what’s important on the inside: love and family. Welcome to the family.” She said extending her arms and hugging me and Javier.
“Thank you, mama, for your blessing,” Javier said.
“You did great finding such an amazing man.
“Yeah I did.
“Thanks Mrs. Fuentes,” I said smiling and getting teary eyed at the same time.
“Call me Maria…or mom.”
“Okay,” I said feeling a lump form in my throat. This day was turning out to be full of emotions.
“Well I better get back inside and check on the food. Everyone will start to arrive soon.”
It was turning out to be a great afternoon. The weather was perfect. To be the middle of June in Texas the weather was only a warm eighty degrees; which was a blessing for outdoor gatherings.
Javier and I had mingled with his family members and I was able to follow many of the conversations as he switched from English to Spanish and I had shocked myself when his abuela had asked a question about me in Spanish and I answered her in Spanish without even thinking.
“That’s how you know you’re getting the language; when you don’t even have to think about it.” Javier smiled whispering into my ear.
“Friends and family my wife tells me that it’s time to eat.” Mr. Fuentes said.
The family began to form a line at the mock buffet tables. I had to admit that I had always loved Mexican food, but traditional homemade Mexican food was by far the best, and Javier’s family could cook.
“So Javier hasn’t scared you away yet,” Miguel said sitting his plate across from Javier and me.
“I don’t think that will ever happen.” I said smiling.
“Well if he ever gives you trouble you call me and I’ll give him a spanking that he won’t forget.”
“Tío, really,” Javier asked embarrassed.
“What, afraid Daniel might take me up on the offer,” Miguel asked laughing.
“Not one bit,” Javier said confidently.
We continued our conversation when Javier excused himself from the table. Miguel and I continued to talk about random topics. I
knew from the last dinner that Miguel and Javier were close in age, but shocked how much they had grown up together.
“Everyone may I have your attention?”
I looked up and saw Javier standing near the house and buffet tables.
“I know that everyone is talking and I won’t keep you long. As everyone knows I’ve been dating Daniel Miles for a few months now, and most have met this amazing guy who allows me to call him my boyfriend.”
I felt my face turning red with embarrassment as I felt all eyes find me.
“Daniel can you come up here,” Javier asked.
“Well go,” Miguel encouraged.
I stood and walked to the front where Javier was standing.
“Well some of you know that Daniel and I met as we were both getting over heartache, and I still remember seeing Daniel walk in that night at the dance hall and I just couldn’t take my eyes off of him and had to find a reason to dance with him, and it came when the club played the Cupid Shuffle, and fate stepped in again by allow us to work at the same school and got to know each other on a professional level.
“What grew from that first dance was love, and a sense of belonging. Daniel you are truly my better half and I don’t want a relationship with you but a lifetime of happiness and a chance to make you smile. So Daniel Miles will you make me the happiest man alive and become my husband?” Javier asked getting down on one knee.
The guests, amounting of about hundred people, were silent waiting for my response, “yes, of course I will marry you.”
Javier stood and kissed me with passion that we typically safe for private. “He said yes,” Javier exclaimed breaking from the kiss, but everyone was already clapping that I doubted that they heard him.
Mr. and Mrs. Fuentes walked up to us, “Welcome to the family son,” Mr. Fuentes congratulated.
“I thought you were gonna give it away with all that best son-in-law talk earlier,” Javier said laughing.
“But babe it’s not legal to get married here in Texas yet,” I said coming to the realization that it was impossible for us to be able to start our married lives with each other yet.
“Already thought about that,” Javier said smiling and raising his right arm to send a signal.