American Fairytale (Dreamers)

by Adriana Herrera

  I smiled with a lot less confidence in this whole plan than I’d initially had, now that I’d heard Camilo’s apprehensiveness. “No matter what happens, like Camilo says, what’s important is that you’re happy.”

  She smiled and squeezed my shoulder again. “You two will be fine.”

  I really hoped she was right.

  Camilo

  I heard my phone’s voicemail alert as I got out of the shower. It sounded like Tom’s nightly message had arrived.

  I sighed and sat on my bed as I tapped the screen to listen. It was Thursday, almost a week since our fight, and we still hadn’t seen each other. On Sunday after calling me like ten times, he’d finally texted asking me if I wanted him to stop calling. I responded with one word.

  Never.

  He’d asked if he could just leave messages. I’d texted back a yes, and asked him not to give up on us, that I just needed time.

  So every night since then, he’d been leaving me these heart wrenching messages telling me all the ways in which I made his life better. The plans he had for the future, which all seemed to include me. It was not easy to resist, but I was glad I’d taken some time to think about what I wanted.

  By now I was certain I wanted to try again, but I still felt like I needed something, some proof Tom understood why what he did hurt me. He’d apologized, he’d made all kinds of promises. But I still didn’t know if he really got that I didn’t want someone who was lazy with what mattered to me.

  I played the voicemail, anxious to hear him. His deep voice on the speaker made my whole body shudder.

  “Hola, mi amor. Today’s message will be short, but I just wanted to say that I love you, I miss you and I hope I can see you very soon. Te amo, Camilo.”

  I almost called him then, because I was getting close to the point where my fortress of solitude was making almost no sense. Needing a distraction, I opened the Facebook app on my phone to check if my mom had posted anything new about her mysterious road trip. I had no idea who she was on this trip with, but she’d looked happy as hell on every picture she’d posted.

  On the first day she’d uploaded photos from Virginia Beach where they stopped, and since yesterday she’d been posting a few from her old haunts in Miami. She even wrote little captions about why each place was meaningful. There were so many places that were special to her and my dad, many of which I didn’t remember or hadn’t been to.

  When she called me last night she’d said she was going to visit his grave today. I knew it would be emotional and hard, and I told her I was nervous for her. But she sounded calm on the phone, and said she was looking forward to it. I expected some photos to be on Facebook already.

  As I opened the feed I saw she’d uploaded a few of the cemetery, which was a little creepy. My mom, like everyone else these days, seemed to lack a filter when it came to posting personal stuff on social media.

  There were some photos of the flowers she’d brought for my dad, and another one of her later in the day with two people who looked familiar. In the caption she said they were her old coworkers from the hospital she’d worked for when we lived there. She was smiling big in every picture, and she looked better than she had in years.

  Suddenly, I felt enormous gratitude for whomever had done this for her. It was clearly the right time for her to take this trip after all.

  I kept scrolling and when I saw the most recent post my heart stopped. I blinked and brought the phone closer, to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.

  It was a photo of my mom at a restaurant, with a group of about five people. The post she’d written said:

  At Versailles Restaurant on our last night. They still have the best Cuban food in Miami. These last few days have been a dream come true. It’s been wonderful to revisit all the places that were so special to me and my family after more than twenty years away. This has been a trip of healing, and I am so grateful for getting a chance to do it. I can’t wait to get back home and tell Camilo about everything he missed.

  She actually inserted a smiley face next, because I was in bizzaro world right now. The three words with which she ended the message were what almost gave me a cardiac episode.

  Thank you, Tom.

  There he was, my slippery as hell boyfriend sitting next to my mom and some random old people in Miami, holding up mojitos for the camera.

  That sneaky fucker.

  He’d driven my mother down to Florida. I should have been pissed he once again did something behind my back, but the only thing I felt was gratitude, and so much love.

  This was not just sending a check.

  Tom had driven for two days with my freaking mother in his car, and taken her to Miami so she could see my dad’s grave for the first time in twenty years. And tomorrow was going to get in the car and drive another two days to bring her back. That was not light work.

  That was love.

  Shit. I was so screwed.

  I quickly opened the text app and sent him a message.

  Camilo: You sneaky fucker.

  After a few seconds, I saw the three dots pop up and waited.

  Tom: Am I your boyfriend the sneaky fucker, or just plain old sneaky fucker?

  A laugh escaped my lips and I tapped another text right away.

  Camilo: Just get yourself and my freaking mother back here in one piece, and we’ll see about your status. You stubborn, insufferable man.

  I could feel my heart in my temples, and if I probed just a little I knew I’d find I was feeling stupid levels of happiness.

  Tom: You’re still texting, so it must mean I’m not at the very top of your shit list anymore.

  He thought he was hilarious.

  Camilo: Where’s Libe?

  Tom: With Maxwell. He felt bad for all the interruptions...

  Camilo: He should. Nosy asshole.

  Tom: LOL

  Camilo: When will you be back?

