It All Started With a Lima Bean by Kimi Flores

Abby was to her best friend and thought this would be the most comfortable situation for them to get to know each other a little better.
    Enjoying himself, he thought about how much fun Leah was. He understood why the women got along so well. They had all indulged in a couple of bottles of wine by the time they were finished and joked that the flower arrangements might appear to be a little crooked the next day.
    As they cleaned up, Leah asked the magic question, “So Caleb, do you own a suit?” and then eyed Abby who looked horrified.
    “Why yes I do Leah; why do you ask?” He had a feeling he already knew.
    “Well you see, if you are free, we’d love for you to join us at the wedding tomorrow. You can see the fruits of your labor and save my friend here from the humiliation of my cousin Manuel trying once again to get her to go out with him. You can be her date.” Leah bounced a little on the balls of her feet. Caleb didn’t know which idea terrified Abby more, the prospect of the cousin or the suggestion Leah just made.
    “I would love to join you guys if you would like me to Abby. I’d hate to leave you in an awkward situation with Cousin Manuel.” Uh oh. He recognized that look on Abby’s face. She really was mortified. Did she not want him to go or was she just embarrassed because her friend put it out there? It looked like tears started to well up in her eyes. “I don’t have to go if you would rather I don’t. I know it might be odd because you are my child’s teacher, but I’d enjoy being friends as well.”
    Abby shyly muttered, “Actually, it would be nice if you went. It may be awkward for you since you only know Leah and me, but it would give us a chance to get to know each other better. As friends.”
    “Can I walk you ladies to your cars?”
    “Leah lives upstairs, and I’m just going to stay with her tonight, so we are fine.”
    “What time should I meet you tomorrow?”
    “The wedding is at 4:00.” Abby started then Leah interrupted, “Which is Salvadorian for 6:00.” She giggled, a little tipsy.
    “We need to get there early to set up so we should leave here by 12:00.”
    “Can I get your number in case I need to call you?” Hopeful but again, not wanting to cross any lines, he waited for her answer.
    “Sure, here you go.” She passed him her cell phone so he could call his and in turn have her number on the caller ID.
     
     

     
    “I can’t believe you just did that to me. How embarrassing.”
    “What? I got you a hot date with a guy that is drooling over you as much as you are over him, and now you have his cell number.” Her best friend gloated.
    “He is going to think I’m totally lame. I couldn’t even put a couple of words together to form a complete sentence when he was around.” Placing her hands on her face, Abby still couldn’t believe Leah asked Caleb to be her date.
    “No, my favorite part was watching you giggle. That was so cute. I’ve never heard you giggle so much.”
    “Oh be quiet.” She gave Leah a light push. “Now I’m going to see your family with this handsome guy as my date. They are never going to let it go.”
    Holding her stomach, Leah cackled. “I’m sorry amiga; I didn’t even think about that. Well it will be better for them to focus on your date then on all of the flaws they can find in me.”
    “I don’t know how you put up with that Leah.” Several of Leah’s aunts were just brutal with their comments. It would start out with them asking the girls about boyfriends, and then move on to the fact that they were not the thinnest girls around, and if they would take better care of themselves, they might find men. It was absolutely ridiculous.
    Leah mentioned her sisters and the reception they would get from the older women too. “Luckily for Elena, she’s married. Even if she happens to have an ass as a husband, at least the old ladies leave her alone. Poor Dani gets the brunt of the insults. They attack her right away so