by Lila Felix
“I never married, Alma.”
“Why not?”
She was touching the back of my hair again, and it caused a thousand hairs to stand up on end. I swallowed against all the things I wanted to say to her that were now stuck, wanting to come out.
Then I made the biggest mistake of them all. A mistake that had my heart pounding against my sternum and my breath about to hitch in my lungs.
It was like the first time I’d seen her all over again.
I pulled her closer where her lips were a mere inch from mine, full and plump and begging me to cover her mouth with mine. “Come on, Alma, how could I?”
Chapter Five
Alma
If there were three words that could stop my heart from beating it would be, how could I? Especially from Austin. Does this mean he was waiting for me? Does this mean the daydreams I’ve had were true and not just a figment of my imagination?
“Austin.” I breathed his name. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you only left me because of your father?”
Staring deeply into his eyes, I shook my head. “He wasn’t the complete reason.”
“You never told me what it was. Why did you run away from me when I was kneeling in front of you with a ring?”
Suddenly, all the pain and memories were flooding my brain, and it was bringing tears to my eyes. I pushed myself away from him. I couldn’t think straight with him this close to me. “I have to go.” I turned toward the door and rushed away from him.
I didn’t want to go home but wasting gas driving around wasn’t a bright idea either. I ended up at an all-night diner with a hot cup of coffee and the power not to cry in it. Although I couldn’t keep it up forever.
I remember the day I left and have replayed it over and over. Papa had caught Austin and me kissing and jerked me away from him. When we got home he yelled about how I was ruining my future because Austin was using me and we were from different cultures. Reminding me, I was sixteen and Austin was twenty-three. He went on and on about how we would never be compatible.
Papa didn’t know what he was talking about. Austin and I were meant to be together. I ran away from Papa and went back to the ranch.
Austin had been in the stables when I arrived at the ranch. He appeared to have been crying, but I never asked if he really was crying, I just leaped into his arms.
We fell asleep in the hayloft and when I woke I knew being in his arms was the way I wanted to wake up every day. After breakfast, we walked hand in hand around the ranch. Austin began to talk about our future together. However, it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. He had other plans. He wanted to run away and elope and wanted me to live on the ranch and help it grow more.
I loved the ranch and my dream was always to come back to it, but I didn’t want to marry at sixteen. College and living my own life was my highest priorities. My plan was to do this and remain with Austin, but instead, he was on one knee telling me this was how it was going to be. I didn’t want to be controlled by Papa and most certainly not Austin.
So I ran and left all that I knew, but he was never far from my thoughts.
After spending almost four hours on the ranch with Mr. Chambers, I didn’t see Austin one time. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see him, and I was certain he didn’t want to see me since I ran away from him – again.
When I got back home, Mama was hard at work making a spread of food. “What’s all this?”
“We’re having family over.”
Now for some people that would mean five to ten people but not our family. Even though my parents wanted a houseful of children, they only had me. However, all my aunts and uncles had numerous children between them and that means they’re all coming.
“Get on an apron and help.” Mama ordered and I do as told.
Everyone always came over here because Mama was the best cook in Texas. I dared anyone to make better food because there wasn’t anyone. She even entered a few contests every once in a while and won every single time.
As the family arrived, Papa would greet them and escort them out to the backyard. Everyone was happy to see me because it had been a while since I’d been home. There was one cousin who I was looking forward to seeing.
Tara.
She and I were practically twins, only a couple of months apart. We grew up next door to each other almost all our lives until my uncle moved across town. However, Tara and I were never far from each other. We even went to colleges close to each other. Shortly before we graduated, she met a guy and fell in love. He was almost ten years old and not Hispanic. It was another first for our family.
I was taking out a tray of drinks for everyone when I heard the squeal behind me. “Alma.” I placed the tray down just in time as she jumped into my arms. This had been the longest Tara and I hadn’t seen each other, even though we texted all the time.
“I’ve missed you.” I hugged her tightly.
“You have no clue,” she said.
Together we headed into the house and up to my room. I knew I should have mingled with my family, but I had to tell her what happened the night before. And I did. I told her every detail of what I encountered with Austin.
“Oh, Alma.” She held my hand. “I know how much you love him and this just proves he still loves you.”
I shrug. “I’m not sure.”
“Why don’t you two sit down and talk. Like real adults. It’s been six years and a lot has changed for him – and you. You’re much stronger.”
“How did you it?”
“What?”
“You and Michael. How did you just stand up to your parents?”
Tara gave me a sad smile. “It was hard. Dad still barely speaks to me, but Mom is coming around a bit. Especially since she wants to help with the wedding details.”
I nodded.
“Speaking of wedding details, you’ve not given me an answer about being my maid of honor.”
I smiled. “You know I would love to.”
“But…”
“I may be at work.”
“Good grief. Take a day off, girl. This is my wedding.” She pleaded. “Plus, I don’t know how many family members are coming since I’ve become the outcast.”
