Jasper was the one with the keys to the clinic so while Maria Negron had led the march to get their lovestruck but ill times teenager lovebirds to their Covid test, he held up a hand as he unlocked the door. There were night staff on for any overnight patients but it was a skeleton crew most of the time. As they entered though, he instructed everyone to sanitize their hands at the stations and then handed out disposable medical face masks and put on his own.
“Dr. Rogers…” One of the night health care aids greeted in confusion.
“It’s ok, they’re my patients. My son and his girlfriend need a Covid test. This is her mother. I’ll administer it. It’s post quarantine and low risk. Just some double checking.”
“Understood.” The young woman gave the group a wide berth and stepped aside.
Jasper collected some supplies and then made a sweeping gesture with his hand towards an exam room “This way please.” He swiped his security card and opened the exam room door and let them in directing Maria to a chair to one side and Fernanda to the exam table “Ladies first. You’ve had one of these before I presume?”
Fernanda had. Since she had been one of the quarantines after the party her Covid test hadn’t been all that long ago and she shuddered “Yes...worst 5 seconds of my life.” She sighs and looks at Duncan “I’m so sorry.”
Jasper washed his hands, gloved up and grabbed the first swab kit as well as a box of kleenex. “OK you remember the drill then Fernanda. Do you like to be called by your full name? I heard two other options tonight at the beach.”
Fernanda smiles a bit and you can see it in her eyes above the mask “Duncan calls me Nan. My family calls me Fern.” She sees the doctor’s nod and pulls down her face mask to just expose her nostrils and tips her head back.
Jasper gently holds onto the back of her head and inserts the swab “Here we go….1….2….3...4...5…...all done….take a tissue…..” Fernanda was shuddering and sputtering and her eyes were both pouring as well as her nose. “I know it burns, sorry….”
Maria walked in with the doctor and their two too in love to think teenagers. She watches him give orders and the staff snap too, which she admired. She watched as the doctor administers the test and knowing her daughter was in discomfort, felt for her without looking like she felt for her.
Duncan came in, listening to his father. He winced slightly as he explained that he was his son. He should have more sense than to have been in a situation where this could happen, but he .. couldn’t resist Fernanda. Telling him about her quarantine and the many times they had snuck off to see each other seened ill advised, so he kept mum. If he can, he will reach for Fernanda’s hand to comfort her.
Fernanda takes Duncan’s hand as she breathes deeply and squeezes it. She felt bad he had to go through this too. She hoped to god they were negative, both of them. Their love had been the strongest force in the universe and her usual cool responsible head had been overwhelmed. She couldn’t even fight it. She wiped at her nose and pulled the mask back up and let her gaze drift to her mother “Lo siento Mama. (I’m sorry Mom).”
Jasper gestured to the space beside Fernanda on the exam table “You may as well sit together since I’m testing you both. Your turn Duncan.” He could see how in love they were and understood it, especially since he had been hit so hard by his unexpected love for Levi. He bagged Fernanda’s swab and labeled it and then took off his gloves, washed his hands and put on new gloves as was procedure and readied the next swab for Duncan. Once Duncan was seated he said “Tilt your head back and uncover your nose for me son…” With a little more affection he would hold onto Duncan’s head and then do the same procedure to him. He truly implored the fates to keep his children healthy and everyone they loved. “I hope this is just routine...both of you...and all of us. Because it’s not just you two on the line here.”
Maria waited until the test was over and moved to her daughters side. She nodded at the apology and watched Duncan sit beside her. As it was bagged up, she looked at it, willing it to be negative for her baby.
Duncan sat and pulled his mask down to expose his nostrils. He did as his father asked him and in five seconds the test was over. Looking at his father he puts his mask back up. “It is, Dad. We’re fine.” he realized that it was not just he and Fernanda. As many times as they broke quarantine … it was all of both of their families, he realized. And Levi … and Levi’s staff … and … and … and.
Fernanda cracked a bit as her mother ended up beside her. She knew her mom didn’t reveal her hand of emotions always but the nod and the move made her weepy with guilt. She hung her head and quietly cried between the woman who raised and made her and the man she loved.
