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Finally, she smiles a broad smile and pulls me into a hug. "You are going to be the most beautiful mother." She says warmly, "You have done so incredibly well in absolutely everything you have ever tried so I just know that you are going to be the absolutely most amazing mother. This little baby is the luckiest baby to have someone so kind and gentle."
I return her hug, wrapping my arms tightly around her and hiding my tears on the shoulder of her apron. I am scared, but at least I know my mom is going to be guiding me through this.
"Please don't tell anyone yet, Mom," I ask her.
"Don't worry, honey. Until you are ready to share the news, I will not say anything."
"It is just that it is Rafael's special day. I do not want to take anything away from that. It is about them and only them and I will eventually tell everyone, but I don't think now is the right time."
She nods. "I understand. Like I said. When you are ready, I will be there with you, ok?"
"Thanks, Mom," I say and hug her again.
"I guess we had better go and get ready for tonight's celebration then, haven't we." She smiles getting up from her chair.
The entire street is closed off to cars and the neighbors have strung lights from house to house in celebration. Everyone has spilled out onto the street in a colorful splash of chaos and music.
My brothers are all tipsy and handing shots around to everyone. I am doing my best not to let anyone see when I toss the shot to the side on the grass, unable to drink with them.
My mom keeps coming around and topping my glass up with soda water and lemon slices so that it looks like I am drinking.
So far no one is suspicious of anything.
My brother wraps his arm around my neck, pulling me into an uncomfortable hug. I try and squirm out. "Well, little sister, are you excited for me?" He laughs under his rainbow of tequila and beer.
I punch him playfully in his side until he releases my neck and lets me stand up normally, and then I pull him into a proper hug. "I could not be happier for you than I am right now," I say truthfully.
My brother is the most special person. He has the softest heart for those he loves, and he will defend them with such intensity when the moment calls for it. "Lita is so lucky," I say, grinning.
"I am the lucky one." He says, staring across the party at his fiancée. She is wearing a bright red dress layered with ruffles and huge flowers adorn her hair. She waves at him and calls him over to dance with her.
"Come on." He says, pulling me towards the dance floor. "Stop sitting around like a bum and come dance with us."
I head over to the dance area with him, which is actually just the middle of the street and I decide to let go of all my worry and stress and just get lost in the music. My younger brother grabs my hand and spins me in a circle. We laugh as he does his best to dance without looking too wobbly after so many tequilas. One thing I won't regret is not having a hangover in the morning while everyone else is rushing around with a headache trying to get ready for the wedding.
I guess our crazy aunt will have some strange juice ready for everyone to drink for breakfast that she will swear is the perfect cure for a hangover. Although I have to admit, I have had it before, and it did seem to work well.
The night is magical and for a brief moment, surrounded by all of this laughter, I can forget everything and totally enjoy the moment. It is only when I go to bed that night and I am alone again that I start feeling lost and miserable - unable to stop the thoughts of Alex, our baby, and how I wish it could be.
CHAPTER 20
ALEX
The street outside Gabi's mother's house is packed with cars and people rushing around in weird, excited panic. I knock hard on the door numbered one hundred and seventy-seven and someone inside shouts "It's open." I am not going to go barging into a home I have never been to though, so I knock hard again, glancing behind myself feeling oddly nervous.
The flowers I am holding in my hand are from a local flower market I found on the way here. My suitcase is still in the trunk of the car that I rented at the airport.
I don't know exactly how I am going to do this. I have no idea what I am going to say to her. I don't even know what Gabi is doing here. I just know I want to make this work. I want to ask her to marry me.
I take a deep breath and stare at the wooden door frame. Should I knock again? Someone bumps into me from behind and says sorry then rushes off towards a car nearby.
I stand at the door feeling uneasy. So many of the neighbors are watching me curiously. I am not used to such a busy street. On my street at home, everybody keeps to themselves and does not spend that much time outside of their houses talking to their neighbors. Here, it seems like everyone knows everyone and everyone is clearly up to something big.
I am about to knock again when the door jumps open, and a familiar woman stands in front of me. Gabi's mother. I open my mouth to introduce myself again but her face lights up like she has been waiting for me. I know I have only met her once, very briefly so she probably has no idea who I am, so why would she look like she is excited to see me.
"Alex." She says loudly and full of excitement.
"You know who I am?" I say feeling overwhelmed by the chaos I can see inside the house. I glance behind me again wondering if I should just duck out back to the car and come back later. "Of course, I do." She exclaims, pulling me into the house.
