You Deserve To Be Happy

As Amy entered her childhood home, she was immediately hugged by her mother, Camila.

'Amy, darling! How was your flight?' she asked.

'Hi, mom! It was alright,' Amy replied.

Victor entered the room at the same time and he hugged his daughter too. They then made their way to the living room.

'So, how have you been?' Camila asked.

'Oh, I've been good. I mean, don't get me wrong, being a cop is tough but the squad's the best,' Amy replied.

'What about that partner of yours? Jack?'

'His name is Jake, and, yes, things have been going really well between us. He's been a great boyfriend.' Amy smiled. The past six months had been incredible. Who knew having your boyfriend as your partner at work made things extra fun?

'Well, if he's your boyfriend, why isn't he here to celebrate David's birthday?' Victor asked.

Amy rolled her eyes. They hadn't even met Jake. Why did they have such a hard time accepting him as her boyfriend? 'Well, he's a cop too. So, he has to work,' she answered.

'But it's a big occasion. You bring boyfriends to big occasions.'

'It's just David's thirty-fifth birthday,' Amy groaned. 'Why do you have a problem with Jake? You haven't even met him,' she asked her parents.

'Well, just in a matter of speaking,' Victor replied before Camila signaled him to stop. Amy had a bad feeling she knew what he meant.

'Oh, my God! Please don't tell me you did a whole background check on Jake!'

'We did,' Victor replied slowly.

Of course they did, they were Santiagos. 'Ugh, why?' was all Amy could ask.

Victor was lost for words. So, Camila spoke, 'Amy, dear, we're just watching out for you. There may be things you don't even know about him. For instance, did you know that he previously liked someone even though he was dating someone else? I mean, that could be you. We don't want you to get hurt.'

Amy buried her face in her hands. They had done a really thorough research. 'Oh, God,' she said softly. 'Okay, Mom,' she began, 'the girl that he was dating was someone called Sophia, and the person he had feelings for was me.'

'Amy, if you knew this, why did you date him? He might do the same with you,' Victor said.

'He won't, okay? I know Jake.'

Victor and Camila shared a look. 'Okay,' Victor said.

'Really?' Amy was surprised they caved in so easily.

'Yes, dear,' Camila said, 'Why don't you go up to your old room and rest? You've had a long flight. The party starts at six so you have about three hours till then.'

After Amy entered her room, she took out her phone to see if she'd gotten any calls or messages. As she switched her phone on, she saw the wallpaper and smiled. It was a picture of Jake feeding her in the break room. She remembered how she'd been working so hard on a case that seemed to be a cold one. She had even refused to eat. But Jake, the ever caring boyfriend, took it upon himself to take care of her. Needless to say, Charles was the one who took the picture. After, finding no new calls or messages, she texted Jake that she's arrived at her parents'. She then put her phone on silent mode as she decided to take a nap. As she lay down, she kept wondering if her parents were truly convinced with Jake as her boyfriend or not. Whatever their opinion, she was going to fight for him, for them. This was a guy who fought for them six days into their relationship. She wasn't going to give up on them after six wonderful months. As Amy thought more about this, she slowly fell asleep.

At David's birthday party, Amy was talking to one of her schoolmates and neighbors, whom she had not met in at least fifteen years. But then someone tapped her shoulder. 'Amy? Amy Santiago?' the person asked.

'Oh, Nathan? Hi!' Amy said as she turned around.

'Hi! It's been some time, huh?'

'Yeah, it has. I think the last time we met was – '

'Last day of college! Yeah, you wanted to be a cop, I wanted to be an engineer, and so we split ways.'

'Right...' Amy said slowly. He seemed to remember that day very well. 'So, I didn't know you were a friend of David's,' she said.

'Oh, I'm not. No, your parents called me.'

Amy was taken aback. She finally understood why her parents had given up on the conversation earlier that day. 'Oh,' was all she could say.

'Yeah, hey, can I get you something from the bar?'

'Oh… Um… Uh…' Amy stammered as she saw her parents in the background, 'Actually, I need to talk to my parents,' she said as she made her way over to them.

'Amy! I hope you're enjoying the party,' Victor said as she approached them. She was furious at her parents. She pulled them to a quiet corner of the room.

'You invited Nathan to this party?' she asked in a loud whisper.

'Well, he's David's friend,' Victor tried to justify.

