:Chapter 13:
"¿Papá? Que haces aqui? Mamá nos dijo que ibas estar en Dallas por todo la semana" I squeaked.
"Ah…mi cliente concordó en firmar sobre el control de su compañía a su hijo, así que todo obtuvo asentado ya. ¿Quién es tu amiga?" he asked, sounding a bit smug.
"Oh, Papá, this is Susannah. Susannah this is my father" I said, making brief introductions. Susannah smiled up at my father, stood up, and stuck out her hand. "It's nice to meet you Mr. De Silva" she chirped.
"Yes, it's nice to finally meet you. Maricella told me about how Jesse and you are study buddies. Although, she didn't mention romantic dinners being involved" he teased.
"Oh, ah…Papá, can I speak to you in the living room?" I questioned, standing up, and urging him with my eyes to agree.
"Claro que si hijo. Bye Susannah" he said stepping out of the room.
I turned to look at Susannah and said "Querida, I need to talk with my dad really fast, I'll be right back."
"Okay, no problem" she replied smiling at me. I quickly pecked her cheek and walked into the living room. My father was sitting in his usual recliner, taking his shoes off. I cleared my throat to alert him of my presence, and he looked up, smirking.
"So…?" I asked.
"Jesse…she seems very nice. Respectful and polite, I liked that, but are you serious about her?"
"Si Papá. She's everything and anything I could ask for…and them some" I gushed.
"Ay, so it's true?" he questioned, almost wincing. I stared at him, completely dumbfounded.
"You've fallen in love" he sighed, sounding rather annoyed.
I stood there in silence, wondering what on earth I could possibly say. 'Of course I love Susannah, but everyone thinks we've only known each other two days.'
"Mijo, listen…I understand that your hormones might be confusing you, but don't do something stupid. The girl…she seems nice…have fun with her, just don't fall in love with her."
"It's too late for that" I stated confidently, maybe a little too confidently.
"Hector, don't be foolish! You're too young to know what love really is-"
"You're wrong. I love Susannah. When I'm with her, I feel like…myself. I feel whole. She's my soul mate, Papá."
"I knew having all these women around you would affect you, but this…this is something serious" he replied rubbing his temples.
"If you don't approve, I'm not going to apologize, she makes me happy and she will be in life" I said, hurrying to get the words out of my mouth. And then I added "Besides you and Mamá were just as young as I am, when you were engaged." When I heard myself say them, I realized I was walking on dangerous ground.
"Hector, things were different then. Certain things were expected of us, not like now" he said cringing.
"But you two were in love, right?"
"Mijo, don't try and change the subject. This is about you and that…that girl."
Realization came over me slowly. And as it pieced together in my mind, I wanted nothing more than to block it out.
"It was arranged" I mumbled, more to myself than to my father. By his reaction I knew it was true. He just sat there, breathing, and staring straight ahead. The big vein in his forehead looking so large, it was almost frightening.
I couldn't take this anymore; the awkward silence, the tension, so I did something very unlike myself: I ran away.
I huffed back through the kitchen, not able to even glance in Susannah's direction, and roughly pushed past the back door.
"Jesse-?" Susannah called after me. But I couldn't stop, not when it felt like my world was crumbling around me. 'My parents didn't find each other; they were pushed together by their families. My father would rather I 'play the field' than find happiness with the girl of my dreams…literally.'
When I reached one of stone dividers in the back yard, I looked out at the setting sun on the horizon and waited. For what, I have no idea, but something inside me told me to wait.
I heard the back door open cautiously and then quiet foot steps come toward me. At first I thought it was my father, but the careful steps made me think otherwise.
"Jesse?" Susannah's gentle voice came, wavering slightly. She was a few feet behind me, and I could tell she was worried; maybe even a little frightened. Again I heard her almost silent steps nearing closer, and then she stopped. The only reason I even knew she was still there was by her breathing. "I think I'm going to go home" she mumbled, shuffling her feet.
"Querida, please don't" I almost pleaded, still not being able to face her.
"No, I'm just creating trouble, and you don't need that" she replied, her voice cracking.
"Susannah, please don't leave" I breathed, finally summing up enough courage to turn around and face her.
Why I waited so long to look at her puzzled me. She was glowing in the dimming orange and pink colors of the sunset. The natural highlights in her chestnut hair shimmering brilliantly. Her eyes, shone with tears threatening to overflow at any second, and I realized what I had been waiting for.
"Jesse, I heard…" she trailed off, her eyes brimming with wetness.
I quickly walked over to her and pulled her into my arms. Tears dampened my shirt, and inside I felt horrible, because I knew I was partially responsible for those tears. Absent-mindedly I stroked her hair and told her, in Spanish, that everything would be alright, and how beautiful she looked, even teary-eyed.
"Querida, no matter what, you will be part of my life. I love you too much to ever let you go" I said, my voice sounding husky.
"I d-don't wa-want t-to cause pro-problems in y-your family" she managed to get out in between sobs.
"Susannah, all my family wants is for me to be happy. Once they see that we're serious and in love, they'll approve. Besides, my mom and sisters all love you. We just have to give my father some time. He'll come around" I reassured her.
"B-but, I h-heard J-Jesse…he w-wants you t-to have f-fun, not b-be co-committed."
"It's too late, because I'm definitely committed" I responded, holding her tighter. She lifted her head from my chest and looked up into my eyes. Her lower lip quivered slightly, and her eyes still appeared to be ready to release even more moisture.
"Jesse" she sighed, finally gaining control of her sobs, "maybe he's r-right."
"No, he's not; because if it involves us not being together, than it's most definitely not happening" I said, suddenly realizing something.
"Querida, come on, I want to show you something" I shyly told her, releasing her from my embrace, but taking her hand and pulling her along.
"Where are we going?" she asked, curiosity oozing from her tone.
"You'll see" I coyly replied, sending her a mischievous smile.
We walked along for about ten minutes before we finally reached it. About ten feet in front of us stood the swing set my father and I built before Carmen was born. It had two swings, a slide, monkey bars, and one of those see-saw type swings too.
Susannah smiled up at me proudly and then blurted "Last one on a swing is a rotten egg!" before running towards the swings.
Needless to say, she won, but her gloating wasn't too bad. Plus she wrinkles up her nose in this really cute way when she smiles victoriously.
She sat down on one of the swings, her back facing me, and looked out at the setting sun; its colors changing by the minute.
I came up behind her and asked "Wanna push?"
She eagerly nodded and then tilted her head back so I could look into her stunning eyes. I leaned down and lightly touched my lips to her's. I could feel her smiling against my lips, and as I pulled away she cooed "I love you Jesse."
Inside my heart sang and I proudly responded with "And I love you, Susannah."
After about an hour Susannah and I were sitting on the top of the slide, looking up at the stars. She was sitting on my lap, my arms wrapped around her waist to make sure she wouldn't get too cold.
"Jesse…" Susannah whispered.
"Umm hmm" I sighed, softly kissing the side of her neck.
"What if he doesn't come around…?"
"We'll think about that later, if he doesn't. Right now, though, I just want to sit here with you" I mumbled, nuzzling my face in her hair.
"But, I don't want to like, cause a family rift" she whined.
"Querida, you are my soul mate I know it, and I am not losing you" I said, tightening my hold on her.
"Not if I have my way" Paul Slater said smirking, from a few feet away.