Somewhere in an A/U. Characters belong to Janet Evanovich; I'm just playing, not making any money on this project (sadly).

Babe story; HEA; smut alert and graphic language ahead, so be warned.

Chapter 54

Ricardo's POV

I had forgotten how much that I enjoyed running my kitchen. With my son Alejandro suddenly taken ill with a stomach virus, I was again in my element! Although I was more than busy cooking the dinner service, I frequently found myself stealing glances out into the dining room, anxious to make the opportunity to again converse with Carlos's lovely Estefanía. Mateo had called to tell me that she had hired him as her attorney for a new business venture she was undertaking. Naturally, I was more than delighted to find that she had suggested that the meeting take place at Rosa's!

Finally, I found an opening to dart outside to the dining room for a few minutes, and I hustled to their table. Whether by chance or design, I found Estefanía and her party--including my nephew--at the very same table that she and my son had shared two evenings ago. When she spotted me, Estefanía gave me the loveliest of smiles, and I found myself once again under her potent spell. My younger son had done well to find this woman: she was lovely, yes; but there was much more to her. She had an indescribable sparkle to her, an effervescence that would last far longer than physical beauty ever could. Estefanía glowed. Yes, that was the word. She glowed.

I could not help but smile back at her. "Estefanía! My dear, how lovely you look tonight! I have been so busy tonight--Alejandro is out with a stomach flu--and I am once again in my beloved kitchen!" I took her hand in mine and gave it a courtly kiss, winning a blush from her in return.

"I was wondering where you were, Papa! I was hoping to have a few minutes of your time after we conclude our business meeting here. But if you are busy tonight, may I make an appointment to come back?"

"Nonsense! There is always time for me to speak with the lovely Estefanía! The food is to everyone's satisfaction tonight?"

"It's excellent," the older gentleman to Estefanía's left assured me.

"Delicious," the other agreed.

"Papa, you're a master in the kitchen, as always," Mateo complementing me. "So Alejandro has caught the bug from the children?"

"Unfortunately. You understand how it is. They are of an age that they pick up sickness at school and it spreads quickly throughout the house. But regardless: I have an iron constitution! Nothing gets me down!" And, thankfully, it was true. I had always been blessed with good health.

As we made polite conversation, I surreptitiously examined the men who dined with Estefanía, and thought both looked somewhat familiar. They had dined at Rosa's previously, I was almost certain. They seemed respectable sorts. I admit that I was relieved to discover that both were older: no competition for Carlos in Estefanía's life with these two! Good. Not that she would be looking at anyone but Carlos. No, I had seen her face as she danced and dined with my son. She was just as deeply in love with Carlos as he was with her. But countless other men would no doubt fall under her spell and try to--how did they say it these days?--to hook up with her. Best this business venture be with a man old enough to be her grandfather!

"You have ordered what tonight, my Estefanía?" I smiled indulgently at her.

"I ordered the Paella Valenciana, Papa. The dish Carlos ordered Sunday night. I know it is his favorite, and I'm trying it because I want to be able to describe it to my friends."

"It is saffron rice, garnished with shrimp, mussels, scallops, Chorizo sausage and chicken, with sweet peas and roasted peppers." Catching the eye of the Martinez table nearby, I gave the elderly couple a smile and a nod of recognition. Like clockwork, every Tuesday evening they were in here for dinner; they always ordered the same thing. I looked back at Estefanía. "Did you have the Papas Rellenas and the Empanadas, as well?" I remembered the table's order. "Those were for you, yes?"

"Naturally. I had lovely dreams of them Sunday night." Her laughter was like music; I could see how my taciturn son Carlos had been smitten so quickly and so deeply by this woman! Indeed, how could he not be?

"You would not know it to look at her lovely figure, but my Estefanía loves her food!" I teased, laughing.

"I do, indeed!" Her smile grew wider, "And Rosa's is the best place to eat! That's why I am hoping you will have room for me in June, 2010!"

June 2010? What was this date? Puzzled, I looked at Mateo for help. He shrugged, then looked at Estefanía, who elaborated further.

"Carlos and I are getting married then, and we'd like to have the reception here. If you can fit us in!"

