He laughed long and deep. From across the aisle, Tim gave them both an enthusiastic thumbs up.
Jane set her head on Miguel’s shoulder. The path ahead of them wouldn’t be all sunshine and roses, but being with him again, knowing he hadn’t given up on her, gave her a hope she’d seldom known in her life.
And hope made all the difference in the world.
Bonus Epilogue
July 4
Miguel could hear the music from all the way down the street. Mrs. Tarpen wasn’t going to be happy; she never was. But he was ecstatic. And, based on the look on Jane’s face and how often she’d mentioned the annual Santos Fourth of July party the last few days, she was even more excited than he was.
They’d had to park on the next street over. There were a lot of family members, and a lot of people who counted as family and were invited as well. Miguel walked with Jane’s hand in his. He’d missed that during the three months they’d been broken up. He would never again take for granted that simple connection.
“Which of your cousins is in charge of the music tonight?” Jane asked.
“I don’t know, but they’re outdoing themselves.”
She laughed. Another thing he wouldn’t ever take for granted.
Carl, one of the neighbors, stepped out of his house just as Miguel and Jane passed.
“Here for the party?” Carl asked as he caught up to them.
Miguel nodded. “Are you joining again?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Even Mrs. Tarpen is coming this time.”
“Mrs. Tarpen?” Jane looked at Miguel. “Isn’t she the neighbor who usually calls in the noise complaint?”
“Complaints. It’s usually more than one.” Miguel turned back to Carl. “What happened?”
“Your mom’s calling it an Independence Day Miracle.”
They were still laughing as they stepped through the side gate at Mamá and Papá’s house. The backyard was packed. Whichever of his cousins was the DJ that night was dropping bangers. The food smelled amazing. And everyone—literallyeveryone—greeted Jane the instant she passed them.
“I think everyone’s more excited to see you than they are me,” Miguel said. “I should probably be offended.”
“Just wait until Mrs. Tarpen gets here. No one will pay any attention to either of us.”
He chuckled. “I still can’t believe she’s coming. It’s like someone negotiated a peace treaty.”
Mamá found them next. She spent the family parties rushing around, making sure everyone had food and that Abuela Alena and Tía Rita weren’t fighting, at least not fightingloudly.Miguel didn’t usually see her much.
“For you, mija.” She held out a glass bottle of Dr. Pepper. “I kept it in the cold spot at the back of the refrigerator.”
Jane took it. “My hero.”
Miguel mouthed a thank you. Mamá had treated Jane like a beloved daughter from the very beginning.
“Who convinced Mrs. Tarpen to join the party?” Jane asked.
“Notwho,” Mamá said. “What.”
“What convinced her?” Miguel was as curious as Jane.
Mamá offered a shrug and a wave of her hand. “Tamales. What else?”
On that pronouncement, she glided away and into the crowd.
