Page 44 of Black Wave

“Is she pregnant? Not a problem,” he continues, as if it means nothing to him either way.

“Not yet, but it is someone you know.” I clear my throat, contemplating how to give him all the news.

“Who is she, Eduardo? How do we know her?” I hear him take in a drink of alcohol as he blows a loud sigh into the phone.

“It’s Emma.” I pause for a bit when he doesn’t speak. “It’s always been Emma.”

The glass, probably empty, hits the desk with a clunk. “What? Did I hear her parents died? The Ortiz family? What is going on, son?”

I told him what Emma told me, how we reunited in Houston, and how her safety was jeopardized. How I plan to take care of her, marry her.

“You can tell Mom the good news,” I chide.

He snorts. “I hardly call this good news. Even telling your Catholic mother about an unplanned pregnancy is better than this.” More ice clicks in a glass.

“Well, that is certainly a possibility now.” I laugh so he knows I am mostly joking, but I wouldn’t care if she gets pregnant with my child. That’s the plan for later, anyway. I don’t want to be the one to take away her choices though. She’s had enough of that.

“I’m going to call her Uncle Andrés and see what he is doing to ensure her safety, and I hope I can count on you for support as your son and for your future daughter-in-law.”

He sighs into the phone. “Of course, son. I just wish you hadn’t picked the one woman you couldn’t have. There are so many other options?—”

“There are no other options,” I growl. “And I wouldn’t have to go through such a difficult time to be with the one person I love if it wasn’t made this way. Things would have been so different if no one interfered. She’d be safe from so many unnecessary dangers.”

“I’m sure you will discover that that isn’t true, Eduardo, but I’ll support you with anything you need. You can count on your family for that.”

I hang up and can’t help but reflect on the conversation with my father. What did he mean that it isn’t true regarding unnecessary dangers? She wouldn’t have met Julian if her mom hadn’t stopped us from seeing each other. She would have been promised to me. That was always the plan, until it wasn’t. Her parents would have been protected.

Alive.

I struggle to see how it could have turned out any different if she were mine.

I shower, hesitant to remove the imprint of Emma’s smell on my skin. As I walk, I get a faint whiff of her scent and groan at the thought of last night. The anticipation of seeing her again is too much now. I must put her out of my mind if I intend to get any work done today.

I get out of the shower, needing to get to the gym and see how the new restaurant owners we selected for the space in our nourishment center are orchestrating, implementing the design, and advertising for their new customers. Before, they had a food truck-type establishment in the area, which would get them a guaranteed flow of customers who wouldn’t hesitate to pay for a good product. This establishment is the type of place that could make them succeed and pin their name on the Houston middle- and upper-class demographic map. I, for one, am hooked and am glad to have a lovely family-run business in my gym catering to healthy food options for our patrons.

As I walk out the door, my phone rings, and I see it’s my brother, Ram. I decide to make a coffee before leaving and prepare myself mentally for whatever he has to say. I am sure my father has already called him or, even worse, my mother.

I answer the phone without saying hello. It isn’t needed because I already hear his voice coming through the phone.

“So, you told Dad that you are getting married?” I hear laughter coming out of the speaker along with a female voice.

“I am glad you are both laughing at my expense.” I can’t help but chuckle at his teasing. I had this coming.

“Let me ask this. Does Emma know she is getting married?” He starts laughing harder, a full belly laugh, wheezing as he tries to stop.

“Don’t keel over without your inhaler,” I reprimand him. “I’d hate to see you wheeze to death,” I deadpan.

“Oh god, oh god. Okay, that was just too good to pass up. Mom called and told me the good news. Seriously though, does Emma know? Did you actually propose?”

I contemplate my words before I ask him. On the way home, I had thought about it but wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. “Do you think I should ask her uncle for her hand in marriage?”

The line is quiet, and I swear I think Ram hung up or the line was disconnected. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” Ram’s tone is quieter, and I hear a door close behind him.

“Yes. I have always loved Emma, and now…fuck, Ram. She is so alone, and I’m afraid something will happen to her. I left Philip with her as her protection when I am not there, but I didn’t want to leave her side. I can’t help but think about how things would have been different had we had the chance to be together.”

Ram clears his throat. “I think you should call her uncle and see what’s going on and get more details about this family. You know something is happening, and I bet it has more to do with Emma. Also, yes, you should ask her uncle for permission. I think he will be more than happy with the arrangement.”

I nod and think about when I should call. “I guess I’ll call sooner than later, bro. Thanks for the advice.”

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