Shocked, I stood there completely speechless. There were no words I could find for stunning news such as this! Carlos had officially proposed to her? Then left his betrothed for 18 months, perhaps never to return to her again? 90% fatality on this mission. I remembered his words vividly. Dios, they haunted my nightmares! It was so unlike my controlled iron-willed son: somehow, I would have bet that he would have insisted they wait until his return from war before he made a formal commitment to her. For her sake, not for his own. He'd actually proposed? Incredulous, I looked over to Mateo, who nodded in confirmation.

"Carlos--Carlos wants this?" I asked Estefanía, still slowly processing this series of astonishing developments.

Somehow, I could not imagine Carlos actually choosing Rosa's at which to hold his wedding celebration! That I would have done my best to insist on, naturally: I was his father; Alejandro was his brother. Rosa's was the family's restaurant, after all. But Carlos rarely came to Rosa's of his own volition, as I was too well aware. Dios! I'd had to practically twist his wrist to coerce him here on Sunday night.

Carlos wanted his wedding reception to be held at Rosa's?

But then, this meant that, just perhaps, my son was not entirely lost to me! Perhaps I had not pushed him away so completely and so irrevocably that we could not one day find our way back together, as I so much wanted us to!

"He proposed to me on Sunday evening, officially," she smiled, showing me her engagement ring. "Isn't it lovely? He picked it out himself. It's the most beautiful ring in the world!"

"Congratulations, my child! Carlos is a very lucky man to have won the heart of a woman so beautiful, and so loving!" Indeed he was! Taking her hand, I gave her another courtly kiss. "I know you will both be very happy! You have my best wishes, both of you! And Alejandro's too--I will tell him the happy news tonight. I'm sure he joins in sending felicitations!"

I could not wait to rouse my elder son out of his sickbed and give him the news! But first I had to question Mateo further, once Estefanía left for the evening. I knew Mateo was like a brother to Carlos; and a brother knew secrets. Mateo would be reluctant to share them, but I would insist. I would press for details!

Smiling, Estefanía continued, "Thank you, Papa! But I feel I am the lucky one: Carlos is a wonderful man. He is a man of honor, and bravery, and capable of such tenderness. And he is so romantic!"

A man of honor? That much I certainly hoped was true: I did not know my son as well as I wanted to. Bravery? Well, Carlos was in the Army, although I had no idea what the hell he did other than go away for months at a time on top-secret missions he would never discuss. It was to be hoped he was brave: I supposed he would have to be, to do that dangerous job. But tender? Romantic? Carlos? Still…..he had obviously won her heart completely! Estefanía was a lovely woman who deserved a man who treated her well. It was to be hoped that my son was--or could become--such a man.

"Stephanie is surprising Carlos with the reception here, Papa. He left her to plan all the arrangements for their wedding. And Stephanie has chosen Rosa's for their reception so that Carlos feels at home." Mateo met my eye carefully as he delivered the telling words.

Ah! Yes! Now at last I finally understood! Rosa's was not Carlos' choice, at all! It was Estefanía's! No doubt because he took her here on Sunday night, and she erroneously assumed that it was his favorite restaurant. I felt sharp disappointment deep inside, but rallied.

Regardless of how the choice was made--or by whom--I would take the unexpected and valuable gift that God had given me, and make the most of it. I would do all I could to make certain that my son and his woman had a lovely and memorable wedding! Especially since I was certain now that his finances as a soldier were not the best. After all, he had not even been able to afford to give his betrothed a solitaire diamond ring. Instead, only a small cluster of opals adorned the engagement ring that announced their upcoming marriage. Carlos was a proud man, that must have shamed him! But to a woman in love, it was the most beautiful ring in the world. It was proof above all else that Estefanía was not a greedy or materialistic woman. She gained even more respect in my eyes.

"I am honored that you have given us your trust, Estefanía! Name the date, and Rosa's is at your command!" I decided that I would close the restaurant for the day to all other patrons, and we would celebrate my younger son's nuptials to this lovely woman with a grand and glorious gala! Whatever she wished for their special day, it would be my pleasure to provide to them!

"I haven't got a date booked with the church yet. But mid-June 2010 is the time-frame we are looking at. I wanted to sit down with you and Alejandro and talk about the menu and get your suggestions on the dishes to serve our guests. I want all of Carlos' favorite foods, naturally! And I want to book the band and the singers from Sunday night, if that's possible?"

