Chapter 7
Tatiana's alarm clock shrieked its wake up call making it the start of a new day. She moved through the same routine she did every workday morning except it really wasn’t an ordinary day. When her phone rang, she grabbed it with a smile.
“Hello,” Tatiana chirped.
“Happy birthday, Tati!” Candida exclaimed.
“Mama, thanks.”
“Don't forget dinner tonight. I'm having a special comida for you. I'm making your favorite—tamales.”
“I'll be there with bells on!”
“Bring friends.”
“I will.”
“Okay, Tati, I'll see you tonight.”
“I'll see you then.”
Tatiana hung up the phone and stared at it. Randy had not called to wish her a happy birthday. The silence was deafening. She hated that she was waiting by the phone.
What's the use of being a mature adult if I'm acting like a teen-ager?
Tatiana tore herself away from the phone, grabbed her purse, and walked out the door. Maybe Randy would be waiting for her with flowers and balloons at the elevator, she reasoned. But when she arrived, the only one waiting for her was Nydia.
“Happy birthday,” said Nydia as she hugged Tatiana and handed her a small wrapped box.
“Thanks.” Tatiana opened it to find a gold necklace. “It's absolutely beautiful.”
“You're not freaking out about getting to thirty?” asked Nydia.
“No, I'm not freaking out about leaving my twenties.”
“Good, because I was about to give you a lecture on the benefits of maturity and the problems of youth.”
Tatiana smiled. “I think you've already given me that lecture, professor.”
“It wouldn't hurt to hear it again.”
They laughed as they climbed into the elevator.
“While you were in the parking lot, did you see Bill's fire engine red Jaguar?” Nydia asked.
“No, I didn't.”
“He's supposed to be here first thing to go over the Peterson account,” stated Nydia, annoyed.
“Lately, he's been better about coming in but mornings are still hard for him.”
Tatiana had just said a mouthful. Bill had tried to break himself from, if not the alcohol, the addiction to sex. His nights were spent on his computer surfing porn sites or picking up women from bars. If there were no obliging females then he hired prostitutes. He always used condoms to make him feel he was in control of his life even though at this very moment his alarm was screeching, but he couldn't wake up.
As soon as Tatiana and Nydia arrived inside the office, they heard Augusta's booming voice. She was in Suzanne's office with the door wide open. Since Suzanne's work space was in the back, hidden from the front door, Tatiana and Nydia stepped in unnoticed. No one else had arrived yet.
“I don't know, but I'm concerned about Judith,” Augusta stated.
“Judith,” Suzanne said. “I don't know what to make of her. I used to think she was a good employee but now . . . there's something strange about her.”
“I don't like to gossip . . . you know me . . . but I think she's having an affair with Jack Brewster.”
“My goodness! Where are her morals?!” exclaimed Suzanne.
Go ahead and cast the first stone. Neither one of you can afford to call the kettle black, Tatiana muttered inside her head. She recalled Augusta's affair with her then teacher and Suzanne's own tryst with a married police officer. He had finally broken it off with her and it had affected her so much that she hadn't come into the office for a week.
What no one in the office knew was that Suzanne's new boyfriend, the investment banker, was very much wedded to his childhood sweetheart. Suzanne believed in her heart of hearts that he'd leave this interloping, unfeeling woman to be with her, the woman who truly loved and understood him.
“Jack is having such a hard time at home with that shrew of a wife, but he doesn't need complications like this,” Augusta stated.
“No, he certainly doesn't.”
“I've tried to advise Judith, you know me, but some people you just can't help.”
“I've noticed how often you've been at her desk trying to assist her.”
Assist her? You've got to be kidding!!! The whole office bypasses Augusta and goes to Judith for secretarial assistance, Tatiana said to herself, annoyed and exasperated.
“She knows so little about this business,” Augusta stated. “I try to help when I can. I really try, but you know how hard it is for me around here with everyone being jealous of me because I'm close to you.”
“I don't know why. Even if I'm close to you, I don't treat you differently from anyone else.”
“You know how people are, Suzanne,” retorted Augusta. “Instead of being grateful to you for their jobs, look at how petty they act. There's no loyalty these days.”
