What would they say?
Richard Macatangay had long been erased in Alex's life ever since he decided to slowly kill himself from binging on alcohol. Though by now he was in the rehabilitation center, she had not spoken to him in years. There was still a part of her that did not fully forgive him because of the things he had done..
He had abandoned her when she needed him the most. When Clarice went to New Zealand, she was left alone with him. He had been in and out of the center, always saying he would stop drinking at some point but the recovery never came.
She thought she would never be able to leave their childhood home, but thanks to Robbie, that provided a room for her in his own home and finally, she was able to escape from what she called prison.
Since then, she never heard from him.
So how would she tell her daughter that it was truly impossible to invite her father at all?
Robbie, on the other hand, had decided.
"We might.. Maybe Grandma Laura will invite him," he told Sasha then muttered under his breath, "As always."
Knowing his mom, she would invite everyone including his father and his family even if he did not allow it at all. He had no choice but to be polite when the time comes but honestly, he hated it... especially if he was going to see the other family.
"Don't get mad at Linda, Robbie. It's not the girl's fault," her mother had told him once before when he was younger. It was the first time he ever saw them accidentally in the mall. His father was so affectionate with his half-sister, kissing her on the cheek. He secretly followed them around, as his father bought almost everything the girl pointed.
He did not like to feel jealous but that was what he felt at that time. The way his father treated him was so different from the way he treated Linda.
"Well, she was a girl, honey and you're a boy. So it's different," his mom reasoned.
"No, Mom! He did not love me the way he loved Linda and his wife. He bought me things yes, but he treated me as if I was an experiment. Trying to make a man out of me by buying me guns and such.. telling me these are boys' toys. 'You should act like a boy not some weak girl. That Alex is such a bad influence to you..."
Laura never convinced him again. It had embedded in his mind that he was nothing to his father at all, and to accuse Alex of being a bad influence to him was something he could never move on. He loved Alex more than his own father.
Sasha watched as his father and mother's reaction suddenly went blank.
Did she really say something bad to them? Why did they always act like this when they talked about their fathers?
To Sasha, having and meeting her dad was the most amazing thing that ever happened to her life, and somehow she thought that maybe the same thing would make her parents happy. Yet,she did not know everything since only the adults knew more than she did.
Sasha rolled her eyes at the thoughts and muttered under her breath.
"Grown-ups!"
***********
"So, what did I miss?" asked Michael as they all sat in the dining table again at their cabin. Toni had prepared the fish that they skinned. Now, it was fried fish and a mountain of rice with tomatoes, duck eggs and soy sauce in a small saucer, spread out in front of them.
Robbie and Alex suddenly remembered Manang Gloria who introduced them to simple Filipino dishes such as these.
"Toni, you just have no idea how I missed eating this!" Alex exclaimed as she took spoonfuls of rice and placed it on her plate. She suddenly remembered Manang Gloria using the term, "food for the poor."
"I know. I missed my Filipino nanny, Manang Sylvia. She was the one who taught me to eat this."
"I remember Manang Gloria.."
"Me too."
"Who is Manang Gloria, Mom?"
"She was like a mother to us. She was your dad's nanny."
"I see... will I have a nanny too?"
"Well you used to have one."
"No, she's my babysitter. Kiara."
"Yes... Kiara."
"Can we invite her and Christopher? I would love for them to come to your wedding, too. They're very nice."
"Sure, honey."
"Christopher?" Robbie asked, as hise eyebrows creased. This is the first time he was hearing another guy's name other than Miguel.
Could it be that Alex had some boyfriends other than Miguel? But she said she did not have anybody for ten years.
His heart suddenly felt uncomforable at the sudden thought of her with other guys. As much as he ahted to admit it, but he was actually feeling jealous.
"Wait! What wedding?" Michael suddenly asked, stopping Robbie from his thoughts.
Michael's eyes widened in surprise as he saw the glittering diamond ring on Alex's hand. "What the hell happened? Did you propose, man?! You didn't wait for me?"
Robbie chuckled. "And why do I have to wait for you? I already proposed to her while we were up hanging on the rope. I never knew the adrenaline rush could make me propose."
Toni and Alex laughed, while Michael cursed loudly.
"Shit, man!" Alex glared at him as Sasha gasped. "Oh, sorry. I forgot. No bad words in front of the kiddo," then he chuckled.
"Oh my, Michael! You should have seen them. It was really wonderful. My heart was just bursting with happiness," Toni added.
"I'm sure, it is. You're always a sucker for that," and he kissed her forehead. Then pointing a finger at Robbie, he teased, "I better be the best man, Rob. You owe me."
Robbie laughed. "Of course, you're the best man. Do I have any other choice?"
Everyone laughed except for Sasha who rolled her eyes. She did not understand how grown-ups were sometimes.
"Now, let's eat before the food go stale," Toni joked as everyone started eating.
"So who's Christopher again?" Robbie could not stop himself from asking again. He needed to know who this guy was and how involved had he been in Alex's life.
"He's a friend. He owned one of the restaurants I used to work in New Zealand."
"I see..." and he shrugged. But it bothered him somehow till that night.
*********
"What's wrong?" asked Alex as they were getting ready for bed. Alex was wearing her red nightgown while Robbie was half naked with only wearing long pajamas.
Alex feasted her eyes lustfully on his body, as he stood there deep in thought, hands on his hips.
Robbie had been silent almost the whole day. If he did answer her, it was very short. Alex knew right away that something was bothering him.
Alex walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, as he automatically held her waist. His eyes focused on her face.
"What's bothering you, my love?"
He sighed.
"I'm sorry... I was just thinking about the arrangements we needed to make as soon as we go home tomorrow."
"Is that what's really bothering you or something else?"
"Of course not. Why would I be bothered?" He lied.
"Was it about Christopher? Are you jealous?" and she bit her lip, her eyes slightly teasing.
"What if I am, what would you do?" and he pulled her closer to him. Their lips touching slightly.
"Well, let me show you then that you don't need to worry about that," and she pressed her lips on his as they hungrily tasted each other's lips.
It lasted long as she pulled her head away slightly, taking deep breaths before speaking.
"Are you convinced now?" she mumbled.
"Not yet," and he kissed her again, pulling her much tighter, shoving his tongue inside of her. He pulled her close as they slow danced toward the bed. Alex hit her back on the bed as Robbie plopped down on top of her.
It did not stop them from kissing as the intensity increased even more. They could feel each other's heat emanating from their bodies.
She laughed as he let go of her lips. She could feel his hot breath on her face. Robbie gazed at her as he pushed a strand away from her face.
"I love you, Alex," he whispered.
"I love you, too," she whispered back.
He leaned down again and pressed his lips on hers.
"I didn't know you're the jealous type," mumbled Alex as he kissed her cheek.
"Why would I want to share you with anyone except Sasha? I have shared you long enough so now, I'm keeping you."
Alex grinned. "You don't have to worry about that, love. I'm all yours."
He leaned closer to her ear. "And I will have you more on honeymoon."
Then he started kissing her neck as his hand slipped under her nightgown. She blew out a shaky breath.
Words stopped coming out of their mouths and was replaced with gasps and low moans as they started making love once again.
They knew that their love was stronger than anything and they hoped that it would last long.
Their time in the camp was something memorable and now as they readied themselves back home, they hoped the wonderful news that they would bring would somehow delight everyone.
Most especially Laura, who Alex knew she needed to deal with again, not just as a grandmother to her child but a real mother-in-law now.
Would she be able to accept the truth?
Only time would tell as the sun slowly rose up into the sky, revealing another day to look forward to.
Or perhaps dread...