Jasper looked at Duncan as he swore they were fine with a look of love and pain. “OK…” He breathed out and went to bag up Duncan’s swab for the lab. He slipped them both into a larger envelope with his request for the fastest results they could get using and possibly abusing his authority in his role. He didn’t care though. Duncan was still his boy and that made anyone he loved this much family too. He sort of toasted with the envelope “I’m going to hand deliver this and be right back.” And with that he did a wash and reglove and stepped out into the hall, his footfalls fading as he walked away.
Maria watched the doctor leave the room. Then she looked at her daughter and her boyfriend. She thought of her past and chances the took for love … or perhaps it was lust … no it was definitely love, at least on her part. She realized the might be more afraid for her daughters than her sons, and that might be hypocritical, but she couldn’t help herself. Looking at her daughter, she cleared her throat. “I’ll have your brothers make something to eat and leave it out for us.” she pulls out her phone. “What would you like them to make.” she wasn’t one to give the kids a choice. There were too many of them. But tonight it would be Fernanda, her boyfriend, she and Mateo. And the kids may as well eat what they want. “Or I can have thm order out, even.” an ever rarer treat.
Duncan blew out a breath and watched his father leave. If they rushed the test, they could probably have the results in a day, he hoped. He listens to Mrs. Negron, and then at Fernanda. Anything was fine by him.
Fernanda watches Duncan’s father leave and gives his hand a little squeeze and then she hears her mother offering choices in food and her guilt tripled inside her. Even ordering out. Fernanda looked grateful “Mama…” She also knew what was in the fridge and cupboards since she cooked a lot “We still have leftovers enough to make more Tripleta…..can you ask if Pedro can make them? He does a really good job.” She explains to Duncan “Triplete is a traditional Puerto Riccan sandwich. It’s the best sandwich in the world really.” She definitely doesn’t want to ask her mom to put money out when there’s good food at home.
Jasper returns and leaves the door open as he comes in “We’re free to go.” He sticks a sign on the exam room door on a clipboard requesting a full sanitization and then gestures to it as he degloves and washes his hands again.
Maria nods and smiles slightly. Her daughter was being thrifty and practical, and that made her feel much better. “Ahhh, Tripleta. Si … I will text him now.” and she does. The doctor returns and she looks at him. “Gracias, Doctor.” she looks at Duncan. “I will feed him three times a day and take care of him as if he were my own.” she does grin then. “I am not the monster you met tonight.” she assures him.
Duncan smiles. “I’d love it, thank you.” he looks at Maria and then his father. He is a little afraid to ask when he can expect the results so they can go on with their lives.
Jasper steps out so they can exit “You are no monster. And I appreciate the feeding. I know how much they eat. I get the emotion and reaction. Hence why we’re here.” He chuckles. He sees Duncan’s look “Tomorrow sometime I hope.” He knows the question in everyone’s minds.
Fernanda looks both relieved and happy about the sandwiches. “I think the word you’re looking for Mama is Mama Bear…..but Puerto Rico style. The bear takes out the danger and smacks the baby bear for getting into it. And I love you for it.” She’s risking a joke but she means it with love. She moves towards the door to exit.
Maria finally chuckles with Jasper. “I understand it .. which is why they aren’t in as much trouble as they could be.” she looks relieved that the test won’t take very long, then looks at her daughter. “Mama Osa (female bear).” she heads through the door, but will hug her daughter as soon as they are in the hallway. “Stop scaring me, baby osa.” she orders.
Duncan grins at his father commenting on how much he can eat. And looks relieved the test is being rushed. “Dad, apologize to Levi for me. And Miranda and Romeo too. Please.” he knows they will part soon as he goes home.
Fernanda hugs her mom back hard “I will Mama. I will. Thank you for always looking out for me. And thank you too Doctor Rogers...and I second that apology to you and your family and your partner.”
