Chapter 10
We all quickly headed for our cars. Javier staggered for a moment, but Ricardo grabbed his arm to help him. Dawn and I got in our mom’s Honda and Veronica, Javier and Ricardo piled into Javier’s car with Ricardo driving. As soon as we left the lot, I called Javier.
“What the hell was all that? Why didn’t you just answer his questions?” Tears rolled down my face and I knew I was still scared.
“That is typical border-patrol bullshit. I mess with them every chance I get.” Javier answered, like it was no big deal.
“Is your head okay?” My voice cracked as I remembered the flashlight knocking him to the ground.
“Yes, I'm fine.” Javier’s voice was soft.
I could tell he wanted to calm me down. “Did you know the agent that intervened and let us go?”
“Yes, that's our cousin, Roy. Veronica keeps him on speed dial for when we get harassed. It’s hard to explain.”
“You’re right. It’s hard to even comprehend what just happened. Why does your cousin pretend he doesn’t know you?”
“So he doesn’t die out there. You’ll understand with time. The Border Patrol aren’t all good people, Kayla. They harass us as you just saw.” I heard the frustration in his voice.
“What I just saw was scary.”
“Yes it was. I hate them and I fuck with them whenever I can. That’s what they deserve.”
“Oh my God, Javier. You’re going to get killed acting like that.”
“I'll be fine. Don’t worry.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Okay.” I paused for a moment and neither of us spoke. I sniffled and wiped away my tears. “Good night.”
“I'll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
I ended the call and looked at Dawn. “Am I the only one who is freaked out by what just happened?”
“No, I was scared to death. I mean did he really think you and I were Mexicans? Why wouldn’t Javier cooperate? He was pushing that cop to explode.”
“He said they deserve it. The other agent that drove up and rescued us was his cousin. Can you believe that? They keep him on speed dial for when this happens. Javier says I don’t understand, and he’s right, I don’t.”
“Well, I guess it could’ve been worse. I'm glad we left without being arrested or assaulted.”
“Me too. Ugh, what a crappy ending to such a good day.” I sighed and wiped my face again to ensure there weren’t any tears left behind.
“Most of it was still okay, Kayla.”
“Did you have fun? I couldn’t tell.”
“Yes, and the dress you bought is to die for. Javier is going to melt when he sees you in it.”
“That’s the plan.”
We said nothing more as we walked into the house and showed Mom our purchases. She nodded, smiled, and didn’t seem to have any issues with the things we bought.
“Is Dad home?” I asked.
“No, not yet. I'm sure he’ll be here soon though.” Mom answered softly, but I could tell she tried to hide her concern.
It was weird he even worked on a Saturday, but to be gone so long was even stranger.
~ ~ ~
It felt like the longest week in my entire life, but Friday finally arrived. I packed my bag for the weekend and made my way downstairs after we arrived home from school. Dawn was going to drop me off at Veronica’s and when I called, my sister would bring me home on Sunday. I found my mom in the kitchen with Esmeralda again and went in to say good-bye.
“Mom, Dawn is taking me to Veronica’s now. Okay?”
“All right. Please keep in touch over the weekend.”
“Of course.” I kissed her cheek. “Where is Dad so I can say bye?”
“He’s working late again tonight. I'll tell him for you."
I frowned. He’d been working a lot of overtime lately. I didn’t remember it being the case in the past.
“Thanks, Mom.” I gave her another kiss and left. I met Dawn at the door and we walked out to the car. “What’s with Dad working so much lately?”
“No idea. I noticed it too, but Mom seems to be okay with it so I didn’t question it further.”
We drove in silence. My anticipation built up as Dawn pulled into Veronica’s and stopped in front of the house. She waited outside for me and I saw the yellow Camaro too. I smiled knowing that Javier was somewhere close by. Veronica opened my door and helped me get out my stuff.
Dawn came around to hug me before leaving. “Have fun this weekend. I can’t wait to hear about it.”
“I will tell you everything when I get home.” I gave her another hug and then she got in the car and drove away.
“Should I just put your stuff in Javier’s car?” Veronica joked, while we stood in front of the house.
“Very funny. What will your mom say if I don't stay here with you?”
“Well, lucky for you that we are staying at Javier’s house because it’s where the before and after parties are, and where the hairdresser and makeup ladies will be.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“I wouldn’t joke about hair or makeup.” Veronica said, with a straight face.
We both broke out into laughter. While we were laughing I felt two hands wrap around my waist and I leaned back into that familiar and comfortable place in Javier’s arms.
Veronica rolled her eyes. “Get a room, you two and get it over with.”
My face burned and I knew it must be completely red. I couldn’t believe she’d just said that aloud!
She saw the look on my face and laughed harder. “Go on. I'll see you at the compound.”
“Aren’t you coming with us?” I asked.
“I have to get my stuff and then I'll be there.”
“We can wait for you.”
“I’ll be driving my mom so you guys run ahead. I'll see you at the rehearsal dinner.”
Javier grabbed my hand. “Come on.”
I got into Javier’s car praying I wasn’t going to get into trouble with Veronica’s parents. When we pulled in at Javier’s house, the place buzzed with excitement. Cars came and went. The entire back yard had tents and tables set up.
“Let’s put your things in your room.”
Javier carried my suitcase and garment bag through the massive house and to a lovely guest-room with an en-suite. He took my dress and hung it in the closet and set my suitcase on the floor so I could get to it easily.
“I hope you’re rested up because these parties go on and on.”
