Page 5 of In a Perfect World

Chapter 3

Triana~

Thursday nights were family night, and if Tomasco and I didn’t make it to dinner at our parents, then it would upset my mother greatly, and while I thought that it was a bit of overkill, it wasn’t worth hearing my father berate us for the next two days.Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if he cared about our family dinners, so much as that he didn’t want to hear my mother’s complaints.

Now, while that might sound like I didn’t enjoy time with my family, that wasn’t true.I just didn’t think that dinner every week was necessary when we both worked for them and saw them all the damn time already.Seriously, some people would consider us too close, and I could admit to feeling like that often at times.

After helping my mother set the table, we all sat down, then my father recitedgracias a Diosbefore we began helping ourselves to dinner.With this being family night, my mother usually made enough to feed the whole neighborhood, arming us with leftovers for days.We were all far from starving, but that didn’t stop her from always making too much.

“Well, I ran into Lordes Ramirez at the store the other day, and she mention how her youngest daughter is engaged,” my mother remarked, and because she usually had an ulterior motive for her gossip, I could only wonder if this was going to be about me or Tomasco.

“Good for her,” my father replied.“It’s a good feeling when all your children are finally settled.”

I shot my brother a look, and like a coward, he kept his head down, shoving rice in his mouth.While my brother had a girlfriend, it was more about convenience than it was serious for him, and by all accounts, Veronica felt the same way.So, if this was my parents’ subtle hint for something more, they were wasting their time.At the height of the new movement, religion had been re-introduced with a vengeance, and with Rancher Hills being predominantly Catholic, the citizens of our community didn’t divorce, and so I couldn’t see Tomasco marrying anyone that he wasn’t completely serious about.

“Yes, it is,” my mother agreed.“Of course, I couldn’t let her think that Triana and Tomasco were still running the streets, and so I reminded her of how Tomasco has been dating Veronica steadily for a few months already.”

“Christ, Mom,” Tomasco grumbled.

“Watch your mouth,” Dad chastised.“There is nothing wrong with your mother bragging about her children.”

“I’m a grown man, Dad,” Tomasco pointed out.“I don’t need Mom gossiping about me.”

“Twenty-six is hardly a grown man,” Dad argued.“You’ve still a lot to learn, son.”

“I never said that I was wise in my old age, Dad,” Tomasco retorted.“I’m just pointing out that my life doesn’t need to be fodder for neighborhood gossip.”

“Oh, so, I guess speaking fondly of your kids is no longer acceptable,” my mother huff, and it was a swift reminder that emotional manipulation was a real thing.

“That’s not what he said,” I told her, defending him.“He’s just asking that you respect his privacy, which includes his relationship status.”

“Well, since we’re on the subject, Romelio Fuentez asked me about you,” my dad said, pausing my mother’s dramatics.“He’s interested in marriage, and since we’ve known each other’s families for years, I see no reason why you and Romelio won’t pair wonderfully.”

It was a good thing that I didn’t have anything in my mouth, or else I would have choked on my food at such a statement.While it was true that my family and the Fuentezes had been family friends for years, Romelio and I had never had a relationship beyond that.Not once had we ever dated, and I’d never had any interest in him in that way.When I thought of Romelio, I thought of a pseudo-distant cousin situation, and his interest in me was surprising me just as much as my father’s opinion on the matter.

“I don’t think of Romelio like that,” I told him when I finally found my voice.

“Well, why not?’he asked obtusely.“He’s a fine young man, and he’s practically family already.”

“Which would make a relationship with him feel like incest,” I countered.

“Triana,” my mother gasped.“Do not speak of such things.”

I could feel my temper threatening to get the better of me, so I did my best to rein it in.“I am not interested in Romelio,” I repeated.“So, I will not be marrying him for any reason.”

“Because you can’t grow to love him?”my father questioned.

What in the hell?

“Wh...what?”I stammered, feeling flummoxed.

“He’s a good man, Triana,” my father repeated.“He’s smart, works hard, and I’d feel comfortable knowing that you have someone like that looking out for you.”