  Tom: Saturday, early evening most likely.

  Camilo: Okay.

  I really needed to say this.

  Camilo: And thank you.

  Tom: Not necessary, but you’re welcome. Will I see you when we get back?

  Camilo: Maybe. I’m calling my mom now and you better not be listening to what I say to her!

  Tom: You’re the boss, mi amor. I love you.

  Camilo: I love you too, you greasy bastard.

  Tom

  “It’s about damn time! I’ve been waiting here for hours.” My heart almost beat out of my chest when I saw Camilo waiting in the doorway of Dinorah’s apartment. It was almost 9:00 p.m. and we’d been on the road for over twelve hours. I was exhausted from all the driving I’d done in the last week. But every ache and pain evaporated when I saw him with his hands on his hips, trying his best to look pissed and failing completely.

  “Milito, papi, don’t yell at us, we’re tired.”

  He was not mollified in the slightest by Dinorah, and just kept glaring at us.

  “Of course you’re tired, who drives to Miami and back in a week?” he said, throwing his arms up, as he came up to us. “Do you think you’re still twenty-two, Dinorah? You’re sixty years old, woman.” He grabbed her as she made it to the door and hugged her hard. Closing his eyes as he put his nose in her neck. “I missed you, Mama.”

  “I missed you too, papi, but it was a very nice trip.” She looked over at me and Camilo pulled back from her to turn his attention my way, then pointed in the direction of my face.

  “You look like you’re about to collapse. Leave it to your slithery ass to figure out a way to get out of me yelling at you for yet again doing some sneaky shit.” He griped, as I stood there silently reveling in Camilo’s moody litany. “Of course you had to go and do something so fucking perfect and amazing. I now have no other choice but to take your shifty ass back.”

  This last part he sai
d softly as he grabbed my hand and dragged me into the apartment. I was still pulling Dinorah’s suitcase. He took it out of my hands and out of the way, so he could put his arms around my waist.

  I looked down at his face, losing myself in those gray eyes that came into my life to light up my world.

  “Are you taking pity on me then? Because, baby, I’m ready to keep groveling. I was always in for the long game with you, Camilo. From day one.” His eyes softened and his mouth fell open like he was trying to breathe through what he was feeling.

  He looked over his shoulder when he heard his mom’s suitcase rolling down the hallway to the bedroom.

  “Mama.” She stopped and walked back over to give us each a kiss on the cheek.

  “We’ll talk tomorrow, papi,” she told Camilo then looked up at me with a fond smile on her face. “Take this poor man home, he’s exhausted. Thank you again, Tom. I can’t tell you what these last few days have meant to me.”

  I looked at her, feeling so much for this woman. We’d spent hours talking while we drove and I’d learned so much about her and her strength. The things she’d lived through to come to this country, and those she’d experienced after.

  The love she had for her son.

  We were similar in so many ways, Dinorah and I. We’d come to this country clutching hard to our dreams, and we’d made the best of what we’d found here.

  “Yo se, Dinorah. It was an honor and a pleasure.” She gave me a kiss and tight hug, before pinching Camilo on the cheek. “Next time we’ll have to bring this one with us.”

  I turned to look at him and saw the emotion on his face as he whispered in agreement. “Next time.”

  She walked off again and closed the door of her bedroom behind herself.

  “So now you’re my mom’s favorite?”

  “Am I your favorite though? That’s what I want to know.”

  He pushed up, putting his arms around my neck and kissed me. I felt his smile as our lips met. We stayed there for a while, our bodies swaying as we touched and stroked. Feeling each other again after so many days apart. After all that hurt and silence.

  “I missed you so much, Camilo. It scared me so much to think I could have lost you. I’m sorry. I will never take the easy way out in our relationship again.”

  He nodded with his head pressed tight against my chest.

  “I know.”

  When we pulled apart, Camilo grabbed my hand, and started moving. “Come on, let’s get you home. I’ll drive because you look like you’re about to fall over.”

  I nodded tiredly and smiled as he pulled me to the door and out of the apartment.

  The world felt just as it should be with Camilo, once again, taking my hand and leading the way.

  Epilogue

  Camilo

  “The next time you suggest Christmas in the DR and I hesitate, please smack me upside the head.”

  I was living my best life right now with the windows down feeling the sea breeze touching my face. The road from the Santo Domingo airport was so close to the ocean that the water splashing against the rocks almost hit our car. It was seventy-eight degrees and sunny on December twenty-third, and I was having trouble remembering why I hadn’t agreed to coming a week earlier like Tom suggested.

  Tom smiled and shook his head, his eyes focused on the road.

  “How about I remind you we could be lounging on the beach in eighty degree weather, drinking beer, instead of freezing in East Coast winter hell?”

  I gave an enthusiastic nod at his brilliant suggestion as I lowered the car window all the way down. “Deal,” I said as I lifted my face to the warmth of the sun.

  The last nine months had been incredible.

