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FAMILY REUNION

Chapter Three

By the time Carlos and Katheryn had arrived back at the hotel with the other family members the night before, Catalina had already gone to bed, Carman explained just as she greeted them outside her hotel room to quiet them. She had said something about a terrible headache and that she wanted to feel her best when she finally saw Carlos and his girl. Still, the notion made Kath more uneasy than she already was about meeting who in her mind could possibly, just maybe, be her future mother-in-law. That fantasy aside, she wondered if the woman's excuse was just that…an innocent excuse. Or was it just an attempt to delay the inevitable? Perhaps deny that Katheryn was even there. Not risk offending a young woman she hardly knew but already hated. After all, it was always hard to contest with a woman when another woman was stealing away her son from her.

Twisting around in her bed, Kath sighed sharply against the covers still on top of her head. She quickly threw them aside and forced herself upright, swinging her feet around to touch the barely plush floors. Kath could almost swear she felt wood beneath that thin layer. She glanced at the wall clock. 6:43. She had to dress quickly. Jeans and a simple blouse would do.

Kath had planned to have breakfast with Carlos at seven before the rest of the family joined them. Something about Carlos having something to talk to her about privately, Carlos had explained after giving her a rather intimate goodnight kiss that would have lasted longer had Jesse not sneaked up on them from behind. His cheeky grin had given him away. And somehow Kath felt Carlos swearing him to secrecy would do no good.

As Katheryn arrived on the first floor of the hotel, she gave the hallway a thorough glance before stepping out of the elevator. Immediately she took advantage of her privacy to laugh her actions away. She was on vacation! There was no need to be so wary of her surroundings. After all, she was with the good guys…family in fact. At least they were quickly beginning to feel like that more and more.

Rounding the distant corner into the restaurant area that doubled as a snack lounge, she quickly noticed how quiet it was. A television hung in the corner broadcasted local Spanish-speaking news so loudly that she could hardly hear Carlos call her from a private corner at the opposite end of the room. She smiled to let him know she saw him and quickly grabbed a plate, dishing up several delightful goodies before she joined Carlos at their table.

"Okay," she grinned mischievously, beginning to spread some cream cheese on her warm bagel. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

Kath took a gigantic bite, unfortunately spreading cream cheese on her face. Carlos simply stared at her, refusing the strong urge to burst out laughing. Instead, he reached with a napkin and gently brushed away the evidence from her cheek. Meanwhile, Kath was busy blushing and grabbing at her own napkins to complete the task.

After a brief laugh to clear the air, Carlos took a deep breath and gestured out the window. "Theresa and I are planning to do a walk-through tour of the city today to get familiar with our surroundings. Then we'll go see our mom's house tomorrow. It's on the outskirts of the city. We'll probably have to take a cab for that."

"I see." Kath took another bite of food, careful not to make it apart of her morning makeup routine this time. She then swallowed, took a sip of orange juice, and cleared her throat. Carefully she lowered her gaze, staring headlong across the table. Carlos paused to return the look as if to ask what the matter was. "Now I know you didn't want to have a private breakfast just to tell me that. You could have told me that while everyone else was with us. So…what gives?" She took another sip of juice to await his answer.

Carlos cleared his throat, raising a brow in thought. "I just wanted to spend time with the most beautiful girl on the planet. Is that so wrong?"

"No," Kath smirked. "But I know you're not telling me the whole truth. Now out with it, Sandoval."

"Alright," he took a deep breath. "You got me."

Reaching into his pocket, Carlos revealed what Kath immediately recognized as a jewelry box. She almost assumed the obvious but held herself in check as her heart began beating a thousand times per seconds. She was sure the entire hotel staff could see her heart thumping outside of her chest.

Opening the box, Carlos set it on the table and slid it gently across for Katheryn to get a better look at it. "It was my mom's. My dad gave it to my mom when he wanted to be clear he cared for her a lot. And I've wanted to give this to you since our first date earlier this year. But mom refused to let the post office handle such fragile contents. She gave it to me last night so I could finally give it to you."

