Juan Lopez has been keeping a secret from everyone he loves for more than three years. He didn't think that many people would mind, after all the source of that secret had remained hidden for decades. Elian Lopez. Juan wanted to find him. Sure, he could make a million excuses as to why. He could say that it was a gift to his aging papa, and yes that would be true. He could say it was for his daughter, to have a relative, an elder in her family, who dealt with being gay in a time and place that she couldn't even imagine and who suffered dearly for it. He could say he was doing it for Elian himself, to provide a path home for him. Deep down inside he was doing it for himself too. He was doing it for a child who never had an uncle.
Juan hired a team of private investigators to try and track down his uncle. It took years and lots of money to follow the bread crumbs but he finally found him, more than seven months ago. He's alive, even if not in the best of health, but Juan needed to know all he could know about the man before making contact. Elian had a stroke just two years prior to Juan's team locating him, and he hasn't fully recovered. It wasn't easy finding him, they had an entire world to search, and the man had changed his last name entirely the moment he left Cuba. Aside from that he had shortened his first name to Eli. Then he'd gotten married and changed his last name once again. He had avoided Cuba since the day he left, and the closest he had ever lived to the United States was Canada for a short while. He lives a very modest life, alone, in a small apartment in Spain covered in beautiful artwork he created himself. Juan knows, because he's sitting in the man's living room right now.
Elian never expected this moment. It had been both easy and hard to walk away from Cuba. It was his home, but his home had treated him poorly simply because of who he loved. That wasn't the Cuba many expected to come to pass when Castro came to power, and Elian wanted no parts of it. He understood why his family had to stay, it wasn't easy for most people to get out of there simply because they wanted to, and his presence would put his family in danger. He simply did not trust communicating with them, even after he was long gone and could have made contact safely. Even after his parents surely had died. He has no idea when that actually was, because he left Cuba behind, and the brother he loved dearly and only could hope went on to have a lovely life of his own. Now he knows that he did. He knows that he raised a son who was successful enough to hire a team to find him so that he could come all the way to Spain to say hello.
Elian stared at Juan with tears in his eyes. This was his only brother's son, a mirror image of the man he had left behind. After an embrace and an invitation inside, the first thing he wanted to do was see a picture of his brother. Juan pulled up a picture on his phone from Santana's wedding, the man standing there between two women on their wedding day. Only moments later did the tears fall.
Elian speaks a little slowly. He needs to do so because the stroke has left him a little difficult to understand if he doesn't. He also moves rather slowly. Deep inside Juan knows that access to better healthcare would do the man some good. He sees how modestly he lives. He knows the man can afford little. Still, he feels a joy in his spirit. A sense of peace. Juan is glad to know that being found hasn't robbed him of that.
"Ignacio looks good. Muy guapo. You look just like your papi. Who are the women in the photo? The one on the right, a Lopez verdad?"
"Si, mi hija. Both are my daughters. Both are Lopezes now."
"Your daughter is married to a woman?"
"Si, my daughter, your great niece Santana, has always loved women. She's always loved them openly and without shame."
Elian paused and stared at the photo.
"What a blessing. I hope that journey has been peaceful for her."
"It's brought her both joy and pain, but certainly not in the way it's brought you pain."
"It's brought me great joy as well."
"I'm very happy to hear that, tio."
Elian beamed upon hearing Juan call him uncle.
"Your daughter Santana and her wife..."
"Brittany"
"Brittany," Elian smiled. "Santana and Brittany Lopez," the man said, as if hearing himself say it made it real. A Lopez openly in a same sex marriage. He felt something inside because of that.
"Santana and Brittany Lopez-Pierce."
"Wonderful," Elian beamed. "Outstanding."
The men chatted for a while before Juan got to the heart of the visit.
"There is so much to say, but those things should be said between brothers. So many memories to catch up on, but they are for you to share with my father, not me. If I arranged the trip for you, do you think that you might come to America with me and see your brother. I won't ask you to go back to Cuba, I understand where you stand on that matter, but I have a home in Miami, and a guest house if you feel more comfortable with your privacy. You can have all you need there, and you can bring anyone of meaning with you. They are welcome.
"Everyone I ever loved has been gone from my life for a long time now. My husband died more than 10 years ago. I'm alone in the world but I've never felt lonely. I have my art, and my memories. I worked repairing things for years. Automobiles, appliances, air conditioning, I like to work with my hands, and to relax I painted my dreams on canvas.
Juan looked at the walls and noticed the artwork, paintings of his father and his grandparents. Even a painting of his mother. Elian explained that he always imagined that would be who Ignacio married and so in his imagination it made sense to paint Ignacio and Celia together. They had loved one another for so long. He was happy to learn that he wasn't wrong.
"I wasn't sure if it was right to try and find you." Juan said.
"I didn't know that I longed to be found until you did." Elian replied.
"My father told us about you, told my daughter about you, only when he came to her wedding and felt that your story was a piece of family history that she needed to know. They had been estranged, her believing him to be against her love of women. Turns out it was a hidden fear, a fear that harm would find her like it found you. It kept them from speaking for many years. They would send one another greeting cards and gifts on special occasions, but no real, meaningful communication. Now they are once again quite close."
"I'm happy to hear that."
"Losing you has been very painful for him. As you know your brother is a proud man. Have you heard nothing of what became of him throughout the years?"
"I've stayed far away from anything that connects me to my past. I have to admit that Ignacio and I truly are alike in most ways, and I chose to deal with losing him the same way that he dealt with losing me. It's easier not to know than it is to know and not be able to reach out."
Juan smiled, "You know, my Santana is the same way. When she left home she wanted a clean break. My wife would have none of it. Still, it was only her mother who had brief weekly contact with her. She would have preferred to do things your way, but you've never met my wife."
Elian laughed. "Your wife seems like the type of woman who is fit to handle a Lopez."
"She most certainly is."
"I look forward to meeting her."
"So that means you'll come to the states?"
"In a month or so, when I can manage the ticket and when my health is fit for travel."
"Please, let me handle the expense. It's not about the money, it's a gift for my father, a gift I'd like to give him for avoiding him myself for many years. Again, I don't want to give you the family history, let him tell it."
"I can't..."
"Please tio," and again Elian felt a tug at his heart hearing someone call him that for the first time. He felt a sudden sadness, that he had missed this man's entire life so far.
"Give me a day to consider it..."
"My hotel is nearby. I'll be here for a couple of days before I return home. I don't want my Bella wondering what I've gone off to do."
"Bella is your wife?"
"My Isabella, yes."
"She doesn't know you're here?"
"No one knows that I've found you. My daughter was torn as to whether we should even look for you. She remembers a time when she didn't want to be found. She didn't want to invade your privacy if you didn't want it invaded."
"I can understand the dilemma."
