Trixie did my hair while I did my makeup, saving time multi-tasking. I put some big, gold hoops at my ears, some clackety, thick, carved-wood bracelets on my wrists, spritzed with my swish perfume and tore out of the bedroom.
We had five minutes to get to Blanca’s.
“Let’s motor,” I announced and shoved the cookies at Trixie, the flowers at Mom and herded everyone out, standing at the front door and motioning everyone through with a wide sweep of my arm.
Eddie stopped at the door and cal ed into the hal where Mom and Trixie were knocking on Ada’s door.
“We’l be out in a minute.”
He closed the door and pushed me against it.
“Eddie! We have to go, we’re going to be late.” He didn’t respond, he pressed his body into mine and he kissed me.
Not a light touch on the mouth but a ful -on make-out session.
I was stuck in an Eddie Daze when he disengaged from my lips but rested his forehead against mine and ran his hands down my sides.
“I like your dress,” he said.
I was getting that.
His fingers trailed the zip at my side.
“I like it but I’m gonna like takin’ it off more.” Eek!
Eddie idled at the curb outside Blanca’s bungalow in the Highlands area while we al unloaded.
The street was packed with cars and you could hear a party in ful swing.
Mom took my arm and Trixie took off to look for a parking spot, Eddie trailing her.
I watched them go and then asked Mom, “Don’t you want your chair?”
She shook her head.
“Nancy, is that wise?” Ada asked softly, looking at Mom closely and carrying both the cookies and the flowers.
“I’m going to walk in there,” Mom said.
It wasn’t that she was in the mood to show off and chal enge herself again. This was a pride thing. She’d already had a long day and this concerned me.
I knew better than to argue, and luckily Mom had me to hold on to before she fel . And hold on to me she did, she had my arm in a death grip.
We walked slowly to the house and I saw Rosa, Eddie’s sister, coming around the side.
“Hola!” she said smiling. “Thought I heard Eddie’s truck.
We’re around the back, this way.”
She led us to the back and into a yard that was one of the most magical things I’d ever seen. Late summer blooms were stil in the garden, bushes held bunches of Christmas lights, colorful lanterns were strung up high and lit lumieres were down low.
It looked like every chair and card table in the neighborhood had been set up, most of them ful of food and there were more people there than in the parking lot doing tailgates at Mile High Stadium before a Broncos game. I saw Indy, Lee, Al y, Hank, their parents and Indy’s Dad hanging around and I gave them a wave.
Soft, Mexican guitar music played in the background.
I realized immediately that I should have made more cookies.
I was impressed that Blanca could pul this off in less than forty eight hours.