Chapter 34: Mama Manoso's POV (Saturday, October 22nd)

"I'm telling you, Adaliz, this will be the first time all our children will be with us for the holidays. I can feel it."

"Do you really think that Carlos will come to Newark? After everything Les has told me about Stpehanie's family, I can't imagine her wanting to be in New Jersey."

I sigh, trying to determine how best to explain myself. "I'm telling you, Carlos is a different man than he was six months ago. He was more Ranger than not, my son. But each time I talk to him, I hear more of the boy I gave birth to than the soldier my son became. He spends time at home with Julie, Tommy, and Stephanie. They play games, make dinner together, and laugh. Carlos finally sees the importance of family."

"Okay, Maria, if you say so. Don't be surprised if there is some pushback. Mierda, I have to go. My empanadas are burning." I hear my sister-in-law say before she disconnects. I can't help but laugh as she is cooking challenged, even after all these years.

I sit down and look over my calendar. As much as I would love to have all my children at home for the holidays if Carlos wants us to be in Miami, I will go there to support him and his novia. However, I will need to have another conversation with Celia. I have no idea what got into that girl at Carlos' and Stephanie's engagement party. I don't understand how she could hurt her brother like that. Of my children, she is the only one who has married a Cuban. Javier married an Italian girl, and Juliana and Rosa married a Polish and German boy each. Granted, their families have been in America for a few generations, but they are not Cuban. I never instilled that old-school philosophy of marrying within our culture. What I did instill in my children was to find a partner who loved them completely and vice versa. So far, I feel that they have all achieved that.

Well, if Carlos wants to host Thanksgiving, that's fine. But I will help with the food preparation. I don't expect Stephanie to do everything independently; my son better help her. She must understand that as a member of the Manoso family, we all help each other out. I grab my phone and decide to call my son. Everyone must have enough time to get tickets and time off if necessary if we go to Miami.

The phone rings twice before he picks up.

"Yo."

"Is that the way I taught you to answer the phone?"

I can almost hear him cringe. Serves him right. No phone manners. "I'm sorry, Mama. Let me start over. Hello, Carlos speaking."

"Do you sass me. I know you don't use your name. A simple 'hello' will do."

"Sì, Mama. How are you?" I hear Stephanie laughing in the background. Good. I'm glad that she can find enjoyment in his discomfort.

"I'm good."

"How's Papa?"

"He's good as well. He's at Karla's soccer game."

"That's good. He needs to get out a bit."

"Yes, he does. How is Stephanie?"

"She's doing well. We just got back from the park."

"And the kids?"

"They are great."

"Send them my love. I'm calling because I want to discuss the holidays. You know Thanksgiving is about a month away. I hope you were planning on spending the day with your family in Newark."

I hear my son sigh. Maybe Adaliz was on to something. "We would love to spend the day with the family, but now is not the best time to travel to New Jersey. A lot is happening in Trenton, and we would rather not be in the state."

"You know Newark is on the other side of the state?"

"Yes, Mama, I know how far Newark is from Trenton, but it's still too close."

"So I guess that means you won't be with your family then."

"No, Mama, not at all. In fact, I was going to suggest that everyone comes here. We will host Thanksgiving."

"Does Stephanie know of this plan?"

"Si, Mama, we discussed this. However, Stephanie asks everyone to bring a dish. She has never hosted a dinner for this many people and is overwhelmed."

I smile. I'm glad my son is learning to ask for help and consider what his novia might need. "That's not a problem. If Stephanie doesn't mind, I'm happy to assist her or have her assist me in preparing the dinner."

I hear Carlos share what I said with Stephanie, and from her tone, I know she is excited about my assistance. I can't make out what she is saying, though.

"Stephanie said that if it isn't too much for you, she would love your help. However, she doesn't want to put you out."

"Nonsense. I love to cook, you know that. It will be my pleasure. I remember the first time I hosted Thanksgiving. I overcooked the turkey, undercooked the potatoes, and didn't make enough food. It was a disaster. Thank goodness there was a Chinese restaurant open." I shake my head at the memory. "Make sure to tell Stephanie that story."

"I will. We appreciate your help, Mama."

"I know. Anything for you. I'm grateful to have you with me, and I hope this is the start of new traditions where you and your family are with the rest of the Manosos for the holidays."

"It's the plan, Mama."

"Well, I won't keep you. Give my love to everyone and tell Stephanie I will call her to review the menu. I will take care of informing the family."

"Thank you, Mama. Te amo."

"Te amo, Carlos. Good bye."

"Adios."

Well, I'll be, Adaliz was right. I guess Lester tells her more about Stephanie than Carlos tells me. I hate to say to her I was wrong. Oh well. It is what it is. I glance at the clock and jump. Celia and her family will be here in an hour. I need to get moving on dinner. Tonight will be the perfect time to ensure that Celia knows she is to leave Stephanie alone. If my daughter can't accept who Carlos picked to be his life partner, then she can spend the holidays alone. I don't condone behavior like hers. Just because she is a 32-year-old woman doesn't mean she doesn't have to listen to her mother.

Xxxxxx

We finished eating dinner and cleaning the dish. Ricardo and Jorge, Celia's husband, enjoy a cigar outside. I'm sitting in the kitchen with Celia.

"Celia, mi hija, we need to talk."

"What's going, Mama? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Carlos has invited the family to Miami for Thanksgiving. Stephanie and Carlos will be hosting."

