July 1994

Beth stood waiting in the grocery line, picking up the latest issue of People and browsing through it. Marcus sat in the grocery cart, banging one of his toys on the handle and then giggling at the sound it made.

"Your baby is the happiest baby I've ever seen," the woman behind her said, smiling at her.

Beth returned her smile. "Thank you. I really don't know how I got so lucky. He's so easy. Sleeps through the night and doesn't cry a whole bunch. I know not all babies are like that." But she was innately thankful for how easygoing he was especially whenever she had an assignment due the next day.

"My youngest was the easiest, but my older two were very colicky. How old is your little boy?"

"He'll be one in a week."

"Time just flies by when they're this little, doesn't it?"

Beth nodded. It seemed just like yesterday they were taking him home for the first time. He had been so tiny and helpless. The first month had passed before she knew it in a blur of constant feedings and diaper changes. Eventually, she'd been able to stray out of the house and had started her first semester of community college in January. She'd been very proud of herself for getting all straight As. No small feat when you've got an infant at home and three other people to take care of. It was a huge help that she didn't have to work. She'd offered to find a part-time job at the mall but Rio had shook his head and told her he had it taken care of. And he did. Their bills were paid on time each month. She just didn't like to think of how they were paid.

And now their precious son was a walking (almost talking) one year old. Not much had changed yet everything had changed since graduating from high school. She still lived at home, but Rio now lived with her. She still studied and did homework, but she only went to school two days a week. The rest of her days were spent doing mommy duty, cleaning, and cooking. She was also learning how to quilt and was in the process of redecorating Annie's bedroom for her.

Was her life super exciting? No, but it was a content one. She had Marcus and she had Rio. And honestly that's all she needed.

Beth hummed as she chopped lettuce for the salad. Rio's mom had offered to watch Marcus, Annie was over at a friend's house, and her mom was at the lake for the weekend. She and Rio would finally have a night all to themselves. She'd even bought a special outfit to wear after dinner. It was black, lacy, and didn't leave a lot to the imagination.

As she reached for a Roma tomato, she heard the doorbell ring. Wiping her hands on a nearby dish towel, she made her way to open the door. When she opened it, she didn't find anyone there but saw a car peeling off instead. At her feet was a brown cardboard box.

An odd sense of foreboding washed over her. Why would someone just leave a box on her door? Stooping down, she saw that Rio's name was scratched on top.

This box was for Rio. She shook her head. This was her home. This was their home that their child lived in. She'd never said it aloud but she thought it went without saying that his "business" wasn't welcome here.

"Hey, Beth!" She heard someone call as she stared at the box figuring out what in the world she was going to do.

Looking up, she saw Jimmy beaming at her and making his way across the driveway.

"Oh, hey, Jimmy," she said, politely albeit a little distractedly.

"Get a UPS delivery?" Jimmy asked.

"You could say that," Beth said, picking up the box. It was heavier than she expected.

"What are you up to?" He asked.

"Making dinner. Are you enjoying your summer so far?" Beth asked, realizing she was acting standoffish towards a friend she didn't get to see very much of.

"It's been nice. Wish we could've hung out more."

"Me too, but you should come to Marcus's birthday party next week. There'll be a ton of food and Ruby and Stan are coming too."

"Yeah, OK."

"Hate to say hi and bye in the same breath, but Rio's coming home soon and I've got to finish up dinner."

Jimmy nodded. "See you later."

"Bye!"

As soon as she was inside, Beth rushed to the dining room table and set down the package. She grabbed a pair of scissors from the junk drawer and ripped open the box. On top was a note that said "HANDLE THIS."

Lifting the note, Beth peered to see what was under it.

"Oh, no. No. No. No. No. No."

"Hey, little man, ready to see your abuelita?" Rio asked as he lifted Marcus from his car seat.

Marcus grinned and clapped his hands.

"Yeah, of course, you are. She spoils you rotten."

Marcus grinned again as if he knew this was the truth. Rio carried Marcus up the walkway and the door swung open before he even had a chance to knock. His sister, Maria, stood there beaming and quickly snatched Marcus out of his hands before heading to the living room.

