Page 20 of Thiago
“I did a little research since you mention her so often.”
“Ay Dios,” Thiago muttered.
“All I’m saying is, if you like her, you should make a move.”
“Yes, make a move on a subordinate. Great idea.” Yes, he was being deceptive.
“Oops, you’re right. Terrible idea. So do you have anyone you’re seeing?”
“I do not have time to date.”
“Too busy?” Audra asked.
“Exactly.”
“Make time. Aunt Florence is right. Before long, you’ll be all alone wondering where the time went. Crying yourself to sleep.”
Thiago chuckled. “I will dry my tears with all the money I make.”
Audra pursed her lips again. “Thiago, money isn’t everything. Having someone to share your life with?—”
A glass bell rang, pulling everyone’s attention to the center of the room.
The band had stopped playing and left the small stage. His father was standing in their place with the bell and a drink in his hand.
“Now I have your attention, hello everyone,” Benicio Santana said.
“Hello!” the crowd greeted back.
Like Thiago, Benicio had a beard, but his hair and beard were completely gray. Right now, he was in his element, the centerof attention for a few minutes. His father loved to talk and was always the one they chose to make announcements and toasts at family events. He handed off the bell to a member of the staff.
“Servers will be coming around to make sure everyone has a glass of champagne. We are about to toast the happy couple. If you are not drinking, look for the servers with a green ribbon around their wrists to get a non-alcoholic drink.”
Thiago and Audra took a glass from one of the male servers passing by.
Benicio surveyed the crowd, his gaze stopping at a point near the back. “Rosa, do you want to come up here?”
Thiago couldn’t see his petite stepmother, but by the chuckles from that corner of the room, she must have vehemently shaken her head in refusal.
“I had to try,” Benicio said with a shrug. As the laughter died down, he added, “Andre, Monica, please join me.”
Monica and her fiancé stepped up on the stage and stood to his right.
Benicio smiled at Monica, who held a flute of champagne in one hand. Then he turned his attention to the audience.
“Many of you know Monica as my stepdaughter, but to me, she is simply my daughter. She was only four years old when I came into her life, and I have been trying to keep up with her ever since.”
Scattered laughter came from the crowd.
“I remember one night, not long after Rosa and I were married, I told Monica to go to bed. The older kids had already gone to bed, and her mother had told her more than once that she needed to go to sleep, but she had a mind of her own. I was in the kitchen fixing myself a snack when she marched in wearing pink Mickey Mouse pajamas and placed her hands on her hips. She told me in a very serious voice, with a frown on her face, thatshe was going to be very important when she grew up, and she was going to stay up all night when she did.”
As the group laughed, his face softened. Then he turned to Monica. “You were important then, and you are important now—to every single one of us here who loves you. And you can stay up as late as you want.”
Thank you, Monica mouthed, leaning in for a hug.
Benicio briefly squeezed her and kissed her temple. Then he turned his attention to his future son-in-law.
“Andre, I remember you from her college days. I saw the way she lit up when she talked about you back then, and life or Fate brought you back together. You make my little girl very happy, and for that reason, you will always have my love and respect.”
