Page 34 of Olivia's Only Pretending
“Victor, you’re finally back!” his mom, Linda, said. Her jet-black hair was pulled back in a loose clip. Her eyes peeked up at us from behind the kitchen sink. “Is this the famous Olivia?” She didn’t bat an eye at Victor’s face paint.
“Hi.” I hurried ahead, reaching out a hand.
She turned off the faucet and shook my hand. “I’m so glad you’re here. David, Victor’s dad, is out on the patio grilling burgers. But we’ve got chips and freshly made guacamole out there?—”
“And salsa?” Victor checked.
“Yes, and my salsa. The kids love my salsa. I have to have it out every time we eat.” Linda laughed. She made her way around the long, granite kitchen island. “How’re you doing, dear?”
“I’m pretty good,” I said. “I had a long day. I’m a professor. I’m not sure if Victor has mentioned that? I usually teach summer classes, but I took this summer off. I’ve been filling my days up with home renovations?—”
“You bought that old fixer-upper downtown, right off Main Street and Perrin Avenue, right? Victor’s shown me so many pictures,” Linda said, leading us toward the sliding doors that opened to the back patio.
“Yes, that’s the one. It’s coming along beautifully, thanks to Victor,” I said.
Victor and I exchanged a smile.
“Victor, man, come grab a beer!” Victor’s younger brother, Ricky, called as we stepped onto the patio. The sky beyond the backyard was flaming pinks and purples as the sun set over the grassy hills. “Oh, Liv is here!”
I’d met Ricky a few times over the summer. He’d tag along with Victor to grab pizza or help us work on installing new cabinets.
“You good if I go talk with Ricky?” Victor checked with me before he ran over to his brother.
“I’m fine.” I chuckled. Victor’s attentiveness still surprised me, and it made Linda smirk.
He turned to leave but then spun on his heels. “You want anything to drink?”
“I’ve got it covered, Victor,” Linda said, shooing him away. “Olivia, we’ve got beer, wine, water, and I made a big pitcher of sweet iced tea.”
“I’ll have a glass of iced tea,” I said.
Linda and I settled on patio chairs around a round table with our iced tea. The air was warm and humid. She was asking me about my sisters and mom. “You know, I’ve known your mom for years through church. Right when you walked in, I had flashbacks to you and your sister running down the aisles between pews back when you were still girls. I feel like I know you without actually ever meeting you.”
I shook the ice in my glass. “Same. I’ve grown up hearing about the Hernandez boys and Mom’s friend, Linda, who made the best salsa, without ever officially meeting you—until now.”
Linda laughed. “Small-town life.”
My gaze settled on Victor playing with his squealing kid nephew and nieces. He was chasing them around the patio, growling. They were soaking wet in swimsuits, leaving behind a trail of watery footprints.
“You’re a history professor, Victor says? Is that what you always wanted to be?” Linda asked.
“Mom, don’t grill her!” Ricky walked over, resting his hands on the back of his mom’s chair. “Is she grilling you?”
“I’m just getting to know the girl! Can’t a mom ask a few questions?” Linda shook her head.
“It was sounding like a literal job interview when I walked up.” Ricky raised a dark eyebrow. His skin was the same caramel as his brother’s.
“Mom,” the kids shouted to Victor’s oldest sister through fits of laughter.
The game had taken to the grassy backyard lawn beyond the patio. Victor was getting soaked and didn’t seem to care a bit.
His sister was laughing as she walked over to our small patio table, a glass of white wine in her hand. “Hi, you must be Olivia. I’m the big sister, Tanya, mom to two of the screaming children out there.” She had a baby against her chest. Her hair was in a messy bun on her head.
“I’m the dad to the other two screaming kids out there. I’m Luis.” One of Victor’s older brothers sat down with us.
Tanya was the super mom who worked as a nurse on the weekends and sent Victor silly videos of her kids that we’d watch together on my back deck. Luis was the big brother working his way up at a law firm a town over. Victor wrestled between wanting to call him for brotherly advice and trying to prove that he didn’t need it.
These two older siblings I’d heard Victor speak about with such admiration and reverence were now sitting beside me, sweaty and laughing about their kids.
