Destiny 2: Decision of The Next Generation

by Blue Saffire

  “We’ve been following all the rules, this far,” Victor grumbled.

  “Sure and that’s why you are hugging on the one girl I said was off limits,” Aunt Tali teased.

  “Love has no limits,” Victor teased back.

  “At least my normal grumpy baby is back,” Aunt Tali turned and smiled at Victor.

  We followed Aunt Tali into her room and sat on the floor by her bed. Victor sat behind me and wrapped his arms around me. Aunt Tali kept shaking her head as she looked at us.

  Uncle Alex started with the rules. He didn’t want us to kiss in front of the younger kids. We aren’t allowed to lock doors behind us.

  Aunt Tali threw in no hickeys on Victor’s neck. I had to point out to her that I wasn’t the one that gave him the tacky one he had before. We also talked about rules that Victor knew and they never thought they had to tell me.

  We sat and talked for a long time. They wanted to make sure we understood that they wouldn’t pull us apart if we followed the rules. Victor also explained to them both why he didn’t want them to adopt me and how he wanted me to gain them as a family.

  Aunt Tali cried like a baby. Uncle Alex laughed at and teased her as he rubbed her little bump I hadn’t noticed until that night. I wanted to be like that someday with Victor, happy and in love. I was so close that night as I sat in Victor’s arms.

  chapter twenty-five

  Victor’s Gift

  That summer turned out to be the best summer of my life. Victor and I were stuck together like glue. I had let the battery run out on the phone Raul called me on.

  Uncle Sisqo could call Uncle Alex if he wanted to reach me. I never had a second thought about my relationship with Raul. I was so in love with Victor, he was all I thought about and dreamed about.

  I continued to work at Aunt Tali’s office for the summer. Vic and Al came to help out too, since Aunt Tali was pregnant and in the bathroom, all day. She laughed when I told her that I was in no rush to do anything that could have me sick like her.

  I love Victor, but even if he tried to talk me into sex it wasn’t happening. Aunt Tali couldn’t make it through a meal without being sick. Uncle Alex had been right; she was having twins again.

  When school started back, I had been extra focused. Victor was accepted to some great schools and I wanted to go wherever he was going. I even joined the dance squad, so I could have an after-school activity. That way I would get to go to Victor’s away games to dance.

  Alex started seeing one of my friends, Vanessa, from the dance squad. We all began to do a lot of double dating. Vanessa was happy we weren’t going away this Christmas.

  Her parents went away to Paris without her, so she stayed with us for the holidays. Aunt Tali looked like she was going to pop any day now, so all of us girls made a big fuss over her.

  It was Christmas Eve and Aunt Tali had fallen asleep on the couch in the family room. Victor, Alex, Vanessa and I were all in the living room watching TV. I’d been busy begging Victor to tell me what he got me for Christmas. I was sure he didn’t top the earrings he bought me last year. I still wear them all the time.

  “Please Poppa, tell me,” I pleaded. “If you love me you’ll tell me.”

  “Nice, I love you, but I’m not telling you anything,” Victor laughed and kissed my nose.

  “You stink,” I pouted.

  “That’s funny you always tell me you love my cologne,” Victor laughed and pulled my face into his neck.

  “Stop,” I giggled and tried to pull away. “Come on Victor, it’s almost midnight.”

  “Okay, fine,” he whispered in my ear. “Meet me in your room.”

  “I don’t want that for Christmas,” I said and wrinkled my nose. Victor pinched my side. “Okay, okay.”

  I ran up to my room and practically bounced out of my skin as I waited for Victor to show up. I sat on the bed, then jumped back up to pace. I sat down again and the door opened.

  I jumped up, running over to Victor and wrapped my arms around his neck. I pecked him on the lips as he placed one hand on my back and held the other behind his back. It had to be jewelry again for him to just need one hand.

  “Let me see,” I chimed as I bounced up and down.

  “Calm down,” Victor laughed. “You’re ruining it.”

  “Okay, okay,” I sang and went to sit back on the bed.

