The Here and Now (Worlds Collide The Duets #2) - LL Meyer Page 0,5
kiss. After an entire afternoon of not having guilt-free access to her mouth, I can’t seem to resist.
The rumbling sound of a drink being finished off through a straw interrupts our moment. Pulling away, I find my daughter staring at us, mischief written all over her.
Trying to keep a serious face, I ask in my most neutral tone, “Can I help you with something, Rosa?”
“Nope,” she says cheekily. “Just needed a drink of my juice.”
“Sounds like it’s pretty much gone.” She gives it another pull and I feel a grin forming. “Go play, chismosa.”
Calling her nosy doesn’t dim her delight the least. “Okay!” I follow her progress and find the other two girls also watching us from the top of the jungle gym, grins firmly in place. Rubbing my palms down my face, I turn back to Ellie.
“She’s just curious,” she says.
“Yeah, let’s go with that.” I grab my Coke and shake it gently. There’s nothing but ice left.
“Their Spanish is pretty good.”
“You think?” I ask, lowering the cup back to the table. We’ve been slipping in and out of Spanish all day. “I feel like we use the same sentences over and over. As soon as anything is difficult to say, we switch to English.”
She nods. “That’s normal since at school and work you have to think and solve problems in English. You just need more input that comes from Spanish sources.”
“You mean other than telenovelas?”
Laughing, she takes the last French fry off my tray. “Yeah, probably. But they can’t hurt, right? I used to watch them with Amelia when I was little too. So educational.”
Arriving home in the late afternoon, I have every intention of dropping the girls off and then logging some alone-time with Ellie on the pretext of having to drive her home. Unfortunately, life rarely goes to plan.
As I’m helping the girls climb out of the truck, my grandmother is dropped off by a neighbor fresh from her Saturday afternoon knitting circle. Her face comes alive with interest when she sees Ellie. She even breaks out her English for the occasion.
“Ellie habla Espa?ol, Abuela,” Carmen informs her.
My grandmother gives me a suspiciously accusing look, one that morphs into delight when it’s turned on Ellie. “?De verdad, mija?”
?Mija? I’m the one delighted now if a little perplexed. It seems Ellie merits being called dear or sweetheart on principle, and my grandmother is quickly rewarded as Ellie turns on her natural charm that’s only amplified by her slightly lispy Spanish accent.
Before I know it, Ellie has graciously accepted a dinner invitation and is being led into the house, arm linked with my grandmother’s, her head bent to make up for their wildly differing heights so she can hear what’s being said.
“?Ya vienes?” Carmen asks, reaching for my hand. Are you coming? Everyone has already gone in the house and she’s peering up at me with concern.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
Inside, I’m hit with a twinge of nervousness. I’ve never been to Ellie’s parents’ place, but I know it has to be better this. Glancing around the small, cluttered living room that’s immediately inside the front door, I can’t find it in me to be embarrassed though. Yeah, the furniture with its floral pattern is dated and kind of dumpy, but this is home. And seeing Ellie’s sneakers lined up near the door with everyone else’s only makes it feel more so.
Following their voices to the kitchen, I find that Ellie has been installed in my spot at the table, a glass of horchata in front of her. Rosa and Daniela are singing Ellie’s praises, telling our grandmother how she made our day so much more interesting than it usually is. If it weren’t so true, I think I’d be offended.
“Where’s he going to sit?” Carmen interrupts sternly after assessing the seating arrangement. My little sister is always going to bat for me.
“It’s fine,” I tell her. “I can sit over here.”
The chatter immediately starts up again with refrains of Ellie did this, or Ellie said that.
A few minutes into the narrative, I send her a questioning look to make sure she’s okay. She tells me she’s fine by way of a broad smile that I can’t help but return. I’m sinking into the pleasure of the moment when I catch sight of my grandmother’s slightly surprised, slightly triumphant expression at the exchange. My exasperation only appears to make her happier.
A quarter of an hour later, Desiree and Mari come in together and I have to repress the very real