"This is why I chose to use investigators who I know will never speak of this. That is why I haven't even confided in my wife. I wouldn't ask anyone to hold these secrets except me. You decide not to do this, I go back to my life and you go back to yours, and you have my word that you will never be bothered again. You decide to come back to the states and you decide what's next from there. This trip will be of no expense to you. If your health is an issue I will have everything you need in order when you reach the states. Anything you require just let me know."
"I can make the arrangements..."
"This...you... are a gift to my family, to my father. A gift that I would like to give to them, and to you. I found you not to impose any burdens on you...financial or emotional. Think it over. Those are my terms."
"I can't..."
"Money is not an issue..."
"What is it that you do, Juan?"
"I'm retired from the family business, but I'm invested in many more businesses nonetheless."
"There was a family business?"
"That's my father's story to tell."
"Ignacio...I left him to care for our parents all alone. It seems as if he probably did a good job. I knew that he would."
"He understands why..."
"Doesn't make it feel any better that I did that."
"These are the decisions that we Lopezes make. These are the decisions that we will learn to regret. My Santana taught me that. So think about it. Just know your brother loves you, and has his reasons that he didn't look for you. None of those reasons are based in anger."
"Okay"
Juan took out his phone once again, and shared the picture Santana had taken of Ignacio holding Elian's family portrait. He stood and sat next to the man, showing him the photo.
"This is all my papa has of you, besides the memory of you he keeps in his heart. He treasures this as if your heart beats in that painting, because it's what keeps you alive. It's the only physical thing he has of you. This, and a few more. He told Santana they hold your soul, and you tio hold a part of his soul, that went without saying. Come to Miami. I'll bring papa in from Cuba. It will be the greatest gift anyone could ever give to him."
"Okay," Elian replied, choking up at the sight of his brother, so much older and yet still the same, holding a part of him that he treasured so much, the only part of himself he had left behind. It was the only word he could manage through his emotions.
"Goodnight, tio." Juan said, rising to his feet. He pulled the older man in for a hug and placed a kiss on his cheek. This was his uncle, and uncle he's gone a lifetime without even knowing that he existed, and yet someone he loved so much.
"Good night, Juan Lopez," Elian said with a smile. Lopez. He hadn't uttered that name in many years. Now a Lopez stood before him. His blood. His only brother's blood. He had always wondered and now he knows. Of course his parents are long gone, but Ignacio cared for them in a way he never could have. His presence, witnessing him suffer under the political regime he had to escape, that would have caused them more pain than not knowing what became of him. He was afraid, afraid to ever reach out, afraid to ever have any contact with home again. The camps had changed him. He needed to go away and stay away.
But now he knows the rest. Ignacio made it and he is okay. He's still in Cuba, and that surprises him a bit, but then again Cuba had been different for the two of them. Cuba had no problem with men like Ignacio, men who loved women. Cuba only had a problem with him.
Ignacio married and started a family business. Juan wouldn't discuss it, said he wanted to leave the details for the two brothers to discuss, to find out what their journeys had been all of those years apart. Still, he knows he had one son, and one granddaughter, a granddaughter who loved women, who luckily did not have to face what he had faced, though he has no doubts that she faced her own challenges. He wonders if he would have been able to help her, comfort her, guide her. He wants to meet her and her wife. He wants to meet his nephew's wife. As proud as he is he cannot refuse Juan's offer. He wants what he didn't allow himself to miss, and he wants it more than he wants to remain prideful.
Elian wants his family. He longs to be a Lopez again, to feel like a Lopez again, to be more than past history.
Juan went back to his hotel and began to make arrangements. He knows it may seem absurd, but he's still a very cautious man, and so he had the investigators arrange for a DNA test before he even traveled to Spain to see the man. He will also keep a close eye to make sure he brings no problems or pain to the Lopez family. He had gathered as much information about the man's life and journey as possible, his investigators pretty much filling in the important blanks. He had done all of this privately as to not offend his father or his uncle. Still, despite his cautious nature, he felt a love in his heart for this man. Still, he will feel better when Elian reaches the states and learns who Juan Lopez truly is, and learns how much of a mistake it would be to cross him in any way. Juan just hopes he made the right decision by following his heart for once in his life. He knows that his father knows his brother and will trust him with his life. Juan, however, doesn't know this man, and he doesn't trust him yet. He may be old and frail, but too many people believe that old and frail men are harmless. What Juan has learned in life is that any person in any condition can be a danger. He also knows that his father knows that as well, and so Juan knows that the old man won't share any more than he needs to about their lives. Ignacio Lopez is a shipping magnate, just as his son is. That's all they will ever be to Elian. He has been an outsider for too long. That doesn't mean that he's not family, and they will love him as such, as long as he is loyal to the Lopez name, no matter what he calls himself now.
Juan called Isabella and told her that he would have to extend his trip for a few additional days.
While she was curious, she wasn't worried. Juan still had businesses, legitimate businesses, that he held a stake in and at times she's sure those business ventures required attention. Still, they had ben married for a long time and she knew he was holding something back. She trusted that he had done too much to get out of the hold of the cartel to ever venture back in, and so this time she wasn't worried that whatever business he was tending to would not put anyone she loved at risk. She just had to trust him.
When Juan returned home three days later than he initially planned and informed her that someone would be staying in their guest house, deep down she already knew who that someone was when she saw the old man entering the house through her window. She went to the kitchen and began preparing a special lunch for their guest. When Juan entered the house he came up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her waist, planting a soft kiss on her neck.
"I'll make something traditional, in order to welcome your tio home."
Juan smiled into her neck, breathing in her scent.
"You've always been a smart one, mi amor. The three of us will celebrate tonight, and in the morning we'll come up with a plan to get everyone here. I think it will make a nice surprise for mi papa and Santana."
"And once he's settled in you can tell me all about how you came to find him."
"We can save that for the morning as well. Tonight, after dinner, I just want to celebrate with you."
Now it was Isabella's turn to smile.
"I'd love nothing more, carino." Isabella said, before turning to kiss her husband deeply.
Every Sunday since Luciana's special dinner at the center Brittany has found a reason for she and Santana to check in during meal service. This is the fourth week now, and Sugar has made it a habit to stop by and sit with Brittany each time. Santana generally stays in her office, allowing the two time and space to talk. Brittany has been collecting nuggets of information, but still has not had the opportunity to meet Sugar's mother.
Not until today.
Santana arranged for a special Mother's day brunch in hopes that it would give Sugar a reason to get her mother into the building. She knew that Sugar had been begging her mother to come to a Sunday brunch with her, and they had been very hopeful that the woman would finally cave in and show up. At least the women pretended to be hopeful. Deep inside they each had their doubts.
But here she was. Sugar had entered with a huge smile on her face. She had done it, she had gotten her mother to come, even though the woman wasn't feeling well. The woman had told herself that it was Mother's day, a day for her to be celebrated, and she deserved that much at least. She was doing this alone, and she managed to keep a roof over the child's head. Sugar did okay in school, so she was doing better than a lot of these women out here, she'd told herself.
