Chapter Twenty-Two:
"So," Luis said with a smile, "my little sister is a big success in Boston. How does it feel?" "Luis," Theresa laughed. A blush creeping into her cheeks. "Well, it's true. Isn't it Ali?" "Uh huh," Ali replied before popping another french fry into her mouth. "There were so many people there, Aunt Theresa," she said. Mouth full. "Mija," Pilar scolded. "It's not polite to talk with your mouth full."
"Sorry, Nana," Ali apologized between bites. Luis and Theresa burst into laughter at the disapproving look their mother gave Ali. That look only lasted a moment before it was replaced with a smile as Ali grinned at her grandmother. Ketchup all over her face. "What am I going to do with you? You are so much like both your parents. Incorrigible," she said. Ruffling Ali's blond hair fondly. Ali's blue eyes twinkled as she giggled at her grandmother.
Luis leaned back in his seat and sighed. Happily. He'd needed this. To get out. Enjoy time with his daughter. His mother and his sister. Though he had to wonder at their particular reasoning for choosing to grab lunch in such a crowded place as this. A mall no less. He should have expected nothing less from Theresa, he thought. Despite it all, nothing could ruin his mood. He was happy, almost carefree, for the first time in a long time. He hadn't been this happy since the last time he'd held Sheridan in his arms. Why was it that he felt so close to her today?
His breath caught in his throat. Three years had passed, and his heart still stopped beating. His breath still ceased when he thought--no, imagined--her walking past him. He couldn't stop himself from doing it. It was second nature to him to scan the crowd wherever he went and look for her. Three years, and he was still searching. For her incredibly blue eyes. Her bright smile. Still searching. Yet he had his own mirror-image of her sitting before him. Causing his mother to laugh helplessly at her silly antics. As his sister gazed on them with love.
He shook his head in amusement as Ali scampered off ahead of them. He kept one eye on her as he emptied their garbage into the bin and cringed as he turned his full attention back to his daughter. Ali was on a collision course. Theresa's shout of "Ali, look out" and Mama's "Mija! Watch where you're going!" were useless. It was too late. Ali crashed into a complete stranger. And fell to the floor.
Luis didn't hear his mother's gasp. Didn't hear Theresa's sharp intake of breath behind him. He paid no notice to the face of the stranger--the woman- -Ali had collided with. His only worry was making sure his daughter was alright. He rushed to her side to help her to her feet. "AliCat, are you okay? Are you hurt?" he asked. Almost frantically. A minor accident. But he couldn't bear the thought of her ever being in pain. No matter how little.
Ali paid him no mind. Her eyes were focused straight ahead. Her impossibly big blue eyes. Brimming with tears. "Ali?" he repeated. And received no answer. "Ali, what's wrong baby?" He watched in confusion as her tiny chin quivered, and the first tear spilled. Trailing down her cheek. He grabbed her by the shoulders. Still she paid him no notice. He looked past her. To his mother and sister. Their faces held the same look. Astonishment. Confusion. He didn't dare turn around. Until he heard a word that made his world turn upside down.
"Mommy?"
"So," Luis said with a smile, "my little sister is a big success in Boston. How does it feel?" "Luis," Theresa laughed. A blush creeping into her cheeks. "Well, it's true. Isn't it Ali?" "Uh huh," Ali replied before popping another french fry into her mouth. "There were so many people there, Aunt Theresa," she said. Mouth full. "Mija," Pilar scolded. "It's not polite to talk with your mouth full."
"Sorry, Nana," Ali apologized between bites. Luis and Theresa burst into laughter at the disapproving look their mother gave Ali. That look only lasted a moment before it was replaced with a smile as Ali grinned at her grandmother. Ketchup all over her face. "What am I going to do with you? You are so much like both your parents. Incorrigible," she said. Ruffling Ali's blond hair fondly. Ali's blue eyes twinkled as she giggled at her grandmother.
Luis leaned back in his seat and sighed. Happily. He'd needed this. To get out. Enjoy time with his daughter. His mother and his sister. Though he had to wonder at their particular reasoning for choosing to grab lunch in such a crowded place as this. A mall no less. He should have expected nothing less from Theresa, he thought. Despite it all, nothing could ruin his mood. He was happy, almost carefree, for the first time in a long time. He hadn't been this happy since the last time he'd held Sheridan in his arms. Why was it that he felt so close to her today?
His breath caught in his throat. Three years had passed, and his heart still stopped beating. His breath still ceased when he thought--no, imagined--her walking past him. He couldn't stop himself from doing it. It was second nature to him to scan the crowd wherever he went and look for her. Three years, and he was still searching. For her incredibly blue eyes. Her bright smile. Still searching. Yet he had his own mirror-image of her sitting before him. Causing his mother to laugh helplessly at her silly antics. As his sister gazed on them with love.
He shook his head in amusement as Ali scampered off ahead of them. He kept one eye on her as he emptied their garbage into the bin and cringed as he turned his full attention back to his daughter. Ali was on a collision course. Theresa's shout of "Ali, look out" and Mama's "Mija! Watch where you're going!" were useless. It was too late. Ali crashed into a complete stranger. And fell to the floor.
Luis didn't hear his mother's gasp. Didn't hear Theresa's sharp intake of breath behind him. He paid no notice to the face of the stranger--the woman- -Ali had collided with. His only worry was making sure his daughter was alright. He rushed to her side to help her to her feet. "AliCat, are you okay? Are you hurt?" he asked. Almost frantically. A minor accident. But he couldn't bear the thought of her ever being in pain. No matter how little.
Ali paid him no mind. Her eyes were focused straight ahead. Her impossibly big blue eyes. Brimming with tears. "Ali?" he repeated. And received no answer. "Ali, what's wrong baby?" He watched in confusion as her tiny chin quivered, and the first tear spilled. Trailing down her cheek. He grabbed her by the shoulders. Still she paid him no notice. He looked past her. To his mother and sister. Their faces held the same look. Astonishment. Confusion. He didn't dare turn around. Until he heard a word that made his world turn upside down.
"Mommy?"