Say Forever(59)

I do my best to not roll my eyes as I look at Tia. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry your feelings were hurt over this wedding. That was never my intention. But it was also never my intention to let anyone take over my wedding. I let my mom make a lot of decisions for me about the venue and the food. Honestly, I wanted the Cruz family to cater the wedding." I sweep a hand toward the uncooked tamales sitting in a shallow pan. "I love everything Andrés's family cooks." I flash a weary smile. "You know that." I think about mentioning that we might need to use the ranch for the ceremony, but I don't want to grovel. "All I wanted was a simple wedding with tamales and one bridesmaid." I nod toward Marie as she slams an empty pan in the drying rack. "Marie didn't want to be my bridesmaid, anyway."

Tia grabs a towel off the counter and wipes her hands. She looks at Marie with big, sad eyes and shakes her head. "Yes, she did."

Marie actually has the nerve to heave a sigh, acting as if I've just broken her heart. Really?

Anger as thick and toxic as black smoke infuses my skull. I really want to grab those pots and pans and smash them over Marie's head. I think back to those retro movies of Godzilla I watched when I was a kid, and I finally understand how he felt when he smashed up Tokyo. He must have had an annoying family member whose sole purpose was to make his life a living hell.

"Tia, before you asked Marie to be my bridesmaid, she cornered me in my bedroom and told me I was marrying Andrés for his money."

Tia's hand flies to her chest. "Marie!"

I tilt my chin and glare at Marie, who has the nerve to look directly at me with a scowl. "I fell in love with Andrés before I knew he was going to inherit. I am not marrying him for his money. I am marrying him because I love him beyond words. I guess I'm selfish, because I'm not about to lose him because you don't approve."

To my surprise, Marie casts a woeful look at Tia, who is now glaring at her niece with crossed arms. Then Marie's face twists into a knot before she turns her back on us and quietly washes dishes. Her arms and back are so rigid, she looks like a robot, but I don't care. I've made my point. She'll have to deal with it.

"And Tia," I say as I put a protective hand over my stomach, "I am pregnant, but I don't think that makes me soiled. I am not ashamed if anyone knows I'm carrying Andrés 's child. This baby is a blessing. I am an artist. I put a lot of time into that dress. Those flowers are an expression of love, not just for my husband, but for our child. I am wearing my gown to my wedding."

Tia's scowl softens as she leans forward and places a hand over mine. "I understand, and I'm sorry."

I hug her a second time, and this time she hugs me back.

"I hope this means you'll come."

Tia looks at me with smiling eyes. "Of course. I wouldn't miss my sobrino and sobrina's wedding." She bites her lip, flashing a pleading gaze. "So does this mean we can cater it?"

I laugh. "You know how much I love Cruz tamales."

Tia turns toward her niece, who is still busy ignoring us. "Marie, you need to apologize. That was a terrible thing you said to Christina."

Marie drops a pan into the water as her spine stiffens. "Sorry," she huffs without bothering to turn around.

If Tia's eyes were lasers, they would have burned twin holes into the back of Marie's head. "You will be working on a better apology than that. And you owe Andrés an apology, too, for insulting his bride."

She ignores Marie's groan and turns to me. "Are you hungry, niña?"

"I just had lunch with my mom. I have to go. I have one more stop, and I'm already exhausted."

"Don't wear yourself out too much." She winks and rubs my belly. "Our mama needs plenty of rest."

"I won't. Thank you, Tia." I leave without saying good-bye to Marie, not that she deserves anything other than a kick in the ass. I smile at the thought. Something tells me she'll be getting a verbal ass kicking after I leave.

I stumble on my way to my car as a slight wave of dizziness rolls through me. I think about what Tia said about rest, and I tell myself she's right. I need to slow down. But Violet's ranch isn't far from here. One more stop, and then I'm taking the rest of the day off. Maybe I'll read some more baby books. My first OB appointment is next week, and I want to be prepared. I'm determined to put all of my troubles behind me and focus on having a healthy, happy child.


***


Violet's ranch is sprawling with teens. It's been a few months since I visited, and I can't believe how much the place has changed. Violet's grant money recently came through, and there's already a brand new bunkhouse near the main building, and the old run-down barn has new boards and is in the process of getting a fresh paintjob. Many teens armed with rollers and brushes are laughing and joking as they work.