  Tom and I were solid. After he and my mom got back from their trip to Miami, we took our time coming together again. We talked and made plans. There was a lot of figuring out to do, because we knew we were building something to last forever.

  My mother was doing great too. She’d ended up quitting her job at the hospital only a couple of months after her leave, when the agency she’d been going to for her support group offered her a job as an office manager. She loved it there and was a lot less stressed.

  She still had her struggles and bad days, but in general was doing much better. So much better in fact, she’d actually finally been up to getting on a plane to come on this trip. I looked at the rearview mirror and saw her and Libe chatting quietly. I assumed my mom was listening to all the instructions Libe had for what they would get up to once we got to the house. Those two were thick as thieves these days.

  There were still a lot of working parts to manage though. Work had been hectic for both Tom and I. Once the renovation in Harlem was done I finally had to come clean to Melissa about just how greatly I’d crossed boundaries with Tom. She’d been gracious and understanding, especially since I had done my job and then some, but I’d felt compelled to prove to her she could still count on me. And of course, I’d taken too much on. So now I was overseeing renovations on our other shelter.

  I’d also been consulting with a social services agency for LGBT survivors here in the DR, which Tom was funding fully from the ground up. His mom and some of her friends were heading the project, and they’d asked me to help them with the programs they would implement. I was planning to visit while I was here, and could not wait to meet the staff and see the space. Tom on his end had a few things in the works with Henock and Sanjay here in the DR and in East Africa. His semi-retirement was slowly coming to an end, but he was trying very hard to maintain the work-life balance which eluded him before.

  I turned around to look at him, and had to hold back from running my hands all over him. He was all business driving the humongous Range Rover which had been waiting for us at the airport parking lot. His parents left it for him there this morning, so we’d just walked to it and driven away in it.

  No big deal.

  One of the biggest challenges for me in the last year was learning to let the over-the-top shit that happened with Tom roll off my back. His money, the way he lived, and the things he could afford were just a part of who he was. He was so generous and low-key about it all the time, I’d had to let it go a bit. I was also getting better at allowing myself to enjoy some of the many perks. Like spending a week at my boyfriend’s beachfront penthouse in the DR.

  God, he was so fucking hot.

  How did he still turn me on this much after a year? He looked so sexy today with a little salt-and-pepper scruff and his aviator glasses. We’d taken off our New York City winter gear after we got out of the airport, so right now he was wearing jeans, a tight t-shirt and leather flip-flops on his feet. I wanted to climb on his lap and have my way with him right here in this damn car.

  My thoughts must have shown on my face, because he ran his hand along my thigh, and gave me one of those low filthy chuckles that got me so worked up.

  “My folks are waiting for Libe and Dinorah to take them down to the beach as soon as we get in.” He turned his face towards me and licked his lips while I sat there shivering. “So we can, umm, take a nap while they’re gone.” His fingers were running along the inside of my thighs in a manner suggesting there would be no such thing as napping once we were alone.

  I had absolutely no problem with that.

  I cleared my throat and looked at the backseat again, and saw the scheming to take over the world back there was still going strong.

  “A nap sounds nice. Then you’ll take me to your private beach, Mr. Hughes?”

  Another dirty grin. “I have some spots I can show you.”

  “I bet you do.” I cut my eyes at him, like I didn’t know exactly what he was up to. “I’m here to get to know the rest of your family, not be your personal entertainment, Thomas Caonabo.”

  “I promise you’ll like it.”

  So fucking smug.

  I
was about to tell him so when Libe yelled as Tom took a right turn off the highway onto a small road.

  “Abuela’s house!”

  The road we turned onto was literally feet from the ocean. We drove past villas and houses while Libe frantically pointed at an apartment building at the end of the street. Tom’s dad had retired the same year he sold his company. As a gift Tom bought some land in a beach town right outside of Santo Domingo, and built four condos for the family.

  As people do.

  So now his parents lived there full time. The other three were there for Tom, his brother and any friends who wanted to come to the beach. It was completely over the top, but like I said, I was rolling with it.

  As Tom parked the car in one of the spaces on the gated lot in front of the building, I heard my mom exclaim from the back.

  “Tom, this is gorgeous.”

  I looked up at the building myself and yeah, she was right. It looked like something out of a celebrity lifestyles magazine.

  It had four floors and there was glass on all sides, so you could see the ocean from any spot in the building. From where we parked we could see the white sandy beach just a few yards away. I turned to Tom with my jaw on the floor and saw him nodding as he maneuvered the car.

  “We were lucky to get this land. My parents love it here, and it’s nice to be able to have a place at the beach when we’re home.”

  He jumped out of the car as his parents came out of the lobby and walked to the car. Libe was in the back taking off her seat belt, and launched herself at her abuela when she opened the door.

  “Abuela! We’re here!”

  Tom opened the door for me and I got out to greet his parents. I’d met his dad at the shelter dedication ceremony back in the spring, and they’d both come back in the fall for a weekend. They’d met my mom then too, of course they all got along great. I also loved Tom’s mom.