Page 156 of Along Came Amor
“It’s knockedup, Abuela.” Michelle was hot on Esperanza’s heels. “It means pregnant.”
“Embarazada, sí,” Abuela answered, like Michelle had just suggested a wonderful idea. The old woman turned back to Ava with an expression that somehow melded glee and reproach. “¿Por qué no nos dijiste que tienes novio?”
This, Ava thought dully.This is why I didn’t tell you I have a boyfriend.
Ronnie hurried over, a sleepy three-year-old balanced on her hip. “So I was right?” she asked, breathless. “Romanisyour boyfriend?”
“He’s her fiancé,” Titi Nita amended, joining the growing crowd around Ava.
“Iknewit.” Ronnie shot a smug grin over her shoulder. “Pay up, Sammy!”
“Is this because Hector’s getting remarried?” Titi Nereida’s daughter, Marta, asked from somewhere in the background.
Sammy began to sing an off-key rendition of “We Don’t Talk About Hector” with gusto.
“Shutup,” Michelle shouted. “Everybody, give her some space—”
“Really, Ava, we’re happy for you, but your timing could have been better,” Titi Lisa chided.
“Don’t mess this one up, too.” Titi Nereida shook a finger in Ava’s face. “That man is very, very rich.”
“Areyou pregnant?” Esperanza pulled the fabric of Ava’s dress taut over her stomach, searching for a baby bump.
Nereida leaned in and adjusted her glasses. “No, just gordita.”
It was too much. Too fucking much. Ava could feel herself slipping away, numbing out. Her Resting Pleasant Face morphed over her features, glazing her eyes, curving the corners of her lips, her jaw so tight it felt like it would crack.
Someone pinched her arm. “Stop it.”
Startled, Ava glanced to her right, where Michelle gazed up at her with a fierce expression.
“Don’t do that,” Mich said in an undertone. “Don’t let them do this to you.”
Michelle was right. Keeping things hidden was what had gotten Ava into this mess in the first place. Hadn’t she often fantasized about telling her family exactly how she felt? This was her chance.
New Ava is not afraid to express her feelings.
Right?
Right.
Fuck. She was really doing this.
With a deep breath, Ava straightened to her full height and pulled away from her grandmother.
“Abuela,stop.”
The sharp tone barely registered, and Esperanza was distracted as she asked, “Stop what?”
Ava swallowed hard.Now or never. “Stop it with the invasive questions.”
Esperanza’s penciled-in brows drew together. “¿El qué?”
“Las preguntas invasivas,” Ava translated. “No more.”
Her grandmother shared an incredulous glance with Titi Nereida. “Pero why can’t I ask?”
“Because it’s none of your business, Grandma!” This came from Willow, whose baby goth mascara had smeared around her eyes. Ava felt a swell of gratitude and pride for her sister, along with shame that Willow felt she had to defend her. Ava should have been modeling this backbone for her sister well before now.