Santana and Brittany took in the sight of the woman. She was kind of a mess. She was dressed like she slid straight off the pole and into the center, but that wasn't the real problem.
"She's high as a kite," Santana said almost instantly upon taking in the woman. While she would have liked to attribute that to her years of working in the field, it really wasn't that hard to tell.
"Higher than giraffe pussy and it's only 11am," Brittany replied.
"Giraffe pussy?" Santana smirked.
"That's way up there, Santana."
"Yeah, that's pretty damn high," Santana sighed. "My guess is she's only been home a couple of hours, either she hasn't come down yet or she had herself an interesting breakfast."
"I'm thinking all of the above."
Santana sighed, "Well, at least she made it. Let's get to it then."
Santana and Brittany went to greet the pair. Brittany had gained quite a bit of information over the past few weeks about the girl and her home life. Sugar pretty much cared for herself. In case of an emergency she had been directed to go to the door of an elderly neighbor on the first floor. She didn't see her mother a lot. She left for work at the club at 6pm and returned anywhere between 3 and 4 am. Sugar left for school at 7:30 am. The woman was usually still asleep. When Sugar returned home from school at 3pm was when she would actually get to speak to her mother. From 3-6pm she had someone to interact with, and then her mom was out the door again. On her days off Sugar said there was a lot of sleeping going on. Or gentleman callers she would head out the door to see. The bills seemed to be paid, no threat of losing their home from anything that Sugar has disclosed to them, but very little interaction with her daughter. Sugar had gotten pretty comfortable with Brittany, as Brittany would share tales of her childhood and Mrs. Johnson's classroom that she adopted. Brittany wishes she could take the girl to see the places that she speaks to her about. She wishes she could take the kid to Disneyworld.
It's a not so secret wish. Both Danny and Santana knew almost instantly that Brittany wishes that she could care for the girl, but she never speaks to them about it. Brittany knows that 99 percent of the time it's not as perfect as things were for her and Danny. Plus Danny lived in her building, her mother could see her any time she wanted to. They only lived a couple of floors apart. Even Brittany couldn't have imagined Brooke letting her stay anywhere that she didn't have access to her any time she wanted. Brittany would love to believe her mother would be that selfless but she honestly doesn't know. Thank goodness neither Danny nor her mother could ever afford to move.
Sugar spends most of her time in the company of strangers she shares meals with at the various food kitchens in her neighborhood. Many of them don't serve food 7 days a week and so she bounces around from here to there. Sometimes she says there is food at home, though what she describes isn't the most nutritious, but Santana and Brittany thinks she craves human contact. She's lonely after school, and maybe gets teased a little in school the way that Brittany did. On Sundays after brunch Brittany will comb the girl's hair the way that Danny once combed hers. They sit at their favorite table and once Sugar has eaten they chat until meal service is over and then Brittany will braid her hair into two long braids for school the next day. It's Sugar's favorite part of the day.
"Brittany!" Sugar yelled when she saw the blonde and began dragging a brown haired woman in heavy makeup towards her. She would be really pretty if she cleaned herself up, the women thought.
"Hi Santana!" Sugar greeted the women happily. "This is my mom, Jenny."
"Hey Sugar, glad you could make it," Santana said. "Jenny, it's nice to meet you. I'm Santana and this is my wife, Brittany."
"Nice to meet you," the woman said through heavily lidded eyes. Sugar can't stop talking about you two, or this place," the woman said, and Santana and Brittany could tell that she wasn't too happy about that fact. "I can't keep her away from here no matter what, so finally she got me down here for this Mother's day thing. I figured I should do something with her today since she's the reason I'm a mother."
Brittany was sizing the woman up, and Santana could tell her anger was building. She couldn't keep it down, and she couldn't understand why. It was one of those moments where she wishes that Danny was there. This is a space she and Danny shared, a space she's still learning how to share with Santana when confronted with the memories of it all.
"Jenny, do you mind if Brittany takes Sugar to secure a table for you guys? I was hoping to show you around a bit since Sugar likes to come through here so much. We've got a lot of ideas planned for the children in the community and she's been really helpful and creative in coming up with ideas for the community center."
"That's nice," the woman said, half interested. Still, Santana knew she needed to separate her and Brittany for a moment before Brittany exploded.
"Britt, honey, can you take Sugar to go and grab her favorite table?"
"Sure babe," Brittany mumbled. "Come on Sugar, let's grab you a seat."
"You two always like this?" Jenny mumbled, looking a bit unstable.
Brittany stopped in her tracks.
"Like what?" Brittany asked.
"Honey, Sugar..." Santana started, afraid that Brittany would not be able to hold her temper for long.
"So openly lovey dovey."
"Yeah, we are," Brittany said with a whole lot of attitude but trying to keep her tone measured because Sugar was now squeezing her hand. "That's my wife and we love each other. We don't hide that for anybody."
"Hey, I love lesbians, awesome tippers," Jenny mumbled.
"Good to know," Brittany said. "Come on Sugar, let's let Santana get your mom settled in. You look really pretty today. I love your dress."
"Thanks Brittany," Sugar smiled. "My mom got it for me to wear here today. She said she didn't want people thinking that she didn't take care of me."
"You look good, Sugar pie."
Sugar smiled widely. "You gave me a nickname like you and Danny?"
"I guess I just did, huh? You like it?"
"Yeah," Sugar smiled. Truth of the matter is that Sugar would have liked any nickname that Brittany gave her.
"Well I'm glad your mom finally made it."
"Me too. She was sick again this morning but then her friend brought her medicine and she got out of bed and made it."
"Yeah," Brittany uttered. She was pretty sure it was the type of meds that Brooke was once on. Brittany had caught on weeks ago that Sugar's mom got sick often. Sugar would help comfort her, and then once her mom's friend Pete came by she was up and ready to go to work. Whatever drug she was on, Brittany knew that the woman had it bad. Meeting her for the first time strengthened that belief. She didn't want to deal with it. This was where Santana shined.
"So Jenny, I just wanted to let you know that Sugar has been a shining star around here. She has so many bright ideas about what the youth around here need in terms of after school and weekend activities. She really has a creative mind."
Even in her haze Jenny was proud of the girl. She knew that she had a vivid imagination, she just never knew that it would come in handy.
"She loves it around here, she talks about you and your wife all of the time."
"I'm glad she enjoys it here. We hope you keep allowing her to come by."
"Not like I can stop here."
"What do you mean?"
"I ummm, I work a lot."
"Understandable."
"I doubt it."
"You doubt what?"
"People like you and your wife, you think you can relate. I don't know why you do this..."
"You have no idea what our stories are. As a matter of fact Brittany grew up a lot like a lot of the kids that come through those doors. Places like this kept her healthy, kept her alive. She takes pride in helping now. Everybody needs help sometimes in their lives."
"What about you?"
"Even I need help sometimes. I didn't grow up coming to places like this but I've had enough other struggles to more than make up for that fact. This world, everybody needs a hand to reach out for sometimes. There's no shame in that, the only shame in life is when there is nobody to reach back. That's what we try to be here, a hand that reaches out to those people who have no one to give them a hand."