"Hello to you too," he called as he walked in and set Marcus's bag in the entryway.

"My baby is here!" Maricela cried, racing from the kitchen and wresting Marcus from Maria's arms before peppering him with kisses.

"As well as his chauffeur," Rio replied, a little miffed that his son was getting all the attention.

"Awww, pobrecito," his mom mocked. "You want your mama to give you kisses too?"

"Nah, I'm good." Sniffing the air, he said, "What you got cooking in the kitchen?"

"Nothing for you. Don't you have a date night with Beth? Won't she be making something?"

Rio didn't tell his mom he didn't think there would be much eating done tonight. To say he was looking forward to tonight was an understatement. This was going to be their first night truly alone in a year and he planned to take advantage of every minute of it.

Rio shrugged and made his way to the kitchen. "Don't you dare eat one of the cookies! Those are for Marcus."

"He's too little for cookies," Rio called back as he shoved one in his mouth.

"Hey, Rio," he heard a voice say behind him, startling him slightly.

"Oh, hey Lupe," Rio replied, as he turned to face her. He hadn't seen Marcus's fiancée in months. Seeing her was a painful reminder. He couldn't see her and not think of his brother. Reining in his emotions, he said, "What's up?"

"Not much. I was just returning some of your brother's things to your mom. And I wanted to give something to you too."

"Yeah?" Rio said, grabbing another cookie.

"I loved Marcus. I will never ever forget him. He was a huge part of my life, but I've started seeing this new guy and things are getting pretty serious between us. I think to move forward with him there's some things from the past I need to let go of." She slowly took the engagement ring off her finger and held it out to Rio. "I know this was your grandmother's. I think Marcus would want you to have it. He'd probably want you to make that baby mama of yours an honest woman to tell you the truth."

Rio half-smiled as he took the ring. His brother probably would have harped on him about marrying Elizabeth.

"I'm glad you found somebody. I know Marcus would want you to be happy," he said.

"Thanks," she said, giving him a hug. "I've got work soon so I should go, but not before I give that adorable baby of yours a quick cuddle."

As Rio drove home an hour later, he couldn't help thinking about what Lupe had said. That he should marry Elizabeth.

The past year had passed in such a blur. Having a kid was crazy. Plus having to adjust to living with Beth and her family on top of that hadn't left him with much time for reflection. But he kind of always knew in the back of his mind that he wanted to marry Elizabeth. They were already living like a married couple. Why not make it official?

He had intended on asking her after they arrived home with Marcus but things had been real tense with her mom at first and of course there was the nonstop care of an infant. There never seemed to be a good moment to ask.

Then, the thought of proposing entered his mind again around Christmastime, but then he'd quickly been introduced to a new, slightly frightening side of Beth. She had turned into a cookie-baking, gift-wrapping, house-decorating, photograph-snapping holiday machine. Everything had to be perfect. Every single type of cookie known to man had been baked. Every square inch of the house had been turned into a freaking winter wonderland. Marcus had been forced into every holiday outfit and pose imaginable. He had made sure he steered clear of her from Thanksgiving to New Year's.

And with the spring had come her college classes. She hadn't had much time for him outside of studying and taking care of Marcus and Annie and the house. They'd had a huge blown out fight on Valentine's Day because he wasn't happy with how little attention she was paying to him. It had taken more than a few weeks to get her in the mood again after that.

Spring and the beginning of summer had flown by and now here he was driving back home to have a date night. The timing seemed good. He loved her. He was sure she loved him. They should get married. He patted the ring in his pocket certain he was gonna get some good good after he popped the question tonight.

Trying the doorknob, he was surprised to find it locked. Elizabeth had been in the middle of making dinner when he'd left to take Marcus to his mom's. Where in the world could she have gone?

He found a note on the table. Dinner's in the oven. Eat if you're hungry. I'll be back later.

His mind raced with possible reasons for her not being here. Not one of them good. The phone rang disturbing his thought process and he answered hoping it was her.

"Rio, you get the package I left?"