Jasper feels inspired to hug Duncan as he sees mother and daughter hug and also hears Duncan’s apology “I will….but they’ll understand. I love you Duncan.” He chuckles about the bears and then looks at Fernanda as he lets go “Please call me Jasper. And take care you two. Listen to Maria and Mateo and sleep well. I’ll be in contact in the morning.” He pulls out his card and hands it to Maria so she has his number.
Maria simply smiles at her daughter. She watches the father and son hug and takes the card he hands her. “Thank you, Dr Jasper.” it is very hard for her to drop an honorific like doctor. “We will see you in the morning.” she slips the card in her pocket and will walk back to her house, cutting through the trees on the side to the backyard. The back porch is sort of glassed in like a makeshift greenhouse. She can see the tents, plus the makeshift outhouse in the back and knows Mateo must be around someplace with their dinner.
Duncan hugs his father back and grins at him when Maria calls him Dr Jasper. Then he heads back to the house, noting that the festival seems to have ended, so they aren’t passing many people. Back at Fernanda’s house he notes the same set up as they had during their quarantine, but with an extra tent.
Mateo is sitting at the large family picnic table with a platter of Tripleta sandwiches cut in half, enough for everyone and some bottles of water and a hand sanitizer dispenser. “Hallo, come eat. Pedro made them perfectly of course. How was the test?”
Fernanda smiles at her father. She still has her paper mask on so he can only see her upper face “Gross but short. Thank Pedro for us Papa.” She takes a seat and looks to the spot beside her and then up at Duncan and then at her mother, hoping they’re allowed to at least sit together for this part.
Maria sits beside Mateo, letting the lovebirds sit together. “You can thank him when your test comes back negative.” she states, showing some hope that they are alright. Now that the test is taken, she is relaxing and feeling lighter in mood. She takes a bottle of water, and rests her hand on the lid. “Colleen said her son had it … and his daughter, too. She is just a little one, too. Not even 3 yet.” she nods to herself, working to convince herself that if they could survive it, so could her daughter and this doctor’s son. She opens the bottle and nods at Duncan. “Eat … if you’re expecting family prayer don’t. I gave up years ago. Some of us do and some of us don’t. God hasn’t struck any of us down yet.” she drinks, but then bows her own head in prayer before crossing herself and reaching for a sandwich.
Duncan sits and is glad that Fernanda can sit with him. He listens to Maria and can only imagine her worry. The news of a little kid having Covid makes him wince a little, but he only nods and reaches for a sandwich. He bites into it and moans a bit. Swallowing he nods. “This is really good.” it isn’t a shallow compliment. He really does like it.
Mateo listens to his wife, makes a face about the small child who survived Covid and nods and then follows suit with his own silent prayer and crosses himself before taking a bite of his sandwich. He points at it as Duncan compliments it and then after he’s chewed and swallowed he says “It’s important to celebrate the food of your culture. What is Rogers in ancestry as a name? Do you have any traditional foods you make in your family?”
Fernanda doesn’t do a silent grace but sits quietly and waits for her parents to do theirs before she eats. She has her own faith but it’s less traditional in practices, more inward. She sighs about Seamus and his daughter “And some of those anti mask meatheads think little kids can’t get it. Anyone can. I’ve learned my lesson Mama...either way.” She watches Duncan enjoy the sandwich and smiles. Then her father gets all anthropological on him and she stifled a giggle and took a bite with a look of grateful food bliss as she chewed.
Maria nods as Fernanda speaks, but doesn’t really reply, watching mateo speak to the boy. He was likely going to be a part of their lives, but Mateo’s questions were likely to be a little less like an interrogation and more like a conversation.
Duncan eats and listens to the question Mateo asks. He shrugs and looks a little sheepish. “Rogers is English … pretty bland, actually. And English food is kind of boring, if you ask me. So no traditional foods. We like all kinds of different foods and will try just about anything once.” he toasts with his sandwich. “This is a definite positive find.” he settles in, expecting to get a bunch of questions in his direction.
Mateo eats while Duncan talks and then nods. “Not much spice….no garlic. Ah the English. “ He chuckles a bit. “Glad you like the sandwich. You’re in the same grade as our Fern?”
