“They’re not coming with us?” I asked as Adam and Kimberly’s car drove off.
“We’ll see them later.”
"So, where are we going?"
“Wherever you want. I was hoping you’d have some ideas since I’ve never been here.”
I laughed, but it was a watery chuckle because I was still crying. It didn't occur to me how much I missed coming here and how much joy the end of my marriage had taken from me until I was sitting in this car, with this man offering me what felt like the world.
"I'd like to see my dad," I whispered, my throat was constricted, and I cleared it. "Is that okay?"
"Of course." He smiled and used his thumbs to wipe away the tears that were rolling down my cheeks. "But I don't think I'm gonna make a good impression if you're crying when we get there."
“Shut up.” I laughed again and pulled out my phone.
“Papi.” My voice was still shaking. “It’s Lisa.”
"I know who my daughter is," he laughed. "I haven't seen her in almost a year, and she doesn't call me nearly enough."
“Ha ha. Listen, Papi, I’m in Puerto Rico.”
"What? Right now?" The excitement in his voice turned on my tears like a faucet.
"Yes, I just landed. Can I come to see you?"
“¡Claro, mi amor! What are you doing here?”
"It's a long story, but I'll tell you when I see you."
Dad gave me the address to the legal clinic he was running in Hato Rey, the business district in San Juan, and soon we were on our way. I slid my hand into Cole’s and squeezed, not caring if it was inappropriate.
“Papi,”I squealed out of the window when the car pulled up to his office. My father looked older than he did when I saw him at Christmas. His skin was deeply tanned from the island sun and the creases around his eyes were deeper. There was also a week’s worth of stubble covering his cheeks and lower jaw. Papi looked exhausted and I wondered how much sleep he was getting.
He was waiting outside for us. Cole helped me out of the car, and I ran into my dad’s arms, squeezing him as hard as I could. When we finally separated, he grabbed me by my shoulders and inspected me.
"You look good, mija." His eyes moved over to Cole, holding CJ in his arms. "So this must be my fake future son-in-law," my father exclaimed with a laugh.
Cole looked sheepish as he reached out to shake my father’s hand.
"Oh, don't look like that. All's fair in family court. I've had clients do a lot worse to win a case. And as a fake fiancé, you're shaping up to be a better man than the gran cabron she married.”
"Papi, please," I said. He never missed an opportunity to drag my ex. And though he deserved it, I really wanted this day to be about me and this amazing gift Cole had given me. Dad's expression softened, and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and squeezed.
"Nice to meet you, sir." Cole looked nervous about meeting my dad, and it was kind of endearing. It reminded me of how nervous I was to meet his family.
“Cole is a lawyer, too, Papi,” I said. It was suddenly important that my father liked him, too.
“Oh, yeah. Your mother told me. Where did you go to school, Cole?”
“Harvard, sir.”
My father's eyes widened, and his face spread into a sly grin. "Well! Harvard man. It's too bad you don't speak Spanish. We could use another lawyer around here." He jerked a thumb over his shoulder.
“I do speak Spanish.”
My head jerked up at Cole the same time my father tilted his head and raised his eyebrows.
“¿Tu hablas español?” my dad and I said at the same time.
