Page 65 of Fixed Up Ever After
He nearly jerked his car to the side of the road as he momentarily turned back to look at her. Overprotective-dad mode activated. “How do you know about girlfriends and boyfriends?”
His daughter giggled, finding his flustered mood comical. “I know things, papá. Girlfriends and boyfriends are people you hug and play Lava at recess with. Duh,” she said like it was common knowledge.
“Right. Well for adults, a girlfriend is someone you love dearly and want to spend your life with. How would you feel if one day papá introduced you to a woman he loved?”
“Would she be my new mamá?”
Javi had expected this question, but it still knocked the wind out of him. He had to walk a fine line between respecting Estella’s memory and also preparing Camilia for the new mother-like figure that would hopefully come into her life.
“Well, let's think of her as a bonus mamá. Your mamá Estella will always be your mother and even though she isn’t here, she still loves you and is always watching over you. Anyone I want to spend the rest of my life with is someone you are going to have to like too since she will be in your life.” He hoped he made some semblance of sense trying to navigate these new unfamiliar waters.
“Would she read books with me and make cupcakes? Oh, like Ms. Lola! Lola should be your girlfriend, papá. She makes funny voices when she reads—like tía does.”
It was getting harder to concentrate on the road with new reasons to fall deeper in love with Lola. Camilia had loved their time reading together while he worked in her shop, a situation he had not meant to put either of his girls in, but it turned out well in the end.
But on the off-chance that he was ruining his relationship with Lola, Javi didn’t entertain the idea with Camilia just yet. It was good to know she wouldn’t mind it though. “I’m glad you’re okay with me one day bringing home a girlfriend. Just know, you always have a say, okay? You are my princesa. My number one. Always remember that, okay?”
“Okay, papá. I love you.”
“And I love you.”
The conversation had left him feeling lighter. The inevitable conversation had started to feel like an anchor weighing him down and now he was finally free of it. He should have known Camilia would have reacted so well. She was much more mature than he gave her credit for.
The rest of the ride to lunch, Javi learned all about what Camilia was learning in school and how she doesn’t like her music teacher because she yells a lot. And then, because no car ride was complete without a little karaoke, they sang Camilia’s favorite songs at the top of their lungs.
When they arrived at the restaurant, a popular Mexican place that served California’s version of Mexican food, Javi got out of his car to help Camilia out.
“Who are we meeting, papá?” Camilia asked, making sure to grab her purple purse that had her coloring book and markers inside.
Javi hesitated before answering. “A…friend.” Friend was a stretch, but he had liked the man enough during their brief moments together. It still had come as a shock when the unfamiliar number popped up on his phone. He almost didn’t answer it but changed his mind at the last minute.
And he was glad he did. Equally glad that he managed to trade numbers after a rather serious golf discussion.
Taking Camilia’s hand in his, he led her through the parking lot and inside the building. They were ahead of the lunch rush, so the restaurant wasn’t full yet. He checked the tables, seeing if he could see a familiar face looking back at him.
“Javi,” a deep voice called from behind him.
Standing at the entrance of the old restaurant stood Travis Roberts looking like he stepped out of a golf magazine shoot. He was dressed in khaki pants and a blue polo he had tucked in. The man’s eyes went to Camilia and his extroverted girl waved happily.
Travis’s features softened. “And who is this pretty girl?”
“Mr. Roberts—”
“Call me Travis, please.”
“Travis, this is my daughter Camilia. Camilia, this is Lola’s papá,” he said, introducing the two.
“I like your daughter. She’s nice,” Camilia said in a way of greeting.
The man laughed, crouching down to get at eye level with her. “I like her too. And if Lola likes you, you must be one special girl.”
“I think so. I get all A’s and B’s at school and I know how to spell Mississippi.”
“Well, you are practically a genius then!” Travis grinned and pushed himself up. His smile faded, but the kindness in his eyes did not. “Thank you for meeting with me. I’m…well frankly Javi, I’m worried about my daughter. As a father, you must know you hurt when your kids are hurting.”
Javi knew that feeling all too well. Perhaps it was why he agreed to meet with him in the first place. But also, Lola deserved a cheerleader and he had been around his fair share of cheerleaders—thanks to his sister—to be one for Lola.
“I can only tell you what I’ve observed, but after this, you are going to have to show up for Lola. Not just some of the time. All of the time. She deserves that. Hell, she deserves so much more than what you have allowed to happen all her life.”