  Victor followed me and sat down next to me on the bed. He caught my gaze searching for a minute, then leaned to kiss me. I smiled at him as he pulled away. He reached with his free hand to tuck my hair behind my ear.

  “Meilyah, do you love me?” he asked sincerely.

  “You know I do,” I chanted with excitement.

  “Do you trust me?”

  “Okay, is that a condom behind your back? I was serious, that is not a Christmas gift,” I grumbled.

  “Meliyah,” Victor growled.

  “Alright, yes Poppa, I trust you.”

  “Do you want to marry me?” he asked and pulled his hand from behind his back. He held a small box with the tiniest bow on it.

  I gasped and covered my mouth as I looked at his hand. I looked up at Vic and the huge smile on his face, then back at the box. I wipe the single tear that rushed out. He was proposing right now as my Christmas present.

  “Yes Victor, of course, I love you so much.” I rushed him and knocked him back against the bed. He laughed and wrapped his arms around me.

  “I love you too, open it,” he said placing the box in my palm.

  I opened the box to find a gorgeous ring inside. The square cut center diamond was canary yellow. It was set in the middle of a halo of white diamonds and the band was covered with diamonds inside and out. My mouth fell open, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

  “Do you like it?” Vic asked nervously.

  “Are you crazy Poppa, it’s gorgeous. Thank you,” I sang and kissed him.

  “My Dad gave it to my Mom,” he started. “She gave it to me after we found out about him. She wanted me to have it. I wanted to give it to you.”

  “Oh Victor, this means so much to me.” He slipped the ring on my finger and it fit perfectly. That when I remembered Alexis and Aliyah insisting we go ring shopping a few weeks ago. We all had our fingers sized. They must have been in on this.

  “I can’t wait to marry you,” Victor said as he leaned close enough to kiss me. “You make me so happy, Meliyah. I want to give you everything you want.”

  I leaned forward to kiss him. I held his face close and kissed him as deeply as I could. Vic started to moan and pulled away. His eyes glowed with excitement and desire as they looked back at me, but he backed away. I moved closer to him and reached to kiss him again.

  “Why don’t you ever try?” I asked. Victor is not like any of my other boyfriends. He has never tried to put his hands in my pants or under my skirts. I know he finds me attractive because I can feel when he gets excited by me.

  “Not here, I respect their rules,” he replied with that look of desire still in his eyes.

  “But we go out and you still don’t,” I pushed.

  Victor paused as he stared at me. He leaned in and kissed my neck. His lips lingered on my skin before his tongue flicked out against it. “Mama, for real… I want to make you scream,” he whispered in my ear, then bit it softly. “When we do, I want it right. You’ll be happy you waited for me.”

  I pulled away shocked. Victor never talked to me like that. I looked him over and saw him totally differently. He was very serious. I never wanted anyone more than I wanted him then. I looked at him and smiled.

  “Okay,” I said shyly. “I love you, Victor.”

  “I know, that’s why I can wait. You’re all mine, forever, I don’t need to rush,” he shrugged.

  “Thank you Victor,” I said and kissed him softly.

  “Let’s go show everyone. I think they are opening gifts now,” Victor said excitedly.

  He jumped up from the bed and pulled me from the room. We could hear ev
eryone’s excitement with the gifts downstairs. Victor stopped at the top of the stairs and pulled me onto his back. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on as he jogged down the stairs.

  We got to the family room where the tree and the gifts were. Everyone sat around lining up the gifts with their names. Victor put me down and pulled me in front of him, so he could hug himself around me.

  Aunt Tali was awake again looking restless. She turned to say something to one of us and the ring on my finger caught her eye. I could see her eyes flicker between the ring, Victor, and then me. She sat up from the couch holding her belly.

  “Does that mean what I think?” She asked with a gasp.

  “Yes,” Victor crooned, “she said, yes. I’m going to marry her.”

  “Wow,” Aunt Tali said looking stunned, “you gave her the ring. I wasn’t sure you would.” Tears started down Aunt Tali’s face.

  “Aw, Mom,” Victor whined.

