15.

It's some days after my first night with the Santiagos, and I feel at home.

That's a lie.

Even the slightest ripple I see in the ocean scares me. My mind creates various pictures every single time I remember Chico's question. He says he's not from the Mafia [that's what I can get from his statement], but with the picture of the letter sticking out of his pocket re-occurring in my head, I doubt it.

We've drawn up a little something concerning the stronghold. I'd get in first; and he'd be watching from outside. Very far away. The plan's too long to explain, but I've given the tiniest bit of the plan.

I smile at Abuela and pick a knife to help her with the cutting of onions. 'And what's the delicacy for today, Abuela?' I ask as I slice it into the smallest bits that I can. She loves onions like that, from what I've seen.

'Yuca and Mojo, Ivory. That's cassava and sauce'.

I don't have a clear picture of what it is. 'Alright. I get the biggest share, right ma'am?'

She laughs freely, her pearl-white teeth shining. 'If Chico doesn't come to the kitchen to get the food first'. Chico and I are getting closer than I imagined we would. We're like siblings.

Chico's father lives in Mexico. Something about him gaining more from there than from Cuba. Whatever, I don't care about others' family matters. I've got mine at home.

'No problem. I know the best way to distract him. There have to be beautiful ladies around here. I'll just get one and pay her well', I say absent-mindedly. It's when I realize she's quiet that I look up. Her face is taut and her lips are pursed.

'Mrs. Santiago, what's the problem?'

She sighs. 'It's Chico. He...has a girlfriend'.

'I don't understand. How is that a problem?' I ask., wincing as onion water sprays into my eyes.

'It's just...wrong. She wants to come and see me, but I have a very bad feeling about that. She doesn't seem right. I put him in my prayers all the time, but sometimes it looks like the prayers aren't having any effect'. 'Oh come on Abuela, you don't really mean that', I say, placing an arm around her shoulders.

'I'm sure he's fine. He's Chico, after all. Don't worry'.

'He's planning to elope with her'.

It's only when I hear clattering that I realize I've dropped the knife in shock. 'What? Why would he want to do that?'

Elope? How stupid does that sound? Personally speaking I feel that if you truly love someone, eloping should be the last thing on your mind. Courage is needed in a relationship, and eloping is the direct cousin of cowardice.

Oh no, I've tapped into Scarlett's way of talking philosophy. I guess that's how much I miss her.

Yeah right.

'It's because I'm not ready to give my consent. I know I shouldn't be talking with you about it because he hates others knowing about our lives, but I needed to talk to someone', she says. I can see the tears welling up in her eyes.

'If you feel they aren't compatible then I think you should let him know that; but not in a harsh way, because people of my generation, they hate scolding. I'm a living example'.

And that's true. One time Ian Deville yelled at me for not taking the laundry out to dry. That resulted in me challenging him into a duel. Whoever lost took the laundry out. He was stupefied at my outburst. [Note- I was just seventeen].

My statement makes her smile. 'Your generation has a lots of flaws, as does mine. Thank you very much, Ivory. May God bless you'. 'No problem. Anytime you need help, I'm available. Well, when you need help, just make sure I am available'.

I finally finish slicing those onions. She collects them and places in them in a pot along with lots of other ingredients.

Back in the room I wait for Chico to return from his...work, then I sit him down.

He reminds me of Hugo whenever we're looking at each other like this. Speaking of which, how is Hugo?

That's a closed chapter. I'm not opening it.

His brow is quirked as I wonder where to start from. 'If you're going to keep looking like that I think I'll just go have the bath I want to have', he drawls with an accent. I frown and pull his ear. 'Ivory, what is it?'

'Your chica. How is she?'

His eyes look questioning for some time. 'My chica...what do you mean?' 'The girl you're seeing. How is she?'

He doesn't reply until I yell. 'Well?'

'How do you know about her?"

It's only fair I answer his question, right?

Wrong.

'From what I've been thought in English Language, no one replies a question with a question'. 'And from what I've been thought in my day-to-day life, people are expected to mind their own business', he snaps.

'Excuse me?'

'Excuse you. That's my private life, not yours. We have your safety to think about...'

'Would you be quiet?' my statement is more like a command than an order. 'My safety, you're talking about my safety? You are in love with a woman whom your mother doesn't really want as a daughter-in-law, and you are even planning to elope with her. And you think you aren't risking your safety? Is that it? You do not even consider the fact that she might be planning something behind your back, or that your mum might die of a heart attack when you elope, do you?'

'Abuela told you, didn't she? Goodness, I warned her'. He stands up abruptly and makes for the door. 'If you move out of this room, I promise you'd regret it'. My tone of steel is what makes him look back. I'm not joking.

'If you really want to help, stick your nose in your challenge, in the fact that you might have a hundred people or more after you. I love Violet, and I'm going to get married to her, with or without your presence. And, a piece of advice; never take others' problems as yours. That's essential if you want to live. You should know that by now'.

His advancing movement is stopped once again by me. I pull him back and my palm collides with his cheek. Very hard.

The sound of the slap, along with the vibration that comes with it, makes him close his eyes for some time. Then my breath is slowly cut off.

'How dare you?' he growls, his hand still on my neck.

Yes Ivory, how dare you?

This is the first time I'm caring so much for someone whom I've stayed with for just two weeks. Yet it's like I belong to this family. I feel at home with them. It's like they are the family I've never had.

I wince as my pipe feels crushed, then I close my eyes. 'This is going to hurt, Chico'.

I jack my knee up.