Page 91 of Starting Back
Tío Joe’s speech was coming back but still slurred enough to frustrate him when he tried to speak. The side affected by the stroke was weak, but he’d been learning to move a little more each time I’d seen him.
When I’d stop by after work, we’d often just sit in silence watching the big-screen TV Gabe and I bought them as a new home gift. Conversation wasn’t needed as I was happy to just be with them as much as they wanted me there. The years-old shards of grief from losing my parents and the life I’d had as a kid had finally begun to heal. I’d felt my share of guilt once my eyes were finally open, but I was grateful to have the time to make it right.
Since July, I’d realized that certain things in life were meant to be, and fighting them or running from them, as I’d done both all of my life, was exhausting and pointless.
“Anyone home?” I called out as I knocked on their apartment door. Downgrading from an entire house to a one-bedroom apartment was an adjustment, but as they couldn’t take care of the upkeep anymore, their sadness over moving was mixed with a lot of relief.
With their living room and bedroom furniture in place, the spirit of the old house was there. They still had the plastic-covered couch that my aunt could never part with, and my uncle’s recliner remained in the same spot on the far end of their living room next to his walker and wheelchair.
“Leo!” My aunt opened the door and pulled me down for a hug. I’d been two heads taller than her since middle school, but each time I’d seen her lately, she seemed tinier.
“Happy Thanksgiving, tía!” I kissed her cheek, the whiff of her perfume floating up my nose reminding me so much of my mother, I tightened my hold around her.
When you finally stopped avoiding the memories of the most important people in your life, they were everywhere.
“Come in, come in.” She gestured inside and shut the door. “You must be Kristina.”
She took Kristina’s hands in hers, shaking more than usual. We’d have to watch that, but for today, I’d try to write it off as excitement.
“We are so happy to meet you.” She turned her head toward me, a wry grin tilting her mouth. “Took you forty years to finally bring someone to meet us, mijo.”
“Took me that long to find someone special enough to bring.” I held up my hands. “These things come in their own time.”
“I can see she’s special,” tía said, beaming at Kristina. “And beautiful.” She brought her quivering hand to Kristina’s cheek.
“Thank you. I’m so happy to meet you.” Kristina held up a bag. “My girls and I made cookies. I hope chocolate chip is okay.”
“That’s Joe’s favorite. And all we wanted was you.” She squeezed Kristina’s shoulders.
“Excuse me,” I said, clearing my throat.
“Oh. Him, too.” She smiled at me as she wrapped her hand around Kristina’s arm. “Come with me. My husband is having a good day today, and he’s been excited to meet the woman who finally got to our nephew, too.”
Kristina glanced at me over her shoulder, her wide grin flooding my chest with even more warmth. If she only knew how much she’d gotten to me from day one.
“Joe, Kristina is here,” she said as she led Kristina to my uncle’s chair. He was a big man, but his recliner was high enough to hide the top of his head.
“And Leo too, but I guess I’m not that important.”
I laughed when tía waved a hand at me.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Mr. Reyes,” Kristina said, leaning over to take one of his hands in both of hers.
When he met my gaze, the corner of his mouth curved up as the weak side of his lips twitched. The joy and pride from both—for me—scratched at the back of my throat.
My uncle stirred in his chair, pushing up on his good elbow as he slowly brought her hand to his lips.
“Que belleza.”
His speech was still slow, but my eyes watered at the first clear words I’d heard him speak since his stroke.
Kristina turned to me with a furrowed brow, probably wanting to respond to what he’d said but unsure of how.
“He said que belleza, what a beauty,” I said, squeezing her shoulder. “I couldn’t agree more, tío.”
“Thank you,” she said when she met my uncle’s gaze.
He nodded, the smile faded on his lips but still evident in his eyes, and fell back in the chair.