"I don't know why Sugar always comes to these places. She has food and clothes."
"Maybe she just enjoys the company, or the food. Our chef is top notch, and sometimes we have a guest chef from a highly acclaimed restaurant come in and cook for our guests."
"Maybe that's it," the woman mumbled. She hated to admit that she felt threatened by the women. Sugar raves about them, especially Brittany. She raves about the food. Raves about everything at the center. She talks about how handsome and beautiful everyone is. She talks about the kids she met because Brittany introduces her and now they sit and talk with her, not like the kids at school. They are her friends. She has friends in school as well, but these friends, she feels like they understand her more. Now all Sugar wants to do is go to the center. So Jenny waited until she could afford new clothes for Sugar and she did her hair nice. She put on her dress which now she thinks is far too tight and short, standing next to this beautiful woman in her lovely floral print dress. This woman with her beautiful wife who loves her like crazy and won't hide it for anyone. It was feelings like these that made her want to drown her sorrows of her shitty life in drugs, booze and sex.
Honestly, she didn't have enough to take care of Sugar. She always left food, but not what a kid should be eating. She knows it's mainly crap, but crap is cheap, and she has this nasty habit to feed. She knows that Sugar should come first, but she can't function without the drugs. When she functions the rent gets paid and the lights stay on and she puts food in the fridge. Sometimes it runs out, but Sugar is pretty good at rationing. The dollar store is her supermarket, lots of frozen dinners and pizza. Still, it's better than nothing even if she knows that Sugar is now getting older and a small frozen dinner won't truly satisfy her hunger. She knows Sugar is getting older and she needs more. She needs her mother not to spend the laundry money on drugs so that she can have clean clothes. She knows the kid needs to know what a vegetable looks like. She knows that their house never smells as glorious as this kitchen smells, the smell of fresh food cooking. She knows, but she has a habit to feed. She has to feed it or she gets sick, and when she's sick the bills don't get paid and there won't even be frozen meals in the fridge.
If Brittany felt something that triggered her when she first met Sugar she really felt it when she met Jenny. It felt like she was shaking but her body was still. Her insides were like an erupting volcano. She had to hold it together though, because this was the moment Santana was waiting for. Santana had a way of keeping people calm and at ease, especially when they wanted to lash out. Santana needed to make Jenny comfortable, so that eventually she could possibly help the woman, and more importantly, help Sugar. So Brittany had to reboot. She had to keep her shit together. It would likely be a long time before they would be able to get Jenny to return to the center, if they could get her to return at all. So Santana had to make this visit count.
"So Jenny," Santana continued after speaking with her for a while and telling the woman of the plans the center has for the children in the community, "I hope you continue to let Sugar come. She really enjoys it around here." This is where Santana knew the conversation would get sticky.
"And we are here to help," she continued, "and not the kind of help that turns your life upside down in a bad way. I know that Sugar has to spend a lot of time alone because of your work, but we can help with that. We can help get resources in place so that she doesn't have to spend so much time alone."
Santana could see the woman's demeanor changing, but she continued.
"Take my card. Day or night, if a need arises, use it."
"We don't need any help. Why do places like this think everybody needs help?" Jenny asked angrily.
"Because everyone can use some help at one time or another in their life. Look, nobody wants to hurt you or Sugar. Nobody wants to see you separated from your daughter, but we all know how easily that can happen. She's getting older, and we both know that people can't wait to prey on someone who is more vulnerable, so let's work together to make sure that Sugar is not vulnerable."
"I knew it was a mistake coming here," Jenny said, walking towards the table where Sugar and Brittany sat.
"If it's a mistake, it's the best mistake you ever made, because my interest is not only in making sure that Sugar is okay but that you are okay together. Your daughter deserves that. You know it, I know it, and one day she will know it. When she does, you're going to want her to know that you wanted the best for her, and that you did your best for her. I'm not here to sugar coat things for you, Sugar being alone and without a phone is dangerous. I know you don't want anything to happen to her. I know you love her, that's why you're here. She loves you too. She also worries about you. If addiction is an issue for you, you don't have to do this alone. You can't do it alone. It's dangerous to detox alone. Take my card. I'll give you some time to think about it all. You should speak to my wife, let her tell you her story. She may come off as tough, and she is, but she's always fair and honest. Let this Mother's day be a gift to both you and your daughter. We have a great brunch prepared for you guys."
Jenny was quiet. She was a little angry, but that had more to do with her nerves. She was afraid. People know about Sugar. People have always known, but these people may actually say something and she could lose Sugar. People may not believe her but Sugar is the only good thing in her life.
"Okay," Jenny answered, taking Santana's card.
"Great, now come, enjoy brunch with your daughter. Get to know my wife. She's a good person to know."
Jenny followed Santana sheepishly. She was trying to clear her head. That conversation had killed her high, or at least she had some clarity through it. She had a card with a name on it of a woman who says she wants to help her. A woman who may have her daughter taken away from her, she doesn't know yet. She doesn't know what any of it means yet.
She doesn't want to live like this, daily drug cocktails to get through night after night of men pawing at her. Men throwing more money than she's ever seen at her if she would climb into the back of some car or bend over in some alley or bathroom stall for them She can't say she's never accepted some of that money, but she tries not to. Sometimes though, the bills are too high, the sickness is too strong, and Sugar at the very least deserves lights at night if her mother can't be home to keep the fear away. She knows that her baby is afraid of the dark, that's why she bought her that radio, and she bought her Francis.
She knows Sugar needs company, and she needs adults to look up to. She always thought it would be a teacher that stole her daughter's heart from her. Instead it's two strangers, this Brittany in particular, who braids her daughter's hair and loves her wife like crazy. Who claims to be one of us, but looks nothing like us. Still, she will let her tell her story, but she won't let her take her daughter from her. She's just not sure how to stop her except to move or run, and that will only keep them safe for so long. Sugar is almost 12 now. She can't keep her as quiet as she could in the past. She can't control her like she once did. This is the moment she dreaded since her sweet little Sugar dumpling was born.
"Hey Britt, why don't I go and get the meal service started, everyone seems to be seated, and afterwards I'll take Sugar downstairs to get that project she's been working on and you and Jenny can chat in my office if you two would like."
"Sounds good, sweetheart. Why don't you grab a seat Jenny? By the way, Happy Mother's day."
"Thank you Brittany."
"You're welcome."
