James.”
“Oh my,” she said gladly going into his arms. “Tengo el
placer de conocerte también,” she recited in Spanish.
He released her. “You speak Spanish?”
“My daughter isn’t the only one in the family fascinated
with the Hispanic culture. I’m glad you could make it to the party, Mario.”
“Thank you for having me. Taylor is also special to me,”
he said making strong eye contact with Taylor.
Ernst nudged Mario away from the women. “Come with me,
Mario. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the men in the family while the women
do the baby stuff.”
He laughed. “Okay, but, I’d better stay away from Uncle
Vernon. He thinks I’m the IRS.”
“So you had the pleasure of meeting my brother?” Ernst
asked.
“Yes, I did. He is an interesting person.”
“That he is, and I’m sorry I wasn’t here to warn you
about him,” Ernst said walking away with Mario in tow.
Taylor’s mouth opened to protest her father taking Mario
away without her. She faced her mother. “Mom…I think I should go with Mario,
just in case...”
“He will be fine, Taylor. Let’s find Selma and get this
party started.”
Taylor eyed her mother who was fond of having a drink or
two and loved to party. “You know this a dry party, right?”
“It’s dry for them; I’ve got mine in my purse.”
Taylor hunched her shoulders. “Why does everyone have
something but me? You all could have clued me in.”
“The rule is when Selma’s mother throws a party, stash a
bottle in your purse. The woman doesn’t condone drinking and won’t provide it
for the James’ crew. We bring our own and have our own party.”
Taylor nodded. “I forgot about that.”
The deejay started the song by Vic – The Wobble. Mrs.
James grabbed Taylor’s hand dancing in place. “Come on, baby. Come Wobble with
your momma.”
Taylor rolled her eyes. “This is going to be a long
night.”
*****
After the games were over, and the gifts opened the baby
shower neared its end. Mario made his way back to Taylor. He found her sitting
alone at a table. Her shoes were off, and she was holding her head in her
hands. He sat across from her startling her. “You look tired. Are you ready
to go?”
“Yes I am. My feet hurt from dancing and my head is
telling me I had one glass of Jack Daniels too many,” she giggled. “I haven’t
seen much of you tonight; did you have fun with the guys?”
“Yeah, it was cool hanging out with them. Taylor, I like
your family; they are great.”
She lifted her hand to caress his face. “I’m glad they
made you comfortable around them despite my crazy uncle. When will I meet your
family?”
“My parents are alive and I have a brothers and sisters
and an extended family still living Puerto Rico I want you to meet. We will
need a few trips to meet all of my family.”
“I love traveling. I can’t wait to meet everyone.”
He put her feet in his lap and massaged one toe at a
time. “I will start planning an itinerary.”
“That feels good,” she said pulling a tender curl of
hair. “Mario, I don’t know if you would be interested or can swing the time
off work, but that cruise I’m taking in August…well I’m the only person
occupying my room…”
He continued to massage her feet slowly. His gaze
captured hers as he finished her sentence. “Are you asking me to join you?”
She licked her lips. “I would not want anyone else but
you to join me.”
He scooted his chair closer to her. Leaning in, he
kissed her. “I will make the time to join you.” His mouth captured hers again
lingering in a deep sensual kiss.
Mrs. James caught them in the act. “Aw how sweet. Love
is such a wonderful thing and my daughter’s finally found it.”
Taylor jumped away from Mario. “Mom, it was kissing don’t
get carried away,” she said embarrassed.
Mrs. Taylor eyed Mario grinning and watching him wipe
smudged lipstick from his mouth. “Un-huh,
“Oh my,” she said gladly going into his arms. “Tengo el
placer de conocerte también,” she recited in Spanish.
He released her. “You speak Spanish?”
“My daughter isn’t the only one in the family fascinated
with the Hispanic culture. I’m glad you could make it to the party, Mario.”
“Thank you for having me. Taylor is also special to me,”
he said making strong eye contact with Taylor.
Ernst nudged Mario away from the women. “Come with me,
Mario. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the men in the family while the women
do the baby stuff.”
He laughed. “Okay, but, I’d better stay away from Uncle
Vernon. He thinks I’m the IRS.”
“So you had the pleasure of meeting my brother?” Ernst
asked.
“Yes, I did. He is an interesting person.”
“That he is, and I’m sorry I wasn’t here to warn you
about him,” Ernst said walking away with Mario in tow.
Taylor’s mouth opened to protest her father taking Mario
away without her. She faced her mother. “Mom…I think I should go with Mario,
just in case...”
“He will be fine, Taylor. Let’s find Selma and get this
party started.”
Taylor eyed her mother who was fond of having a drink or
two and loved to party. “You know this a dry party, right?”
“It’s dry for them; I’ve got mine in my purse.”
Taylor hunched her shoulders. “Why does everyone have
something but me? You all could have clued me in.”
“The rule is when Selma’s mother throws a party, stash a
bottle in your purse. The woman doesn’t condone drinking and won’t provide it
for the James’ crew. We bring our own and have our own party.”
Taylor nodded. “I forgot about that.”
The deejay started the song by Vic – The Wobble. Mrs.
James grabbed Taylor’s hand dancing in place. “Come on, baby. Come Wobble with
your momma.”
Taylor rolled her eyes. “This is going to be a long
night.”
*****
After the games were over, and the gifts opened the baby
shower neared its end. Mario made his way back to Taylor. He found her sitting
alone at a table. Her shoes were off, and she was holding her head in her
hands. He sat across from her startling her. “You look tired. Are you ready
to go?”
“Yes I am. My feet hurt from dancing and my head is
telling me I had one glass of Jack Daniels too many,” she giggled. “I haven’t
seen much of you tonight; did you have fun with the guys?”
“Yeah, it was cool hanging out with them. Taylor, I like
your family; they are great.”
She lifted her hand to caress his face. “I’m glad they
made you comfortable around them despite my crazy uncle. When will I meet your
family?”
“My parents are alive and I have a brothers and sisters
and an extended family still living Puerto Rico I want you to meet. We will
need a few trips to meet all of my family.”
“I love traveling. I can’t wait to meet everyone.”
He put her feet in his lap and massaged one toe at a
time. “I will start planning an itinerary.”
“That feels good,” she said pulling a tender curl of
hair. “Mario, I don’t know if you would be interested or can swing the time
off work, but that cruise I’m taking in August…well I’m the only person
occupying my room…”
He continued to massage her feet slowly. His gaze
captured hers as he finished her sentence. “Are you asking me to join you?”
She licked her lips. “I would not want anyone else but
you to join me.”
He scooted his chair closer to her. Leaning in, he
kissed her. “I will make the time to join you.” His mouth captured hers again
lingering in a deep sensual kiss.
Mrs. James caught them in the act. “Aw how sweet. Love
is such a wonderful thing and my daughter’s finally found it.”
Taylor jumped away from Mario. “Mom, it was kissing don’t
get carried away,” she said embarrassed.
Mrs. Taylor eyed Mario grinning and watching him wipe
smudged lipstick from his mouth. “Un-huh,
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