Fernanda answers that before Duncan can “No Papa, Grade 12. I’m a year younger than Duncan.” She looks between her parents who had a bit more of an age difference “Not that it matters right?”
Mateo shrugs “No….but grade 12.” He looks back at Duncan “Big choices year. What are your aspirations after high school? What calls you?” His father was after all a doctor, maybe he had big career plans too.
Maria grins at her daughter and husband. “No hija, the age doesn’t matter so much.” she nods as Mateo elaborates and looks at Duncan, curious for his answer.
Duncan glances at Fernanda and then at her parents. “For a while I thought I might want to be a doctor, but that interests me .. it doesn’t really CALL to me, if that makes sense.” he pauses. “Levi, my father’s partner, just offered me a job as a file clerk at his firm. He said all the hours I can handle. It’s a small thing here on the island, but it also gets me in a position to look at the inner workings of the law, which does call to me.” he considers. “I think I can handle law school, and there’ll be money in it if I choose the right branch.” he looks at Fernanda. “For the future.”
Fernanda knew some of what Duncan was saying but the for the future made her smile. She could care less about the money part, just that their future was in his mind together. “A lawyer and a cop?” She wiggles her eyebrows “Our kids someday won’t be able to get away with a damned thing.” She had told Duncan about her interest in law enforcement and her parents. Her father had objected and from his expression was about to again.
Mateo sighed and gestured at Duncan “Why don’t you study to be lawyers together with him? That way you’re not going to get shot at stopping a robbery. Duncan, help me convince her…” He looks between Duncan and Maria. The idea of Fernanda as a police officer terrified him.
Maria smiles and finishes her sandwich as Duncan mentions wanting to be a lawyer and Fernanda brings up her dream of being a police officer again. Brushing her hands clean of crumbs, she takes Mateo’s hand. “You are her father. We are supposed to be afraid.” she grins at him. “But I think you are more afraid because she is a girl … a woman.” she corrects herself. “But I see women cops right here and they seem safe enough…” she looks at her daughter. “Unless you mean like Vancouver or some big city like that?”
Duncan knew about Fernanda’s wanting to be a cop and he laughed a little at the mention of all the things their kids would never get away with. Her father objects and he looks at him. “I understand why you’d be afraid, Mr. Negron.” he replies. “The idea scares me too, to be honest about it. But it is something that she wants to do. And I support her dreams.” he considered. “You’re in a dangerous job, also. You could fall from one of these buildings or it could collapse on you. But they chances are pretty slim, aren’t they? They’re sort of slim for cops too.” he pauses a second. “I’ve read that some cops go their whole careers never having to even draw their weapons. And most don't want to have to.” he squeezes Fernanda’s hand.
Fernanda squeezes Duncan’s hand back and looks lovingly at Duncan and her mother and lovingly but tiredly at her father. Duncan and her mother were aligned which made her happy. “Papa please hear Mama and Duncan because for some reason you don’t hear me. I know you grew up in a patriarchal culture….you are more afraid because I’m a woman like Mama said. I bet if Pedro or Samuel wanted to be cops you’d feel they could handle it. And like Duncan said construction is dangerous. Heck being a lawyer could be dangerous depending what kind of criminals you represent or try to put a way. But we have to make our own paths.” She finishes her sandwich looking a little defiant.
Mateo hears them all and looks a little unseated but throws up his hands “If you have the nerve to sneak around on a quarantine and risk your mother’s wrath and stand your ground with me you can probably handle a lot, Fern. I just worry. I know women can do it...call me old fashioned. I have to admit...I don’t want them too. Not because I think they or you are weak...but because you’re precious to me. Maybe in a different way than the boys. I know it’s my culture but I am what I am.”
Maria is impressed by her daughter's words, but surprised into a laugh at Mateo’s words. She looks across the table. “You have to remember that when Mateo met me, I was working in a flower shop. The greatest danger to me was rose thorns.” she takes one of Mateo’s arms and hugs it. “When I walked past the site, the others would call out to me, but not him. And he was only slightly old fashioned .. or maybe it was only slightly Catholic.” she hugs the arm. “And I kept giving him sons until I finally had a daughter. But she is of her parents. Responsible as both of us .. and stubborn as both of us.” she huffs.