Sugar was so happy to have these women, her favorite women, sitting in front of her. Her mother was the only person she loved in the world for so many years, and Brittany is everything she wants her mother to be. Then there's Santana, who Brittany always melts around, and it makes Sugar smile and feel warm inside. Brittany is so tough, but with Santana she's all gooey and she can't even pretend to be tough and scary. She's just Brittany when Santana speaks to her, calm, just like Santana always seems to be. Santana is the sweet one, the one she imagines cradling her when she cries. Brittany is the one who will teach her how to beat up the first boy who breaks her heart. Danny would be her uncle and Blaine would try to explain to her why bowties exist in the world. Luciana's house would always smell like the best food and they would go there to eat every weekend. Quinn would be the perfect hostess. That's how life would be if she lived with Brittany, but she would miss her mom the most. She doesn't allow herself to think about it all too much because she can't have it all. It's just her, her mom, and Francis. She just wishes her mom didn't get sick so much, and she doesn't like Pete's face. She wishes Danny could beat him up, even if she doesn't quite know why she wishes that.
Brunch was amazing. All of the mother's really enjoyed it, and Santana had managed to get a bakery to make these small boxes of cookies and treats to give to each of the mothers. She had Luciana in part to thank for that. The bakery owner loved Luciana's restaurant and so Luciana had donated two meals and a VIP table to the baker for making the treats. Santana wanted to make sure that her friend wasn't taken advantage of and so she made sure to specify to the baker the exact value of the donated dinners. Luciana's restaurant was upscale, and the prices and setting reflected that. Luciana would soon be expanding, though, offering food at another location that had a totally different menu and would be more affordable and family friendly. That was part of why she was always trying out new recipes on Santana's clients. She had offered to make the treats herself, but Santana knew that she was busy with Mother's day reservations at her restaurant as well as planning a wedding and so she didn't want to add any more to her best friend's plate. Still, she felt so honored to have a friend who would do anything to support her. She hoped that Luciana knew that she would also do the same for her.
Once everyone had left Santana took Sugar downstairs to grab the gift that she had been making for her mother each time she visited the center. Brittany had gone with her to the dollar store and let the kid run wild purchasing what she needed to create the gift for her mother. She had decided on buying a simple photo album and decorating it Sugar style. Lots of stickers, glitter and glue was involved. Then she had gone home and gathered as many photos as she could find of the two of them. There wasn't nearly enough to fill the book and so she gathered as many school photos as she could. Since there still wasn't enough Brittany began taking photos of Sugar each time she came. Photos of her working on the gift. Photos of her after Brittany had braided her hair. Photos of her and her new friends at the center. When they finally had enough Brittany helped her choose the ones she wanted to fill the remaining pages and then had the photos printed out for her to finish her project. Sugar was so pleased with how things turned out she could barely wait until Mother's day to give it to her.
Brittany took Jenny into Santana's office for a straightforward chat.
"I'm glad we finally had the chance to meet you. Would you like to have a seat?"
"Not if this is what I think it is?"
"What do you think it is?"
"Some sort of intervention in my life, like I can't take care of my own daughter."
"So maybe it is kind of what you think it is. Look, you spoke to my wife, and she is sweet and used to dealing with people in these circumstances which I adore her for. She always sees the best possible outcome in a situation and tries to work to see if she can help make that a reality. This is her dream, her place, inspired by so many things, and so many people. One of those people is me."
"Your wife said I should talk to you, are you going to give me your sad story? Everybody has one, lady."
"No, I don't have a sad story for you, but I do have a harsh reality. I grew up with a mother a lot like you. I was a lot like Sugar. All of that time you spend away from her leaves her in danger. We want to help her. We want to help you help her and so help me God lady if something happens to that kid I will dedicate my life to making sure everyone responsible pays for that, and that includes you. I've got nothing personal against you, but I don't know what's more dangerous, that kid running around here looking to have her basic needs met including human companionship, or her being locked up with nothing but a doll and not even a telephone to call someone if she is in trouble. What happens if a fire breaks out? You know what happens? Sugar lives and you lose her to the system, or she dies and you lose everything. You don't owe me anything, but you owe Sugar everything. Get your shit together, lady. My wife and I want to help you. I'm asking you for Sugar's sake to take that help."
This is not the way Brittany had intended this conversation to go, but she was angry. She knew what to expect from the woman, and yet her own experiences were creeping in. She intended to let Santana do her gentle sweet talk thing, and follow with her story, but Brittany didn't have the time or energy. This kid needed help, and her wife didn't need her license at stake covering for some addict just because Brittany is kind of attached to her kid. Santana was moving far slower because of Brittany and Brittany knew it. This was going to end today, and Brittany simply had to lay it all out there.
If this was a case of good cop, bad cop, Santana was certainly the good cop. Brittany had no rules to follow, and the only training she's had is life training.
"I knew it was a mistake to let her come around here."
"Listen, you want somebody following her home and raping her, murdering her? We live in a sick world. Are you going to be able to live with yourself when your daughter isn't getting proper care? I'm sure that's part of the reason you use. It was part of the reason my mother used. Listen. I still love my mother very much, I wouldn't trade her in for the world. She is a hero to me because of the way she cleaned her life up. It took her years but it was worth it all to both of us. Sugar loves you more than anything. She wants to make sure you eat and you are not sick. I see it in her eyes every time she comes here and mentions you being sick. It won't be easy Jenny, but it can be done. Let us help you. Let us help Sugar."
"We don't need your help."
"Listen, I promise you, nobody is trying to send you away to rehab and take your daughter from you. If you get into an outpatient treatment program..."
"I don't need your help!"
"Sugar does." Brittany said, calmly. "Please Jenny, just sit, let me tell you my story. Let me hear yours if you want. Nobody wants to make your life uncomfortable, but I can see you love your Sugar. You're here. I think a part of you coming here knew that some assistance would be available, and maybe deep down you want that. I know it's hard. My mother struggled for years to get on her feet. Santana helped her those last important steps of the way. No judgement Jenny. Santana and I just really care about what happens to these kids. I was one of these kids."
Jenny finally took a seat. Brittany wasn't wrong. She came because Sugar said they cared about her. Her daughter seemed happier, more at peace. She came because she does love Sugar and she wanted to know the motives of the people who were claiming to help her.
"My mother was an addict. She also suffered from a mental health issue. I didn't know my father growing up. I only met him a couple of years ago. We were poor. I was hungry all of the time. My clothes barely fit and I struggled to keep what I had clean. I met my best friend Danny on my 12th birthday. He saved me from being molested. There was an old man who would give me fruit every day. I trusted him because I believed he was helping me, thought he was a nice old man. I wished he was my grandpa. Danny saw the truth, the way the man touched me that I didn't understand, or that I ignored because I needed so many things, including somebody to simply see me and care. I got lucky. Danny stepped in just in time, and Danny wasn't much older than I was. Danny was only 19 years old but he saved my life. My mother let him save my life. She loved me enough to know I was better off in his care than hers."
"You want me to give up my kid?" Jenny asked, almost angrily but not really feeling anger. She wasn't sure of what she felt.
"My mother never gave me up. We lived in the same building. I still had my mom and my room if I ever wanted or needed it. I simply stayed at Danny's place because he created a safe space for me. I would never ask you to give up so much. Is there anyone she can stay with, anyone at all, while you work? Let's resolve that first."