'No, he's not! You know well that he and I dated throughout college. Why'd you invite him?' she asked. The two parents stayed quiet. It finally hit Amy. 'You want me to start dating again, don't you?' she asked. Victor and Camila nodded slowly. 'Oh, my God! How many times do I need to tell you? I'm in a relationship, I have a boyfriend.'

'Amy, you've just been dating this guy for six months. How can you call him your boyfriend? It's too soon. Just give Nathan a chance. Just talk to him,' Camila said.

'Mom, I'm not going to lead a guy in the wrong direction! In fact, I'm not even gonna stay at this party.' With that, she left the room.

Amy was out on the balcony, smoking and thinking how stubborn her parents were. She loved them but there were times when she wished they could be more supportive of her choices, just like Roger and Karen were when Jake first introduced her to them as his girlfriend.

'Hey,' a voice said from behind and Amy quickly threw the cigarette away. When she turned around, she saw that it was David. 'Don't worry, I won't tell our parents,' he said.

'What're you doing here?' she asked.

'Well, Mom and Dad told me that you had stormed away and they asked me to talk to you.'

'Well, you can go back in. I'm not exactly in a mood to talk.'

'That's alright. I don't really wanna go back in; the smell of alcohol is nauseating.'

'Thanks for basically asking me not to smoke,' Amy grumbled.

'Okay, just one question: why is that dork you dated in college here?'

'You mean Nathan?' David nodded. Amy sighed before speaking, 'Mom and Dad want me to start dating him again.'

'I thought you had a boyfriend. Jake?'

'Yeah, but they can't accept it.'

'What do you mean?'

'They did a thorough research on my boyfriend and basically despise him.'

'Why?'

'Because he's the complete opposite of everything our parents stand for.'

'Have you dated any guys between Nathan and Jake?'

'Duh!'

'But Nathan's the last guy that Mom and Dad approved of?'

'Yeah.'

'So, why is it bothering you right now that they don't like Jake? Why didn't it bother you when they didn't approve the other guys?'

'I don't know. I guess, I really like Jake. Really, really like him. We've only been together for six months but, I swear, I don't think I've ever been this happy in a relationship before. I guess, I want this relationship to last forever, you know? Move in together, get married, start a family.'

'Hmm… you ever found some of our parents' rules weird when growing up?'

'What? Of course I did! T.V.-less Sundays, seating arrangements on the couch, they were all ridiculous! Wait, why are you asking me this? Are you gonna rat me out to Mom and Dad?'

'No, idiot! I'm trying to make a point!'

'Yeah, I don't see it. It must be terrible.'

'Just listen to me! Look, Mom and Dad do not have the perfect version for anything, let alone your boyfriend. I mean, these are all relative things. You might like a certain person but Mom and Dad might not.'

'Look, I get that but they should at least get along with Jake.'

'So, what? You're going to go on dating every guy on the planet until Mom and Dad approve of him?'

'But Mom and Dad – '

'Forget Mom and Dad, okay! Look, you deserve to be happy and it doesn't matter whom you date.'

'Look, I appreciate your support but you have to admit that, at some point in time, Mom and Dad will have to accept Jake for who he is.'

David was quiet for some time. Hearing his sister say Jake's name so many times convinced him that she loved the guy. He wanted his sister to be happy. But he realized that she'd only be happy once Jake and their parents got along. 'Listen to me, I said you deserve to be happy and I understand that you'll be happiest when our parents get along with Jake. So, I'll talk to them on your behalf,' David offered.

Amy smiled for the first time that night. She hated David most of the time but he was being really supportive and understanding tonight. 'Thanks,' she said as she hugged him.

'You're so mistaken if you think I'm doing this for nothing in return,' David said as they parted.

'And what if I don't?'

'Your choice,' David said as he slowly walked back inside, 'either I tell Mom and Dad you found their rules weird, or I call Jake and tell him embarrassing stories from when you were a kid.'

Amy's expression went from happy to worried in an instant. 'No,' she said, 'you wouldn't.'

'Hey, I may be thirty five, but my ways of blackmailing you have never changed. In fact, Mom and Dad are right inside. I'm gonna start now,' David said as he entered inside.

Amy sighed as David returned to his usual self. But, tonight, he had been the brother Amy had always wanted. She was brought out of her thoughts when David again came out on the balcony. 'I got your phone,' he taunted as Amy ran after him to prevent any damage.