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Nick
My eyes go wider than they should.
I need to convey confidence right now.
But Jesus Christ. She said she was going to tell Abuelita not launch it at her like a nuke the second we walked through the door.
Then again, I don’t know what else I was expecting.That’s Leigh.
Abuelita’s expression is unreadable for a moment, but then she starts pacing. Back and forth, just a few small steps each way.
Then it starts. The muttering in Spanish. And I know we’re in for the whole ride now. Of course, I’m going to be relying on Leigh’s reactions to fully understand. I can speak conversational Spanish and I can pick up on bigger aspects of the conversation when I’m listening, but when they really get going, it’s impossible for anyone not fluent to keep up.
It starts slow.
Oh my God. No. God in heaven. Why?
As the speed picks up, I catch fewer words.
Did I fail? How? …not again.
Leigh bristles and drops my hand. When I peel my gaze from Abuelita, Leigh’s entire body has gone rigid. She looks angry, but her eyes give her away. She loves to think she can hide her emotions from me, but those whiskey eyes of hers always tell the whole story. Right now, they’re filled with hurt. The kind of soul-crushing hurt that makes me want to sweep her into my arms and take her away from here.
Then I hear the words I was hoping wouldn’t come.
Just like her mother…
“Ay! I can hear you. I’m standing right here!”
Abuelita’s gaze turns to Leigh, and in a second, they’re standing toe-to-toe.
“You should hear me! Clearly, you didn’t before. How many times did we talk about this?” She switches back to Spanish again, chastising Leigh, who juts her chin out and doesn’t allow herself to be beaten. Not even for a second.
Well, at least not until Abuelita looks at her, wild-eyed. “I tried to raise you better. I wanted you to be stronger. Not make her mistakes. And now, here I am again.” In Spanish, she mutters,I’m too old to raise another baby.
“I didn’t ask you to raise my baby!” Leigh shouts.
“Tell me why I should believe it won’t end up that way.” She shakes her head, disheartened. “No matter what I tried to do, you found a way to be like her.”
Leigh steps back, eyes filling with tears. The brave, impenetrable mask slides off her face.
“What have I ever done to make you think I’m anything like her? I stand by the people I love. I fight for them. I love them unconditionally. I run myself down taking care of others. And this,” her voice is a squeaky whisper as her hand brushes her stomach, “this baby iseverythingto me already. How could you possibly think I’d do what she did? You know me. You raised me. You taught me how to be. How can you think I’m like her? I’m nothing like her.” On those words, she shatters, falling to her knees and wrapping her arms around herself as her body shakes with sobs.
I lunge toward her, but before I get to her, I hear Abuelita’s sharp, “Oh.” She drops to her knees in front of Leigh, pulling at Leigh’s arms. “Oh, mijita.Lo siento. Lo siento. Shh.”
But Leigh pushes her away, attempting to sniff back her tears. “I’m not her.”
“I know, my baby. Oh, sweet girl. I’m so sorry.” She tries again, and this time Leigh reluctantly allows her to pull her into her arms. “My beautiful Leigh. My strong, sweet girl. I love you. I see you. I’m sorry. I saw it all flash before my eyes. I gained you the day she put you in my arms, but I lost her. I don’t want to lose you, too. You’re my everything.” Her hand moves to Leigh’s stomach. “Now you both will be.”
Finally realizing the awkward half-lunge position I’m standing in, I step back and watch as they collapse against each other in sobs.
Phew.
Knowing I’m in for at least twenty more minutes of this, I walk over to the couch and sit down as they whisper to each other in Spanish and cry.
I didn’t realize drama was written into the genetic code, but no one has more of it than the two of them.
Just over twenty minutes later, they’ve moved from crying in each other’s arms to laughing. As they stand up, Abuelita’s gaze jumps to me as she points. “You’re a troublemaker.”