Duncan is proud of the way Fernanda stands up for herself and smiles when Mateo at least tries to consider his daughter as a cop. He watches them together and can almost see him and Fernanda the way they are. “I will protect her … if she needs me too.” he promises Mateo. “But also I think she will protect me when I need it.” he thinks of just a little while earlier when she got between he and her father.
Mateo beams at Maria as she talks about when they met “You were the most beautiful flower in the place, worthy of all my love and respect….still mi amor….” He nods in agreement with Maria about Fernanda being both stubborn and responsible “That’s what I worry about….she’s like us.” He smiles at Duncan, at his promise but also his faith in Fernanda.
Fernanda looks sweetly at her parents. She knew even the overprotectiveness came from a place of love, the love they had for each other that spilled out into the love for all their children. Duncan’s words melt her heart. “I will protect you when you need it too Baby…..we’ll work together, always.”
Maria becomes more and more impressed by this young man. “Well … enough of this seriousness and mush … life is not always hardships, I know.” she smiles. “What about fun? What do you do for fun?”
Duncan chuckles. “Together.” he promises Fernanda and then looks at Maria. “I like a lot of different movies. I was watching The Bone Collector a couple of nights ago. So cop movies I guess. And last week I was watching Carlito’s Way. Man I love that movie.”
Maria’s eyes widen slightly and she folds her arms on the table, dropping her head on them and shaking it.
Fernanda hears Duncan’s movie choices and starts cracking up at her mother’s reaction and looks at her father as he looks like he might burst with joy. “I had no idea….apparently I’ve chosen the perfect man for Papa…” She laughs harder.
Mateo puts a hand on his heart “Fern...this boy...this beautiful boy you found…” Now he looks at Duncan like he’s offering his daughter’s hand in marriage today “I love Carlitto’s Way…..and The Bone Collector….all of them. Luis Guzman…...he is my idol. You know…” And his family knows the oncoming tangent well but this one is all for Duncan, his new pal “Some actors...you just watch THEM in a role. Tom Cruise. Well he’s Tom Cruise as a pilot, he’s Tom Cruise as a race car driver….he’s angry Tom Cruise in that movie that made no sense with the dying father and the raining frogs…..but he’s STILL TOM CRUISE…...Mission Impossible….Mission Tom Cruise. I hate that guy. But Luis Guzman….” Mateo has to take a sip of water and then another because he’s gotten all worked up. Then he leans forwards and whispers for dramatic effect. “He’s like a chameleon…...you never know who he is until bam…..he disappears into each character!”
Maria shakes her head as the Luiz Guzman Rant begins. Then she looks up and over at Fernanda. “I will try and keep him away as much as I can, Fern. But you will feel my pain, hija.”
Duncan smiles. “Tom Cruise? Yea, I feel you on that one.” he nods emphatically. He drinks from his water. “Perfect Tom Cruise. But Luiz Guzman is never Luiz Guzman in movies… or even on television. He’s Eddie Ortiz or he’s Pachanga or or … Nacho Reyes .. I mean BOTH Carlito’s Way, right? But different characters! Not many actors can do that, you know what I mean?”
Fernanda still looks fairly amused by it all and the movie connection between her father and Duncan might be the sweetest thing. Duncan was clearly as committed to the Guzman fan club as her father. “You guys are freakin adorable.” She looks between them and then to her mother “Don’t fight it Mama...now they both have a movie buddy. We don’t have to watch those movies at all…”
Mateo looks at Duncan like his prayers have been answered “Espiritus efines…(kindred spirits).” He grins and nods “Si….he is EVERY man.” Then he looks confused as to why this is adorable and laughs “Ah well thank you of course.” He puffs up a bit.
Maria doesn’t look completely on board until Fernanda mentions that they don’t have to watch the movies anymore. She looks intrigued. “Definitely points for you, Duncan.” she grins at her husband. “I do not hate Luiz Guzman .. I just don’t think he is every man.” she rolls her eyes and bumps into mateo’s side. “I like this man.”