  “No, I’m really happy for the both of you. I see how much you two love each other. You’re just my baby and the ring looks beautiful on her. Your dad would be so proud of you.”

  “Thank you, Aunt Tali,” I sang.

  “Meliyah, I think you should start calling me mom or something,” Aunt Tali laughed.

  “Really! That would make me so happy,” I said coyly.

  “You have always been welcome to,” she said with a big smile and held her arms out.

  I ran over and gave her a hug. Aunt Tali reached for my hand to look at the ring on it. She smiled at me and looked over at Victor.

  Uncle Alex gave Vic a big hug and Al was right behind him. I was so excited as it started to set in that I was marrying Victor. I had so much to do. We needed to decide when we wanted to get married, during college or after. I had a million thoughts.

  “So when is the big date?” Vanessa asked.

  “Yeah, what’s the plan?” Aunt Tali asked.

  “Her birthday,” Vic said confidently. I looked up at him, shocked.

  “Are you serious?” I asked.

  “Yup, we will both be eighteen. I already know what I want, why wait?” Victor announced.

  “Vic, I want a big wedding, my birthday is in six months. What about school? I didn’t get into everywhere you did,” I insisted.

  “You got into the school I want to go to. You can have a big wedding. Six months is enough time.”

  “You’re not playing,” Aunt Tali chuckled. “Just like Victor, I tell you.”

  “I know,” Uncle Alex laughed. “I think us Delgado men find the right one and make it happen.”

  “That’s for sure,” Aunt Tali beamed with a knowing look directed at Uncle Alex.

  “But Vic, I don’t have enough money. I need to get a job or something,” I protested.

  “She’s kidding, right,” Aunt Tali snorted. “You’re not paying for this.”

  “Any more excuses princess?” Victor asked.

  “No,” I shook my head. “We’re getting married on my birthday,” I squealed.

  “We had it made Alex. Their already getting married and going to college and you want to go start over,” Aunt Tali teased and shook her head.

  We all laughed and everyone started to pick the order they wanted to open their gifts in. Aunt Tali kept me seated by her, so she could quiz me on the kind of wedding I wanted. Victor came to sit on the floor next to me while I played in his hair. Everyone was so happy. I didn’t think this Christmas would get any better.

  chapter Twenty-six

  New Delgado’s

  After opening gifts everyone went to sleep for a few hours, then we were back in the family room. Aunt Tali had planted herself there, she was too uncomfortable and fussy to move anywhere, but to the bathroom. We all made sure she ate and had everything she wanted.

  Aunt Tali had sent Uncle Alex and Alexis out to the store for bridal magazines, while I slept. She had flipped through them and stuck post-its in them in between nodding off. When I got in the room, she already had a stack prepared for me to look through.

  Victor came downstairs dressed up in the outfit I bought him for Christmas, along with the watch I’d given him. Once again, I felt like my gifts were nothing compared to what he’d given me. However, he looked like he was more than happy as he came to sit with me.

  Victor started to ask questions about the magazines. He laughed at Aunt Tali and her post its. She balled one up and threw it at him. We all laughed as it popped him right in the forehead.

  “I love you too, Mom,” Victor chuckled.

  “I love you too, oh,” Aunt Tali cried and balled up. “Alex, Alex.” Uncle Alex came running in from the hall where he and TJ were tossing a ball.”

  “Tali, Mama, you alright,” Uncle Alex said anxiously.

  “My water just broke,” she panted as she gripped at the shirt she was wearing.

  “Victor, you get your mother’s truck, pull it to the front. Alex, you help me get her to the car. Meliyah, get her bag for me,” Uncle Alex said quickly.

  “Daddy we want to come,” Aliyah said in a hurry.

  “Alex will drive you, Liz, TJ, Jose, you’re ride with us. Let’s go, now,” he demanded.

  We all rushed to do as he said. Victor had disappeared the moment Uncle Alex opened his mouth. When I got outside with the bag, Vic already had the truck pulled up, helping to get Aunt Tali in the car.

  Alex rushed to start his car and got everyone piled in. It was cold out, but Aunt Tali was sweating like it was the middle of the desert.

