Nydia extricated her arm from Jasmine’s and pressed her head to the headrest. “His positive attributes are he’s extremely talented and he didn’t cheat on me. But it was his refusal to become gainfully employed that was a continual source of contention between us. He earned just enough working as a part-time waiter and singing with a Latin band on the weekends to pay for studio time. I got tired of telling him that all the men in my family worked and supported their families, and I expected the same from him. Even if I had greater earning power I wouldn’t have held that over his head.”
Jasmine patted Nydia’s hand. “Don’t beat up on yourself,chica. You gave him more chances than he deserved.”
“You’ve got that right. Now before we go in, do you have any idea of what type of gown you want?”
“I told the owner I wanted a gown with an empire waist because it would de-emphasize my waistline.”
“You’re not showing.”
“I’m getting thick in the waist.”
“Let’s go,mija.We need to pick out a gown for you and one for me, along with all of the accessories.”
* * *
Nydia settled down on the loveseat, picked up the remote device, and flicked on the wall-mounted flat screen. She blew out an audible sigh. It felt good to just sit and relax. Jasmine had extended an invitation for Nydia to join her and Cameron in their suite for the evening meal, but she’d declined and ordered room service.
Earlier that morning it had taken her and Jasmine almost three hours to pick out their gowns. The salon owner and her staff were patient and gracious, offering them water, juice, and freshly prepared fruit and green salads for a light snack during a break.
Unlike Jasmine, who knew exactly what style and color she wanted, it wasn’t the same for Nydia, who’d always found herself in a quandary when it came choosing between more than one garment. It wasn’t until she’d resorted to the nursery rhymeeeny, meeny, miny, moethat she had finally selected her bridesmaid gown. Fittings followed, and the seamstress set a date for them to return several days before the wedding for a final fitting.
Nydia turned the television to a popular entertainment channel and became suddenly alert when she heard the correspondent mention her ex-boyfriend’s name. More than two million hits on Danny Ocasio’s YouTube video had landed him a record deal with a major recording company. A publicist from the company had predicted Danny was certain to become a Latin crossover artist with the sensuality of Enrique Iglesias and a voice comparable to Marc Anthony’s.
Nydia’s cell phone chimed a familiar ringtone; she picked up the phone after the second ring. “I just saw it, Millie,” she said to her cousin.
Milagros Baez’s distinctive laugh came through the mouthpiece. “Can you believe it? He finally made it!”
“Good for him.”
“I know you had your ups and downs with Danny, but you don’t sound excited that he’s going to be a big star.”
Nydia closed her eyes. What did her cousin expect her to say? Danny had worked hard to get a recording contract, even if it meant forfeiting a relationship with her. “I’m happy for him, Millie. He deserves every good thing coming his way.”
“Danny called me a couple of days ago to let me know the segment was airing tonight,” Milagros continued. “He said he wanted to personally share his good news with you, but you’d blocked his number.” A beat passed. “He wanted me to tell you that he still loves you and would like to see you in person. Of course I didn’t tell him where you were, but said I would pass along the message.”
“You can tell him I’m out of town and I’ll contact him once I return to New York after the Labor Day weekend.” Nydia didn’t tell Millie that she had no intention of reviving her relationship with Danny because emotionally she had moved on.
“I’ll let him know. How are you feeling,prima?” Milagros asked.
“I’m real good.”
A slight twinge on her right side was a reminder of her recent surgical procedure, and Nydia realized it would take time before she healed completely. She muted the television and listened to her cousin, who updated her about the latest love of her life. Nydia smiled as Millie rambled on about the too-good-to-be-true man she’d met on a dating site. She was happy for the woman who’d had her share of heartbreak.
Ten minutes after answering the call, Nydia hung up. She’d planned to stay up and watch a movie but changed her mind. After turning off the television, she adjusted the thermostat, and then walked into the bathroom to shower and brush her teeth. The glowing numbers on the bedside clock displayed 8:01.
I’ve become myabuela, she thought. Nydia’s eighty-five-year-old grandmother had established a routine of going to bed at eight o’clock every night to get what she called her beauty sleep. She had to acknowledge herabuelita,who never smoked, rarely drank, except for a glass of coquito during Christmas, could easily pass for a woman at least ten years younger.
Nydia knew the heat and humidity were responsible for her lethargy, and it would take at least a week to acclimate her body to the tropical-like weather.
Chapter 4
Nydia helped Jasmine as she stepped into her wedding gown. For the past two weeks she had felt like a hamster on a wheel, running around in endless circles, and since arriving in New Orleans one day had blurred into the next one.
She had tried on several gowns in varying shades of yellow before selecting a sunny-yellow, one-shoulder chiffon gown, nipped at the waist, and flowing around her feet like frothy meringue. Strappy matching satin-and-patent-leather platform sandals added four inches to her five-two height.
And as promised, Tonya prepared and delivered a two weeks’ supply of frozen dinner entrées. It had become a struggle not to overindulge on the delicious dishes before the final fitting for her bridesmaid’s dress.
She’d also accompanied Jasmine to countless local antique dealers and furniture warehouses and several in Baton Rouge to shop for furnishings for her new home. Tonya had mentioned her husband’s mother owned and operated an antique shop in Lafayette, but thankfully Jasmine had decided not to take the over one-hundred-seventy-mile ride until after her wedding.