I watch as Celia closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "I'm not going, then. I refuse to be in the same room as that puta."

"Watch your language. We don't use language like that, especially not toward family."

"Please, Mama, she's not our family."

"She is engaged to your brother, which means she is a part of the Manoso family."

Celia rolls her eyes, sighs, and flips her hair. "She is nothing but a gold-digging whore."

I am shocked and surprised. Celia is not one to talk this way.

"Why do you say that? Why do you call your future sister-in-law that?"

"It's what she is. I can't believe she has everyone fooled. I swear. Mama, she was dating a cop for the last few years. She was stringing Carlos along like a lost puppy. Now that the cop wants nothing to do with her, she turns to Carlos. No, Mama, when she got to Miami and saw his house and cars and realized how rich he was, she suddenly wanted him."

I shake my head and bow it. How can I make my daughter see what is in front of her face? "Celia, have you ever listened when your brother spoke about Stephanie?"

"Yeah, he would say how her car would blow up or how she was living paycheck to paycheck, which frustrated him."

"And why did it frustrate Carlos?"

"Because he wanted her to work for him because she was a great researcher."

"What else?"

"Carlos wanted to get her a car, but she always refused."

"Does that sound like a gold-digger to you?"

"No, not really."

"If Matteo Rodrigo came to your house at 5:30 in the morning, asking you to go with him to another state for an unknown length of time to help him with his daughter, would you go?"

"No, absolutely not. I'm a married woman."

"What if you weren't married to Jorge yet but just dating, not engaged."

"No, I still wouldn't go."

"Why not?"

"I love Jorge. I would never go away with another man, even for his child. Besides, I have a job here, and my friends and family are here."

"But what you wouldn't do for Matteo, a good friend, Stephanie did for Carlos without hesitation. She left her family, friends, boyfriend, and job behind to help your brother and niece. Stephanie was the one who kept Carlos calm, which allowed him to work through his emotions and stand by his side when he needed her. And he does the same for her. Look, mi hija, your brother is an idiot. He told Stephanie a lot of things to push her away. No, I won't tell you what he did. That's their story if they want to share it with you. But, even with all the garbage he told her, she still went with him. Lester, Pierre, and Bobby all speak highly of her and repeat how Carlos is a better man when she's around, how they all are. Stephanie is a woman who accepts Carlos, Lester, Pierre, Bobby, and all the other men as equals, as friends, and somehow manages to break down their walls. She is responsible for giving you your brother back. You should be thanking her, not trying to tear her down. She will be your sister, and you must treat her as such."

"Mama, she's not a saint. She's a woman who sees a man who is incredibly handsome and filthy rich."

"Really? Celia, who put herself in the line of fire to save Julie a few years ago? Was it you? Was it your sisters? No, it was that woman. She helped your brother rescue your niece without hesitation. He asked for help, and she answered it. No questions asked. That wasn't the only time she helped him. What did you tell your brother to do when he had that warrant against him?" I asked, pausing to wait for my daughter's response.

"I told him to turn himself in."

"Yes, you did, and so did I. But do you know what the woman said to him when she called him?" I pause, and Celia shakes her head. "She left him a message asking, "Are you okay." That's it. Not are you guilty, but did you do it? Turn yourself in. No. What did she do when she was offered his file, which I understand was a very significant payday for her - she turned it down. She refused to go after Carlos. In fact, she did everything she could to prove his innocence. Why? Because she knew he was innocent. She was already falling in love with Carlos then but probably didn't know it. Celia, don't do something that will push your family away from you. You need to always support your family. Trust me, if Abuela, Javier, or I thought something was amiss, we'd tell Carlos. Stephanie is not another Rachel; God rest her soul." I cross myself.

"I only want what's best for Carlos."

"I know you do, and what is best for him is Stephanie."

I watched as Celia took in the information I gave her. I know that she was thinking about everything we were told about Stephanie. If you only took what Carlos, Lester, Pierre, and Bobby said at face value, I could understand Celia thinking that Stephanie was only after Carlos for what he could give her. However, once she thought about all the little and not-so-little things Stephanie did for Carlos, she couldn't help but realize her mistake.

"Oh, Mama, I'm so sorry. I can't believe I was so cruel to Stephanie. She must think I'm a witch, and Carlos must hate me."

"I can assure you that Carlos doesn't hate you, but you are not his favorite sister. As far as Stephanie, I'm sure you hurt her a lot. She's been through so much, and some of the things you said to her only reinforced her negative thoughts about herself. Aside from your brother and his men, few people have ever seen Stephanie's strengths. By saying she was a gold digger, you just reinforced what she was always told, that she's not good enough. It will take time, but you can foster a strong relationship with your new sister. The first step is to apologize to your brother and then to Stephanie. You need to talk with her and let her guide your relationship. Based on what Lester has told me, she has a big heart and will forgive you. However, if you make the same mistake again, neither Stephanie nor Carlos will be so generous."

"You're right, Mama. I'll call Carlos tomorrow and apologize. I can't believe how insensitive and rude I was. I know I embarrassed myself, you, and Papa, too."

"Yes, you did, but it's nothing we can't rise above."

I heard the screen door open, and Celia and I quickly rose to bring out the tres leche cake and coffee. When my husband and I made eye contact, he knew that Celia and I spoke and everything would be fine. We enjoy the rest of our evening together. I can rest easy knowing that my family will be better tomorrow than we are today.