Ah of course! I remembered vividly what a splendid couple they made on the dance floor. My son moved with a Latin grace that made me proud. "They are yours, Estefanía! You have my word. Give me the date once you know it, and the arrangements are as good as made. I myself will take charge of helping you to plan this great celebration! Guillermo, our event manager, will not be needed!"

Excellent! I would work closely with my future daughter-in-law for many reasons. For one, I would do my best to see that every wish of hers was met for her wedding celebration. She had made my son a very happy man; for that I could not possibly thank her enough. Secondly, I hoped to get to know my younger son through her eyes. Carlos and I had drifted so far apart over the years, through my fault as well as his: we both shared stubbornness as a character trait.

This wedding was an opportunity for me to try my best to change the past! To build a future that would be different, if the Almighty were benevolent enough to deliver Carlos home safely from his dangerous mission. If not….well, then, Estefanía and the Manoso family would need each other in other ways. But I refused to think of that damned 90% ratio at a time like this! My son would be in the 10%. My Carlos would live!

"Thank you, Papa! You are very kind! This is so beyond fantastic!" Estefanía exclaimed happily. "The only thing that would be better would be having Carlos here with me."

"Then you would not be waiting until June 2010," Mateo pointed out to her, giving me a telling look.

"Estefanía?" I looked over at her expectantly. "This is true?"

"Carlos wanted to get married immediately," she revealed. "He told me the decision for a wedding, big or small, was mine."

Trust my son to want to elope to Las Vegas or Atlantic City! Thank God, Estefanía had held the final decision! "Ah, every girl dreams of growing up and having a big wedding!" I agreed, smiling. It had been so for all four of my daughters.

"It's not that, exactly. I had a big wedding the first time around," she confided.

I almost fell over with shock. This dreadful news I had not heard before from Carlos! "What? You have married before? In the Catholic church?" It could not be possible!

Estefanía continued, unaware of my horror. "Yes. For all of about 5 minutes: he cheated on me. It was a colossal mistake. I should never have married him, but my mother--well, let's just say that he was someone she thought was a good match for me. And I was naïve enough to marry him. The ink hadn't dried on the marriage license before I found him cheating on me in my own home, and I left him."

"The man was a fool." To cheat on a lovely woman like Estefanía, he had to be! Still reeling from the unhappy news of her previous marriage, I looked at Mateo, seeking reassurance that a church wedding was still possible. It was inconceivable that Carlos and Estefanía would not be able to have their union blessed by the church! "There was an annulment, yes?" I asked her.

"No, a divorce." She paused for a moment, then brightened, "But you know what? You're right! That marriage should never have happened! I'm going to look into getting an annulment! If I can, that is. I'll have to check out the rules and regulations."

All was saved, thank the merciful Lord! An annulment would ensure that the wedding would be possible in the church. I beamed again, looking over at my nephew, "Mateo will help you. Yes?" It was not a question, and he knew it.

Mateo nodded, "If Stephanie wishes. Of course."

"Yes, I definitely do wish," she confirmed. "There's plenty of time to get it done. And the more I think about it, the more I'm certain there are grounds to get it done. I would like Carlos to be my first and only husband in the church's eyes. Yes, thank you, Papa! I'm going to pursue an annulment!"

"We know people--important people--in the church." I assured her. And we did: one of Teresa's relatives was a high ranking official in the church, and I knew he would help us to navigate the waters leading to the annulment. "And Mateo, he is an excellent attorney. This what-do-you-call-it '5 minute marriage'? Poof! The papers will be filed and it will never have happened!" The annulment was--how do you say it?--in the bag! I would make this so!

"Do you think your ex-husband will argue the motion?" Mateo questioned her.

"Dickie? Are you kidding? No, I think he'll be fine with it. I didn't take any alimony from him. I just wanted out of the marriage. I'm pretty certain he won't stand in the way of an annulment."

"Dickie? This is his name?" Ridiculous! A man like that was not masculine enough for the lovely Estefanía! "What kind of grown man calls himself Dickie?" I looked around questioning the men at the table. No one had an answer for me. Why? Because there was no answer possible! Dickie, indeed! Bah!

