The gang decided to make one last trip up to Big Bear before the snow season was over. They spent the day on the slopes then walked around the picturesque little town, doing some shopping and sipping hot chocolate.
On their way back to the cabin after the exhausting but satisfying day, Romero insisted they drive around to see if they could get a glimpse of the training complex of Felix Sanchez, the current welterweight boxing champ.
“You’re not gonna be able to see shit,” Alex said as he turned on the road Romero asked him to. “It probably has a long ass driveway and is sitting way on top of a mountain.”
“You never know. I heard his property goes on for acres and acres. Some of it might be visible. I also heard he trains in the winter. He might even be up here now.”
“And what?” Eric asked from the middle seat of the crowded SUV. “You really think you’re gonna see him?”
“Hey.” Romero tapped the seat in front of him. “What’s with the negativity? I said you never know!”
Sarah sat on Angel’s lap in the back seat and was surprised by how he turned every peck she gave him into a long drawn-out kiss that had her tingling even in the crowded vehicle . “Stop,” she whispered against his lips as low as she could because Romero was right next to them. Leaning into his ear, she whispered, “You’re turning me on.”
His squirming and licking her neck made her giggle. “Hey.” Romero finally stopped arguing with Alex and Eric long enough to notice Angel and Sarah. “You two are fogging up the windows.”
Sofia who was sitting right in front of them laughed out loud.
“Check it out,” Romero said, wiping off one of the windows and pointed out.
“What the . . .?” Alex said, slowing down because of the sudden traffic.
There were television crews and news vans lined up all along the road. Some cars were pulling over just to get a photo in front of the gates to his driveway.
“I told you he’s up here,” Romero said. “These guys are probably all camped out here, trying to get a picture of him. He’s got that big fight coming up later this year.”
They finally made it through the mess of the traffic with Alex muttering the whole time about Romero’s stupid idea to go check out the complex. Eric and Romero debated the entire way about whether or not someone like Sanchez enjoyed that kind of attention. Eric thought it’d suck ass to not even be able go out and grab a bite without being hounded. Romero said it came with the territory and insisted from all the photos and footage he’d seen of the guy that he seemed to savor the spotlight.
When they finally reached the cabin, Sarah had hoped to sneak away into the bedroom to finish what Angel had started in the truck, but Sal reminded them it was their turn to cook.
“I got it, babe,” Angel said already pulling stuff out of the fridge.
“No, I can help,” she said, feeling less than helpful since Angel was a better cook.
“All right,” he said, pulling out the leftover barbequed chicken Alex and Valerie had made the night before, some tortillas, and a big bag of grated cheese. “Grab the avocados out of the fridge and make the guacamole.”
Sarah smiled in appreciation that he’d given her the easy task. She kissed his cheek then pulled the avocados out of the fridge. In the time it took her to cut up the avocados, dice everything that needed to be mixed into it, and mash it all up, Angel had already whipped up enough chicken quesadillas for everyone. They set everything up on the table and everyone dug in.
When they were all done, Sarah thought maybe they’d sneak away for a little bit, but then Sal announced he’d found some old videos he thought they’d all get a kick out of, so they all gathered round the television and watched as a grainy video started of the three brothers when they were very young staring into a cradle. Angel was the littlest one on his tiptoes, trying to get a better look.
“Aw,” Sarah said, smiling big. “How cute! You were being all nosey.”
“Yeah.” Valerie laughed. “Even way back then they were already all up in Sofie’s business.”
There was more footage of the three boys horsing around and then Sofie as the little princess, prancing in her Disney Belle costume. They all laughed as videos spanned from such a young age through the years. Sarah couldn’t get over how much their young dad looked just like all three boys.
There was also footage of Romero when he was much younger and all of them on their bikes jumping off ramps in the front yard. Romero sped by the camera several times.
“Remember that?” Sal asked, pointing at the ramp Romero was circling in the video. “I don’t think we ever had a ramp you didn’t fall off of.”
“Or break,” Alex said with a frown.
The video moved on to their older years: their little league football practices and even video of Sofie and Eric hanging out off to the side while the boys played at the park on Easter. Sarah giggled inwardly at how clueless the brothers had been about Sofie and Eric being in love even way back when.
Then there was video of Sarah at her first Thanksgiving with the Morenos. “Oh wow.” She brought her hand to her mouth. “I didn’t even remember someone had been videotaping.”
She exchanged glances with Angel, remembering how that night had been their first time.
There was footage of her and Sofie running at several of their high school track meets her senior year. Some of them made Sarah blush because she won in several and they all cheered even now as if it were just happening. They all even looked as excited as they all did in the videos way back then. Then there was graduation followed by the party at the restaurant. There was a bunch of short videos of them all at their restaurant, Andolini’s, the bowling alley, the beach, and many of their bonfires. The videos of all of them hanging out everywhere seemed endless but brought back so many memories; some even choked her up.
The videos moved on to the ones from Facebook and Instagram, some of the ones Leonardo had told her he’d watched: Sarah and Valerie goofing off in front of the webcam then Sarah and Angel doing a dumb YouTube boyfriend tag that had Sarah laughing out loud and blushing.
Sarah hadn’t noticed there was music playing in the background. She was so busy and enthralled by all the old memories until she noticed the odd choice of song for videos of old times with friends—“My Girl” by The Temptations. It got a little louder with each slide and video that was shown, and she noticed too many of them were of just her or her and Angel being cute—cuddling—kissing.
She turned to look at Angel, wondering now if he’d put the video together and a little embarrassed that he’d make everyone sit through so many of what she was sure everyone else was thinking were cheesy videos and slides. Finally, it was over, and she felt a little relieved though she’d definitely be asking for a copy.