As soon as she had wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye to see in front of her clearly, Katheryn picked up the box to examine the contents a bit more thoroughly. It was a beautiful pair of earrings. A shapely golden teardrop with an emerald stone set right in the middle of it that shimmered in the morning sunlight. I guess she doesn't think I'm prude, Katheryn thought randomly to herself, relieved that if she thought more highly of her than the post office, that must be a good start.

Interrupting her thoughts, Carlos took her hand and gave it a squeeze, drawing her gaze. "And this gift means the same for me giving it to you as it did when my dad gave it to my mom. I love you, Katheryn Beaumont."

"I love you too," Katheryn managed to whisper through the lump in her throat. She then quickly cleared her throat and closed the jewelry box. "I can't wait to try them on."

"They'll look beautiful on you. I know they will."

"Well, hello, you two lovebirds!" Theresa exclaimed, instructing Jesse to help her drag a table to connect it to the couple's. "I hope you don't mind us joining you." She spotted the box in Katheryn's hand and gave Carlos a wink. "I see you gave them to her."

"I sure did," Carlos confessed with an unashamed smile. "Is mom with you?"

"She'll be down shortly. Apparently Hector and Carmen wanted some time alone this morning. So she's watching the baby."

Jesse rolled his eyes, planting himself rather lethargically in the seat next to Carlos with his breakfast in hand. "Those two would stay cooped up in their hotel room for hours if we let them." He smirked, a smile spreading across his face. "Come to think of it," he glanced between Kath and Carlos, "You two probably would too."

"Jesse Estrella!" Theresa turned a new shade of red.

Meanwhile, Carlos and Katheryn were busy laughing at the teen's naïve comment.

"What is so funny, everyone?"

All laughing ceased.

Theresa quickly rose and pulled out a chair for her mother. "Have a seat, mama," she offered with a smile.

Mrs. Sandoval brushed Theresa off with a wave of her hand and took a hold of the chair herself. "Oh, daughter, I can very well seat myself! I'm not old and frail yet."

From the far side of the table, Katheryn wanted to hide…anywhere. And fast. She could almost feel eyes on her at any second now ready to scrutinize "the new girl" while they dished questions at a mile per minute. Carlos eyed her from across the table and tried to wink at her to ease her nerves. But Kath didn't notice. She was too busy shoving a bite of bagel into her mouth and catching a glimpse at the television through a reflection in the wall mirror. Surely that would help the already awkward situation.

After getting the eyes from his older sister, Carlos cleared his throat to speak. "Mom?"

Mrs. Sandoval raised her head and smiled at her youngest son. "Yes, Carlos?"

"I, um," he cleared his throat a bit more nervously this time. "I'd like you to meet Katheryn, mom. Katheryn Beaumont."

Mrs. Sandoval leaned forward to get a look at Kath down the table from her next to Theresa. She smiled. "Hello, dear." And without hesitation she stood and circled Theresa to where Kath sat.

Impulsively, Katheryn stood and quickly felt two strong arms wrapping around her tall figure. She smiled oddly and tried to return the embrace. But the older clearly had the advantage over her.

Pulling away, Mrs. Sandoval gave Kath a broad, toothy smile. "It is so wonderful to finally lay eyes on the woman that has managed to fall in love with my son. And whatever he's said about me, don't believe a word of it." She winked.

Kath chuckled. "Oh, he's said nothing but good things I assure you."

"That is good. I hope you haven't been nervous about meeting me. I can assure you that you are more than welcome here. As far as I'm concerned, you are familia."

A wave of relief washed over Katheryn as she choked back a small dose of happy tears that threatened to spill over and proceeded to hug the proud woman once more. "You don't know how happy I am to finally hear that, Mrs. Sandoval."

