“Ay, I have to go. The kids are about to arrive,” she told Lilí. “Fingers crossed we’ll see you afterward.”
“That’s the plan. Listen, you’ve worked hard for this. I hope you’re happy with . . . well, with everything.”
“Okay.” Julia drew out the word, her cousin’s hesitant tone catching her off guard.
“You better go,” Lilí cautioned. “Cuídate.”
“You take care, too.”
“Hey, wait! Break a leg!” Lilí yelled.
“If you say so,” Julia said around a grin.
Since Lilí’s oldest sister, Yazmine, had been a Broadway dancer and she now worked as a local instructor, none of the three sisters had given her a “good luck” or “buena suerte” cheer today. Yaz and Rosa had sent “break a leg” text messages earlier. They were home with their little ones, preparing food and drinks for the parranda that would start at Rosa’s house around ten p.m.
The last thing Julia heard as she disconnected the call was Lilí’s throaty laughter.
“Everything all right?” Ben asked.
“Yeah, though Lilí’s caught up at work. I’ll need to find a ride out to Oakton afterward.”
“You know I won’t mind giving you a lift, if you’d like.”
Dropping the phone back into her wristlet, Julia glanced up to find Ben leaning toward her, his head inches from hers. Her breath caught in her throat at the flash of desire darkening his eyes.
“I am really excited to meet everyone tonight,” he said. “Thanks for the invite.”
Technically, the invite had come from Lilí. Her cousin had run the idea by Julia first as they’d poured wine and gathered cheese and crackers in the kitchen the night Ben had come by and wound up staying for a visit.
Ben had said yes immediately.
Now Julia gulped, trying to push down her rising jitters.
This was a big step. Introducing him to not only her family here, but their extended Latino community. People who were familia in every sense of the word except by blood.
“A parranda is always a ton of fun. I think you’re going to love it. But first, time to concentrate on making sure tonight is a success.” She glanced at her watch. “Laura should be arriving shortly. She texted a little while ago to say she had to make a quick stop somewhere first.”
Ben’s lips spread in a broad smile, his face lighting up like her baby cousin’s on the morning the Three Kings left their gifts.
“Yes, she did,” he said. Pulling out his cell from his tuxedo jacket inside pocket, he read something on the screen, before sliding the device back into place. “And it looks like Laura will be arriving around the same time as the kids. I know you’ll need to get them settled in the rehearsal room before the Happy Hour begins, but I think you’ll be thrilled to find out why Laura took that detour.”
Excitement radiated off him as he guided her away from the railing, toward the stairs leading to the hall floor.
Intrigued, if slightly wary, Julia fell into step beside him. Tonight was far too big of a night for her to deal with surprises.
At the bottom of the stairs, Ben led her around a group of volunteers who were putting the finishing touches on a tree. She paused to thank them, but after a few minutes he placed his hand on the small of her back, the gentle pressure urging her to wrap up her conversation.
“What’s going on?” she asked under her breath once they had moved away. Her wariness grew as he hastened his pace.
“You’ll see.”
When they reached the building’s entry, Ben drew to a stop.
“I wanted to make sure you were here for . . . this.” He gestured toward the main doors.
Julia gasped. Her stomach free-falled as she watched the doorman usher two women inside the Wintrust Bank Building, then quickly tug the door closed to keep out the frigid early December weather.
Dios mío, it couldn’t be.
Her heart pounding in her chest, Julia gaped in disbelief. “Mami, what are you doing here?”
Chapter Nine
The strange mix of surprise and shocked dismay on Julia’s face was not what Ben had anticipated when he first spoke with Laura about potentially bringing Paula Fernandez to Chicago for the fund-raiser.
Surprise, yes.
Dismay, not even on his radar of the emotions he’d anticipated from Julia.
Through the glass doors, Ben noticed three super-sized white vans with the youth center organization’s logo pulling up to the curb. Any minute now the thirty-five kids would come spilling out, demanding Julia’s attention.
“I mean, que sorpresa!” she amended, opening her arms to envelop her mother in a hug.
“A good surprise, verdad ?” her mami asked.
“Definitely.” Julia leaned back, grasping her mother’s elbows to stare down at her.
The older woman’s chin-length, wavy, dark hair, olive-toned skin, and delicate features resembled her daughter’s. Paula’s figure was rounder with maturity, but seeing the two of them together, Ben had a good idea what Julia would look like later in life. More and more he realized that was something he hoped she’d want him around to watch.
Catching the sheen of tears in Julia’s eyes now, Ben wondered if he’d misread her initial reaction.
“Welcome, Señora Fernandez.” He stepped forward, reaching out a hand to shake.
Paula Fernandez gave a double take, her mouth opening and closing before she shot a wide-eyed, questioning look at Julia.
She nodded at her mom. “Sí, it’s him. And yes, I know Martín will flip when he finds out I’ve been working with Ben. That’s partly why I haven’t said anything. I haven’t had time for the twenty questions I know he’d be texting me daily.”
Her mom clasped his hand with both of hers. The coldness of her touch reminded him that coming from the Caribbean, Paula might not own proper Chicago-winter attire. He’d check with Julia and purchase whatever her mom might need while visiting.
“Paula Fernandez,” the older woman introduced herself.
“Encantado de conocerla,” Ben responded.
Paula’s smile brightened at his Spanish. “It is a pleasure to meet you, too, Benjamin. My son Martín, Julia’s youngest brother, is a
