Page 17 of A Bookish Story

Once upon a time, he would have made a fine telenovela male lead, but instead dentistry called. Also, his father would not have allowed him to become an actor. Not a stable or honorable profession, and practicality ran deep on my grandfather’s side.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” Ryan says to me. “No wonder you look like France.”

“Don’t worry. We know how to make the happy over here.” Eddie smiles. “Tia Carmelita is coming over with the food, and Diego is bringing the karaoke machine.”

“No! Not the karaoke machine!” I clasp my hands together, prayer-like.

My family loves nothing more than embarrassing themselves with their knowledge and affection for Cher and Bon Jovi. Most of them have never heard of any artists more current than the eighties, when according to Eddie, music experienced its most glorious era. And if he and some of his friends get going, they’ll sing in three-part harmony.

Really bad three-part harmony.

“Well, it was good to meet you. I should get going,” Ryan says. “See you Monday, Luci. We have some planning to do.”

Eddie moves his body to block Ryan’s exit. “I would love to have you as our honored guest tonight.”

“That’s a great idea,” I say. “Ryan is an author researching his novel set in Richmond. He writes historical fiction.”

“I’ve been to Richmond! We have much to talk about.” Eddie claps Ryan’s back. “You must tell me everything.”

CHAPTER 6

The party is in full swing by six o’clock, with Tia Carmelita and her sisters supplying trays of arroz con pollo, fried plantains, and arroz con habichuelas. I change into a buttery yellow dress I find in one of my packed moving boxes and introduce Ryan to everyone. My abuelita meets him and gives him the Santana nod of approval. At times like these the absence of my own father is felt like a gaping open wound. He died when I was ten and Mami dropped me off with Abuelita a few months later, claiming she couldn’t handle me on her own. She said I needed more stability than she could provide. She settled in Los Angeles to pursue acting and came around to visit a few times a year, only to leave again.

But I never left Seven Trees, the town of my father’s family.

I keep track of Ryan, making sure his hands are always filled with either a drink or a plate of food as Abuelita taught me. The women swarm him, as is typical for single men at these family functions. Eddie is usually one of the few single men at family weddings, dancing with every woman who comes without a date.

Sofia shows up late and grabs me in a hug. She’s brought someone, good-looking in a GQ sort of way.

“This is Kyle,” she says.

Instead of a hug, he fist-bumps me. “Dude, nice to meet you.”

He lopes off to get them some drinks, and then Sofia turns her full attention to me. “Is that the professor?”

It’s not tough to find the only other young white male in the crowd who is not related to any of us. I glance back to see Ryan shaking his head at another plate of food from Abuelita, finally relenting when she pushes it straight into his stomach.

Sofia whistles softly. “Not bad. You didn’t mention he’s totally hot.”

“Didn’t I? Is he? I don’t know.” I shrug.

“He’s cute and you know it. He looks like Henry Cavill and Indiana Jones had a baby.”

“Well, that’s not possible but I see what you’re saying.”

We both turn in unison to watch him a few feet away from Abuelita, who is still talking to him. He nods and halfheartedly takes a bite of a fried plantain.

Eddie moves to the karaoke machine and sings his rendition of “All By Myself,” the Eric Carmen version. You might think this especially cruel, given my relationship status, but you would be wrong. One of the best ways I get over myself is to laugh until I cry. Eddie performs the hammy, campy version of the song, stretching out the long notes and waving his hands around with his exaggerated dramatics. He’s always known how to make me laugh.

Though I can’t say the same for everyone else. They don’t laugh so much as cringe.

“Is he all right?” Ryan joins me when Eddie throws his head back and croons, “anymore!”

“Eddie?” I smother another laugh. “Oh yeah. He’s fine.”

“Did he also just go through a bad breakup?”

“No, Eddie’s always been notoriously single.”