“No, mija. Everything is taken care of. Just sit down and get what you like. We have tamales, red rice, and beans.”
Cara smiled as we all sat down and filled our plates. My abuela started saying grace and I looked toward Cara. She had her head down, but her eyes were open.
We’d never talked about religion, but I should’ve warned her in case she was heavily against it. If she was, she didn’t show anything but respect for my abuela and she waited until she was done before picking up her fork to eat.
We sat and ate and I groaned as my abuela asked her dozens of questions.
“How old are you, mija? How did you meet Veronica? Are you really just friends or is she lying to me?”
The meeting question was my favorite. Cara’s face turned white and I forced my eyes not to roll. I had told my grandmother all of those things, except how we met. She hadn’t asked until now and I tried to find an appropriate answer. I didn’t think “we met at a speed dating event and had a one-night stand,” was going to be welcomed.
“I’m thirty-three. Vera’s doing the construction outside of my building. Her team is also working on a section of my office building, and she’s been doing some work on my home office as well. And yes, we are just friends.”
My abuela just nodded, thankfully not asking anything more than that. I wiped the bead of sweat from my brow and returned to my plate. I had to admit, it felt really good to hear her admit that we were friends. That’s better than a one-night stand she regretted. I was making my way up to girlfriend. Slowly, but surely.
“Also, thank you for inviting me over for dinner. It’s delicious.”
My abuela smiled. “Of course, dear. I had to meet the woman my granddaughter’s been giving all of her food to. She never shares my cooking, so you must be very special to her.”
My cheeks flushed and I looked toward Cara, hoping she didn’t freak out. While all of that was true, I didn’t want her to read too much into it.
The look she gave me wasn’t one of fear or irritation. Her eyes were crinkled and her smile was soft and genuine. She turned back to my abuela. “I’d like to think so.”
She placed her hand on my leg and lightly squeezed, causing my brain to malfunction. Her hand was on me. She was touching a part of me and her friends weren’t around. What was happening? It was just a friendly gesture, right? Right.
“So, Cara, what’s been going on in your life besides work? Surely you do something else to fill your time?”
Cara nodded. “Of course, ma’am. I do work a lot, but I love reading in my spare time, and working out when I can. But I’m headed to Bali soon. My best friend is getting married. Vera is actually accompanying me. I’m not sure if she told you or not.”
“Reading is a good hobby to have. It makes sense, considering your job. And yes, she did tell me. Bali looks like a beautiful place. You’ll keep her in line, won’t you?”
Cara’s hand drew circles across my leg before it disappeared. “Yes, Ma’am. I will do my best. I tend to keep her in check pretty well.” She looked at me and smiled.
I smiled back, unable to hide it. I loved just watching her interacting with my abuela. No one else I’d brought home had been allowed to call her by her first name, so that was one point in the “Cara is perfect” category.
The next point was awarded when she offered, more than once, to help with dinner. And the final point, now, when she was touching me as she spoke to my grandmother. She just fit. Into my life, into the conversation with my abuela, so perfectly. She held her own in the conversation while genuinely seeming interested in what my abuela was saying, too. I was so gone for this woman, and I didn’t even have her… yet. I was nudging my way in there one day at a time.
“Don’t be rude, Mija. Give the beautiful woman a tour.”
“Oh, yes, please. Your home is so lovely.”
I smiled and stood up. “Okay, follow me, please.”
She had already gotten a small tour when we walked in from the living room to the dining room, but I showed her the kitchen and bathroom before we headed upstairs.
She looked at all of the pictures on the walls, from my soccer game days, to my graduation picture, to even my embarrassing prom picture. She chuckled softly at that one.
“There’s another bathroom in there, and my abuela’s room is right there.”
“And whose room is that?”
She pointed to a closed door next to the bathroom. The one I purposefully avoided. On top of being embarrassing, I didn’t want her to think I was trying anything.
“That’s my childhood bedroom. Let’s get back downstairs.” I made my way to turn around but she grabbed my wrist, making my pulse jump and heart race.
I slowly turned around before she removed her hand from my skin, causing a cold chill to arrive from the loss of contact.
“I want to see it,” she said softly.