"Dickie Orr." She looked over at one of her companions, who had given an almost imperceptible nod. "You have the misfortune of knowing him, I see."

"He doesn't have a great reputation for honesty, I'm afraid," the man admitted.

"You're telling me! I'm the one he cheated on!" she sighed, unhappily.

"This man is a cad!" This Dickie Orr was lucky I had no way to get my hands on him! I suspected Carlos would have said the same thing. I assured her, "Mateo will make the arrangements to push the annulment through as soon as possible, Estefanía! Do not spend a moment's more worry on the matter!" My nephew gave me a nod, and I smiled happily, "It will be handled quickly, with all discretion."

"Absolutely. In the meantime--" Mateo checked his watch, smiling slowly. "I suspect Papa has forgotten that there is no Alejandro slaving away in the kitchen tonight."

Dios! He was right! I groaned unhappily. "Indeed! Alas, I cannot stay and converse with my lovely Estefanía any longer! My customers are hungry, and without me in the kitchen, they will starve! That can't be allowed to happen at Rosa's! Enjoy your dinner, please. And for your sake, my lovely Estefanía, I shall send out an extra large portion of dessert!" I gave her a quick wink, and quickly hustled back to the kitchen.

Mateo stopped by the kitchen before he left Rosa's for the evening, and after he'd walked Estefanía out to her car. The dinner rush was slowing down by then, and I waved to Mario, my Sous Chef, to have him take over for me. I wanted time to speak with Mateo in confidence. We stepped outside the kitchen and walked a bit in the brisk night air.

"Have you called Alejandro yet with the big news?" Mateo asked me.

I had, indeed! "I called him a few minutes after I came back inside the kitchen. You know me very well, Mateo! Would I sit on news that momentous?"

"Of course not. I did not expect you to, Tio Ricardo. Alejandro is feeling better?"

"Ah! As to that: he is as sick as a dog, unfortunately. Worse than yesterday. But he was glad I had not kept the news a moment longer than I did. How long have you known of this engagement?" I glared at my nephew in annoyance. "I should have been told of this from the moment it was announced. I am the Head of the family! Carlos is my son!"

"Carlos told me on Sunday evening only that he intended to marry her, not that the engagement was official at all. And he asked me to keep the news to myself, which I did. He is entitled to announce the news himself."

"Which he chose not to do." I was annoyed, now that I had thought on this more fully: Carlos should have told me that he was engaged! If Estefanía had not chosen Rosa's for tonight's business meeting, and hadn't decided to have the reception here, I would never have known a damned thing about it for 18 months, at least! "The boy is fortunate he is not around for me to---"

"Carlos is not a boy, Tio. Your son is a man. And it is precisely because you take this tone and this attitude with him that things are as they are between you two. You and he are so much alike, whether or not you wish to admit it! You need to accept that he has chosen the woman he wants to marry and---"

"You mistake me, Mateo! His choice is an excellent one that I cannot fault! Estefanía is the ideal woman for Carlos. Lovely, charming, graceful. A woman any man can be proud to call his wife. I thank God that such a woman will be my Carlos' wife. She will bear strong and healthy children that will carry on the Manoso name to future generations. Beautiful children, as well. As my elder son and his wife have done."

"Then it is merely that he did not announce the decision to you?"

"You think me old-fashioned, is that it? A relic? Out of date with the times?" I sniffed. "Regardless! I know what is the right way of doing things, Mateo. This was not it."

"It is as it is. You can either accept it gracefully and reach out your hand to Carlos when he returns, Tio Ricardo. Or you can stay angry at his choices--and risk having him hold to his position and walk further away from you than he has already. Because that is exactly what he will do--make no mistake about it."

"He has told you this, Mateo? In those words?" I was shaken to the core. Of course he would! Now that Estefanía was in the picture, Carlos would leave the family and build a life with his new wife and their future children. And then I would lose my son forever!

"He hasn't had to say it, Tio Ricardo. I know Carlos. By now, you should, too. Carlos is not Alejandro, Tio. He will not be scolded by you like some errant child for keeping his own counsel on his own affairs. And he will not put his own dreams aside, just to live a life that makes you happy and keeps peace in the family."

"You think me selfish?" The answer of course was obvious.

