Page 29 of The Fadeaway
I choke on my own spit to the point everyone side eyes me in concern. I don’t think they heard Michelle because no one jumps in to tell her how crazy of a thing that is to say to a near stranger.
“Sorry,” she says when I’ve nearly gotten myself under control. “I have a bad habit of saying what I’m thinking. But it’s true, you would. You’re not married, are you? I mean I checked for a ring, so I’m thinking not.”
The first buñuelo is placed in front of us and I follow her lead and sprinkle a generous amount of the sugar and cinnamon mixture on both sides.
“No, I’m not married,” I confirm, and she rewards me with a big smile that gives away her visions of little nephews and nieces. “And I do like basketball, but your brother and I are barely even friends. He didn’t even know I had a son until today.”
She waves me off. “Joel loves kids. He–” She pauses, bites her lips and then repeats herself, “Loves kids.”
Uh-huh. Everyone loves kids when they can return them. Having a kid or dating someone with a kid is a whole different thing. Or so I believe. I’ve not dated anyone with a kid or really dated since I had Christian sooo I’m guessing at best. It feels true.
We’re moving the food outside to a covered patio before I realize I’ve completely neglected to ask any of my planned questions. Being in the Moreno household is a bit like how I imagine it would be to ride a magic carpet. It’s exhilarating and cool and so magical that you forget to do anything but be in the moment. Well, hey, that’s what it looked like for Jasmine anyway. I really need to expand my movie watching beyond cartoons.
I spot Joel crossing the yard toward me. Long legs covered in athletic pants eat up the space and it transports me to the times he walked through the door at University Hall. Except there are no barriers between us now. No café counter to hide all the truths I was afraid to say.
I like him. There I’ve admitted it. He’s sort of sweet under all that suave charm, and though I have zero expectations that he wants anything besides sex, I’m not as put off as I’d been initially. He may be a total player, but he’s been respectful and attentive and the amount of effort he’s put into getting me to go out with him shows a level of commitment I’ve never had from a guy before.
A little boy about Christian’s age barrels past me at full speed and launches himself into Joel’s arms. I watch in fascination realizing it’s exactly what I want to do. Joel carries him toward me as the boy clutches his neck and chatters happily. “Tio Joel, I learned a new trick. Wanna see it?”
“After lunch okay?” The boy looks absolutely crestfallen. “Dylan, this is my friend Katrina.”
He eyes me carefully and I give a little wave.
Joel leans in and whispers something in Dylan’s ear and he nods excitedly before reaching behind Joel’s back and pulling out a white rose seemingly from thin air. He hands it to me and I’m rightly impressed.
“For me? Thank you.”
“I’m a magicianan,” he states, butchering the word, but stating it so very matter of fact that I know better than to laugh.
“What other tricks do you know?”
A devious smile spreads across his adorable face. “I can cut you in half.”
Joel laughs. “No chopping up people today, little man. Go wash your hands before we eat.”
Joel motions toward the food. “Ready to eat?”
I follow his lead and fill my plate with everything – wanting to try it all and experience every bit of his world. Everyone sits outside and for the almost buffet style dining, it’s still intimate and homey.
The large backyard has a pool, an outdoor grill, a TV, a putting green, and a large grassy area where several soccer balls and hula hoops have been abandoned. The older family sits at an outdoor dining table and the kids opt to take their plates and sit on the grass. Joel leads us to the table. “Did you get your questions answered?”
“Oh, um…” I really mismanaged my time. “I guess I got a little wrapped up in the food prep.” I take a bit of the buñuelo. “This is amazing.”
Joel’s father appears beside Isa. I know this even before he leans down and kisses her softly on the mouth and says, “Everything looks amazing,mi reina. As always.”
Joel’s father has the presence and command that his son does, but where Joel’s charm seems deliberate his father’s is not. He’s just got an air of importance and charisma.
“You must be Katrina?” he asks when he spots me sitting next to his son.
“Yes, sir.”
His eyes crinkle with a smile that has me rethinking the differences between his son. “Call me Dax. Tell us more about this screenplay you’ve written. What’s the title?”
I answer their questions. The entire lunch conversation revolves around it and they seem truly fascinated. So much so that I forget to be nervous. They even answer some of my questions, but I’m enjoying our easy conversation too much to pry too deeply into their lives.
I learn that Isa and Opal are sisters. Isa is the youngest and they came from Mexico City to the United States as soon as Isa was eighteen because Opal had met Joe – a pecan farmer turned businessman who traveled between Mexico City and Valley for work. Opal and Joe have three kids – Lucas, Will, and Karla. Karla is the only one here today with her husband Pete and Dylan the magician is their son.
Dax has two sisters, Lupita and Bonnie. They moved here with their parents at a much earlier age. The exact reasoning is a bit fuzzy but the general consensus seemed to be more opportunities. Lupita is married to Jose and they have two kids Anita and Celeste – neither married. Bonnie is also Dax’s sister, but she’s unmarried too as far as I can tell.
