“We drive each other crazy, you mean. I’m dying to take off your clothes right here.”
“I’m not sure if that would be a good idea.” I turn my head towards the house, and when Olívia sees Joaquín approaching, she jumps off my lap as if escaping a fire.
“Jesus, how embarrassing!”
My intrusive brother taps on the window. When I open the door, he says without any ceremony, “Aren’t you a bit too old to be making out in the car?”
Now Olívia’s cheeks look like two red spots. “Good evening to you too,” she says, with a stern face.
“Hi, sis.” He ignores her bad mood. “Come on in. We’ve been waiting for you, and someone’s eager to see you.”
We walk to the entrance, and my heart races because of what’s about to happen.
When the door opens, Olívia freezes.
Nina stands there, on her feet.
“Oh my God, love! You did it!”
Nina has been practicing her steps for days, but only last night did she finally take her first ones. Today, Mom says she hasn’t stopped.
In response to Olívia’s enthusiastic greeting, Nina starts walking, wobbles a bit, and sits down. Her beautiful forehead wrinkles in a frustrated frown, but before anyone can help her, she gets on all fours and stands up again.
“That’s right, my beauty. You’re so smart. My determined little girl.” Olívia kneels down and opens her arms. Valentina looks uncertain but hesitates only for a moment before taking short steps to reach her.
When my girlfriend hugs her, the emotion in both is expressed differently.
Nina laughs, triumphant.
Olívia cries, kissing my daughter’s head.
I finally feel complete. My whole world is here: Nina, the best part of me, and Olívia, the woman I’ve chosen to live with until the day I die.
“Sweetheart, come to Daddy for a bit.” I kneel beside them and pull out the little box I’ve been keeping in my pocket since we got back together.
Nina starts walking towards me. Olívia was already getting up, but I hold her arm.
“Not yet, love,” I ask my girl. “Princess Nina,” I start, and she laughs. For some reason, every time we call her princess, she bursts into giggles. “Can you give this to Olívia and ask her if she would honor me by becoming my wife?”
Valentina holds the box, of course, not understanding a thing, but Olívia does.
Contrary to all her reactions, this time it’s as if she’s moving in slow motion.
She looks from me to Nina and back to me.
“You two will be mine now,” she says.
This time, she’s the one stealing my words.
What she said is much stronger than a yes. Olívia is declaring to the world that she won’t let go of us.
“Never doubt that, love.”
We join in a triple hug, and I alternate kisses between her and my daughter.
Our family applauds, Nina smiles, and Olívia and I get lost in each other’s eyes.
“So, when’s the wedding?” Mom asks.