"I don't have anybody. If I had to pay somebody I'd have to work even more."
Brittany sighed heavily, "This can't go on, Jenny."
The woman looked sadly at Brittany. "I know."
"So why don't we all think about it, you, me and Santana, and think of something that protects your daughter?"
"Okay"
"And you, Jenny. Can you at least go to an Narcotics Anonymous meeting? I'll go with you. Just see what it's all about. Listen to some stories. It's an hour and a half out of your life."
"I'll think about it."
"That's fair, but there's a meeting right here at the center in an hour, right next door in the annex. Let Sugar show you her project and then hang around here and help Santana clean up a bit. She likes hanging out with Santana. You and I can go to the meeting and come up with some ideas. This is for you, Jenny. Most importantly it's for Sugar."
"I don't know..."
"Just think about it, okay. Meanwhile, let's go find Sugar and my wife. Sugar is really excited about spending the day with you."
Brittany stood up and pulled out the woman's chair for her. Jenny smiled at the gesture. She was feeling a lot. She really wanted to do the right thing, for both herself and for Sugar. She was tired, so tired. Tired of dancing for men who thought of her as nothing more than a piece of ass. She had been doing this for most of Sugar's life. At some point she would be too old to dance, too old for men to pay the price they pay for her simply to gyrate. Sooner than later they would want more, and in order to support herself she'd have to constantly do more. Maybe this was all a sign.
"Mom, you're back! Come on, what took you so long, it was like forever?!" Sugar squealed as she dragged her mother to her seat. Once she was seated Santana handed Sugar the bag she had been hiding behind her back.
"Happy Mother's day!" Sugar yelled, handing her mom the bag and grabbing her in a giant hug. Jenny hugged her baby back.
"Thank you so much, Sugar dumpling." The woman smiled proudly. Sugar still loved her most of all.
"Open it," Sugar said excitedly.
"Okay, okay, let me enjoy the beautiful packaging," Jenny said, pushing aside the paper and removing the book from the bag. She was met by a picture of her and Sugar taken about two years ago at the park. Sugar had her arm wrapped tightly around her mother's neck.
"It's a photo album! It has all of the pictures I could find of us, and it has some surprises too." Sugar said proudly.
"Oh Sugar, it's the best," Jenny said. All of a sudden she realized it wasn't the drugs that had her feeling like this in this moment. It was something so much better.
Sugar beamed proudly as her mom flipped through the pages. When she reached the pictures that she had never seen Sugar took the time to tell her when and where they were taken and how Santana and Brittany would photograph her as she worked diligently on the book. These women did care about what happened to her daughter.
"I'll go," Jenny said to Brittany as discretely as she could.
"Happy to hear that," Brittany said.
"You're still going to go with me?" Jenny asked, almost like a child. In that moment Brittany could see the scared child in her.
"Anytime I can," Brittany promised.
"Thank you"
"You're welcome, Jenny."
It turned out to be a great Mother's day. After a nice brunch and the gift giving, Santana took a picture of Sugar and Jenny together to add to their photo album. Jenny had decided that it would go right on the front cover when they printed it out. That made Sugar very happy.
Brittany took Jenny to the meeting as promised, the two of them sitting quietly in the back. Jenny introduced herself, but she didn't want to speak which was a good thing because they asked that anyone who had been under the influence of anything within the past 24 hours not share. They wanted to hear the person speak and not the drugs. Still, they welcomed her with chants and applause, and at the end so many people came over and left her their numbers and told her to call them anytime. The meeting felt nothing like she expected it to feel. She had sat and listened to the stories of people who had done far worse than she had and they were still embraced and loved. Maybe the place wasn't so bad after all.
After that a week had passed without hearing a word from either Sugar or Jenny. Sugar didn't show up the next Sunday, which had concerned Brittany. Sometimes, especially in the beginning, Sugar didn't make it to the center during the week, but Sundays she was always there for both brunch and dinner. Santana had told her not to get her hopes up, that there would be ups and downs. Brittany knew, from the ups and downs with her own mother. Still, it hurt.
Santana had promised that if she didn't hear from Sugar during the following week she would have to arrange a wellness check. She was already moving slower than normal, but she couldn't imagine that things had gotten better after one Narcotics Anonymous meeting. Still, she had hoped that at least she would still see Sugar. Not knowing was driving her crazy.
Santana didn't have to worry for long. It was 9 days after Mother's day when Jenny finally dialed Brittany's number.
"Can you please pick up Sugar? I won't be home tonight."
"What do you mean you won't be home tonight?"
"I'm in jail. It's Thursday. I can't imagine that I'll get out before Monday. I can't take the chance. I don't have to..."
"You don't. I've got her."
"Please. Take her home with you. She can't go to a foster home. People don't understand her. Just tell her I love her okay, Please."
"She knows, but I will tell her anyway, You did the right thing, Jenny. Thanks for calling me."
"Thanks for answering. You're going to take her home with you and Santana right?"
"Yes as long we we have your permission to pick her up and take her home with us we will do so."
"Santana won't mind?"
"I'm sure that she won't."
"Thank you both."
"You're welcome Jenny. We will be in touch."
Brittany could get the details later. She climbed out of bed and started grabbing her clothes.
"What's going on, Britt?"
"That was Jenny. I have to go and pick up Sugar."
"What happened?"
"She's in jail, I'll tell you the rest later."
"I'm going."
"No Santana, you stay. Set up the bedroom for the kid to sleep."
"There's nothing to set up, Brittany. She will sleep in the other bedroom. I'm going. This is our chance to see how Sugar really lives. I'm going. Her circumstances change tonight. No more waiting."
Santana had hoped it wouldn't come to this, she's just glad that Jenny used their number. That in and of itself shows that they had gotten through to her. Santana represented the system to her, but Brittany reached her on a personal level. They come from the same place. It's mainly because of Brittany that Jenny trusted Santana to know that she was in jail and Sugar was alone. Santana highly doubts that this is the first time her mother hasn't shown up for a few days. This time though, she called someone.
Santana and Brittany drove to Sugar's building and climbed the stairs. The doorbell didn't seem to work, and so Brittany tapped lightly on the door at first. There was no answer.
"Call her name, Britt. She has to be in there at this hour, she's either asleep or afraid to answer the door."
"Sugar, it's Brittany, Brittany and Santana. You in there honey?"
There was still silence.
"Sugar, I need you to open the door. It's Brittany, your mom sent me. If you don't answer I'll be forced to sleep on these steps. I'm really cranky when I don't get my eight hours and nobody wants to see that, Sugar."
Sugar finally opened the door.
"Hi," she said shyly. She had on an old t shirt and a pair of old shorts.
"Hey squirt. Listen, can we come in, we need to talk to you about something."
"Is my mommy dead?" Sugar asked sadly.
"No, no Sugar pie. I'm so sorry we scared you. She's not dead but she can't come home..."
"Is she sick?"
"No Sugar, she's not sick. Come on, let's talk inside." Santana answered.