“I think I’m ready.”
He walked up and wrapped his arms around me giving me a hug before whispering in my ear, “I hope so.”
I smiled back up at him hoping we were talking about the same thing. He leaned down and kissed me softly and I pulled him even closer. I was ready and I wanted him to know that. While we were kissing, I felt his phone buzz in his pocket.
“Are you just happy to see me or is that your phone?” I asked, not wanting to stop our playful banter.
He laughed and said, “Both.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He looked at it and sent a text. “It’s Ricardo. He’ll be here for the dinner tonight with his date.”
“Who’s his date?”
“Some chick he met at the pub. She’s going to have to cross the border to come here to the dinner. She's probably already waiting in line.”
There was a knock on the door and Javier opened it.
It was Veronica. “Am I interrupting?”
“Always,” Javier said flatly.
“Very funny. Can I bring in my things please?”
He opened the door and she came in. He took her dress and hung it next to mine.
“I thought you two would be in the love-shack by now.”
“The love-shack? What is that?” I looked at Javier.
He obviously didn’t want to answer the question because he stared at the floor without making eye contact.
“He hasn’t taken you to the love-shack? Well, well, well Javier. Are you stepping up and showing some class?”
“What is she talking about?” I asked, half-laughing and half-scared of the answer.
“It’s nothing, Kayla. She's just giving me shit.”
“Is the love-shack where you’ve taken other girls?” My grin slipped away. I didn’t feel it deep down. I actually felt a little sick to my stomach.
“Don’t get mad, Kayla. He's right. I’m just giving him a hard time. Payback for the sponge to the head.”
“Is that where we were the other night?”
“I told you, we were at my uncle’s house.” Javier didn’t look at either of us.
“Javier, get out of here so we can get ready. We'll see you down at the tent.” Veronica started to push him out the door.
He fended her off as he walked back to me and gave me another kiss right in front of Veronica this time. “I’ll see you in a little while.”
“Okay.” I barely whispered. He left and I looked at Veronica.
“I really was just giving him crap.”
“How many girls go to the love-shack?”
“His friends take their girlfriends there because they’ve nowhere else to go. There aren’t nice hotels here and the car is not exactly the classy thing to do.”
“What about Javier?”
“Look, Kayla, I shouldn’t have brought it up. Yes, Javier had girlfriends in the past but he hardly picks up girls for sex. That’s not him. Please don’t make me say anything else nice about him because I make a huge effort to harass him whenever I can.”
I laughed and we started to get ready for the party. An hour later we made our way downstairs and out to the back yard where the party was underway. The catering crew set out food on long tables and the band played light background music for dinner. The sun just started to set and cool air brushed my face in the slight breeze. My long curls brushed my shoulders. I reached down to smooth my knee-length, black lace dress.
We spotted Javier, Ricardo, and his date, just as the wedding party arrived after rehearsing at the church. I watched them all file in and realized there must be at least twenty people in the wedding. We made our way over to the table.
Javier stood and pulled out my chair. He had on black dress slacks and a sage dress shirt with cuffed sleeves. He leaned close to me. “You look beautiful.”
I turned my head. “Thank you.”
Javier glanced at Veronica. “Where’s your date?”
“Very funny. You know that I'm stag at this party.”
“Let’s get something to eat,” Javier said before any other conversation started.
We all got up and headed toward the line for food. There was a huge spread of shredded pork, tortillas, beans, rice, chips, and salsa. We made our way back to the table after heaping our plates full. Javier and Ricardo went and got us drinks.
We made small talk with different family members while we ate. Javier introduced me to everyone and I hoped I wasn’t expected to keep all the names straight. Mexican cumbia dance music started. People started to fill the floor. Even the little kids knew how to dance, and they were frequently swept up by aunts and uncles to spin them around.
“Let’s dance.” Javier grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the dance floor.
“I don’t know how to do this.”
“Just follow my lead and hang on tight.”
He pulled me close and I did what he said, amazed I could keep up. He was an amazing dancer and we spun in time with everyone else out there. It was so much fun. I noticed Ricardo and his date were dancing as well. I didn’t know who Veronica was dancing with but she looked like she was having a good time
The celebration progressed well into the night and everyone appeared to have a lot of fun. Ricardo and his girlfriend disappeared and were nowhere to be seen.
“Did Ricardo leave already?” I asked Javier.
“Sort of.”
I must have seemed confused, unsatisfied with the answer. He got close to my ear and said, “The love-shack, darlin’.”
I looked at him, my mouth open in surprise. “He told you where they were going?”
Javier laughed. “Ricardo is my best friend, Kayla. It doesn’t take much to figure this out, and it is my house after all.”
“The love-shack is here? Have you taken me there? Is that where we were the other night?”
“We were at my uncle’s house over the line, remember?”
“Is that the Mexico version of the love-shack?” I wasn’t sure if I was mad or wanted to laugh.
“Well, I’d have preferred a five-star resort, but we’re short on those in Nogales.”
I started laughing. I wasn’t exactly complaining about the other night. “Does your uncle know what you boys are up to in there?”
“Obviously not. He’s never in his man-cave and so we hang out there and use it. Then, it began to be the one place we’d go that was private.”
“And how did the love-shack in the U.S. start?”
“The same way. It really just depends where we are when the mood arises.”
“Really.” I said, with great sarcasm.
“Yeah, pretty much.” He gave me a long lingering kiss to distract me from the conversation. It worked!