TIANA
Dinner had gone smoothly, and as much as I tried not to- I liked Aunt Jeane,
And not just because she smacked the shit out of Luis.
Most of the stories she told me consisted of embarrassing periods in Luis' life such that for majority of the meal he was flushed. Much to his dismay, his aunt wouldn't let up on the teasing and she went so far as to bring out the photo album.
Frankly all of us could never boast that we've never taken one bad photo. When I saw a picture of a child version of Luis picking his nose, in cute blue overalls in the sun I choked on my own spit from laughing so hard. Aunt Jeane broke down as well whilst he glared at the both of us," I can't believe you still have that picture."
"The world is a cruel place, Lu. Anything that makes you happy, you grab and hold onto it. Or in this case," she gestured towards me grinning," you apply the two e's."
"Two e's?" I asked looking over the picture again.
"Expose and embarrass," she replied poking Luis whose frown turned into a small smile at the way Aunt Jeane poked his cheek. It was clear as day the amount of love these two had for each other and just how close they were.
Flipping through I stopped short at another picture of Luis, he seemed to be in his teen years given the fact he was nearly towering over the woman who had similar features to Aunt Jeane. He stood a few meters apart from her as she smiled warmly into the camera whilst being embraced by a much taller black man.
To say I was shocked would be scratching the surface to how I felt analysing the picture further to see how unlike the other pictures I saw of Luis smiling, in this one his face was neutral- void of any emotion. When Aunt Jeane noticed how silent I was, she took note of what had captured my attention.
"That's my sister, Annabelle, Luis' mother. She came to see me that summer. Luis was . . . fourteen if I'm not mistaken and that's the time I met Chris," she pointed to the man smiling." My sister was unlucky when it came to love, but the thing I've realized about life is that it gives you things unexpectedly. Even if you weren't looking for it- much less wanting it," she chuckled lightly running her hand over the photo with a fond smile on her face.
"At first I didn't like him," Luis said gazing at me.
"Really, hard to tell," I mumbled, I had already taken note of the way he seemed disinterested with what was going on around him.
"Sarcasm, really? As if I don't feel bad about how cold I was to him already."
As much as I joked about it, a part of me wondered if part of why he disliked the man who was obviously in a romantic relationship with his mother stemmed from the protective nature most children have for their parents or if there was more to it.
"As much as things started out roughly, the two of them now have a great relationship which isn't something I could say for Luis' dad," Aunt Jeane replied. The curse that slipped past his lips matched the sour expression he wore.
Now that she mentioned it, out of the numerous pictures I saw I had yet to see the man that contributed to the other half of his genetic make-up and judging from his mood Luis didn't seem eager to talk about it either. He stood up quietly and not long after I heard the front door shut. I made a move to stand and follow until the hand on my knee belonging to Aunt Jeane made me sink back down to my seat.
"Trust me, when it comes to his father . . . it's best to just let him cool off."
"How bad was it- if you don't mind me asking?"
Aunt Jeane pursed her lips whilst I anxiously sat watching her, what she said made the hairs on the back of neck stand on end," His father, well that's if he even deserves such a title, almost stole the good in my sister. Ironic considering his vows to protect her."
That dampened my mood significantly and I kept my gaze on the beaming woman as Aunt Jeane shifted around. The woman next to me now was no longer smiling. The thin line and burning blues let me know that behind every ray of sunshine was a thunderstorm that could make an appearance at any time.
"My sister always did have a soft spot for a broken man," she frowned," fortunately she had enough sense to leave that bastard and took Luis before anymore of his toxic nature could rub off on him."
"So once she left, Chris came along?"
"Yeah . . . she seemed to like a man in a uniform. Chris was a cop at the time before he retired and soon enough he introduced us to his daughter, Rita," she smiled flipping the page to a photo of Rita smiling with Luis mother.
I'm surprised I didn't experience whiplash from how quickly my head whipped around. She laughed when she registered the shock on my face," I thought Luis told you he had a sister?" As she said it, everything began to make sense from what Rita had told me about her relationship with him. I assumed they just happened to be very good friends- not family.
"Yeah, there's more to our family than meets the eye. It's a shame Anna passed," though she smiled I could see the pain behind her eyes.
The same pain that sat comfortably on top of me," What happened to her? Luis d-didn't mention much about her."
"You know when she was with Luis'. . ." she paused briefly seeming to think something over," sperm donor. She grew paranoid . . . and felt like if she was ever going to leave this world it would be by his hand." The chuckle that slipped past her lips was dark and oddly sent a chill up my spine as I watched her closely," maybe I should be thankful it was cancer instead that took her and not that sick man."
I reached out and grabbed her warm hand giving it a reassuring squeeze. She closed her eyes momentarily before she opened them and the darkness behind them had vanished to a look more hopeful.
