A/N: Since I don't speak Spanish and translators are a pain in the butt, anything that is spoken in Spanish by the characters will be in asterisks () and English will remain in quotes ("). Enjoy the story!
Rosa, don't leave, Javier said. After all we've been through? Javier recalled the 3 weeks after Katey left. It all happened in a blur. He met and married Rosa and started their family. Now 14 years and 5 kids later, his wife was packing up to leave for another man.
Javier, I don't love you anymore, Rosa said. I wish I never married you in the first place.
So you're going to abandon your 5 kids just like that for…Paco? Javier rolled his eyes as he said "Paco".
I want nothing to do with any of these Cuban rats, Rosa replied. I should have married a fellow Mexican.
Just as Rosa said that, their oldest son, Tomas who was 13, stood at the doorway, gaping at his mother.
Mama, how could you? Tomas cried out, holding back tears.
I don't need this.
With that, Rosa picked up her bags and stormed out of the house without a single good-bye. Tomas stood crying as the 3 girls chased after their mother in tears. Javier Jr. sat in his crib crying. Javier gathered his 5 children and took them in the living room to talk. He carried one year-old Javi (Javier Jr.'s nickname) into the living room. Tomas followed. The 8 year-old twins, Juliana and Josephine walked in sobbing. Four year old Adrianna toddled into the living room sucking her thumb and looking very confused. Tomas picked her up and tried to calm her down.
Mama has left for Senor Davido, Javier started, holding back his tears. She's not coming back. That was the second time in his life that he lost his love. First Katey and now Rosa. Deep down, he really had loved Katey all along. He wondered if she felt the same. She was a pretty girl, so she was probably happily married with a family by now, he thought. His crying children brought Javier back to reality. Tomas was now trying to calm the all 3 girls while Javier sat idly with Javi. He jumped up and grabbed Juliana.
Tomas, go start dinner, I'll get the kids, Javier said.
Yes, Papa, was Tomas's response.
A few hours later, Javier and Tomas had managed to calm the girls and get Javi to bed. Javier thanked Tomas for his help and apologized that Rosa left.
I can't believe I called her my mother, Tomas said.
I can't believe I called her my wife, Javier replied, sharing a laugh with his son.
Can we go to America? Tomas asked out of the blue.
You want to leave your home?
Face it, Papa, Havana is falling apart, we need a change. You know, it might benefit the little ones.
I'll think about it.
You could find that girl.
Girl?
Katey. I read your revolution diaries.
Why?
They were out, and I thought it was something else. I'm sorry, but I know you really love her Papa.
Okay, Tomas, you talked me into it.