Page 29 of The Sicilian's Obsession
"Niño, you bring a guest and didn't call ahead? Lucky for you I made a ton of food to eat." I ducked my head. I should've known Ma was going to ream me out, company or not.
"Ma, this is Katima. She's my girlfriend." Katima smothered a tiny gasp and I wanted to grin like a maniac. Should I have talked to her about our relationship status? Sure. But I wanted her to know I was serious about her, and what better way to do that than to introduce her to my ma as my girlfriend, my partner. That was what I wanted anyway.
"Oh, Niña, welcome to my home. I hope you like home cooked meals." Ma was chattering away, one arm looped under Katima's as she helped her into the house. The greatest thing about my ma is the way she can read people. She could already tell that Katima was uncomfortable and she could probably read the signs of anxiety on her. I tuned out their chatter and just inhaled the smells emitting from the kitchen upon entry of Ma's house.
"Arturo." My sister Angela slammed into me. She wrapped around me like a barnacle on a ship and I had to fight myself from throwing her off my body. Angela was the baby in the family. She took that title literally. All the love needed to be given to her. I always teased her about being a big baby.
"Angel baby, what are you doing out of the kitchen?" I teased. She scoffed and smacked me on the back of the head before she caught sight of Katima and blushed deeply, hopping down off me. I muttered, "Thank God, my back was about to break." Angela kicked me in the shin and looked questionably at Katima.
"Angela, this is Arturo's girlfriend, Katima," Ma said. Should I have introduced them? Probably, but Ma was head of the house. She did the introductions. After my dad died, she stepped into the role until my other brother Julio could help her. I was deployed, so all I could do was send money back to help as much as I could. That was why I bought this house for her. She deserved everything. I shook off the memories and dragged Katima into the dining room. Sitting around the table, were the rest of my siblings, eating empanadillas.
"No Gabriel tonight?" I asked Ma. Normally, he would be here, sitting at the head of the table and stuffing his face.
"He had to travel for work and couldn't make it."
I let out a sigh of relief, and Katima shot me a look of confusion. I touched my mouth to her ear to whisper, "We don't get along, since he blames me for a ton of stuff that happened while I was deployed."
Katima's mouth made a perfect O of disbelief. I guess if I were her, I wouldn't believe it either, since it was pretty clear I got along with all my family.
"Everyone, I would like you to meet my girlfriend Katima."
Angela slid past me and flopped into a chair. I noted the children weren't here. That had to mean only one thing. An adult-only dinner, so we had no choice but to stay at Ma's. I tried not to show my disappointment. I would just have to figure out how to keep Katima quiet. With a devious smile on my face, I introduced her to my siblings. "Katima, meet Julio, Sofia, Valeria, and Gabriela, my annoying siblings."
Katima blushed deeply and murmured a hello. She even gave them an adorable finger wave. Of course, I was beaming like an idiot. I had expected for her to curl into a ball and kind of rock back and forth from the anxiety, but even though she was breathing harder and I could see a light sheen of sweat glistening on her skin, she was trying. I found two empty seats for us to sit together. Ma had already set the table with the nice china, so I grabbed tiny plates for each of us and gave her some empanadillas.
"Trust me, Ma's food is to die for," I whispered in her ear. Katima shivered. If I didn't know any better, I would think she was aroused by my soft words to her. Her pupils were dilated and if I were to run my hands under her top, I'd bet I'd find her nipples pebbled up.
"I don't remember my mom cooking at all, so this will be wonderful," Katima said appreciatively.
That just solidified that I'd made the right decision bringing her back home. Ma took a seat letting us eat the rest of the appetizer and fill up on small chat. Normally, she would be bustling around the table with the kids, a kid on her hip while she got everyone food. She lived for these dinners.
"Where are the rug rats?" I asked my sisters. They were the only ones who had settled down. My brothers and I were still bachelors, something I was hoping to rectify with Katima. I didn't even feel shocked thinking about her and my future.
"We mommies needed a break. So, we left them home with their fathers," Angela said with a giggle. She had a glass of wine, but I would bet it wasn't her first of the night. I frowned at her. It was highly unusual for the kids not to be here. I quickly got distracted by Julio grilling Katima.
"So, Katima, where do you work?" He had a beer in his hands. I wanted to kick him under the table for shining the spotlight on her, but the bastard was sitting too far from me.
"Sweets Industries," Katima said softly. Her voice always soothed me.
"Doing what?" he pressed.
"I'm the lead scientist." Katima's hand was slightly shaking. I covered it and interjected when he asked the next question.
"How did you meet my brother?" Julio took a swig of his beer.
"She's a client, Julio. Basta!" I snapped at him and wrapped my arm around Katima. She shot me a slight smile. I was thankful she was still not freaking out. Julio shrugged and moved his conversation to Valeria. Thank goodness.
"Still doing good?" I whispered to her. She nodded and kissed my cheek. Ma brought outcarne guisada puertorriqueña,a Puerto Rican beef stew that was hearty. Ma made it with huge chunks of beef that fed the whole family. She never had leftovers either, so maybe it was good that the kids weren't here. There was a hush over the dining room as everyone dug in. Katima dug right in, making Ma titter with happiness. If there was one thing Ma loved to do, it was feeding people.
"This is delicious, Mrs. Cruz," Katima said around her hand as she gulped down her latest bite. Such mannerisms this woman had. I swear, everything she did was adorable. I just wanted to keep her forever.
"Please call me Ma; everyone does." I was going to give my ma the biggest hug. It was like she knew that Katima didn't have a ma. Her eyes glazed over with tears and I excused us to give her a moment of privacy. I showed her the rooms upstairs and she sobbed silently on my shoulder.
"I sometimes forget how much I miss my mother," Katima told me. "She was everything for me. I know most people would've expected me to be a daddy's girl and I probably would've been if she hadn't died, but she left a hole that has never been filled in my heart."
I gave Katima a huge bear hug. She looked like she needed one. We spent about ten minutes in silence so she could pull herself together. Then I showed her the bathroom and waited for her. I held her hand as we headed back downstairs.
"Everything all right?" Ma asked me, concern marring her face.
I nodded and helped Katima to her seat.
"My mom passed when I was a child," Katima explained.
"Oh you poor dear, did I make you think of her?" Ma asked.
"Just in remembrance." Katima shrugged and finished off her stew. Ma sent Angela to grab the dessert in the kitchen so she and Katima could get to know each other more. I tuned out, knowing that Katima could hold her own against my family. Instead, I focused on what I was feeling in that moment, contentment. I had never felt this before. Of course, I spent time with my family weekly, when I didn't have work that conflicted, but I had never been this happy before at a family dinner. I knew my siblings were going to rib me about this for a long time. I couldn't wipe the smile from my face. Katima did this to me. She brought me joy. I wasn't going to let anyone take this from me. I would protect her at all costs.
