I was shocked to even hear that. She never let on that my other family had something to say like that.
Even though my grandfather passed when I was so little, I have heard from my father the struggle my mom and grandma had with his passing.
He was navy officer which is how he met my grandmother to begin with as her family owned the ports.
He had died when he was on duty which devasted everyone. It was a blessing they were able to return his body to us as not many seafaring men have that same fate of being able to rest at home.
According to my abuelita, he was the love of her life and she felt no need to replace him. So she choose to live life holding on to his memory.
It has been some twenty odd years since he passed. So I was not sure why my other family members would talk that way about my grandma when they also had someone who passed many years ago.
It was my late aunt Kit. My father had two sisters, my late aunt Kitarina or Kit and aunt Flora.
I knew their personality types. They were serious rule enforcing people. They followed their own rules and customs and traditions like their life depended on it.
So they often looked down on those they felt were different than them. But the passing of my aunt made them rethink a lot of rules they had in particular about marriage.
She had gotten married to some local family who had some type of wealth and some type of underground connection. They chose her husband as they had a thing where they would pick the partners for their heirs. My father would have been next in line.
They thought the connections brought in by that family would be valuable. However, the type of men that survive that lifestyle rarely ever made good partners. Living a life of money and power from shitty means made the man a serial cheater. He wanted more than the life his wife could give him. When she found out and threatened to divorce him he laughed in her face.
"You could never divorce me, after all till death do us part. And you know very well I could arrange that." He liked the power her family gave him and he thought with his threats that she would keep quiet.
She hide it for a long time. The stress causeing her to lose weight and look like she was dying. By force she told her family who got her out of there. They did not take kindly to people who touch their belongings so they ruined him. But some strings were not tied well enough and by retaliation she was taken from them.
So their rules on marriage were shaken as they chose her husband who in turn was able to hurt them.
Because of that they allowed their other children to pick their own spouses. Not from love or kindness but because they did not want their hands to be dirty if it went wrong again.
Of course my mother was considered an excellent choice but now I am just learning they hid their feelings about her mother being a widowed woman.
"Wow. Sounds like a call coming from inside the house." It was disappointing. They did love their family but were not afraid to also be the ones to hurt them.
"It's not a big deal, I don't live with them and I only see them during holiday times. So don't let my experience change your views about them. Being at the top comes with a cost that I too am aware of. But I know that for you unfortunately their opinion is going to matter at least about her. So be careful."
She never shared anything unless it was important. So I understood her position. Time won't really rectify or make someone change their mind. So whatever choice I make I need to be comfortable with the consequences.
In this case, I was more than happy to not have as much as a relationship with them. I think I could convince my parents, but I doubt could convince them.
"Gracias abuelita. Vamos, no se de usted pero yo tengo hambre." < Thank you grandma. Let's go, I am not sure about you but I am hungry. >
Thankfully my parents did not question what my grandma held me back for and we ate well.
My grandma had made us patatas bravas, pulpo gallego, croquetas de jamón and other traditional dishes.
We ate like this at home but somehow it tasted better made by my abuelitas hands.
Maybe it was the long flight and overall fatigue from traveling but we all just ate our meal and then headed to our rooms right away.
In her home we all had our own rooms. My parents stay in my mothers old room and the room I stay in is in the next wing over.
I had placed all my luggage and organized my clothes into the closet and turned on the heater to warm up. The house was spacious so a draft was not uncommon.
It felt great during the summer when the heat was at its peak, but during the winter it made the rooms more chilly.
I had texted Celeste when I had landed but due to the time difference she did not respond until a little while ago.
She had sent a few photos detailing her day and asking if I landed. I wanted to call but it was very early morning for her so I just sent a few photos from dinner as well as a general itinerary she can respond at her own leisure.
Looking at her photos and being here reminded me of how careful I had to be when we get to the main Cortez household. She has met my other family before and I have mentioned them to her but when they met we were kids.
I remember her hiding behind me not wanting to get near. The main person I needed to get on my side was my grandfather. His word is basically the law. So while I try to keep Celeste safe I will plant the seeds to ensure nothing will hurt her nor jeopardize our relationship.