Duncan grins and looks between the three of them. “I didn’t know your dad was so cool, Nan!” he proclaims. Mateo looks at him and he has to admit that his knowledge of Spanish is stretched. He looks at Fernanda. “That’s good … right?”
Mateo grins at his wife “I like this woman. We still got it baby. But I approve of this boyfriend. Fernanda, you know you have to keep him now? He’s had Pedro’s sandwiches and he likes Luis Guzman. He’s like an adopted Puerto Rian now.”
Fernanda nods at her mother and then translates for Duncan “It’s good.Espiritus efines...kindred spirits. I’ll have to teach you Spanish so my father can fully pull you into your culture.” She teases.
Maria grins at her husband. “Yes, you can keep him, Fernanda.” she also teases. “Pedro’s sandwiches, Luis Guzman … what else is there?” she smirks. “Do you sing, Duncan?”
Duncan smiles as the words are translated at nearly the same time as he is adopted as a Pureto Rican. “I’m not sure ….” he grins. “I’m not sure I can do it … OK ..” he admits and pulls out his phone. “This might make me a racist, and might lose me my new friend, but this comedian scared me a little about speaking Spanish like a Pureto Rican.” he shows them the video looking partly anxious and partly amused.
Fernanda watches the video and her reaction is hard to read. Seh can be slow to warm to comedians but eventually she cracks a grin and then laughs hard and the fast talking Puerto Rican Spanish “Alright that’s good. We won’t make you sing now. But that’s only a deal for today. And no guarantees when Angel and Pedro double team.”
Mateo wears his reactions immediately. He’s a jolly man who laughs easily and he finds the comedian relatable and funny from the get go and laughs loudly. The Spanish talking makes him howl and he’s almost falling over by the Cuban coffee bit. “I’m sure he can sing...if not, we’ll teach him!”
Maria laughs at the video and nods, poking into Mateo’s side. “He’s right, too.” she says about the tone. She laughs at the Cuban coffee jokes. Then she looks at Duncan. “You may not be able to sing, but oh just you wait until you see .. someday Angel and Pedro … and sometimes Mateo .. oh they are such a team.”
Duncan laughs along, and is glad it isn’t insulting. He blinks. “So I have to learn Spanish and how to sing? In Spanish?” he arches both brows. “I’m not sure I can sing in English…” he argues.
Fernanda giggles “We’re half kidding. Probably my half, not Papa’s. You guys don’t sing in your family? I’ll give you a cheat because I’m not much of a singer either. If they try to rope you into a music jam just offer to do percussion. We have many many instruments in the house...from cuatros to maracas…..if you can shake things, they stop bugging you.”
Mateo nods “The boys all love to sing…..and they’re good. Oh don’t tell him that Fern. Who’s going to sing to your babies one day?”
Fernanda beams at the thought and then snorts “You can Papa.”
Maria looks at Mateo as if he’s had a stroke. She slaps him in the shoulder. “Who is gonna sing to their babies .. What babies? You have enough babies to sing with you, you don’t need to sing to babies.” she more or less says the same to him in rapid fire Spanish, as if he might not have understood her English.
Duncan can’t help but grin. “We're not a singing family … we’re readers. I mean come on … we’re all named after Shakesperian characters.” then Mateo asks who will sing to their babies, Fernanda tells him he can and Maria lays into Mateo. It’s amusing .. very amusing … and the idea of he and Fernanda having children .. he just grins.
Fernanda cracks up at her mother’s reaction and without thinking she says “Don’t worry Mama….we’re careful. No babies yet.” Then she realizes what she’s implied and tries to backtrack from her admission to having had sex with Duncan “Because we’re careful not to...be impulsive….and we mostly just go for walks and read all that Shakespeare Duncan’s talking about….when we’re not reading...the bible.”
Mateo was laughing at his wife and then he suddenly stops at Fernanda’s words “Oh you better be reading the bible…” He looks between the two of them.
