Page 70 of Something in Between

I pick up the picture frame and turn to Maria. “They used to be close, huh?”

“Very,” Maria says.

“But not anymore, right?”

Maria considers this. “I think both of the boys want their father’s approval, but they show it in very different ways. Mason rebels. Royce tries to follow in his father’s footsteps. As much as he can anyway.”

“I don’t know why he does,” I say, putting the picture back down on the desk. “He’s nothing like his father.”

Maria crosses her arms. “You know Mr. Blakely, then?”

“No. Not really. I’m sorry,” I say, realizing how horribly judgmental I just sounded.

“Royce is a good boy,” Maria says. “You be good to him.” She’s serious.

I look her in the eye and nod. Turns out I’m not the only one with a Filipino mother. “I’ll do my best,” I tell her, setting Royce’s gift on his desk. “Will you make sure he opens this as soon as he gets home?”

* * *

When I get to the car, Dad’s still being a Scrooge. “Filipino maid, huh,” he says.

“Maria is really nice,” I say, closing the door.

Dad gives the home one last glance as we drive off. “I hope he’s not just dating you so you can be his maid,” he says.

“Daddy, why do you always do this? No, I’m not going to be the help. Why would he think that? You’re being rude. Maria is nice, though I think Mrs. Blakely thinks I was there just to pry some kind of information out of her. She was surprised to see me.”

“This is getting good,” Dad teases. “Now you and the Mrs. are cat-fighting.”

“I didn’t say that! See? This is why I never tell you anything.”

“Aha!” Dad says. “So you admit you’re keeping secrets! No Christmas dinner for you!”

I lean my head on Dad’s shoulder while he drives.

He instantly pretends he feels sorry for me. “Okay, you can have bread and water.”

“I love you, Daddy,” I say.

“I love you too,neneng.Everything’s going to be all right.”

21

Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.

—ABRAHAM LINCOLN

WE MEET WITHthe lawyer for our consultation the week after Christmas. Freddie Alvarado is Latino, in his midfifties, and has a close-trimmed beard and mustache. When he greets us, he’s holding a cup of green tea, which is my favorite drink. Dad, on the other hand, isn’t impressed and scowls at everything.

The office is filled with all kinds of photos of labor leaders past and present, including a shot of Mr. Alvarado standing between Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz. I know who the two Filipino men in the photo are because Dad spent some time in the fields. Most Filipinos his age have worked, or have family who worked, in the fields at one time or another.

I can tell by Dad’s grimace that he thinks the picture is there to keep any potential Filipino clients happy.

“Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. de los Santos,” Mr. Alvarado says.

“Very interesting office,” Dad says, looking up and down the bookcases.

“I take great pride in meeting some of the political figures I’ve admired.”

---