Grace, Joey and Taylor were regulars at her games, while her mother was a regular no-show. Rose didn’t ask her anymore why she didn’t show up. Half the time Rose didn’t even tell her mom she had a game. She told Grace not to either, that it didn’t matter. But Grace got the distinct feeling she did it so there would be a less painful reason why her mother hadn’t shown up—the fact that she didn’t know about it.
Sal had warned Grace about his family’s over-the-top parties. He hadn’t exaggerated. The only thing missing was a petting zoo and the clowns. Rosie’s eyes were as wide as hers felt when they walked into the back and there were as many people there as when they were fully loaded at the restaurant. “Wow,” she said, as they walked through the crowd, holding Sal’s hand. “You weren’t kidding.”
After stopping at about half a dozen different tables full of family members as Sal introduced her and Rosie to them as his girlfriend and her baby sister, Grace’s head spun. There was no way she’d remember all their names.
She saw the resemblance in many of them. The Moreno genes were strong throughout his family. The big smiles from some of the elders, were telling of the points she earned when she spoke to them in her perfect Spanish.
Most seemed surprised when they heard the word girlfriend. Some were outright blunt about it. “No lo puedo creer!” One of his aunt’s exclaimed, making Grace cringe. Even his aunt couldn’t believe Sal was capable of committing.
They finally settled at their own table. No sooner had they sat than more family members arrived and sat at the same table with them. Sal introduced them as his aunt and uncle and their sixteen-year-old son Vincent, whom he referred to as Vinnie, from La Puente. They’d driven more than two hours to make the shower.
Sal walked away to fetch them all drinks. Rose leaned into her. “They hired waiters for a baby shower?”
“They hire waiters for everything,” Vincent said, with a smirk. “My aunt’s known for outdoing everyone in the family with her parties.”
His mom gave him a look and he rolled his eyes.
He had both Grace and Rose’s attention. He resembled Sal and his brothers in many ways, except there was an edge about him. Grace noticed the tattoo of a skull and bones and words she couldn’t quite make out, on his forearm and this boy was only sixteen? “We’ve never attended any of the Moreno’s parties.”
He chuckled. “Well, if you’re with Sal now, get used to it. It’s like this every time.”
“Where is La Puente?” Rose asked.
“About a half hour before Los Angeles. Ever been to the L.A county fair?”
Rose shook her head.
“Oh, well it’s near there.”
Sal arrived with a tray of lemonades for Grace, Rose and his aunt, then handed a beer to his uncle and a soda to Vincent. “Where’s my beer?”
“You’re funny Vin,” Sal said, sitting down next to Grace.
Vincent continued talking to Rose while Sal pointed out more of his family to Grace, laughing at some of the anecdotes he told her about each one. “We’ll go in and see the babies in a little. Valerie and Sofie were changing them just now.”
“I can hardly wait.” Grace squeezed his hand.
Both Sal and Grace turned when she noticed Rose and Vincent stand up. “Vincent is gonna show me the koi pond on the other side of the house.”
Sal eyed his cousin. “Best behavior Vin. I mean it.”
“You know me.”
“Yeah, that’s why I’m worried.” Sal frowned as they walked away. He turned to his aunt and uncle who were engaged in conversation with the people in the next table and spoke softly. “Every family has a bad seed. He’s ours. That boy’s nothing but trouble. Always has been. Keep an eye on your sister.”
Grace watched as Vincent and Rose walked away, talking. Unlike Grace, Rose had always made friends easily. It didn’t surprise her that she’d already made a friend here. She turned in their direction again. “He’s not that bad is he?”
“I wouldn’t have let them walk away if I thought he’d be stupid enough to do anything wrong here. No need to worry.” He leaned and kissed her. “She’ll be fine here. It’s just that I hate to say it because he’s family, but he’s definitely not someone you want your sister associating with too much.”
Feeling a little relieved that her sister wasn’t in any immediate danger she smiled. “I’m glad he’ll keep her busy at least for a little bit. I was afraid she might get bored.”
Sal stood up. “Just keep your eye out. C’mon lets go see my nieces.” He looked her over as they walked toward the house. “By the way, you look beautiful.”
Grace chewed her lip. “Thank you.” She wondered how long it would be before she stopped getting that tingly feeling around him.
Alex’s house was just as big as Sal’s, only not quite as perfectly kept. But she figured having two newborns in the house must make it hard to keep up with everything else. Alex walked out of one of the hallways and smiled when he saw Grace. “Hey, Grace. You look nice.”
Grace felt her face warm. She’d obsessed about what to wear all morning. Since she and Rose wore roughly the same size, she borrowed one of Rose’s pale pink baby doll tanks and a white denim skirt. The skirt was also Rose’s and a bit shorter than what she normally liked but Rose assured her she looked fine. She also straightened her hair. Since it’s so damn thick it usually took her forever but Rose helped her with it this morning and they got through it in half the time. “Thank you. I can’t wait to see your babies.”