"Oh, nonsense. Call me Catalina, dear. That's my name. Hector's little one calls me Grandma Cat," she laughed. "I much prefer abuela though. Perhaps if Carlos here ever makes me a grandmother, his children might call me that."

A shade of red cradled Kath's pale face as she turned away. "Thank you," she interjected, "...for the gift. Carlos said it belonged to you."

"Oh, you're welcome, child. You're very welcome." Catalina gave the breakfast table a thorough glance over. "Well, let's eat!"

"Ah, I don't know," Roberta stammered doubtfully, playing with the handle on her coffee mug.

Ranger Sydney Cooke gave her a sideways gaze from her seat beside Ranger Hunt at C.D.'s bar. "What do you mean by 'I don't know'? The Gavin company heroine bust was one of the most successfully executed operations in the DPD's history. Geez, I've learned so much from that bust as a new Ranger. How can you not admire the guys who planned that one?"

Bobbie hesitated. "Let's just say I don't think that certain leaders of that particular operation as you call it has enough brains to blow their nose with."

Sydney choked back a laugh. "Seriously?! Bobbie, you've given rookie police officers more benefit of the doubt than you do detectives in the force. I thought you of all people would understand. I know Detective Kelly was a woman, but…"

"It's not that, Sydney, and you know it."

"Then what gives?!"

Bobbie took a rather long thoughtful sip of her coffee before the ceramic clanged gently onto the bar as she set it down. Taking a deep breath, Bobbie smiled half-sarcastically in Sydney's direction. "Detective Sal Ochoa. He and I are not the best of friends I guess you could say."

"I see," Sydney cleared her throat. "Do you mind me asking what happened between you two? Was it personal?"

"Oh, no," Bobbie shook her head furiously. "Nothing like that!" She laughed that ridiculous notion away. "He and I attended the police academy together. We were rivals. My scores in everything were just above his by a hair length. He's always resented me for that. Oh, he was relentless all through the academy. He did everything short of trying to get himself kicked out. He and his buddies played practical jokes on me and a few other ladies who tried to make it to the top. But of course I got the brunt of it all. When I graduated with higher scores, he told me not to bet on ever making it passed the blue uniform to anything else."

"Bobbie," Sydney interjected gently. "Sal may have been ruthless in his day. But he's a good man now. He sometimes jumps to conclusions and acts out of passion sometimes. But he's a great guy. Just ask any Ranger in Company C. No better man to have fighting on your side."

"That may be," Bobbie remarked. "But it still doesn't change the fact that he resented me. Especially when promotions came up. The captain told everybody that I was going to be the first one promoted in that coming year. But Sal wouldn't hear of it. And somehow he convinced the cap to not promote me. But in a sure handy twist of fate, he wasn't promoted either when Captain realized why Sal wanted that. So neither of us were promoted."

"Then how come Sal is detective now?"

"He had to work a little harder. So did I. But I decided then I wanted to aim for the Rangers. I was absolutely afraid that some freak accident would throw him and me together as partners. So when the captain brought up promotions again, I recommended Sal. He's always resented that. Like somehow I gave him the job he didn't earn. Which is bull.

"I regretted suggesting him to this day. Because I've had to work ten times as harder to get to where I am today. All because I'm a woman."

"I know what you mean," Sydney offered sympathetically. "You know, I'm surprised you two haven't crossed paths since then."

"Oh, we have."

"When?!"

"Yesterday afternoon right after Walker left. He came in asking for you guys." Bobbie chuckled. "He was pretty shocked to see me instead."

"I can just imagine! What did you tell him?"

"Well, contrary to his opinion, I can be civil. I told him I'd tell y'all he came by. Then he stormed off like some child having a temper tantrum."

Sydney's lips curled up. "It couldn't have been all that bad."

"Maybe," Bobbie reasoned. "Still, I wish I could avoid him in the future. It would save me a world of wasted time."