Maria is laughing lightly until Fernanda says no babies … yet. Her eyes grow wide and she also stares between the two young people. “Dios Mio …”
Duncan’s grin vanishes in an instant when Fernanda misspeaks. He looks between her father and her mother and says nothing, while he prays they do not ask him anything about the bible.” he has to sleep here tonight.
Fernanda’s said too much in her moment where her guard was down so she stays silent now, with an apologetic glance at Duncan before she downs her water.
Mateo inhales so hard his nostrils flare and then he crosses himself and looks down muttering something in Spanish that looks like a prayer of some type.
Maria can see Mateo’s nostrils flare out of the corner of her eye. She grabs his arm as he begins to pray. She looks at Fernanda, but there is no judgement in her eyes. Of the many things she is, a hypocrite is not one of them. She had a child at Fernanda’s age. That is the fear in her eyes now. Fear Frenanda would get pregnant and that Duncan would abandon her as she had been abandoned so many years before.
Duncan remains silent. He’s heard a bit about religion and that one big thing is for girls to remain virgins until they are married. It’s supposed to be a big thing. Saving yourself for marriage. Fernanda isn’t as religious as her parents, and he sees Mateo’s nostrils flaring. She looks at him apologetically, but he isn’t sure why, except that by her words, she has suggested that she and he have had sex.
Fernanda finally cracks from the tension “OK relax. We’re responsible. And Mama I do know how old you were when you had Angel.” She’s known her mother’s fear since she first got her period and her mother gave her a special bag of ladies things and the talk. “We’re different and Duncan and I are it for each other. I know it’s new and crazy…..but please believe me.” She looks between her parents “We love each other. Because do you think any guy who didn’t love me would be marched off to the clinic and then still be willing to sleep ina tent with my father? No offence Papa.”
Mateo sighs “None taken mi novia (my girl). You have a point. I want to trust you….both of you. Duncan you seem like a good guy. Hell you love Guzman...and my daughter….”
Maria blows out a breath and considers her daughters words. She nods. “He’s a good boy …” she looks at Duncan. “I … yes … not many boys would do that. He could have isolated at the clinic, I guess…” she sighs. “I know its different with you kids these days. And … I …” she looks at Mateo. “I fell in love fast too. I was just scared so I didn’t … not right away.” she admits, looking at Mateo as if she may have if not for her fears.
Duncan reaches over to take Fernanda’s hand. “I do love her.” he tells Mateo and Maria. “Someday we’ll even get married, if that’s what Fernanda wants. If not, I’m not gonna stop loving her.” he kisses her hand. And looks a little lovestruck.
Fernanda is relieved her parents seemed to hear her. She knew how much her mom had been through. “It eventually worked out Mama...for you. I understand your fears.” She gives Duncan a little melting look at his words and then the kiss “Someday. Today you get to pee in the trees and talk about Carlitto’s Way with a weird old man.”
Mateo gives Maria a little half hug “Mi amor…...times have changed...hell we have changed. They’ll be ok.” He looks at Duncan and Fernanda and then starts to smile and then looks mock affronted “Who you callin old Fern?”
Maria looks at these two young people and is reminded not of she and Angels father, but of she and Mateo when they first met and fell in love. She grins at their banter and then replies to her husband. “She’s calling you old.” she acts like he might be going senile. She runs her hand through his hair. “And you look so much better than Luiz Guzman. So much more handsome.” she nods.
Duncan laughs about going to pee in the trees and movies. “Maybe not at the same time?” he suggests. “I don’t know how close you want us to get, Nan.” he laughs and then watches Fernanda’s parents together. That'll be them in 20 years, he imagines.
Mateo snorts “I’m not old Baby. Don’t worry Duncan we pick different trees.” Then he looks at her like she’s about to make him purr like a kitten with her hand in his thinning hair. When she calls him more handsome than Luis Guzman he spontaneously kisses his wife in a lingering peck that’s almost a bit too sensual to be polite.
Fernanda laughs and rolls her eyes at her parents and then playfully swats Duncan about his getting too close peeing comment. Then she watches her parents get all affectionate and says wryly “You sure you two don’t want to share a tent?”
