Holiday Home Run - Priscilla Oliveras Page 0,32
“Mami, I am so proud of you. What you have accomplished, going after your own dream, it fuels me.”
Mami huffed with displeasure, but in the wavering light from the passing streetlamps Julia thought she caught Mami’s mouth curving above the edge of her scarf.
“The boys are going after their dreams,” Julia went on. “Maybe Alfredo’s has changed, coaching and managing now instead of playing ball, but we have always championed them. I’m sorry for keeping this from you. I just . . . I only hope, some day, you can be as proud of me as I am of you.”
Her throat thick with tears, Julia wiped the moisture under her eyes with her gloved finger.
“Ay nena, I’m already proud of you. I have been since the day you were born.”
Mami opened her arms for a hug and Julia fell into the embrace.
Relief flooded through her, releasing the tears she had struggled to keep at bay.
They held on to each other tightly. Julia breathed in her mother’s floral scent, the same one she’d worn for as long as Julia could remember. It conjured memories of similar hugs, shared love, and the security of familia.
“Tonight was increíble,” Mami said when they had finally pulled apart and she dug in her purse for tissues.
Julia blew her nose as she nodded. “Yes, it was definitely incredible. Especially the amount of donations! Ben and the kids did a fabulous job encouraging people to give more.”
“Mm-hmm, and speaking of Mr. Benjamin Thomas . . .” Mami arched a brow, a knowing smirk on her gently lined mouth. “He seems muy interesado in you. Is there something I should know about?”
Excitement swirled with longing in Julia’s chest. Ay, how she hoped Mami was right and Ben truly was very interested in her. “I’m not sure. I mean he says . . . but it’s too early to tell.”
“Bueno, I knew your papi was the one the first time we met. The night he tagged along with his brother when Reynaldo’s trío played at my cousin’s birthday. All the girls were crazy for the musicians. Not me.”
This story had been told and retold countless times, yet Julia never tired of hearing it. Or seeing the wistful look of young love blanketing Mami’s face.
“Sí, but with Ben and me, the situation is different,” Julia said. “You know I’ve stayed away from dating athletes. And even though he’s no longer playing, broadcasting will keep him on the road. If he decides to move into coaching, baseball will dominate his life. I’m not sure I’d want that.”
“Ay nena, with the right person, someone who looks at you the way I saw Ben looking at you . . . The way your papi looks at me . . .” Mami raised a finger, emphasizing her point. “You are happy no matter what the situation is. As long as you have each other.”
Chapter Twelve
Ben headed up the darkened stairs at the Fernandez sisters’ childhood home, pausing to glance back down at Julia’s mom and her cousin Rosa.
Both women stood at the bottom, shooing him up with encouraging hand waves.
He could have changed out of his tuxedo at the Wintrust Bank Building, but his clothes had been in his car and he hadn’t wanted to waste any time getting out to Oakton. Anxious to see Julia, hoping things had gone well with Paula on their drive to the suburbs.
At the top of the stairs he waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting, then he turned right on the landing. The bathroom should be the second door on the right, according to Rosa’s instructions.
Halfway down the hall, a door on the left opened.
Julia jumped, giving a startled “Ay Dios mío” when she spotted him.
Light from the bedroom streamed into the hallway, leaving her face in shadows while outlining her trim figure in a golden aura.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said. “Your mom sent me upstairs when I asked for a place to switch out of this monkey suit.”
Julia pressed a hand to her chest. “No, that’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting anyone else up here.”
Leaving the door open, she moved into the hallway. Dressed casually in slim-fitting jeans, a shapely black sweater, and ankle-high, thick-heeled boots, her long hair now loose around her shoulders, she looked beautiful.
Heart pounding, Ben waited for her to approach. Pleased to have this moment alone with her before they met up with everyone else downstairs.
“I’m glad you came.” She stopped several feet away, her