“You’re right. You’re absolutely right. I would love to stand by your side.” I hugged her and she squealed again.
“Now, we just have to get you married.”
I laughed. “No, I think Papa and Mama are shoveling enough men in my face right now, I don’t need any more help in that department.”
“Seriously, talk to Austin. You two are meant to be together. It seems he’s been waiting for you, and I know you’ve been waiting for him. This could be your second chance.”
I hung my head. She was right. I needed to be an adult.
Chapter Six
Austin
I wasn’t lying in bed thinking about what could’ve been with Alma. I wasn’t. I was just awake processing the events of the last few days.
And thinking about Alma.
She felt so good in my arms. We always went together like we were made for each other. Our town wasn’t ready for her in that dress. Hell, I wasn’t ready for Alma in that dress.
She wasn’t that sixteen year old beauty anymore.
She was all woman now.
“Austin!” I heard my name being yelled after a loud thump from downstairs. I’d taken my parents’ old room after Dad had his stroke so he wouldn’t have to worry about going up the stairs and I wouldn’t have to worry about him falling down the stairs either.
“Dad, I’m coming.”
I jumped up and almost killed myself getting out of the room to rush downstairs. He kept yelling my name. He must’ve not heard me answer.
“I’m here, Dad.”
It took what seemed like half an hour to get to the room.
“Dad!” One look in the room and my heart plummeted to my stomach in fear. He was face down on the floor in his pajamas. His walker was across the
room.
There was blood coming from under his head.
I rushed to my knees and grunted as I turned him over. He was dead weight even though he was moving his arms, it wasn’t helping.
Looking at his face, I inspected every inch until I found his mouth and nose were bleeding but I couldn’t tell if the blood on his nose was from his mouth or the other way around. His eyes were glassy, and he was clearly out of it because he continued to call my name.
I needed help.
I pulled the house phone from its resting place near his bed and called her. I didn’t want to, but at this point, I only trusted one person in the world with my dad’s health.
She answered with a groggy voice, and I pursed my lips before speaking.
“Alma, Dad fell. I’m not sure what happened. But there’s blood and bruising. He’s out of it.”
She told me to give her ten minutes.
I heard the concern in her voice and knew she would be on time for him.
“Come on, Dad.” I cursed under my breath, thinking maybe his blood sugar was low again. It would explain the glassy eyes.
I scrambled across the room, grabbing the glucometer. A few seconds and beeps later, I was giving him a shot of insulin in his stomach.
“Hey, what happened?”
She was cool and calm as ever. Always had been.
“I don’t know. I woke up to him calling for me and found him face down. His blood sugar was forty-two, so I gave him some insulin. He was bleeding too. I think he hit his mouth on the floor when he fell.”
“Okay. Let me assess him on the floor and then we can get him on the bed.”
She went to work while I gave her some space to move around. Mumbling a few things to herself, she wrote on her hand with a pen, probably needing to take real records later.
“His blood pressure is a little low, but that could be from the low blood sugar. His glucose seems to be okay now, thanks to you. The bleeding is coming from his lip. He probably busted it on the floor when he fell. He needs to be cleaned up.”
I moved to start cleaning up his lip. Alma stopped me with her hand on my wrist.
“Austin, he needs more than his lip cleaned. Let me do my job, okay? Just help me get him on the bed.”
Looking down, I noticed my poor father must have urinated on himself after the fall since his bed was still dry.
I was a horrible son.
“I’m sorry. Yeah, let’s get him on the bed.”
It took a lot of wrangling, but Alma knew just how to balance his weight against her smaller frame. And the woman was ten times stronger than she looked.
There’s no way I could’ve done it without her.
“Why don’t you clean yourself up, and I’ll take care of this.” I hesitated. He was my father and no matter what it was hard to watch someone else take better care of him than I could.
“Hey, I’ve got this. He’s important to me too. I’ll be finished before he even comes to. I promise.” She held out her pinky and smiled at me. It was a gesture that used to mean everything to me.
Her pinky swears were for life.
Most of the time.
I walked out without returning the swear but knew that it meant business.
Dragging myself up to my room, I changed into a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, embarrassed that I’d been in my boxers in front of Alma the whole time. Hopefully, she’d been too busy with Dad to notice.
I waited outside the room, listening to the sounds of her taking care of him. She cooed at him, calming him and gently singing about how he was going to be okay.
It wasn’t even ten minutes later when she opened the door.
“Hey, he’s awake now. He wants to talk to you.”
She stepped out and got so close to me that her chest pressed against my side as she rose up on her tiptoes. I could smell her shampoo, and it made my stomach warm and my heart pound uncontrollably.
“He doesn’t know anything about the mess and we are going to leave it that way. Our secret, okay?”
Her whisper burned in my ear and caused a vibration of shivers to ripple through my body.
I nodded, completely unable to form words.
