Page 86 of Trick's Trap

“Find who?”

He answered by opening the door to one of the hotel’s private sitting rooms. Sitting on the couch in all her white-haired glory was her Ama, the housekeeper who raised her.

Tahlia burst into tears. She turned to Patrick, hitting him with the bouquet. “How could you not warn me?” she choked out between sobs.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know she was coming until the last minute,” he said, stroking her back as he guided her to the couch, which she couldn’t see for the tears. “I’m afraid she can’t speak much—she had a partial stroke last year, but she still understands everyone just fine.”

Her Ama cackled and held out her arms. She leaned over, hugging Tahlia tight to her expansive bosom.

The little old woman was accompanied by a dark-skinned girl, a teenager around fourteen who appeared almost as excited to see her as her Ama.

“Hello, Tahlia, I am cousin Mariposa.”

Tahlia raised her head and blinked. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

Patrick knelt in front of her. “This is the big news—and I swear I didn’t know until they got here. See…your dad told you the truth about some things. Your mom did pass away when you were born, but there’s a lot he left out.”

He put his arm on Ama’s shoulder. “What he neglected to mention was that your mother was a member of his domestic staff—as was her mother.”

Tahlia’s lips parted, and fresh tears stung her eyes. “My Ama is my grandmother?”

Ama took her hand and patted it, making soothing sounds. Both she and Patrick nodded.

“She wasn’t allowed to say anything while your father and uncle were alive. They made sure she would never tell you the truth—but they’re gone now. And before she went to work for your family, she raised her own back in Cuba. Only her youngest daughter, your mother Anna, joined her in the States. You have two aunts and an uncle in Santa Clara.”

Mariposa waved again. “Hi, sorry for my English. I watch some English shows on my computer. My mother is your aunt Juanita.”

Patrick smiled. “You have over a dozen cousins. They all wanted to come to the wedding, but some of them couldn’t get away yet. There was a lot of storm damage to their neighborhood, but thankfully, all of them are okay. We’re floating them a little loan from our many cash wedding gifts by the way. Just a little something to help them rebuild.”

She wiped her cheeks. “Thank you. This is the best wedding present I could have asked for.”

Ama caressed her check, pressing her forehead to Tahlia’s to signal without words how happy she was. They visited a little longer, and then she and Mariposa joined them for the extravagant casino-themed reception.

Hours later, they were dancing in the ballroom. Tahlia whirled in his arms, forgetting all about looking graceful during their dance. Patrick pressed her tight against him, too close for a proper waltz.

“I told you it would be a June wedding,” he whispered.

She laughed. “That’s right, you did.” Throwing her arms around him, she kissed him deeply. Cheers erupted from their audience.

Patrick pulled back, his eyes brilliant. “I’m going to love you forever, Mrs. Tyler. And you’re going to love me.”

Tahlia squeezed him tight. “You can bet on it.”

The End

---