Day 2: (Tuesday) for #OQOnHolidaysWeek
62. Visiting Regina's family in Puerto Rico
Regina had warned him for months that the family on her Dad's side was perhaps too loud, teased a lot, and wouldn't take a no to their food as an answer.
So he had mentally prepared himself. Prepared himself to eat left and right, prepared his taste buds for the quite strong coffee, and prepared himself to, perhaps, not having someone to talk to with the exception of Regina. But she had assured him that instead of wishing they would engage in conversation with him, he would be praying for them to shut up.
Because, God, do they like to talk, about everything, and anything. And at the same time they try to talk to one another, all members of the family try to engage in conversation with him as if he's been part of the family for years, as if they've known him before. It's hilarious and heartwarming, the way that the youngest of the family can interact with him with very good English and help with translating here and there. A nice equation, because even though he understands a bit of Spanish thanks to Regina, she taught him in a non-hurried way, speaking slowly to help him understand, something her family doesn't practice, something she didn't prepare him for. They speak fast and loud and there's more laughter in the small overcrowded house than he has ever heard in his entire life.
But it works, everything works well, for what he doesn't understand, Regina or her young cousins explain.
It's a nice equation.
It's a nice family.
And though at first Robin had found himself intimidated by their intensity, the sound of Regina laughing and the sight of that sparkle shining ever so brightly in her eyes, as one of her many aunts whispers something in her ear, are enough to calm him down, enough to make him feel like he belongs.
Because he does, well, soon he will, that ring her father gave him that early morning is more than enough proof.
A ring.
A ring that used to belong to her mother.
A ring meant to be passed down generation to generation.
A ring that's safely kept inside a sock in his suitcase.
The thought alone makes him bite back a grin, because while months ago (as they made plans for this trip) he had been wary of being accepted, of being liked, Regina's father managed to ease his worries a mere day into their vacation.
You have kind eyes.
You love my daughter.
I'm a great judge of character.
He had said in such a serious way, with a perfect English pronunciation that it had taken Robin a moment to compose himself. Because he knew the man didn't know any English, Regina had explained that fact to him, and the knowledge that he probably spent a good deal of his time learning the language to talk to Robin had meant more than he could ever explain. He'd replied much alike, thanking him and explaining the love and respect he feels for his daughter in near perfect Spanish, Henry's eyes filling up with gratefulness almost instantly.
But the matter remains the same, this will become his family soon, though it feels like it already is.
At that exact moment, Regina lets out a laugh on his left, that cute snort ever present and he cannot help himself but grin along with her, heart fluttering because God, he loves her so much. Has loved her since the moment they met each other at their fourth and last year of college. But then she's pushing her hand to her belly, and continues chuckling along with everyone around the room.
He doesn't think Regina has laughed in years as hard as she has in the past few hours, and the sound of her laughter, the sound of their very teasing but very warm family makes him want to propose to her right now, right there, in the middle of an overcrowded living room, an overly loud family, surrounded by empty coffee mugs and stomachs filled to the brim with food.
But he thinks better of it. Doesn't want to mess up a proposal so he just looks around the room, at her cousins, at her aunts, at her nephews and nieces, until his gaze lands on her father, who casually drinks his fourth cup of black coffee on his armchair, entranced by the interactions and conversation flowing easily and quickly from the kitchen to the dining room to the living room and all around the open space. The older man's gaze moves around the room also, studying everybody quietly until it lands on Regina, and almost instantly his chocolate eyes soft at the sight of his daughter, smiling as he looks Robin's way then.
And for a few moments they just stay like that, a silent conversation between the two until Henry gives him a nod and a smile and focuses on what his sister is saying to his right.
Robin lets out a breath, a breath he didn't know he was holding, as excitement courses through his veins and his stomach begins fluttering with nerves.
"Are you okay?" Regina asks suddenly, turning to him, wiping the tears of laughter off the corner of her eyes.
"I'm perfect," he says, a smile on his face before shaking his head. "I just need to go to our room quickly. I'll be back soon."
Regina nods and leans in to give him a quick peck. "Bring me some dessert on the way back?" She asks, grinning at him.
And he just chuckles and nods, stands from the couch before excusing himself and heading off in the direction of their bedroom for the week. Only to return a few minutes later to the lovingly loud family with a plate filled with different sweets and a ring safely tucked away in his pocket.