"I think you want what you want--and to hell with what others think! And you can not deny that."

"You are right, Mateo." I admitted. "I do not deny that: I live my life on my own terms and I do not apologize for that! I will not!"

"And your younger son is exactly like you, Tio Ricardo! So, tell me: why do you expect him to behave any differently than you would yourself, if you were in his position?"

Dios, I'd never had it put to me so plainly before!

"I have always tried to do what is best for both my sons. For all of my children. But especially for Carlos," I said, knowing it was true. "He and I are very much alike. Yes, that is true. Perhaps that is why we both find it so hard to reach out when we argue. But I have done nothing but try to give my son financial security that he would not otherwise have! Do you not see that, Mateo? Can you not somehow get that through his stubborn head?"

"Carlos does not want to be a chef, Tio! We have been around this so many times now, for so many years. He has said it plainly hundreds of times. Do you never listen? Carlos wants to follow another path in life."

"But at what cost? Do you not see that? He is a soldier, Mateo. A brave man, I hope. I believe that. An honorable man. Estefanía sees this in him. This is good. But this is what I have not been able to get him to understand: being in the Army is all well and good. It got him out of the damned gangs. It gave him discipline. For that I am enormously grateful. But it gives him no marketable skills! Dios, do you not understand that? If he were in the Air Force, he could have learned to fly a plane and he could take that skill and be paid well to fly commercial airliners after the military no longer wants him! But he has no skills other than shooting people! What, pray God, will that give him in the way of a job, once the Army has had enough years out of him and no longer wants him? He will be what? Some security guard in a bank? Underpaid. Watching business men in their expensive suits put their money in the bank, and guarding them with his life as they take it out to spend it on a life he will never be able to afford? I want more for my younger son than that, Mateo! I was able to give that to Alejandro! He has a skill that is envied! He will be the sole owner of Rosa's one day! I wanted that for Carlos, too! Am I so selfish to want both my sons to be a success? Both my sons to be partners, and to be respected men in the community? To give my sons everything I was given by my father?"

"Tio Ricardo, Carlos will not be some security guard in a bank! Never in his life would he settle for that! Don't you know what he does in the Army? It is a skill that he is well-paid for!"

"It is not! Open your eyes and see the truth, Mateo! Look at Estefanía! He cannot even afford to give his woman a diamond on her finger! He wants to marry and raise a family with Estefanía, and I thank God for that! I thank God that there will be--God willing--no more 90% fatality missions for my son, once he returns in 18 months. That he will have the opportunity to have a long and happy life with a beautiful woman who loves him and whom he loves. To raise many children with her. But to do that, Mateo, he needs a career, not just some lower-skill job! He needs money! Where will he get this money? Answer me that! He cannot point to skills that are marketable in this world, outside of the military. He has none! I am trying to offer him the financial security that will guarantee him a life that he can be proud of, providing his family with all the things they need and want to have the best of lives. That is not selfish of me. That is what a father does when he loves his son as I love mine. Both of mine."

For once Mateo was at a loss for words. I had never before let myself lose such control before him or anyone. But the fear of losing my son forever had set me off, and I found myself blinking back tears. I could not lose Carlos! I would not! Surely Estefanía could make him see sense? But no--I had given my word that I would not reveal that I was his father. And I would keep my promise to him. Which meant that I would have to find some other way to get Carlos to stop being so bull-headed and short-sighted!

"Dear God, Tio Ricardo! Do you understand that Carlos thinks you don't love him? That you've spent years, in his mind, belittling every choice he's ever made for his life, and choosing Alejandro over him in every decision you've ever made?" Mateo was looking at me, shell-shocked.

"I have not! Never once have I willingly chosen Alejandro over Carlos. Never will I choose one son over the other. I am their father. I have always wanted what is best for both of them. Alejandro knows this. Carlos does not. Perhaps I have gone about it the wrong way."

"I would say that is a safe assumption."

"I have been thinking on words that Estefanía said when she was here on Sunday night. She said--and I shall never forget this--'There are people out there in the world who are like Carlos and me and your son. We march to our own drum, Papa. It doesn't mean we don't love the band. It merely means that we've found a different instrument to play.'"

"She's an intelligent woman. The more I speak to her, the more I like her and respect her."