She nodded and gathered the pile of laundry in the hallway.
“I can get that,” I said, finally finding my voice.
“Nope. You go talk to him.” She winked at me.
She could bring down an entire army with that wink.
I went into the room and Dad was looking out the window into the night.
“Hey, Dad. Next time you want a pizza, just ask.”
He chuckled a little, his belly jumping with the motion. “Just wanted to try to go to the bathroom by myself.”
“Little by little, Dad. Isn’t that what you always told me.”
He grunted. “I get aggravated.”
“I can’t imagine how aggravated you get. I’m sorry for that. But let’s try to be patient. Breaking your face open won’t make you walk any faster.”
He reached up with two fingers and touched his bottom lip then sucked in a hiss through his teeth. “Hurts.”
“Maybe Alma can give you something for it.”
“Already on it.” She came in just in time with a needle in her hand and a small computer. “I’ve entered all my notes. Say what you want to now ‘cause this morphine is gonna knock you naked, Mr. Chambers.”
He smiled up at her, that smile reserved only for her. “You promise?”
“Such a flirt! Oh goodness, I always knew Austin got it from you. Shame on you. Anything you need before I give you this?”
In addition to Dad’s busted lip, he was bruised all over. His arms had some new bandages on them and his lip was double the regular size. There was even a cut near his ear.
“I love you, Dad. See you in the morning.” I spoke before he did, needing to get the sentiment out.
“Love you, Austin, and you too, Alma. Both of you.”
Alma leaned down and kissed his forehead before sticking the needle in his arm. He smiled at me once before his eyelids drooped and he grew still.
“Thanks, Alma. I… I don’t know how I would’ve…”
“I know.” She scooted closer and leaned against my side. This time, I offered her my pinky finger.
It was a whole hell of a lot more than a finger I was offering her.
It was a truce.
It was my heart.
It was my gratitude.
She linked her finger through mine and swung it a little.
“I’m gonna sleep on the couch, just in case he needs me again.”
I chuckled, not being able to help myself. “Last time you spent the night it didn’t end so well. You sure about that?”
She closed her eyes. Maybe trying to remember. Maybe trying to forget.
“I’m a big girl now. Dad knows I have to spend the night sometimes. I’m not that sixteen year old girl wrapped in your arms in the barn, Austin.”
“No, I can see that. Why don’t you take my bed.”
“No, I want to be down here in case he calls me.”
I put my index finger to my mouth. “If I recall correctly you sleep like the dead. Are you sure you’re gonna hear him?”
She laughed and blushed at the same time. “Now I wake up at the sound of a mouse farting. Not even kidding. Nurse life.”
“Okay. Have it your way. Let me get you some blankets and pillows. Hold tight.”
I left the room but on my way out, I swore I heard her say, “I will this time.”
Chapter Seven
Alma
When I opened my eyes, I had to take a second to remember I wasn’t sixteen and in Austin’s house. I was an adult, and I was here for Mr. Chambers. The smell of coffee and pancakes led me to the kitchen, but first I checked on Mr. Chambers. He was still asleep. I didn’t give him a lot of morphine because I wanted to make sure there were no signs of a concussion.
“Good morning.”
I stopped in my tracks and did my bes
t to keep my jaw from dropping. Of course, Austin was standing in the kitchen shirtless with his jeans hanging lower than they should. He was just as built as he was when we dated.
“You sleep well?”
“Um… yes, I did.” I finally answered as I turned away and tried my best not to gawk at him.
“You know where the coffee is,” he said and flipped another pancake.
I headed over and quickly made myself a cup and sat down. Austin had cooked for me before, but it was always breakfast sandwiches, which wasn’t really cooking, but they were good. He already had the table laid out with plates and silverware.
“Hope you’re hungry.” He set a large stack of pancakes in the center of the table.
“I am. Mama and Papa had a get together last night, but I spent my night talking to Tara.”
“Hey, how is Tara?” He took the chair next to me.
“Good. She’s getting married in the winter.”
“No way.” He chuckled. “Never thought she would. She was always independent.”
“She is, but Michael is a great fit for her.”
“Michael?” He stared at me for a second.
I knew what question was running through his mind. “He’s white.”
“I didn’t ask that.”
“You were thinking that.” I cut into a pancake.
“I take it your family isn’t happy.”
I scoffed. “Nope, but you know Tara. She’s tough and they’re slowly – albeit very slowly – coming around.”
“I’m sure your father isn’t happy about her upcoming nuptials.”
I put my fork down. “I’m not getting into this with you.”
He held up his hands. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
We ate in silence for a few moments, and Tara’s words kept replaying in my head. I did love Austin, and my heart still belonged to him. There possibly could be a long and happy relationship.
“What did you mean the other night? When you said, how could I?” My question comes out softer than I meant.
“You know what I meant.” He didn’t look up at me, just pushed his pancake around his plate. “But I realized it’ll never happen.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
