Page 70 of Rainstorm

One of the things I liked about Roselynn is that without being vain, she took great care of her appearance. She wasn’t high maintenance, she just had style. Even if she was just out hunting down bargains in the flea market, she was always feminine, always on point.

So fucking beautiful.

The most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.

I was a little disappointed when the signs on the freeway gave away our destination, spoiling my surprise.

“We’re going to Riverside?” She turned to me in a panic. “Don’t tell me we’re going to visit your parents. Chase! You should have warned me! Oh my God, I can’t show up to visit your mother empty-handed! What were you thinking? My own mother would kill me, she taught me better. You should have warned me then I would’ve had time to prepare. God, I’m wearing Daisy Dukes! Your mother will think I’m the type who flaunts their legs for days and days.”

“Rose, I can assure you that my mother won’t think that of you. She’s already seen you, she watches your show every morning, she never misses it,” I informed her calmly, in an attempt to reassure her. “She’s crazy about meeting you, in fact she’s going to make her special signature dish, pozole verde, in your honor. And trust me, it’s stellar, there is no better Mexican food than my mother’s.”

“Does your whole family know that we’re coming, are they all going to be there?” she worried, as I just grinned and nodded. “Oh God. That makes it even worse. They’re all going to be there waiting for me and I haven’t even brought a dessert. Look, there’s a farmer’s market over there, let’s at least get some flowers for me to give them.”

“And will that put your mind at ease?” I asked, already knowing it wouldn’t.

“No,” she admitted. I just smiled, thinking about how the people who had always been the center of my world were about to meet the new queen of my universe. While many folks had to contend with complicated backgrounds, I was lucky that in my family, everything was love and peace. My parents somehow managed to make more than forty-five years of happy marriage seem easy. My father, although obsessed with perfection, had devoted a lot of his time to raise us, to play with us. To take us on his shoulders, to teach us how to fish, how to multiply and how to drive. He’d even given Zephyr some of that attention, as his upbringing was quite complicated—a story for another time since his secrets were not mine to divulge.

My mother, Nora, had emigrated from Mexico in her youth to continue her study of oenology as her family owned a vineyard close to the California border. Despite her good intentions, six months after she arrived, she met my father who turned her plans upside down. In less than a year she was married with my eldest sister Celeste on the way. But I’ve never heard my mother complain, since the woman who gave me life treasures her family above all else.

After a quick stop to buy two cakes, a choco-flan and two trays of strudel, a bouquet of flowers for my mother and several boxes of chocolates for my nephews—fortunately, it wouldn’t be us who’d have to deal with their sugar rush—we continued on our way.

“Stop fidgeting,” I said, taking her hand as we took the narrow road that led to the property that had belonged to my family for more than a century. Several yards ahead, a huge iron gate marked the way. “They’re going to love you, they already do.”

You only have to be you to enchant them. In the same way you keep me under your spell.

She huffed as she wiped her nervous, clammy hands on her shorts. “I don’t know if that’s worse, Chase. They’ll have all these expectations after seeing me on TV, but that’s not the real me, I’m not the person you see in the show, that’s just an illusion.”

“Easy, doll. Don’t worry yourself, it’ll be fine.” There was no time to say anything more, because I was pulling up in front of the house and my whole family was waiting on the porch ready to greet us. “We’re here!”

Although she put on a smile, I could see she was still worried, but that was soon forgotten, hug by hug, smile by smile as my family all welcomed her with open arms.

In Rose’s family the resemblance was marked, but my family was more of a mixture. My mother had brown hair and brown eyes, while my father had dark blonde hair and blue eyes, a mix which meant that the five of us were very different. Celeste was a carbon copy of my mother’s lithe physique, dark hair and eyes with fair colored skin. Chloe was blonde and blue eyed like my father. Camila was blonde but with brown eyes and Clarisa was black haired but had blue eyes. Me? People said I was my father’s twin. From my mother, I’d just inherited my dimpled chin.

As I’d known they would, my family all gladly welcomed Rose, and in spite of her initial nerves, she soon settled down and showed how charming she was, even away from the cameras. She listened carefully but also joined in with witty and funny comments.

My mother and sisters were clearly delighted with my new girlfriend, almost as if they’d planned the whole thing between them, and even my three asshole brothers-in-law seemed impressed. I should acknowledge that my sister’s husbands were good men, hardworking and responsible, and between the six of them, they’d filled every corner of the house with children and laughter. They all lived on my father’s land, as my father had had five houses constructed with the help of an architect friend, one for each one of his children, since it was his dream to have us all living close by. But as always, I was the rebel who had decided to make his life elsewhere and live in the city.

That evening, as the sun set and the crickets started chirping, my father came and found me sitting on the porch steps, watching Rose helping my nephews to ride on Hew Haw’s back. The donkey was happily ambling around the backyard, and I got why Zeph had said it was more like a pet dog.

Rose mingled with my family so easily. Her sweet personality had won my mother’s seal of approval, while her sharp wit proved she was more than a match for my sisters.

Even my nephews fought each other for her attention, including the youngest who was barely walking. Rose was so careful and sweet with little Sean, setting my mind to thinking about how great a mother she would one day be.

My father handed me a cold beer as he dropped by my side, bumping my shoulder with his in a companionable gesture.

“You know my children are the apple of my eye, right?” Of course I knew that, so there was no need to answer. “As a father, one of my biggest concerns has been to ensure my kids are taking the right path, leading a good life, following the example I’ve done my best to set.”

I took a sip of my beer, my hungry gaze still following Roselynn’s every move. My father also watched her, and I could tell that in his eyes, she was already an extra cub in his litter.

“I’ve taught them to work hard, to always try their best,” he continued. “And I’ve also taught them about priorities. Family comes first, Chase. Always. Family first. You put the welfare of those you love above your own, whatever the circumstances, whatever your personal dreams.”

“Is that what happened, Dad?” I asked, because although I had heard the same speech many times, this time he sounded different, more serious perhaps. “Did your personal dreams get stolen along the way?”

My father took a deep breath before answering, as if carefully measuring his reply.

“Son, nobody has stolen a single damn thing. Your mother and you, my kids, my family, have always put the joy in my life. My family is the reason for everything I’ve done. And also the reason for all these gray hairs,” he laughed, and I couldn’t help joining in. At more than sixty years old, Caleb Holland was strong as a bull, and the salt that now streaked his blond hair had been well earned with experience.

“When you love someone, your expectations take second place, Chase. All that matters is making your loved ones happy. Because only in that happiness you will find your own. Love is sacrifice, son. Love is always selfless. Always.”

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