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Not mine.
"Stephanie, this is Roberto, Celia, Consuela, Maria and Carmen. Over there is Abuela Rosa and…"
"Mama, I think I can handle telling her who everyone is." Carlos said. He took my hand and started telling me whose kids were whose and which aunt was which. I'll be lucky to remember my own name by the end of the evening.
"So, have you picked a date?" Celia asked. She and her other sisters were grilling me on everything.
"No, we're just taking things really slow."
"What about children?" Carmen asked, rubbing her swollen stomach.
I smiled softly. "Someday."
"Uh oh, you aren't pregnant now?" Consuela asked.
"No, we're just thinking about trying soon."
"Oh good, cause mama would want more grandchildren." Maria said.
Celia snorted. "Cause fourteen isn't enough."
"Thirteen, technically. This one hasn't come out yet." Carmen said. "Just remember, all the pain is worth it."
Pain? I knew about labor, but if it was just that, she would have said the labor is worth it. "Pain?" I asked.
"Sure," Celia said. "There labor, and then the afterbirth, and then the five weeks of blood drainage…"
"Oh and don't forget that your boobs turn hard as rocks!" Maria added. "That's why I didn't breastfeed."
"Wow." I whispered. I had no idea…
"And you can't have sex for six weeks."
"Wait, six weeks?" I was feeling light headed. How could I go without my Cuban Sex God for six weeks? I could barely last a day.
"Don't worry," Consuela said. "You'll be too tired to have sex at first anyway."
"Babe? What's wrong? You look pale." Carlos asked, wrapping his arms around me.
"We were just talking about kids." Celia said.
I wasn't sure what to say. "I need to go to the bathroom."
"Third door on the right." He told me, kissing my neck. I nodded and went inside.
After splashing some cool water on my face, I looked into the mirror. Could I do it? Could I handle all the pain that came with having a baby? Then I saw Carlos and me, him happily stroking my enlarged stomach, waiting for the baby to kick, his smile almost blinding me with its wattage. Or us at the OB/GYN wondering what sex our baby would be. The next thought was a beautiful mocha-latte colored boy running around, looking just like his father, but with my eyes. Or a little girl that was a carbon copy of her father, and God forbid, my hair. When I thought about them, I knew that I could do it. It was worth all the pain to see the beautiful children that we would have.
As I was coming out of the bathroom, a voice stopped me.
"Hello, Stephanie." Adaluz said to me. She was acting as if she hadn't said all of those mean things to me. That was fine by me. I was from the Burg. I could out bitch her.
"Hi, Adaluz."
"How are you?"
"Great. You?"
"Wonderful."
"I didn't expect to see you here." I said.
"I'm friends with Celia and Carmen. The mother, not the daughter. She invited me."
"Oh, how nice. Carmen and Celia are great, aren't they."
"They sure are." She looked me over. "Oh, I love your dress."
I don't know what happened. Maybe it was hormones. I snapped. "Oh yeah? You don't think it's a knock off?"
Her smile faltered a little. I went on. "Yeah, you should really watch what you say. You never know who is listening. Or in the next stall."
"Well…I wasn't talking about you." She tried to keep her composure.
"Save it. Now this is a party and I'm not going to beat you into the ground. Today. But stay away from Carlos. He's mine and doesn't want some two bit tramp that only cares about her looks. He's known you most of his life and he still doesn't want you. Take a hint. He'd rather be alone than be with you."
She took a step closer. "You think you're all that because you can pull off the old innocent act. 'Oh, my name is Stephanie. I have no self worth whatsoever. I only want me that pity me and can take care of me.' But it's not working on me. I see right through you. You're just a gold digging whore. I can't believe you haven't faked a pregnancy yet."
This was the point that I blacked out. When I came back to myself, Adaluz had a black eye and Carlos was pulling me off of her. Her hair was also messed up and a few scratches.
"Crazy bitch!" She screamed. I tried to get back at her but Carlos was holding me steady.
"Calm down, Babe." He whispered in my ear. "It's not worth it."
"You're right. I'm good." I replied, relaxing in his arms.
"You're an insane slut!"
"And you're an ungrateful person." Came a voice behind us. "I took you in when your mother went to prison and this is how you repay us? Get out of my house. I never want to see you again. How dare you insult my daughter!" Carmen looked like she was ready to take a few swings herself. Adaluz huffed and left.
"Are you okay?" She asked me.
"Fine."
"Do you want me to bring you anything?"
I just shook my head. Carlos rubbed soothing circles on my arms. Carmen, Maria, Consuela and Carmen (the daughter) all hugged me.
"She told me her mother moved to France." Celia said. She shrugged her shoulders. "It figures. Good right hook, by the way." She hugged me. "Welcome to the family."
When Celia left, I leaned back into Carlos and soaked up some of his strength.
"What did she say to you?" He asked when he pulled me into his old room. He sat me on the bed and kneeled in front of me.
I just shook my head. I didn't want to tell him. Tears welled into my eyes as I came down from the adrenalin rush.
"Stephanie, please." He put his forehead on mine.
"She called me a gold digging whore." I whispered. "She…she wondered how I had…hadn't faked a pregnancy yet."
"Oh, Stephanie…" Carlos caressed my cheek. "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay."
"No, it's not!" Anger was radiating off of him.
"No, really, it's okay. I got to call her a two bit tramp. That was fun."
He was smiling. "You never disappoint."
I smiled back at him. He got up and went for my hand.
"Wait," I said, pulling him back to the bed.
"What is it?"
"I can't wait anymore."
"What?" He looked curious.
"I went to my Gynecologist today."
He was anxious. "And?"
I smiled. "Everything is fine. She says that we can start trying as soon as we want."
He looked excited. "You sure this is what you want?"
I nodded. "I can't wait to be pregnant."
He kissed me and his eyes darkened. "I can't wait to get you pregnant."
