“I’m sure you are hungry, or perhaps you would like something to drink. There are plenty of both. Enjoy yourself. And thank you so much for the gifts, Enrique.” She leans up to air kiss both my cheeks again, and with one quick smile, she leaves me on my own.
Which I prefer.
I spend most of the rest of the party playing the good son to familiar faces and new ones. Beyond being my parents’ son, their interest is limited.
This is the reason I never entertained the idea of bringing Leira to this thing. Watching my mother with her practiced smile and my father with his hyperbolic charm, it feels like a charade of a perfect life. Both of them are just snobby enough to find fault with her in some way, whether it’s being American, not being one of the elite specifically from Marbella, or, most likely, being half-negro. The scandal alone would have been worth it for me, but I would never put Leira through that. One day, when the madness is over, I’ll introduce her, making it perfectly clear to them what she means to me.
Where it goes from there…
Just as it did when Leira whispered those words to me in the police station, my heart goes briefly into paralysis before beating twice as hard. Where it goes from there is something to dive into later.
For tonight, at least the food is good and the bar is well stocked.
About an hour into my arrival, my mother stands at the threshold of the sliding glass doors that lead out to the pool and claims everyone’s attention. Once the voices have settled, my father joins her.
I lean against one of the back walls of the patio area and await the announcement. I assume it will be some variation of the usual talk about marriage and love and years together along with a final thanks to the guests for helping them celebrate.
“My wife and I would like to thank you all for helping us celebrate thirty-one years of marriage,” my father begins. “This woman has stood by my side through every endeavor, every up and down, good and bad. She is my partner not just in marriage, but in business as well. Marín Properties would not be as successful as it is today if not for the two of us, working together as a team.”
I would have been surprised if they didn’t mention their business. Any opportunity for promotion.
“Speaking of Marín Properties, we have an exciting announcement to make,” he continues.
I perk up at that. My mother mentioned something about this earlier, so this must be it.
“We are about to invest in our biggest venture yet. Marín Properties, will soon be adding….Marín Hotels, a line of boutique luxury accommodations for only the finest clientele. The ground breaks on our first hotel here in Marbella in two months!”
The expected exclamations of surprise and applause breaks out, myself included. They must be doing as well as I am.
Which is interesting.
Yes, Marín Properties has had a few boom years since the last bust, but opening a line of hotels is a risky venture in any economy. It’s a venture that requires a lot of capital. I’m almost certain they haven’t sold off their inventory, at least not enough to cover this. So where is the money coming from?
It’s hardly my concern, being that I chose to step away from the family business. Most of me is happy just to be happy for them and drop it.
But something nags at the back of my mind that just won’t let it go.
Chapter Forty-Nine Enrique
The sun is rising by the time the last guest leaves. I’m lounging on one of the chairs by the pool while the cleaning crew clears up around me.
My father is well into his preferred liquor of choice, rum. My mother is sated enough from the success of the party to indulge him as he grabs her and attempts a slow dance around the patio.
I watch them with a hint of a smile on my face, enjoying the moment. It’s good to see them let loose and simply enjoy life, rather than focus so much on work or impressing people.
My father catches me looking and grins, dipping my mother down. She yelps in surprise then laughs, slapping him on the chest. That signals an end to her tolerance for such nonsense and she pulls away, subconsciously smoothing her, still very immaculate hair down.
I rise up to round the pool and join them.
“I guess more congratulations are in order beyond the thirty-one years together,” I say with a grin.
A genuinely pleased smile breaks out on my mother’s face. “Thank you, Enrique. Your father and I are very excited about this.”
My father is still dancing with himself as he lifts an imaginary glass toward me in salute. “And we have you to thank, my son,” he says with a wink.
“Miguel!” My mother hisses.
I’m not sure which of those utterances has caused my stomach to drop, but it lands with a hollow thud as disappointment and anger fill the void.
“Where did the money come from?”
“Your father is drunk, Enrique.”
“The boy has a right to know, Ava,” my father protests, his words slurring in a way that makes me think he’ll regret saying this much later on today.
“Shut up, Miguel!” My mother snaps before whipping her head around to make sure none of the cleaning staff are nearby. They have wisely decided to focus on the inside of the house.
“What the hell is going on?” I ask, not giving a shit who is listening. I focus on my father, realizing he’s the weakest link here. “What do you mean, I have a right to know?”
“Your father was just—”
“Stop,” I say in a low tone, holding up one finger to my mother to silence her. I return my attention to my father. “What
