Page 76 of A Bookish Story

I walk a few steps and plop down on the love seat. “I guess Mami told you everything.”

He nods. “She did, and she was very upset. And since when do you jump out of cars in the rain? That’s very dangerous! Cars and rain. I think you know what that does to me.”

“It wasn’t raining when I got out! I’m sorry but I couldn’t talk to her another minute. This is tough for me.”

“Your mother thinks you might understand better if I explain.”

“What is there to explain? You didn’t want her, so she went for your brother. As if there were no other men on campus. I mean, what is that?” I throw my hands up.

“That’s not exactly the way it happened.” He takes my only chair and straddles it, clasping his hands.

“What do you mean? There’s more?”

“It was your father who went after her.”

“When he knew you were dating her?”

He nodded. “Look, you’re not wrong about their love story. It was like cupid himself struck your father the moment he met her. I saw it, too, even if he wouldn’t admit it. He didn’t want to take my girl. He was my little brother, though, and I would have done anything for him. So, I stepped aside. Did I have second thoughts? Yes, sure, a couple of times when I wondered…but no, it worked out the way it should have. He and your mother had many good years together. And of course, they had you, the joy of their lives.”

“But what about you?” My voice breaks and I’m embarrassed to feel a pinch in my throat.

Everyone deserves true love, that all-encompassing feeling that wraps around your soul.

“What about me?”

“You were alone.”

“I’ve almost never been alone. I have my family and there are a lot of us.”

“You didn’t have someone.”

He chuckles and holds up a finger. “I found a lot of someones.”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it. Someone special. The love of your life.”

He looks pensive and stares briefly at the ceiling before meeting my eyes.

“Sometimes I think your father was the love of my life.”

I’ve never heard love described in this way, as if it could be something more than what’s between lovers. There’s love between friends, between family members, but the love for a significant other should be above all.

“I always thought their love story was unique and special but I never had any idea they hurt someone else by being together. And it’s worse because it was you.”

“Don’t feel sorry for me. I’ve had a good life. Friends, a big family filled with nieces and nephews. And as for your mother, I firmly believe a person can have more than one true love in a lifetime.”

This is similar to what my mother said and it’s clear she considers Eddie one of the loves of her life.

Eddie clears his throat. “When Geneva came back this time, she confessed her feelings for me. But she wasn’t going to push. She told me to see other people. And I went to that stupid singles event, but I’ve seen a lot of women over the years. I had to take a hard look and realize I still loved her after all this time. But you should know neither one of us are going to do anything about this until, and unless, you say it’s okay.”

Relief should spill through me but instead it’s shock mixed with a pinch of anger.

“You’re going to make me responsible for your happiness?”

“Don’t think of it that way.”

“What other way is there? That’s what you’re asking me to do.”

“Would you rather we do what we want without any regard to your feelings?”