Page 63 of Cartel Devil

Do we bring our wives?

Me

Yes

I don’t know which is worse: saying absolutely everyone in the family should be there or saying we need to keep whatever it is from our partners. Rarely is requesting the entire family come together a good thing if it isn’t a holiday, a birthday, or Sunday dinner.

The texts trickle in. Some are written responses. Some are thumbs-up or heart reactions to my message. Others are lone thumbs-up emojis as an answer. I sit back when the last one pops up. Tía Elle says everyone can come to their house. Even my Tío Luis is in town, so truly everyone will be there. Neither Madeline nor Tía Margherita are on call.

“Can I make you something to eat, Joaco?”

“We could cook together.”

She observes me for a moment, her head tilted slightly to the right, before she nods. Her gaze travels from the tip of my hair to the tip of my shoes.

“You don’t look like you’re starving. Are you a good cook?”

“Yes. My tíos, tías, and Mamá made sure we can all cook and clean. They said their kitchens were no longer cafeterias once we each moved out. They’ve also said since we were children that if we were big enough to make the mess, we were big enough to clean it. Besides maintaining our privacy, none of us are above scrubbing a toilet, so no one has a housekeeper. Not even in the enormous houses my family live in now.”

“That’s the same for my family. Somehow, I think you still sweep through your mom’s kitchen though.”

“Only twice a week—usually.” I smirk, and she laughs.

“Only twice?”

“Yeah. Each of us tries to see Mamá once a week on our own. Then we go over together once a week. Now Madeline and Anneliese join their husbands. I hope you will too, but I don’t want you to feel obligated.”

“It wouldn’t be an obligation. I want to get to know Mrs. Diaz better.”

“Mrs. Diaz? You know there are eight women who answer to that name. It’s just Luciana.”

“I can’t call her that. Not unless she invites me to, and even then—It’s too familiar. Too casual.”

“No, it’s not. Just the opposite. If you refuse to call her Luciana, she’ll think she’s offended you.”

“Okay.”

We head into the kitchen, where we make dinner together. It doesn’t take long for us to put together something. I suggested fish, but Tre shook her head. Apparently, she needs to watch out for too much mercury in some fish. She’d heard about it a while ago and wasn’t sure what kind was safe. We settled on pork chops and vegetables. She asked if I’d leave her any broccoli. I blushed when I realized I’d taken almost all of it and left like six tiny florets for her. I wasn’t much better with the spinach. I offered to put some back, but she gave me an indulgent smile and shook her head. I wanted to say she reminded me of Mamá when she lets me get my way, but I didn’t think the woman I’m sleeping with would appreciate the comparison.

“Mamá?”

I call out to my mother as I step out of the town car. I offer Tre my hand to help her as my mother turns toward us. Her brow furrows for a moment before she beams at Tre. We meet halfway across the driveway.

“Hello, Mrs.—”

“Luciana. I’m certain Quino told you to call me that, but you weren’t comfortable without my permission. Please use my first name. Otherwise, all the women or none of the women will respond.”

Tre smiles, and I can tell Mamá’s forthrightness is a bit of a surprise, but a pleasant one. I watch them embrace before I lean over to kiss Mamá’s cheek.

“Mamá, we wanted to talk to you for a moment before we go inside.”

She glances at Tre’s left hand before her gaze meets mine. I want to shift uncomfortably. I don’t know if she was checking to see if I’d proposed or to tell me that Tre needs a ring on her finger. I watch my mother’s gaze, but it never lands on my girlfriend’s stomach.

“Of course, mijo.” My son.

I look down at Tre as she looks up at me. Our arms are wrapped around each other, and I don’t think she appears nearly as nervous as I fear I do. I meet my mom’s gaze again and inhale a fortifying breath.

“Mamá, Tre and I have some big news.” I pause to see how she takes that. She gives me her usual impatient stare. “Tre and I are having a baby.”