My breath caught. Bruno once sat in my parents' living room, introduced himself, and nobody ever said a word to me? Why the big secret? Why was I always the last to know?
"I didn't know you met."
"Well, we did, and he got our hopes up. When no news came, your father phoned, and Bruno explained you two broke up. He took the blame, but we still were rooting for you two to get back together. I liked him, but I know my taste in men and yours aren't the same."
Silently, I listened to my mother. It seemed the week my Madre's life fell apart, I was supposed to get engaged, but instead I asked him for space.
"Is that Alexandra?" my padre asked in the background.
"Yes."
"Tell him thank you," I whispered, the words raw.
Mother did as I asked, and I held my breath, waiting for his reply.
Padre didn't disappoint; he answered as I'd grown to expect. "If she wants to thank me, tell her to marry Bruno, settle down, and make me some grandbabies."
"Your father says you're welcome."
I laughed at Madre. She had to know I heard him, right?
My mother spoke again. "Please tell me you brought your scarf. They say New York is freezing again."
"I'm inside, Madre. The radiator is working like always. No frostbite yet."
"Wear a scarf when you go out. And eat something warm. I madecaldo verdetonight and thought of you. Your father had two bowls. I know he misses how you used to sneak the last ladle."
I smiled into the receiver. "He misses the ladle or he misses me?"
"Both. Mostly you."
I almost laughed. Not too long ago, he banned me from his funeral, and now everyone had forgotten our cruel words. Typical in my family: hurtfully blunt one day, tender the next. Healthy? Probably not, but that's the way we were.
"Listen,cariño, the Ferreras are hosting a celebration next month. Diego's back from Madrid, and his mother asked if you might attend. Just a friendly hello."
Here it was. The gentle nudge wrapped in velvet. "Madre, there's no way. Amoré Nights just launched, and I barely sleep as it is."
"I know, I know. Still, a dance never hurt anyone. Good families look after each other. You should have people who look after you." She paused, letting the words settle. "I worry you stand alone too often."
"I am fine, Ma."
"I believe you. But being fine and being happy are different animals. Think about it, yes? You will call tomorrow?"
"I will call tomorrow."
"Scarf," she reminded, then kissed the phone and hung up.
Needing to process this information,I left the office. When I walked through the lobby and outside, I realized that even after promising, I had forgotten the scarf and even my damn coat upstairs. It was cold as fuck, but I figured my thoughts would keep me warm.
Bruno saved me. The same one who threw my life into chaos.
As I started to walk, my confusion grew. Was my father, all this time, talking about a specific man when he kept telling me to get married?
As I waited at the crosswalk for the light to change, something brushed my shoulder. Cloth, heavy and warm. I flinched, then looked up. Bruno stood close enough for me to count the dark lashes framing his eyes. He settled his coat over me with slow hands, careful, like the gesture might shatter if he rushed it.
The city's noise dimmed while I concentrated on the heavy wool covering my upper body.
"You'll freeze to death," he murmured.
