Part 18 – Extending the Family
"If it's that important to you, Dad, I can meet this woman. Who is she, anyway?" Sierra asked.
"It'd be better to let her tell you," Juan said, looking nervous.
"Alright, but you know how busy my schedule can get. When did you want to do this?"
"ASAP."
"Is it urgent?"
"I'd say so."
Sierra set down her phone and looked her father in the eyes. "What's happening, papi? Talk to me."
"Like I said, baby—it's something to talk about in person."
"Well, okay. If you say so." She glanced at the clock. "Anyway, I have to get going. Keyon's probably waiting."
Juan scoffed.
"You'll have to get over it, Dad. He's my husband."
"I know, Sierra. I just don't like the guy. He seems fake."
She didn't argue.
"Whatever happened to the other guy? I thought you'd end up with him for sure. Deon, right? I liked that kid."
"He's still around," she said with a faint, bitter smile. "I thought I'd end up with him too."
"So what happened? You know I used to leave you two alone on purpose, hoping he'd steal you away from that other guy."
"My husband, Dad. And we're just friends."
"No, no, no. You two were more than that," Juan chuckled.
"Would you believe it if I said he's gay?"
"With how he stared at you when you walked away? Kid might be a lot of things, but gay ain't one of them."
She smiled at that. "Should you be okay with a boy checking me out like that?"
"What can I say?" He shrugged. "The kid was honest. Reminded me of myself at his age. I couldn't hide my feelings either."
"You? I find that hard to believe," Sierra teased.
"I may be smooth now, but as a teen? You wouldn't even recognize me."
"I can't picture it at all." She rose from her seat. "I should go."
"Okay. Let me know when you can meet her."
She nodded and gave him a hug. "It was good to see you, papi."
"You too, little lady. Get home safe, okay? Tell that fool of a husband I said hi."
"Don't say it if you don't mean it. And be nice," she scolded.
"Yeah, yeah. Okay."
She turned to leave. He watched her go quietly, then sank back into his chair and pulled out his phone.
"Hey, Stacey. She said she'll meet you."
"Thank you, Juan. I'm so—"
"Don't thank me yet. The girls are grown women now, with lives of their own. This could blow everything up."
"Getting cold feet?" Stacey asked.
"Of course I am. It's been thirty years. Life is good now. Simple. I have a wife."
"I have a husband."
"I'm happy."
"Me too."
Silence lingered.
"I've missed your voice, Juanito," she whispered.
His chest tightened at the name. He hadn't heard it in thirty years, and it still hit the same—maybe harder.
"Stace... let's not go there, alright?"
"Old habits, Juan. Won't happen again."
"Yeah, okay. I'll call you with the date and time when we have it," he said quickly, rushing to end the call.
"Mhm. 'Til then—Juanito."
The line went dead.
He loosened his collar, heat crawling up his neck.
"...still trouble," he muttered, slumping back into his chair.
⸻
Meanwhile...
Sierra moved through the streets in no particular hurry to get home. No one would be waiting anyway. Keyon was away on business. She'd told her dad that he was waiting out of habit. She hadn't meant to lie. She hadn't expected their conversation to turn to Deon either.
Funny, even her dad had taken a liking to him.
"I guess gay was a tough sell, huh?" she muttered to herself.
She pulled out her phone and scrolled to Deon's name. They hadn't spoken since the trip. He hadn't even responded to her I'm sorry text.
She bit her lip, conflicted. On one hand, the jerk had ignored her heartfelt apology. On the other, she wanted to tell him about her dad.
She typed out a message—erased it.
Typed again—erased it.
And again.
Eventually, she leaned against a wall, sighed, and decided screw it. She'd just call.
He answered on the first ring. Her heart skipped.
"Yo."
"Hey, D. You busy?"
"I'm on break right now. Wassup? You okay?"
She loved the concern in his voice. "I'm good. I just finished talking to my dad," she said, suddenly shy for no reason.
"Mr. Juan? How's he doing?"
"He's good, actually. Had a lot of nice things to say about you."
"Me? Why would I come up?"
"'Cause he thought we'd end up together."
"Why'd he think that?"
"Apparently, you were super obvious about checking me out."
"I'm just a dude with eyes." She could hear the smile in his voice. It made her smile too.
"Yeah, and he thinks Keyon is fake."
"I can see that."
"Deon!"
"I'm just saying."
"Anyway," she continued, "he asked why I didn't choose you."
"This should be good. What'd you say?"
"I asked if he'd believe you were gay."
"No chance," Deon said flatly.
"That's what he said too. But how would he know?"
"He might've pulled me to the side way back when. I was a little too honest."
"What?! He made it sound like he could just read you."
"Shit, maybe. We had a real uncomfortable chat about the shape of your ass. Uncomfortable for him, I mean. I was spitting straight facts."
She laughed, blushing hard. Thankfully, he couldn't see her.
"You don't gotta blush."
Wait. Could he see her?
"How...?"
"I can tell."
There was a pause — not awkward, but comfortable.
"Deon—"
"Nurse D, we need you back on the floor!" a voice called in the background.
"Be right there." He sighed. "My bad, Si. I gotta go. Was that all?"
"Uh... yeah. Hit me up later, okay?"
"I'ight, I'll try."
"Okay. Love—"
The call disconnected.
The words left unsaid stung a little.
Before she could fully sink into her funk, her phone chimed.
Love you too.
Just like that, the cloud was gone. She didn't think too deeply about what he meant.
It didn't have to be the same kind of love.
She'd earn more.
By the way, Deon—my dad wants me to meet some woman next week. I'm a little nervous about it. Do you have some time? Keyon's away for work, and I could use the support.
Sure, he replied. I'm free all of next Wednesday.
It's a date.
She slipped her phone back into her pocket and strolled down the street with a renewed sense of vigor—
and something to look forward to.