“What are you doing here?” My words are muffled from where she has my face firmly pressed into her shoulder as she rubs a comforting hand down my back.
“I heard. About Mr. Castillo, what your parents are doing. OhDios, mija, por favor, don’t do this, don’t sign your life away. You’re so young and accomplished. I’ll help you,lo juro,don’t do this.” Her panicked words and the firm grip she keeps on my shoulders as she implores me with her eyes, bring a bright bit of warmth to my soul. Here I was thinking everyone from my old life was tainted. But Carmela, this angel will always be my real family.
“Mellow, you don’t have to worry about me.”
“No manches!” She steps back with an angry slam of her hands on her hips.
“I’m serious.” Tilting my head, I let my smile through, despite the turmoil curling around inside me. “That’s why I’m here. To put an end to everything.”
“You’re going to say no? To your father?”
“I am.” She narrows her eyes skeptically, “Come here.” I wave her over to the window of the foyer that overlooks the street, and she hastily follows after me. “See that tall dream boat down there? Dressed all fine, his perfect hair and perfect face and, well heck, that body built for a range of naughty things?—”
“Mija!” She scolds me with a gentle slap on my arm, but when I look down at her, she has a cheeky smile plastered on her face.
“Am I wrong?” I chuckle.
“Ay.He is something.”
“He is the reason.” She shoots her eyes back to me, confusion morphing slowly into what I can only describe as complete joy. “I love him, Mellow. I’m doing what is necessary, so I can be with him, and to also live my life the way I want to. So I don’t have to answer to anyone but myself.”
“Ay,estoy tan orgullosa de ti,Rosie. I knew you were better than them.” She pulls me into her arms for an embrace again as I chuckle and choke on the emotion her words bring up. But the hug doesn’t last long before she’s pulling at me and staring right into my soul. “When do I get to meet that hunk of a man?”
“Mellow!” Stunned I sputter a chuckle at her cheeky expression. “He wants to meet you too, actually. He can cook you know.” I cross my arms giving her a look filled with meaning. It was, after all, Mellow that prayed I’d meet a man who could cook, given I hadn’t a clue how to myself.
She lights up like Christmas morning before looking down again at the street, to a nervously pacing Caleb who keeps looking from his phone to the entrance of the building and back again.
“I don’t want to keep him waiting, I should really?—”
“Si!Of course. You go, tell them where to stick it. I’m going home to find my old recipe book and then you’re going to bring over that handsome man tomorrow to make some empanadas.” She pats my arm affectionately and if I wasn’t mistaken, I’d say there was a little tear in her eye. I know if I try to speak I’ll be the one crying so instead, I give her my brightest smile, a kiss on each cheek and watch as the elevator doors close with her behind them.
The hole in my stomach is feeling a little fuller, as it usually does after seeing Carmela…or it did. Until I turn and stare at the door to my parents’ apartment. It’s almost like being sucked into a black hole with the way every step feels like there is less and less oxygen around me.
But I pull my big girl pants on, straightening my shoulders and repeat the mantra that has gotten me through some seriously shitty family situations.
I am a boss bitch and I take shit from no one.
I’m a boss, I take shit from no one.
I’m the baddest bitch. I’ve got this.
I don’t waste time with pleasantries, instead I let myself in, walking through the main foyer and feeling weirdly like I’m floating on air as I navigate my way through the gaudy building in the direction of my father’s office.
I note the utter quiet of the apartment, and the complete lack of mess. Every surface basically sparkles under the overhead lighting with how polished they are. Each couch cushion is spaced evenly with the perfect amount of fluffing, and there isn’t a word spoken from the staff, just as they were trained to be.
A cold shiver runs down my spine as I continue in the direction of the office, feeling like everything is moving in slow motion, and feeling almost completely at ease with the decision I’ve made. Knowing that this choice is one I should have made a long time ago.
Reaching the threshold of the office, I knock once before letting myself in. Pausing only a millisecond to take a breath, steady my nerves and remind myself to keep my chin high.
“Rosita?” My father’s confused and annoyed voice hits me the moment I’m visible from the door. Of course, he is nothing but bothered by my unannounced arrival. “I don’t have the time today you’ll need to come back. I’ll have my assistant make a time.” He dismisses me and I don’t waste an ounce of energy ontrying to hold back the very loud humorless laugh that I let out.Is this mother fucker for real?
“How mature.” My head snaps up at the sound of his voice. The devil’s spawn. Mickey.
“Oh good, you’re both here.” I sigh with a brightly spreading smile as I look from where Mickey stands off to the side of the office and then back to my fiercely frowning father. “This will save me another trip, two birds and one stone.” I close the distance between me and the desk my father stands behind, being sure to hold steady to my confidence. “We have things to discuss.
“There is nothing to discuss right now, Rosita. We can talk more after the party.” He looks back down at the papers strewn across his desk, and it nearly rips at the cord holding tight to my patience.
Hold on to your power.
