He poured his own cup of joe and joined her. “Morning. Merry Christmas.”
“Feliz Navidad. Hope I didn’t wake you?”
He shook his head. “No, you didn’t.” He took a sip of his coffee—it was good, but he missed the local shop in his neighborhood. He had to tell Carolina that he had to go home, but he wanted to ease into it. He would miss her if he left now. And more importantly, he wanted her to come with him.
“How are you feeling about things with your family? Have you decided if you want to go home?”
“I haven’t made any long-term decision, but I think that it’s best if my parents and I both have some space, a bit of time to calm down. Maybe I’ll try to talk to them again after New Year’s to avoid disrupting my sisters’ holidays. I can just stay in a hotel or an Airbnb until I figure it out.”
Enrique nodded. “That sounds like a good plan. I intended to leave tomorrow to go back home with the rest of my family.” He paused. “You’re welcome to come with me if you want to, but if you want to stay up here, I understand.” He didn’t want to pressure her into coming, and he also wasn’t ready to plan their future at this moment.Would they visit each other on the weekends? Since she was fighting with her family, would she consider moving? He didn’t want her to make life decisions because of him—but he did want to make concrete plans to see her. He had asked her to be his girlfriend, after all. “Have you ever been to Disneyland during Christmastime?”
She pursed her lips and shook her head. “No, actually. And I’ve only ever been there once, years ago with my Tía Luísa when I was a little girl.”
“We could go there today. I can take you wherever you want after our time in Disney.” Hopefully back to San Diego with him, but he wouldn’t press.
She blinked rapidly. “Actually, I’d love that. You really want to go today?”
He grinned. He had never taken a girlfriend to Disneyland. “Yeah, let’s go.”
“Okay!”
He kissed his beautiful woman.
Enrique made sure his family was cool with him bailing to Disneyland on Christmas, but they assured him they were fine and would just enjoy the last day in the home and then head back to San Diego. Julieta made them some breakfast burritos, and Enrique and Carolina hopped in his SUV for yet another road trip.
They took turns choosing the music—she was open to listening to his punk-pop music selections, and Enrique tolerated her endless stream of Selena.
After a leisurely drive down the coast, where they stopped at a few beaches and took some pictures, they arrived in the afternoon and checked in to their hotel. After freshening up, they entered the park. Enrique bought her some Mexican floral Christmas Minnie Mouse ears, and they strode around the park.
Christmas at Disneyland was always breathtakingly beautiful,especially at night. The huge tree was strung with multicolored lights, and there were red bows hung on the poles.
They enjoyed some rides and walked hand in hand, finally making their way to Disney California Adventure.
“Look! They have Ballet Folklórico dancers here!”
Rows of dancers wearing ornately colored gowns walked in a procession and then began to dance to traditional Mexican music. Carolina studied their movements intensely.
“Wow! They are really good!”
They looked great to Enrique, but he didn’t have a clue how to judge their ability. Their full skirts flew in the air and waved around their bodies. The men’s steps were sharp and joyful. Enrique laughed when the men would simultaneously drop their hats in front of the women’s mouths to pretend that they were kissing them.
He gave Carolina a real kiss.
Enrique ordered them two Mexican hot chocolates and a plate of churros, and they sat on nearby chairs. The parade came by, with the Three Caballeros dancing on an elaborately colored stage flourished with Talavera tiles.
Carolina stared at the multicolored lights lining the street. “Wow, it’s magical during Christmas—it’s so amazing that they honor our culture. Have they always done this?”
“I think they have for a while—I know they do a big thing for Three Kings Day.” Enrique had once come to the park in January having no knowledge it was Three Kings Day, another Mexican holiday he didn’t celebrate, and there had been a big parade.
“I wish Baby could see this.” Her words were laced with sadness.
“Well, you can bring her someday.”
She nodded. “I hope so. Papá may never let me see her again.”
“He’ll come around.”But he may not.
Carolina tapped something on her phone and then stared at it.
