Page 45 of Brews & Bartenders

Both of my sisters fall into a fit of giggles. “You’ve got it bad. I thought our friend’s got googly eyed, but you are something else.” Gabi says through laughter.

“Shut up.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen big bro. You’re the one acting like a teenage girl.” I swear I’m going to murder both of them before the night is over.

Rather than sit here and argue with them, I go back to the kitchen to see if Mom needs any more help. But she motions me away. “I’m almost done. Go to the living room unless you want your sisters answering the door when she knocks.”

“Good point.” I go back to living room to intercept the door, but I’m too late. I didn’t even hear Caroline knock. Her hand is raised mid-air and her eyebrows are scrunched together. “Hey, Caroline. These are my sisters, Marisol and Gabriela.”

Both girls beam up at her, and take a step back. I’m not sure what protocol is here. Do I hug her or wait to see what she does? She walks inside with a little boy attached to her side. When he sees me, he eyes me wearily. Yeah, it’s probably a good idea I didn’t go in for a hug right away. “It’s nice to meet both of you,” she tells my sisters. “This is my son, David.”

Both of them bend down to tell him hi, and I swear it’s like a flip switched in those two. They aren’t the annoying teenagers they were two minutes ago.

Caroline and David come further into the room and stop in front of me. “Hi, David, I’m Carlos.”

“I know.” Even though his voice is soft, it’s sure and there’s no room for argument. “You’re my mom’s boyfriend.”

“Yes, I am. It’s nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand. He has to know that even though he’s young, I still intend to treat him with the utmost respect.

He places his hand in mine, shaking it as firmly as he can. “You too.”

“Would you like to meet my mom?”

He looks up to Caroline, and when she nods, he says, “Yes.”

David seems very well-mannered, at least compared to any kids I know. I wonder if Caroline talked to him on the way over, or if he’s nervous. It’s most likely a mixture of the two. I can’t imagine what he must be feeling meeting people he’s never known before.

I lead both of them in the kitchen and my sisters follow behind, curious how the interaction is going to go. “David, Caroline, this is my mom, Raquel.”

“Hi, Ms. Raquel,” David holds out his hand to shake, but my mom pulls him into a hug. She doesn’t do handshakes and never has. David’s body is tense for a second but relaxes in her hold. She has that effect on people.

She lets David go, then wraps her arms around Caroline. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Caroline shoots me a panicked look over my mom’s shoulder. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Don’t worry.” I laugh, “I didn’t tell her anything bad.”

She glares at me before stepping back when Mom releases her. “I’m sure you didn’t.”

“I hope you’re hungry. The food will be ready soon.” She nods toward the back door. “I bought a football and some things the kids can play with outside, if you don’t want to hang out in here.”

“You didn’t have to do that?”

“I hope we get to see more of you, and we need to have things for David to do.”

Caroline’s eyes are watery and I know that small action means the world to her. “Thank you.” She gives my mom another hug before leading David out the door.

“I like her.” Mom walks back to the stove and stirs the rice. “Don’t screw it up.”

“You barely know her mom.” I roll my eyes and head to the back door.

“She has positive energy.” She shoos me out of the kitchen so she can get back to cooking. “I’ll call you when it’s ready.”

Well, my mom won David over…now it’s time to see if he’ll accept me. This whole evening could go one of two ways and I really need it to go well.

Caroline is sitting in a chair off the side with my mom. Both of them are chatting and watching us play cornhole. I’m not a huge fan of this game. Never have been because I suck at it. My tios don’t let me live that fact down either. They always put me on the team of whomever they aren’t on great terms with at the time.

Hell, even tonight my sisters were fighting over who was going to have to take me. But it’s fine. They knew one of them had to because I needed to be on the same side as David. But now we’re part way through a game, and I don’t know how to talk to him. Maybe I should hang out with more people who have kids.

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