  Victor looked so nervous as we drove to the hospital. He reached over and squeezed my hand. I know how much he loves his mom, even if he can be a little stubborn sometimes.

  When we got to the hospital, they rushed Aunt Tali inside as she was whimpering in pain. All the children she has and she is still in pain, was all I could think as I watched her.

  Victor wrapped his arms around me as we made our way to the waiting room with the rest of the kids. Aunt Tali is amazing to be doing this again. She really loves Uncle Alex.

  I looked at Victor as we sat. He looked so stressed. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. He looked me in the eyes and softly pecked me on the lips. I wished there was more I could do.

  I was surprised. Uncle Alex was in front of us announcing the birth of Celica Layla Delgado and Cesar Juan Delgado in less than an hour. We all went to line up for a turn at the nursery.

  Uncle Alex stood inside the glass holding them up for us, when Victor and I walked in. They were so tiny and cute. I wanted to hold them too.

  Celica already looked like Aunt Tali as she shoved her little fist in her mouth. Cesar looked like Victor a little, which made me think about what our babies would look like. I looked at Victor as he smiled at the new additions to his family. I know how much he loves his siblings, he’s great with TJ and Jose.

  “They’re so cute,” I sang.

  “Just like our babies will be,” Victor crooned and wrapped his arm around my waist. He’d been thinking the same thing I was.

  “You want babies?” I asked curious to know how he felt about starting a family.

  “Of course, please tell me you want kids, Mama. You said you want a family, right,” Victor said with an anxious.

  “With you,” I nodded. “Yes, I do, with you.”

  A huge grin hit Vic’s face. He laced his fingers between mine and pulled me against his chest as he looked back into the nursery. Uncle Alex had Cesar waving at us.

  I thought about it and I did want babies. Looking at Aunt Tali’s new babies. I saw how happy her husband was because of the gift she had just given him, two beautiful new babies. I couldn’t wait to be married and have our own family.

  We took a few more minutes to look at the babies before letting the next two in to get to meet them. Victor was extra clingy when we left out of the nursery. He kissed my neck and whispered how much he loved me.

  He told how happy he was. I thought about what school would like after the vacation, when I showed up with a hug
e ring on my finger. Shelia and Bonita already look at me like I have two heads every time they see me.

  Shelia had been the one that marked Victor up, trying to make me jealous. I couldn’t wait for her to see my ring. She had been giving Victor attitude all year, like he really cared. I was the only one she actually got to.

  I was just in disbelief that I was even getting married. This turned out to be the greatest day ever. I was engaged and the two most beautiful babies I had ever seen were born.

  chapter Twenty-Seven

  History Repeats

  Having two new babies didn’t slow down Aunt Tali, or should I say mom. She had been helping me plan the wedding, as well as planning a graduation party and birthday party for Vic and Al all at the same time. It was perfect that my birthday fell right on a Saturday.

  The church we went to was even available for the ceremony. We were having an evening wedding. I didn’t have many people to invite, but my new mom had that covered. The only person I wanted there for sure was Uncle Sisqo.

  Uncle Sisqo had come to the house to see me and the new babies. He looked happy for me when we told him I was getting married to Victor. I had been accepted to a lot of great schools after I focused myself. Uncle Alex and Uncle Sisqo were happy about that too.

  My whole life had turned around. A little over a year ago, I was trying to buy drugs to serve and school was the last thing on my mind. Now I was graduating with honors and my principal wanted me to speak at graduation.

  I had written a paper about my life and one of my teachers shared it at a faculty meeting. None of my teachers knew my real story and they were all floored at how far I had come and how well I was doing. Aunt Tali was so proud of me. She made a website and posted my story for other girls to read.

  Uncle Sisqo told me he was leaving it up to me to tell Raul about the wedding. He said Raul is still upset about me not calling him or letting him know I was okay. Raul said he still wanted to see me, but Uncle Sisqo had been telling him to stay away from us in New Jersey.

  I didn’t know what to say to Raul. I had nothing to say. I’d moved on with my life.