“What did you have in mind?” She licks her lips, and I know we’re thinking the same thing.
I lean down to her and let my mouth melt with Eva’s. The time slows as our breaths mingle, and my body lights with the wish for this moment to never end.
Then I realize I don’t have to fear what comes next anymore. This isn’t just the most ecstatic kiss of my life. No, it’s a kiss that holds a promise. Of a new beginning and the most surprising and unexpected happily-ever-after. One I never could have had if I hadn’t been so cocky and foolish as to bet against love.
Epilogue
(Eva)
I turn the corner of the street leading to Liberty Square, and my heartbeat quickens.
I haven’t been to this square since the night of the ball. I’ve been so busy with Nathan, my dance studio, and the renovation projects we began in Abuelita’s house. I haven’t had much chance to stroll around in the outskirts of San Sebastian.
But as I listen to my hammering ribcage, I know a lack of time isn’t the only reason I’ve avoided setting foot here. The memories of that horrible evening when I thought Nathan didn’t love me are something that—even after a year—I still don’t like to revisit.
Why did Nathan ask me to meet him here exactly?
Nathan notices me before I see him and bolts to me.
“Eva, love! You’re late. I was beginning to worry. What took you so long?” He wraps me in a tight embrace and plants a feathery kiss on my lips.
“I took the bus but didn’t realize that the stop got moved.”
Nathan smiles. “Yes, it’s part of the Power Kids’ sanitation project. They decided it’s safer if the kids play on the grassy areas without risk of their ball rolling under the bus.”
“Grassy areas?” I repeat dumbfounded because, as I recall, the park on the square only houses a dark jungle and heaps of rubbish. Not a place I would want any children to enter.
“Yes. Check them out.” Nathan brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, then steps aside so he isn’t blocking my view anymore.
That’s when I see it. My jaw drops.
Instead of the savage bushes, uncut trees, and dirty benches covered with crumpled wrappers and empty liquor bottles, there’s a neatly manicured garden with clipped hedges and mature trees trimmed back by expert hands. Wide gravel pathways run among the age-old birches, so people can stroll beneath their soothing shade.
When did this all happen?
I’ve heard from Alejandro, who jogs around our barrio each morning and is more aware of the newest state of the battle-juvenile-crime program that there have been major cleanups all over the place. I just didn’t think about it in this magnitude.
I study the big, grassy clearing where the bus-stop previously stood. They transformed it into a paradise for kids. There are, in fact, a handful of youngsters having fun on the silky lawn right now.
A dark-haired boy kicks a ball and screams triumphantly when it rolls between two lean bushes that probably represent the goal. His excited tone is somehow familiar to me. When he turns, he winks at us, smiling.
My glance darts to Nathan. “What is Juan doing here?”
Nathan’s grin widens. “Is he the only one you recognize? Wow, you must be more bewildered by how different the park looks than I anticipated.”
I quickly pivot back to the square and scan the area. I gasp loudly as I realize exactly just how blind I’ve been.
Beneath a thick-trunked magnolia tree there’s a large picnic table set with a white damask tablecloth. I spot Abuelita, Tia Maria, and Nathan’s aunt rubbing shoulders and busying themselves filling it with various steaming dishes.
A few feet from them, I discover a small artificial pond with grackles nibbling along the edges. Holly and Malcom are sitting on a checkered blanket with my sister on its shore. Holly reads a book to Espie, who rests her head in Nathan’s mother’s lap like a purring kitty.
“Five to three. We’re winning, little bro!”
Alejandro’s voice makes me focus my attention on the clearing again.
Ale claps hands with Juan then glances up. His eyes meet mine and his arms shoot in the air as if he’s celebrating. He leans to Juan, tells him something, and rushes over to us.
“Welcome, sis! Finally. I’m famished. Abuelita wouldn’t let anyone touch the food until you got here,” he jabbers in one breath.
Nathan pats Ale’s back. “Give your sister a minute. I think she’s kind of overwhelmed by our surprise.”
Overwhelmed? That’s the biggest understatement of the century.
The transformation of Liberty Square took my breath away already. I mean, the place used to be a hotspot for junkies, and now it’s a park worthy of a Disney cartoon—really, I could totally picture talking chipmunks and squirrels jumping around in it. But on top of this, my entire family and all Nathan’s relatives are gathered to celebrate an impromptu picnic?
I finally find my wits and ask, “Why are our families here? I thought you wanted to do a quick lunch together before heading back to the office?”
Nathan shrugs and smiles. “It’s rare that our folks can get some quality time together, no?
Hmmm, not really. Holly and Malcom adore my siblings, especially the cheeky little Espie—I guess Holly always wished for a daughter too—so they invite us over for lunch more weekends than not.
Nathan must notice the doubtful wrinkle on my forehead, because he adds, “You know that your grandmother wanted to have Mother and Malcom over for the past few months, but with the painting works still all over the place, she can’t use her house to organize a special event. So Alejandro and I helped her plan this.”
“And?” I add, sure there’s something else. I can feel it by the gushing smile Alejandro and Nathan are trying to suppress.
Nathan and Ale exchange a glance.
Nathan nudges Ale between his ribs with his elbow. “You