Maria kisses her husband and then stops when Fernanda speaks. She looks at her for a long time. “Ask your father.” she says, almost shyly.
Duncan watches the kiss and is smiling. Then Fernanda seems to tease them, but Maria says ask Mateo … and he blinks and glances down at the table.
Fernanda looks a little shocked by her mother’s answer and then laughs “Goodness. Papa? Dare I even ask?”
Mateo actually blushes a bit “I uh….well I’ve never said no to her….what man in his right mind would.”
Fernanda face palms “Seriously….how did you manage to have so many of us….”
Maria looks at her daughter and gives her a wink. “Very quietly….” she replies.
Duncan gapes for a second before he turns beet red and drops his face into the palm of his hand.
Fernanda snorts “Mama...Papa….you kids take the tent on the left. I’m going to repeg the other one 10 feet further that way and we’ll pretend not to hear anything...really quietly…” She’s out on a limb she knows but her parents are more like teenagers tonight than she and Duncan. “Then neither of us risk you getting the virus...which we don’t have….”
Mateo just grins and blushes more “Dios mio….” He looks at Maria almost shyly now.
Maria giggles as she looks at Mateo. “Now he’s shy.” she teases him. “How can you act so shy? Angel lives with Ziggy. You think they aren’t making love …?” she sighs. “And I would be surprised to find out Pedro and Samuel are all that innocent.” she sighs again and motions to Fernanda and Duncan, but doesn’t say it aloud. “We have seven children .. six together … “
Duncan remains a lovely shade of red and refuses to say anything or help move tents until he is sure, but all things being equal he’d rather sleep with Fernanda than Mateo.
Fernanda notices Duncan’s embarrassment and giggles at him. Then she nudges him “Come help me with the tent. We’ll let you two sort out your...whatever this is.”
Mateo stammers “I don’t wanna think about it but move the tent…” He blushes almost as badly as Duncan. He’s not sure which is worse, the idea of one of his kids doing it or the idea of one of his kids knowing when they do it. He looks at Maria “More handsome than Guzman?”
Maria looks at Mateo like he’s the cutest thing ever. She doesn’t even look to see if the kids are moving the other tent or not. Placing her hands on Mateo’s cheeks she looks into his eyes. “More handsome. More sexy. More hard working.” she kisses him softly. “And more mine.” she strokes his cheeks. “You didn’t know that, ateo? AFter all this time?”
Duncan moves with Fernanda. “They’re something else, your parents.” he chuckles as he begins to pull up stakes.
Mateo beams at Maria and kisses her back “I knew….a little bit. But I like to hear you say it. Let’s go to bed mi amor..” He requests and his eyes dart to the tent still in the same spot.
Fernanda laughs “And here you may have thought we left the open minded parent behind when we said goodbye to your father. Sometimes they surprise me.” She unpegs her side and then looks at Duncan “On three...hold the poles so we don’t have to redo it all.” Then she counts and sort of drags on her side about 15 feet.
Maria beams and takes his hand, leading him to the tent. “Lets go. I have other things to tell you, my husband.”
Duncan helps Fernanda move the tent and when it’s restaked, he looks up and notices that her parents are nowhere to be seen. He offers her his hand. “Tired? Maybe we should go to bed, too.”
Fernanda hears the zipper on ehr parents tent as it closes and holds up a hand at Duncan's suggestion “Yes…..but first I need to pee in the damned trees.” She had downed her whole water bottle in one shot and it caught up with her now.
Mateo securely zips the tent door closed and then takes off his shirt and lies down on the sleeping back beside his wife in a full on Burt Reynolds pose “Tell me all the things…” He whispers.
Maria lays with Mateo in the darkness of the tent and grins at his Burt Renyolds pose. She moves to him and kisses his cheek. Then she begins to tell him many things … and show him oven more.
Duncan was doing alright until Fernanda mentioned peeing in the woods. “You use the outhouse .. um .. tent .. “ he tells her. “I’ll use the trees and I’ll meet you back in the tent.” he does exactly that and their long and fascinating evening finally comes to a close. He’s finally met Fernanda’s parents.
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