"Its taken a lot for our family to get to the point where no matter what, we keep. . ."
"Moving," I finished staring at the ground. Soon I felt her hand under my chin, pushing my head up. Her eyes shining with a kindness that baffled me for the sweet attitude she displayed towards me, given this was the first time we had ever met each other.
"He's far from perfect, admittedly he can be annoying. But he's got a good heart," she gestured towards the door and I knew immediately what she was alluding to.
"You're right about the annoying part, he keeps pushing to be my friend for reasons beyond me," I chuckled past the odd feeling I was experiencing in my stomach.
She nodded her head quietly, her eyes moved over me and she tilted her head to the side as if she was trying to figure something out. I suddenly felt conscious and her eyes widened slightly once she took note at how I averted her penetrating gaze," Sorry," she smiled sheepishly,' it's just that you oddly look like-"
The sound of the door shutting cut her off and soon his heavy footsteps neared the dining-room." It's been good seeing you Aunt Jeane, I hate to cut this visit short but-"
"It's okay," she replied, grabbing my hand tightly," remember what I said," she whispered to me.
I nodded my head and even after we said our good-byes and we sat in silence as we moved along the quiet streets my mind was still reeling. I glanced subtly in his direction seeing the man currently driving in a whole new light. Past what the surface showed, there was a lot more to what made Luis tick.
***
"That visit was full of surprises," I murmured, voice filling the space of the vehicle once it came to a complete halt in front of my apartment building. He had yet to utter a single word which was strange considering he always had something to say. His silence was a bit unnerving and the uncertainty of how to deal with this version of Luis crept in to make me resort to being stuck in my seat, wondering what he was thinking.
When he made no move to say anything, I released a heavy sigh having grown impatient dealing with a brick wall. Reaching out to open the door, I cursed lowly at the fact it was locked. Glancing back I found him already watching me. His eyes held mischief behind them when he noticed my irritation.
"You're quite childish, aren't you? I swear you and my brother would be one in the same."
His deep chuckle moved all around us," Tell me about him."
His request although unexpected caused the defensive walls I've always been equipped with to surround me and block memories that were still unseasoned by the tricks of time to pour out of me. I was about to shake my head and tell him no, his large hand wrapped around mine.
Engulfing my hand to the warmth, his hold was strong and yet gentle. At first I was stiff from the contact, however, the look on his face made me breathe slowly to the point I relaxed a bit. Telling myself no danger was awaiting me especially when his fingers rubbed gentle circles.
"Tell me about him," he repeated this time a bit slower maintaining the slow motion. I leaned my head back against the headrest, eyes wandering all over the quiet streets. For a second I wondered if we were the only real proof of life amidst the night.
"You know," I chuckled lowly feeling the images overcome my eyes at the memories flooding my system," on nights I couldn't sleep. He had a habit of stealing the car keys . . . then we'd sneak out and drive around. With no direction and no destination in mind."
It surprised me that we never got caught.
"Sounds like you guys were close."
"Yeah," I bit my quivering lip at the downside that came with those good memories. The crippling sadness knowing that it would never happen again." We had the music on blast sometimes. Cause of him I grew to appreciate the small things, I mean . . . we didn't have those incredible houses so many people would sell their souls for. But he made me see that none of that mattered."
And in a way it didn't...
You won't go with all your worldly possessions to Heaven, even if you had fifty cars and/or ten houses.
The silence sunk in, neither of us said anything. It was far from uncomfortable and I relished in it- until the engine came on. I snapped my head in his direction to find him smiling coyly at me.
"Let's go for a drive then."
"But-"
My breath got caught in my throat when his face stopped a few inches from mine," Let's get lost, lose ourselves in these dark lanes and make our own music."
"Is this you trying to be poetic?" I mumbled slowly for the sake of keeping my voice from shaking.
He shrugged casually, his careless nature seeping through at the lack of caution behind his actions," If it gets you to say yes, unveil more of your old self to me. I'll spew some romantic lines from Shakespeare if that'll get you to say yes?"
I smiled feeling relieved at the sadness depleting each second I spent in the same space as him. His gaze showed no contempt and he observed me, waiting for my reply.
What am I doing?
I gave him a small nod, but it was a 'yes' nonetheless. An action so simple to do yet made his smile widen, stirring something within me that I had buried ages ago. A feeling spilling forth into a path I couldn't yet bear to name as he mumbled lowly," And onto this adventure we go, igniting the endless possibilities only lovers can attain."
"Shakespeare?" I asked studying his profile as he drove down the silent streets.
He briefly glanced in my direction smirking whilst shaking his head mumbling," Me."
As if that decreased these flutters that seemed to have begun an endless loop.