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“How’s it going outside?” Lauren asked after another bite. “I can’t see over the pastry cases or people’s heads.
“You haven’t seen it?” Regina interjected. “You have to go take a look. I went out for a minute and it was really something.” Her blue eyes shifted toward Sylvie. “You have to see what my little god-daughter can do when she channels all her energy into one place.”
Sylvie laughed, her face growing hotter. “She knows—”
“You’re right, Madrina,” Lauren agreed, she’d started calling Regina godmother almost immediately. “Let’s go see the full extent of your talents.”
Sylvie took a gulp of soda and tossed the empty can in the recycling bin. “Let’s go then.”
Outside, a sea of people crowded under the huge tents and spilled out to either end of the block. Around the live band, hundreds of people danced like it was a festival.
“Holy shit, Syl. There are over a thousand people here.” Lauren’s wide eyes filled Sylvie with immeasurable satisfaction. She would do anything to see her this happy every day.
Sylvie smiled. “Wait until the radio station starts giving away free money.”
Lauren laughed, her dimples on heart-stopping display. “We’re going to need a shit ton more food.”
“Don’t worry, Regina has it under control,” Sylvie promised.
Lauren nodded. “She really is amazing.”
Sylvie puffed out her chest and uttered her favorite words in the English language. “I told you so.”
The band played into the next song. A salsa hit from the 80s they’d heard at every family party in their youth.
“We’re going to have to dance to this, you realize, right?” Lauren looked at her with a dire expression.
Sylvie played along. “A song about near incest Lauren? Really?”
Lauren tossed her head back and laughed. A sound that filled every inch of Sylvie’s body with tingling joy. “It’s not about that, Sylvia! Maria Teresa y Danilo is about a rich couple who seem to have it all. Who appear to live a fairytale existence until—”
“Until their daughter brings home the boy she intends to marry, and her father Danilo discloses that the young man is his secret love child and she can’t marry her own half-brother! Imagine how devastating and revolting that news was to hear?”
Lauren raised an eyebrow, a grin still plastered to her face as the played. “And there comes the greatest plot twist in all of salsa music! Maria Teresa tells her daughter not to worry. She can marry the hell outta that boy because Danilo might be his dad, but he isn’t hers.” She laughed.
“The old double-timing parents cheating on each other to show that people aren’t always as happy and perfect as they look.” Sylvie laughed.
Lauren held out her hand.
Without hesitation, Sylvie took her hand and followed Lauren to the street where they danced like they didn’t have a universe of responsibilities waiting for them.