"And I too feel this way. It says good things about him that he has selected a woman who is so much more than just beautiful. I ask you to level with me on this. Be completely candid. You know Carlos like a brother, Mateo. Would he have proposed to her, then left her for 18 months?"

"You doubt her word that they are engaged officially, Tio?"

"No, I don't doubt her at all. She is an honest woman, I am sure of that. My heart and my gut tell me that. But I am now re-thinking all that I know about my son's character, Mateo. Because until tonight, I would have wagered all I owned that Carlos would refuse to offer marriage--for her sake--until he was home and in a position to give Estefanía what he knows that she deserves."

"He was of that mind on Sunday when we spoke," Mateo confirmed, "By that I mean, to let her know that his official proposal would be made on the day he returned. But not before. Because he wanted her to be free to make another choice during those 18 months, if she so desired."

"Indeed. Which is why he did not want the women of our family to know of her existence. In order to allow her to live her life unencumbered by their expectations of her. Exactly. So somewhere between Sunday evening and Monday morning, Carlos changed his mind. Interesting, Mateo. Very interesting."

"Which means to me that he was now certain that he was not being unfair to her. That he was positive that she would not change her mind. And that once he was convinced that he was not robbing her of anything, he allowed himself to do what his heart wanted to do all along: to commit fully to the woman he loves. And so he proposed marriage to her officially. And gave her the full authority to make whatever decisions she wanted to make to plan their nuptials."

"Partly to distract her, no doubt."

"No doubt, Tio. But partly to reassure her that they would have that future together. Carlos wanted to offer her peace of mind, and that was the best way--the only way--he could do that, under the circumstances."

I gave a rueful smile, "Dios! It never even occurred to my son that she would plan to hold their wedding reception here, did it?"

"I can promise you, Tio Ricardo: it did not."

"Did he ask you to watch over her while he was gone?"

"He did. But only from a distance. It also never occurred to him that she would need an attorney and that she would look in the yellow pages and call me."

"It is good for Carlos' blood pressure that he doesn't know that any of this has happened, don't you agree, Mateo?" I permitted myself a small smile.

Mateo couldn't resist a smile in return. "They say that the Lord moves in mysterious ways. Perhaps all this was meant to be for some reason, Tio Ricardo?"

"I intend to keep my word to Carlos not to reveal my or Alejandro's relationship to him. Or to do anything that will set the women of the family off on Estefanía's scent like rabid bloodhounds."

"I'm certain he will appreciate that, Tio Ricardo. May I give you a very important piece of advice?"

"Of course. What is this advice?" I looked at my nephew closely. Mateo was never one for offering unsolicited advice. But then again, I had opened the subject myself by inviting him to be completely candid with me about Carlos.

"Never simply assume anything about your son Carlos, Tio Ricardo! Anything! Stephanie may think she is wearing her engagement ring, but I assure you that she is not. Your son gave her that ring because opals are her birthstone--her birthday is later this month. Her engagement ring is being made to Carlos' detailed specifications as we speak. I know: I was there when he ordered it."

My heart felt lighter. "He can afford to give her a diamond ring, then? This is good news, very good news! Carlos loves Estefanía, he would want to give her the best. I thank you for setting my mind at ease on that, Mateo."

"Not only does he want that, he can afford to do so, Tio. I know that Carlos has told you in confidence that he is a Captain in Delta Force. Not until tonight had it ever occurred to me that you had no idea what that meant financially to him. I am certain that Carlos is still unaware that you don't understand. So I will step out of my role as his attorney for one moment and act solely in his best interests as my brother."

"What are you trying to say, Mateo?"

"Carlos is paid enormous amounts of money for the skills he offers to Delta Force. Amounts that he has carefully invested for the future. There is not a chance in the world that your son will ever be employed as a bank security guard, Tio Ricardo. It is more likely that he himself would own the company that would employ hundreds of such men. Do you understand what I am trying to tell you? Why Carlos wanted you to understand who Stephanie was and what she meant to him, in the event the Will you witnessed would need to be probated?"

"Dios!" I can honestly say that I felt like a complete fool at that moment. "I had no idea, Mateo. None."

