“I’m not saying that it isn’t subjective, and I’m not saying it isn’t played an obnoxious amount around the holidays, I’m just saying that you can NOT be Hispanic and dislikeFeliz Navidad.It isthequintessential Spanish Christmas song.” Will was leaning forward intensely, trying to make his point to a stretched-out Lizzie, who had eaten her weight inLechónand yucca, and was trying to breathe through the fullness.
String lights were hung in the backyard and crisscrossed above the long folding tables they had sat at to eat. It was finally getting dark, and Lizzie felt that, in the light of the small bulbs, the haze around them made it look as if they were in a dream.
“And I’m saying,” Lizzie answered. “That it gets way more play than it should because it’s in Spanish, and people think that we love it, so they play it more. But it objectively is not a good song.”
“Objectively?” Will asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, objectively, it’scaca,” Lizzie said straight-faced, and Will burst out laughing.
Abuela came by and noticed that Will’s plate was empty. “Mas?” (More?)
Will leaned back and grabbed his stomach, showing how full he is, and said, “Oh, I couldn’t. I’m stuffed.”
“Oh,” Abuela looked a little sad and added, “I guess you didn’t like it.”
“What? No, it was great, I just ate a lot,” he said to Abuela’s retreating back. He looked over at Lizzie for some moral support. “Help me out here,” he said.
Lizzie put on a disappointed face and slowly shook her head. “I can’t believe you only ate one helping onNoche Buena. You’re basically a monster.”
Will threw a plastic spoon at Lizzie, who couldn’t keep a straight face. “Calm down, she’ll get over it. Her favorite hobbies are guilting you about not eating more and then shaming you for being overweight. Don’t take that from her on Jesus’ Birthday.”
Will laughed, and then it softened. He was looking at her like the string lights had all decided to live in her eyes. “What?” Lizzie asked, suddenly breathless.
“Nothing,” he said, voice low. “Just realizing I could listen to you call anythingcacafor the rest of my life and die happy.”
Lizzie could feel her face blush. “Well, that’s my cue to move,” she said, stretching and standing up.
“Why?” Will asked.
“Because if I’m going to be the harbinger of your happiness, it’s probably best I don’t fall into a food coma.”
“What do you think harbinger means?” Will asked, looking at her queerly.
“Like the keeper. The holder of something.”
“Nope, that’s not even close,” Will said, standing up next to her. “It’s like an omen or like someone who announces something to come.”
“Are you sure? Sounds wrong.”
“Very sure,” Will said.
Lizzie shrugged, then, doing her best Celia Cruz impression, said, “My bad, my English is not very good looking.”
The music was turned up, and Salsa started blasting through the speakers. Will held out his hand, and Lizzie noddedexcitedly, taking it. He led her away from the table and to some space where they could dance.
Yo No Se Mañanastarted up, and Will pulled Lizzie close to him as they began to move to the beat. Will led her with the ease he’d shown at Thanksgiving, but this time they were freer. Out in the open without the pending questions and onlookers. They were moving in step, yet trusting one another to take liberties with each spin and step. Will pulled her in close after every turn, and both of them felt the heat from their bodies moving together. They lingered in those moments longer and longer, and by the time the song ended, they appeared to be joined at the hip, their faces inches apart.
“Lizzie, I need to ask you,” Will said breathlessly. “Just… I need to know. If you feel even half of what you felt that night on the roof — tell me and I’ll shut up forever. My affections, my wishes — unchanged. One word from you, Lizzie, and this ends tonight. I promise I won’t bother you with it again.”
Lizzie looked at him in his eyes, not making a joke or avoiding it. She faced his question straight on, standing in his arms, close enough to feel the beat of his heart.
“One word? Okay. Everything. Everything has changed. Especially my feelings. They are so different now that I’m ashamed to think of what I said that night. I know I don’t have any right to request of you after everything you’ve done for my family or me, but I have two requests.”
Will locked his hands behind Lizzie so that they cradled her against him, and she stared up at him with big eyes, “Oh yeah?
Lizzie nodded, “First, can you say it again? Can you tell me again what you said to me on that roof? If you even remember.”
“I remember it perfectly. I ardently admire and love you. Your mind, your fire, your impossible ideas. I want you—not as a consultant.”