“Who put that together?” she asked.
“There’s more,” Sal said, hitting a few things on the tablet connected to the TV.
More recent video of all them started playing, including this past Thanksgiving and Christmas then Sarah and Angel’s big birthday bash with everyone from his family. Even the out-of-towners were present. The video had Sofie and Sal in front of a webcam, reminiscing about their big family. How they all had their quirks, but they’d never trade anything for it. Then Romero’s charades video played, and all of them nearly fell out of their seats laughing. When his clip was over, it cut away to him talking into his toothbrush and looking into the camera.
“I just wanna say even though I grew up an only kid I’ve never felt like it because I grew up with my brothers and sister, the Morenos and my boy Eric. I have mad love for all of you.”
Sarah turned to Romero, who smiled big, obviously happy with his addition to the tape, then noticed Sofie wipe away a tear.
Next there was the video of them the last time they’d come up on the slopes just a few weeks ago and the music started again. “We Are Family” mixed with something else but whoever mixed it didn’t do a great job because it had two completely different beats until “We Are Family” faded away and all that was left was the other song. “Marry You” by Bruno Mars was the only thing playing, and the video cut to Angel’s parents smiling and waving at the camera.
“Muchachita linda”—his mother blew a kiss with her hand, and then his dad smiled and said—“say yes.”
That’s when a mixture of confusion and nervousness started to flutter in Sarah’s belly, and she looked around, but strangely they were all staring straight ahead at the television.
Next were Sofie and Eric on the webcam again. “I’ve always dreamed of having a sister. And you’re a dream come true,” she said, clutching her heart with a big smile. “So say yes!”
Sarah smiled, instantly choked up. Then there were Alex, Romero, and Valerie at the restaurant, standing behind the bar, holding up drinks all smiling big. “Say yes,” they all said simultaneously as the music got even louder.
The kicker was seeing Sydney’s face on the screen in front of his webcam, and now Sarah clutched her heart, swallowing back the emotion. “You know I’d never steer you wrong, Lynni. You’ve always known how I feel about you being happy. So say yes.”
Sarah pressed her quivering lips together as the next one started. It was Sal, Mr. Serious, in front of the webcam in what appeared to be the back room of the restaurant. He smiled, showing his dimples. “I need another baby sister, sweetheart. My other one is getting way too feisty.” He smiled, making that dimple go impossibly deeper. “Say yes.”
Sarah was a mess now even as she laughed, wiping the tears away. Her mom’s face in the screen unable to keep from crying did it. “Oh my God.” Sarah gasped, bringing both hands over her mouth.
“Hey sweetie, her mom attempted to smile. “We’ve tried this so many times, and I messed every single shot up with my crying, so this is as good as it’s gonna get.” She sniffled as she began again, her voice breaking all over. “There is no doubt in my mind that you’d be beyond happy, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.” She stopped to try and compose herself then managed to squeak the last part out. “So say yes.”
The last shot had them all in it, not just his entire family but his parents, her mom and aunt and uncle, even Manny and Max and the entire extended family—the restaurant crew—sitting and standing around a table at the restaurant.
Sarah swatted away the tears that blurred her eyes because she didn’t want to miss a second of it. The camera panned out over all of them waving and blowing kisses. Then Angel stepped into the picture.
“Just remember, baby, if you say yes to me, you’re saying yes to—” His eyes opened wide as the camera panned away from him and out onto the crowd behind him.
“All of us!” They all yelled out at once. “So say yes!”
The TV turned off, and Sarah was glad to see she wasn’t the only blubbering mess. Sofie and Valerie were in tears as they all turned to watch Angel get on his knee in front of her, holding a ring.
“Now that you’ve been thoroughly warned, will you make my life complete and become part of this crazy family?” Sarah could barely see the ring, her vision was so blurred. “Will you marry me, Sarah?”
Nodding like crazy to make up for the fact that she couldn’t speak, she watched as he slipped the diamond on her finger then wrapped her arms around his neck nearly knocking him over.
“Rewind to the part with me,” Romero said. “I look pretty good. Maybe I’m in the wrong business.”
Sarah laughed, finally able to pull it together to say what she wanted to say. “Yes, yes! A million times yes!” She turned to the rest of them. “To all of you. Thank you so much!” She looked around then turned back to Angel and nearly broke down again. “Thank you,” she whispered, knowing exactly why he’d gone out of his way to do it this way. “I didn’t think it possible to love you anymore than I already did. Thank you so much.”
After being torn apart and practically smothered by Sofie and Valerie then hugging all her other genuinely happy family members, she was finally free to hug her fiancé again. They fell back onto the sofa laughing and kissing.
Angel held her tightly for a long time then inhaled deeply. “Thank you for saying yes,” he whispered in her ear. “The day you marry me my life will be complete.”
Sarah held on to him, never wanting to let go, but finally had to pull away. “Now can we sneak away?” she whispered.
Angel jumped to his feet, taking her hand in his, and they rushed away towards the stairs.
“Talk about being discreet,” Sal said with a smirk as they rushed by him.
Angel looked back, laughing. “Since when does anyone in this family do discreet?”
“Yeah,” Sarah laughed. “And you guys are the ones who insisted I say yes. Maybe Angel forgot to mention I can be just as obnoxiously indiscreet as the rest of you, but it’s too late. You’re stuck with me now.”
They turned the corner, and she could hear Romero laughing. “In case you didn’t notice, Manny and Max were in that video too. Ha! Now who’s laughing?”
Sarah laughed stopping midway up the stairs to kiss Angel. Here she’d been so preoccupied with having a bigger family, and for years she’d had one all along. And she loved each and every one of them. Even Manny and Max .