"Nor does she, Tio. But my responsibility to Carlos as my brother in this moment, I think, far outweighs my duty to him as his attorney. If telling you this has reassured you enough so that you will--once and for all--allow Carlos to live his life without trying to force a financial security on him that he doesn't need, then my decision to speak on this matter was the right one."

"I thank you, Mateo for telling me all of this. Carlos is a strong man. He will return in 18 months and we will make a new start, my son and I."

"I hope so. You're not old and foolish, Tio Ricardo. Stubborn as a mule, yes. Single-minded about getting your own way, certainly. But take another piece of advice, will you? Open your heart to Carlos the way you opened yours to me tonight. It will make an enormous amount of difference in how he behaves the next time you two butt heads together."

"He honestly thinks I don't love him?" My voice was quiet, unsure. How could this be? How could I have been so wrong for so long?

"He is convinced of it." Mateo shrugged, helplessly. "I'm very sorry to tell you this, Tio. I know from your face now for the first time how much this hurts you. But yes--the truth is that Carlos has all but given up hope of winning your respect or your love."

"He has both…but I just haven't done well in letting him know that. Clearly there is nothing I can do to make it up to him, at least until Carlos returns in 18 months. But I can do my best to support his woman emotionally while he is gone. To offer her friendship, if she wishes it. To perhaps grow to understand my son by getting to know the woman he loves so much. That I will do, Mateo. You have my word."

"You did well tonight to counsel the annulment. I spoke with Stephanie at length and I believe it is very possible an annulment will be granted with a minimum of effort on her part. Dickie Orr treated her very badly, Tio. Very badly. Carlos knows the full story, and I can't betray that confidence. I won't. But I will say that he'll be very happy to return home and know that in the church's eyes, Stephanie's marriage to Orr is null and invalid."

I could tell by the seriousness of my nephew's voice that he was talking about something even more heinous than infidelity. Dear God. Had he beaten her? I felt my fists clench. If I ever ran across this bastard, I would…

"Carlos has guaranteed that he will not bother Stephanie again. But that is her future he is protecting. You suggested a way to erase his hold on her past. You did well, Tio. Carlos will be happy to know that he will be her only husband, that a church wedding is possible now."

"Teresa's people can help, if you need--"

"I know: it will be done, don't worry. I've given her my guarantee, and you know I rarely guarantee anything relating to this kind of thing."

This much was true. "This Orr--he is a real bastard, yes?"

"Yes. But he has no power over her anymore. Stephanie is a strong woman, Tio. She has many friends and they will be there for her, as we will. Carlos will return and they will be married, and then she will become one of our family."

"And what of her own family, Mateo? Estefanía has family who support her, certainly?"

"She's actually not very close with her mother or her sister, I understand. But she has a father and a grandmother, and Carlos tells me that they are quite close." Mateo hesitated, and I could see him warring with himself. There was something he very much wanted to tell me. But what was it?

Suddenly I remembered Estefanía's impassioned defense of Carlos when I had attacked his choice to turn his back on the family business. And I knew, without a doubt, what Mateo wasn't saying. "Her mother does not support Estefanía's choices in life?" I saw by his face that I was right. "She perhaps thinks that her daughter should have stayed married to this Dickie person? She criticizes her daughter? And Estefanía feels then that her mother has chosen her sister over herself? This is part of why she and Carlos have connected so quickly? Because they understand each other's pain?"

Mateo nodded sadly, "Why could you see it so clearly in her case, but not in your son's?"

"I don't know," I admitted slowly. "But what I do know is that, despite what Carlos thinks, I love him. I always have. I always will. And I know from my very gut that my son is a lucky man to have found her daughter. Estefanía is a treasure. Perhaps it is the same with her mother as it is with me? That she too loves her child and wants only the best for her. But, like me, perhaps she has been short-sighted and foolish in pushing her daughter into making choices that, while right for herself, were all wrong for Estefanía?"

"Perhaps. I hope that much is true, Tio," Mateo said quietly, "Because where there is love, there is always hope. I know how much pain this has caused Carlos. I can only imagine that Stephanie feels the same kind of pain. And I do not want that for her. Not at all."

"No. Nor I. I need to think on this further, Mateo." And I would. Because somehow I had to believe that there was a way to bridge the gap between parents and their children. For all of our sakes…