“Oh, I remember!” She grins and offers me her hand to shake. “I’m Mary.”
“And this is Raul.” Taysom gestures to the man, who steps to him and wraps him in a hug that ends with some big back claps from both of them. The air between them is sort of…jolly.
“Nice to see you, TayTay!” Raul says with a laugh.
“TayTay?” I ask.
Mary grins. “Raul sometimes steals my nickname for him. He doesn’t mind, though, do you, TayTay?”
Taysom throws his head back in a chuckle. “It’s all in good fun. But no one else is allowed.”
“I have to do something to get my mind off your mother’s rejection of me.” Raul’s still smiling, but there’s a vulnerability in his dark eyes.
Mary sighs. “Raul, you know I love you.” She places a hand on his cheek and they share a look.
My heart does a funny little bump in my chest.
“Did you propose again?” Taysom asks, his expression stilling.
“He did,” Mary says with a solemn face. “And I didn’t reject you, Raul. You know this.”
Taysom nods his head. “She told you ‘not yet,’ again, huh?”
“Exactly. And I can be patient.” But a sadness sinks into Raul’s eyes, belying the kindly smile.
“It’s just…” Mary’s gaze darts to me and then back to Taysom’s. “Oh, I can’t explain myself right now.”
“And there’s no need to,” I assure her. “You two are…really sweet.”
Mary’s smile is small. “Well, we had to find a way to feel better, you know? I don’t like postponing our engagement again, and what feels better than tacos?”
“Especially Umpah’s Tacos,” Raul agrees.
“Tacos fill the cracks of the heart,” Taysom says.
“I thought that was ice cream,” I say.
“I thought that was pie,” Mary says.
“Now I really want pie and ice cream!” Raul says, and we all laugh.
“Well, I’m really happy to see you and Taysom hanging out. Those videos with that kitten are really something!”
Taysom frowns. “You watch those?”
“Of course I do. Charlotte, I love your house. And that Miley is a little peanut!”
“Something like that,” I mutter in feigned frustration before laughing. “She’s pretty cute, though.”
“It was great meeting you,” Raul says to me. Something about his expression makes me believe him.
Mary hugs Taysom again and then turns to me and gives me a hug, too.
“How long are you planning to be in town?” Taysom asks Raul. “We need to hit the links.”
“I have to go back on Friday,” Raul says. “But I’m trying to convince your mom to come back with me.”
“Oh, Raul.” Mary lightly taps his arm. “You are a devil. You know I have work.”