"She's in jail then." Sugar said, looking at Santana.
"Yes honey, she's in jail."
"It's okay, she'll be home in a few days." Sugar said.
"Has this happened before?" Santana asked.
"Yeah, but I know what to do. Go to school and don't eat up the food. She will be home soon."
"Okay, but not this time okay. She called us, and you can stay at our house tonight. Tomorrow I'll get the details and find out where she is and what's going on." Santana said.
"I get to stay at your house?" Sugar asked excitedly.
"Yup, so let's get a few things. It may only be for tonight, but probably a few nights. We'll figure it all out in the morning. Let's get your bookbag and some clothes. Don't worry if they're not clean, I'll throw them in the washing machine tonight." Santana replied.
"You got a washing machine?"
"Yeah kid." Brittany smiled.
"Can I bring Francis?"
"Of course. It's not a slumber party without Francis," Brittany answered.
"Come on Francis," Sugar yelled running towards her bedroom. "We gotta go to Santana and Brittany's" she said happily. "We get to meet Lord Tubbington."
"Yeah he'll be thrilled" Brittany said and Santana laughed.
Brittany followed the girl to her room as Santana took the opportunity to look around. It was neater than she expected and there were things to eat in the house. Nothing of nutritional value, really, but about 2 days worth of frozen meals. A box of cereal but no milk. Not a fruit or vegetable in sight, not even canned or frozen vegetables. Still, it was better than Santana had imagined. She had noticed the mouse traps on the floor and the fly paper hanging from the kitchen ceiling. A matching one hung from the bathroom, where there appeared to be a leak above the tub. Santana made her way to the bedrooms. She saw nothing of danger in plain sight in Jenny's room and so she closed the door without entering. She made her way to Sugar's room where there was a small bed in a corner, a dresser with a radio on it, a lamp and a small tv. Santana peeked in the closet which had very little in it. Santana had seen worse, much worse, but it all also just felt so lonely.
Sugar was quickly stuffing clothes into a plastic grocery bag. Santana was trying to take in all that the girl may need. She casually looked inside the drawers and closet and made a mental note as to what the child seemed to need. She would get her a travel bag as well in the morning.
Once everything was quickly packed they made their way to the car, where Sugar excitedly chatted the entire way home. Brittany reminded the child that they all had to get up early and so they would get her ready for bed quickly and then go to sleep.
Sugar was impressed by everything, from their car to their home to the huge bed that she and Francis would get to sleep in. Santana prepared a snack for the child as she went into the bathroom to change back into her sleep clothes. Then Santana took all of her clothes and washed them to make sure she had something clean for the next day at school. When she came out of the bathroom she ate her snack, and Brittany sat at the table and talked to the child.
"Hey kid. Just want you to know that everything is gonna be alright. We're going to try real hard to help your mom while she's in there. I'll drop you off at school tomorrow and one of us will pick you up. We will check and see what's going on with your mom while you're in school. In the mean time if you need anything just knock on our door. By the way Lord Tubbington will come out and stare at you like you owe him money because he thinks he owns the place. Just kick him out of your room if he gives you too much trouble, he's too fat to run from you."
Sugar smiled. She liked it there already. She liked that Brittany called it her room. After her snack Santana and Brittany tucked her in and then after cleaning up the kitchen and folding Sugar's clothes they finally went back to bed.
"I'm sorry Santana," Brittany started. "I didn't even ask you how you felt about this."
"It's fine, Brittany. Not like I was going to say no."
"What's going to happen, Santana?"
"I'll know more tomorrow. Listen, Britt..."
"Yeah Santana?"
"Don't get your hopes up, okay?"
"About what?"
"I know you've been wanting to step in, wishing we could take care of Sugar, but it's temporary, okay?"
"I know Santana."
"You have a good heart, Brittany, a big heart, but from a legal standpoint this is so complicated."
"I know babe."
"And we're trying to plan for our own little Cuban Viking in the near future."
"I can't wait Santana. I want a little you running around here so bad. I know we had a schedule that we may not be able to keep with all that's going on..."
"Brittany, if we have to push things back it won't be more than a year, okay? But about Sugar..."
"What happens if Jenny has to do time? Do we put her in the system Santana? She has nobody."
"Britt, our lives are so busy. I don't want to put her in a situation where she's still alone all of the time, even if we provide proper childcare for her. A kid deserves time with the people that are raising them. They deserve to be taken to the park or the museum or even family vacations. We barely have time for one another let alone a kid that we have no idea what their needs really are. Still, I know what you're thinking. You were that kid once. If Danny had thought like that you wouldn't be where you are today. As long as you know we can't save them all, Brittany. I support you honey, and I would help in any way that I can, but I would have to step back in a professional capacity. I can make calls for Jenny, get someone from my former agency on board to handle her case. I can't take her case here and have guardianship over her child. It's a conflict of interest."
"Ok Santana."
"I need to visit the jail, speak to Jenny. If you're thinking about us taking Sugar in maybe we can keep her while Jenny goes to rehab. We don't know her charges yet. We don't know if Jenny wants us to keep Sugar long term. We just don't know anything Britt. Let's save the tough talks until we know, okay honey?"
"Okay Santana, thank you."
"For you Britt...anything, anytime, always.," Santana smiled, kissing her wife on the lips.
Everything afterwards seemed to move so fast. The next morning Santana woke up early and made Sugar a proper breakfast. At the table they talked and the ladies learned that Sugar hadn't shown up at the center the week before because her mother had really been trying. She had cleaned up the house on Mother's day, and had helped Sugar to keep it clean instead of relying on the child to do it alone. She had taken her out for breakfast the next Sunday and they spent quality time together. She had even felt better some days, but others she had been sick, really sick. She tried not to call Pete, but she did, and then she cried all night long afterwards. Still, on her days off she didn't go out. She stayed home with Sugar, even though most of that time she was curled up in a ball, going out of her mind, until she ended up calling Pete to make the pain stop.
Santana feared that if the woman tried at all that she would try to do it on her own. Many people do, to ashamed to face the people who ask them to help themselves, and many people fail to get sober that way. Still, she felt for the woman. Jenny desired real change, and so after Brittany dropped Sugar off at school with the promise that Santana would pick her up after finding out what was going on with her mother, Brittany went to work and Santana notified her assistant that she had work to do in the field that morning and to contact her if an emergency came up.
Santana made some calls from home. While she normally used the spare room as an office she had to get used to it being Sugar's space, at least for a little while. Ideally they would be starting their family in a year or so, so Santana had to get used to it anyway. That would eventually be baby Lopez-Pierce's room. Maybe this isn't a bad thing, Santana thought. It would give them a little insight into how taking care of another human being would alter their lives. Sure, Sugar wasn't a newborn, but still, Santana always wondered how they would work a child into their busy schedules.
