Unconditionally Mine. Nadine Gonzalez

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      “Not tonight,” Sofia said. “Thanks.”

      “Where’s the camera?” Leila asked Nick. “I want to show Sofia the new photos of the house.”

      “Maybe now isn’t the best time,” Nick said.

      Leila looked from Nick to Sofia. “Why? What’s wrong?”

      “Nothing’s wrong!” Sofia perked up. “Now is a great time. I’m up for it.”

      “You sure?” Nick asked.

      “Sure, I’m sure!”

      Sofia was as surprised by her sudden reversal as anyone. She’d come fully prepared to confide in Leila, but something Nick had said held her back.

      She admires you.

      That night, she avoided Nick’s questioning gaze, as she continued to do for weeks.

      * * *

      Shielding her loved ones from the grim reality also became a priority. The following Sunday, she joined her parents at home for dinner. Her mother had lost some weight, as her cardiologist had recommended, and her floral dress she’d worn to church that morning hung loose on her. A massive heart attack and open-heart surgery had revived her ailing Catholic faith. Anyway, her mother had better news to share.

      “Your dad and I want to do something special for our thirty-fifth anniversary. And we want you to organize it.”

      “Dad wants this?”

      The question came from Miguel. Sofia’s older brother entered the kitchen and stood before the open refrigerator as he’d done as a teen. It was inevitable. When they were home, they reverted to their most juvenile selves.

      Miguel grabbed a can of soda from the fridge. “Knowing dad, he’d rather celebrate with the three b’s—beer, Buffalo wings and baseball.”

      “He wants what I want,” Mom said.

      “Man! You’ve got it good,” Sofia teased.

      “It’s a big anniversary,” Mom said. She worked a knife through a block of queso blanco. “Plus, we’ve had a rough year.”

      Sofia relived it all. Those long nights in the hospital when they weren’t sure she’d pull through had left them all depleted. Her mother was more of herself now, back at work at the shop and cooking Sunday dinners as usual, but with markedly less stamina. That was what worried Sofia, seeing her diminished that way.

      Her mother looked up, wistful. “We need...something. You know?”

      “Absolutely,” Sofia said.

      Nothing was as cathartic as a good old-fashioned party with dinner, dancing and drinks—the whole shebang. It was what the family needed to turn the page.

      “Look at this.” Her mother handed over her phone, the browser open to a Pinterest page. Sofia reviewed pins of venues, flowers, table settings, themes and dresses. “I’m doing it right this time.”

      Her parents had eloped at the downtown courthouse. “Doing it right” would likely involve a priest.

      “Can you afford all this, Mom?” Sofia asked.

      Miguel dropped to the floor and held a plank position. “Can you afford Sofia?”

      Her mother returned her attention to the stove, stirring a pan of paella. “I don’t buy crazy expensive purses and shoes like some people do. I’ve had the same Coach bag for the last three years and my Camry is a decade old. So, yes, you two, I can afford this.”

      Sofia let the targeted criticism slide. Her parents worked hard and were financially sound. Her dad owned a construction company. Some years it had flourished, others it flailed. But since Miguel had joined the team, expanding operations and taking risks, business was good. Her mother ran a fabric shop downtown, and business had always been steady. Their house was paid off and their retirement secured, but they hadn’t traveled or taken a vacation in decades.

      “What’s your budget?” Sofia asked.

      “Five thousand dollars, and your services are free.”

      Five grand didn’t get you much these days, but her mother didn’t have to know that.

      “You brag about working magic for your clients. It’s time you do the same for your family.”

      “Yeah, Sofia,” Miguel said, mid push-up. “Work your magic.”

      “Just watch me,” Sofia said.

      She took out her own phone and pulled up her calendar. “Your anniversary is the first Wednesday in April. We should schedule the party on the Friday or Saturday.”

      “Saturday.”

      “That’s three months away. We’re going to have to hustle. I’ll need you to be decisive. No mulling over fabrics and flowers for days. Okay?”

      Sofia scrolled through Pinterest, pausing at a pin of a white-and-gold place setting. It was gaudy enough to satisfy her mother’s tastes while remaining tasteful.

      “I want you and Franco to say a few words at the reception—as a couple.”

      Sofia lowered the phone. “Why? Isn’t that Miguel’s job? He’s the oldest.”

      “I’m depressed and divorced.” Miguel hopped to his feet. “Haven’t you heard?”

      “You’re depressing,” Sofia said. “I know that much.”

      “Leave your brother alone, will you?” her mother scolded. “Not everyone is as lucky as you and Franco. Where’s Franco, anyway?”

      “Yeah, Sofia,” Miguel said evenly. “Where is Franco, anyway?”

      She glared at him. “Busy. Work stuff.”

      At the mention of Franco’s name, Sofia’s mask had nearly cracked. Her parents would not take the news of the breakup well. They were traditional. A married life was a settled life, in their opinion. Her mother, in particular, had had a hard time with Miguel’s divorce and she hadn’t even liked his wife. Sofia knew how her mother’s mind worked. Her illness and Miguel’s misfortune were signs the family was vulnerable, brittle, falling apart. The end of Sofia’s engagement would make it clear. Even Miguel, who knew the whole story, and who’d appeared sympathetic when she’d shown up at his door with an overnight bag, didn’t seem to be taking it too well now.

      Sofia was sixteen when she and Franco met. Franco played ball with Miguel on weekends and could be counted on for Sunday dinner. As a result of their splitting up, the whole family would have to break up with him as well. That was going to be a tough sell.

      “Too bad,” her mother said. “He loves my paella.”

      Nobody loved her mother’s paella. Did it do the trick at the end of a long day? Sure. Did anyone wake up craving it? No. Was it technically СКАЧАТЬ