She found out that Jenny had been arrested on a drug possession charge. That Monday, Santana went to the courthouse where she had been taken to await her time in front of a judge. She wanted to speak to her lawyer once one was appointed to her. She was hoping to speak to them and see how she could help the woman. She wanted to be there when she went before the judge as a show of support. She wanted to speak with Jenny, because she wanted to make her an offer that she hoped she wouldn't refuse.
The prosecution wanted to ask that Jenny get a year in jail. She had second and third chances, all for petty crimes. Theft, an old solicitation charge, minor petty crimes, and drugs. Mainly drugs. Santana spoke to Jenny who agreed to Santana's recommendation. Her lawyer would cut a plea deal, inpatient drug treatment program for 30 days at least. Sugar would stay with Brittany and Santana for at least 90 days. She would then do outpatient with Santana's old job once she was released from inpatient, getting services and working with one of Santana's best former co workers. In those 90 days they would help her get work, get childcare services, and most of all, get clean.
Jenny was reluctant, but 30 or so days beats a year in jail anytime. She would be out in less than 45 days more than likely. She had to go into detox for however long that took, there was no telling for sure, and then she would start the 30 days after that. If she went away for a year she would have to do at least 9 or ten months. Then Sugar would have gone into the system. This way after 90 days if everything is going well she gets her daughter back. She couldn't be more thankful to Santana and Brittany for caring for Sugar. Santana promised that she would set up a visitation schedule so that she would always be able to see her daughter as she was recovering. Still, while she was away there would be no visits and that made Jenny's heart sink a bit. Thankfully, both sides agreed to the deal, and that's how Sugar came to live with Brittany and Santana, at least for a while.
Juan invited Santana and Brittany to Miami for the weekend. He had to come clean, at least partially, to everyone. He needed his daughters and his father in Miami for a weekend. He would book a flight for the ladies and their houseguest. Brittany was secretly thrilled. She had the opportunity to take Sugar to Miami. Sugar had never flown on a plane before or been to a beach. She was super excited. She had only been with Brittany and Santana for two weeks and they were already the best weeks of her life.
Juan gave no details, other than he needed them there and that there was nothing at all to worry about. Santana had her suspicions. She didn't give the man a hard time. Her employees were capable of handling things for a mere 48 hours. She needed a break, and the only way she would take one is if someone made her. The center meant too much to her.
Everyone had converged on the Lopez estate. It was a party atmosphere when Ignacio finally arrived. He was happy, happy to have this relationship with his family, happy to be invited to whatever occasion this was. It must be important, since it couldn't wait the mere 3 weeks before they were all expected back in Miami for Luciana's wedding. Quinn had asked Luciana to marry her only a year ago, and with business going well for both of them they didn't want to wait too long. Quinn's real estate agency was thriving and they really wanted to start a family within a year or two, so their wedding was right around the corner. This unexpected trip to Miami had everyone's mind spinning, so only an hour after Ignacio arrived Juan decided to make the reason for the gathering known, even though everyone was a little road weary. He had his housekeeper take Sugar out to the pool. After Sugar had changed into her bathing suit he asked the woman to take a break and sit by the pool to make sure the child was safe. He simply wanted this moment to be as private as possible for his family. Knowing that his father was mindful of his emotions in front of others, he would rather the housekeeper be busy elsewhere.
"Ok papi, why the family meeting?" Santana began, her grandfather sitting at one side holding her hand and Brittany at the other, resting a hand on her thigh.
"I went away for a few days on some very important business and was able to bring back something that would be of interest to both of you. Wait here while I go into the den to grab it."
Juan left and went into the den. When he emerged with an older man Santana knew instantly that her suspicions were right.
Ignacio stared at the figure as if he were seeing a ghost. The man looked older than his years, his body having taken a toll on him, yet his grin was still as boyish as he remembered. Ignacio released Santana's hand and stood., and Santana stood with the man, because she wasn't sure how steady on his feet he was.
"Elian?" Ignacio asked, almost a whisper.
"Si Ignacio," Elian answered with a smile, quickening his step as best he could.
Ignacio noticed the man's condition as he walked, but why it was as it was didn't really take precedence in his mind. There were already so many questions there.
"Hermano, hermano. Donde has estado? Estas vivo. Dios mio. Elian, estas vivo. (Brother, brother, Where have you been? You're alive. My God, Elian, you're alive.")
"Nunca he estado lejos de ti," Elian replied. (I've never been far away from you)
"Dios mio," Ignacio whispered, walking to meet his brother. The room seemed so big to him in that moment. He couldn't reach the man fast enough. Finally they embraced for the longest time, Ignacio refusing to let go and Elian not breaking the hug. Juan finally realized why. Ignacio was doing something he hadn't seen his father do since he found him alone in his office the day his mother died.
He was crying.
Elian may not have known who his brother worked for at a time, but his pride preceded his life with the cartel. Elian would not let the world see him cry, even if it was a room full of Lopezes. Elian would hold the man until he finished weeping gently. Elian was weeping too, but he was not as proud as his brother when it came to the world seeing him cry. He would allow the others to think that it was he who needed the shoulder most.
The men embraced for about two minutes, while everyone waited patiently for them to reunite. Once they broke their embrace Ignacio took his brother's hand and brought it to his heart, as if he was checking to see if he himself were still alive.
"Thank you, mijo. Gracias." Ignacio said, taking his eyes off of his brother only long enough to speak those words of thanks to his only child.
"Where have you been..."
"Shhhhh, Iggy," Elian said, calling him a name that only his brother has ever called him, "We have all the time that we have left in the world to catch up. I just want to thank you in front of everyone for staying behind and doing the things that I couldn't do. Mami and Papa..."
"A long time ago, Elian. So many years ago."
Elian's eyes filled with tears, feeling himself grieve his parents in another way. He knew that they were likely gone, but he had hoped that at least one of them lived to see a very old age.
Ignacio pat his brother on the back. "Like you said, we have the rest of our days to talk about the details of our lives. Let me introduce you to our present. This is my beautiful granddaughter, Santana and her equally lovely wife Brittany."
Santana stood and the man instantly pulled her into a hug. "You are stunning. Santana Lopez," he said, as if committing her name to memory, as if welcoming her into the world like he would have done when she was newly born. "it is certainly a pleasure to meet you," he smiled at his great niece. Santana had never thought about not having a blood uncle until that moment. She had her tio Pedro, and the Rodriguezes were extended family. Still, this was different, different for so many reasons.
"Hola, tio Elian, so nice to meet you. Esta es mi esposa, Brittany." Santana said, turning to her seated wife and reaching out her hand to bring her in to the circle.
"So lovely," Elian smiled, kissing her hand and then pulling her into a hug. "It's very nice to meet you. I'm very much looking forward to talking to the two of you as well later on. Can't wait to get to know you."
"We can't wait either, tio. Welcome home."
"Maybe so, Santanita, maybe Miami could be home," he said, looking at his brother. He and Juan had been talking about it for days. Santana smiled at the term of affection. "This moment surely feels like home," he added, a tear falling from his eye.