“Do you know what's going on with Nydia and Tatiana? They've been in a bad mood lately. Do you know why?”
“They're old maids. Nydia is forty-one and unmarried. Tatiana, for all her supposed good looks, can't get a man. No wonder they’re in a bad mood.”
As Nydia's face contorted, she strode into Suzanne's office. “We‘re in a bad mood because of stupid crap like this. Nobody is jealous of you Augusta, we just can't stand you. And you Suzanne, if you want to know about your office, then ask us directly.” She slammed the door shut.
Tatiana shook her head as Nydia rushed back to the front lobby.
“That bitch,” Nydia said between her teeth. “And I don't mean it in a good way.”
Tatiana nodded. “She's a bitch in the worse possible way.”
“Absolutely.”
“Suzanne will never see it.”
“Nope.”
“That really sucks,” Tatiana murmured.
“Yep.”
“Why is she so blind?”
Nydia shrugged her shoulders. “Who knows why people choose not to see the reality in front of them?”
Later that day, Tatiana sighed with frustration. Of all the days to have to meet with Tristan Segovia, Tatiana was stuck seeing him on her birthday. Nydia and she discussed the campaign with him while he looked at Tatiana with uncertainty.
“Are you still having doubts about the slogan?” Tatiana questioned bluntly.
“No, not at all. Nydia made me re-think my initial reaction. I am having doubts; however, about the T.V. spots.”
The T.V. spots will—” Tatiana started to say.
“Nydia, can you explain them to me?” asked Tristan while Tatiana fumed at being cut off so abruptly.
“Tatiana and I came up with a campaign that would center on family. That way Segovia foods will be immediately connected to positive feelings of togetherness, happiness, and laughter. The first T.V. spot will take place at a 50th anniversary party of a loving couple where Segovia foods will be visibly displayed.”
“I definitely like it. What else?”
Nydia finished explaining, but Tatiana didn't stop fuming. That arrogant fool was really pissing her off. When Nydia and she had meetings with Tristan Segovia, he ignored Tatiana. He argued with all her concepts. Tatiana didn't see how Nydia believed he had some kind of crush on her. Is she nuts? The guy totally dislikes me. Totally!
Augusta ecstatically relished Tristan’s attitude toward Tatiana. She had been heard telling everyone in the office how Tristan Segovia couldn’t stand the sight of Tatiana. His total disregard for her abilities had to be confronted, Tatiana reasoned. Their working relationship had to be re-worked.
“I need to speak to you, Tristan,” Tatiana declared with the most authoritative voice she had in her.
“I've got to go,” he said.
“It'll only take a few minutes.”
“Okay, what is it?” he asked impatiently.
Nydia took her cue and said her goodbyes and left. She had a smile on her face, aggravating Tatiana more than she already was.
; “Would you like me off your account and for Nydia to handle it on her own?” Tatiana asked curtly.
Tristan was taken aback. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
“You two are the best in the business. Together you're phenomenal.”
“I know you don't like me which is fine because you don't need to like me in order for me to handle your account. What I do need from you is some cooperation.”
“Cooperation? What do you mean?”
“You veto everything that comes out of my mouth. If you don't like it then it's one thing. I can take constructive criticism. What I can't take is you stamping out everything I say.”
“I don't do that.”
“Yes, you do. If it's Nydia's concept, you agree right away.”
“Do I do that?”
“Yes. Now, this isn't about my ego. This is about taking care of your account. I pride myself with doing a good job. In fact, I need to do a good job in order to feel like I'm earning my keep. I can't do this if I'm being second guessed at every turn. And as for you, this is your business which I understand you've built up from nothing. You're self made. You shouldn't let your dislike for me get in the way of it.”
“Tatiana, I apologize. I'll be more cognizant of my behavior.”
“Thank you. I've kept you long enough. That's all I want to cover with you.”
He smiled at her for the first time and looked straight into her eyes. “I'm glad we got this cleared up. By the way, it’s not true that I dislike you.”
“You could’ve fooled me,” muttered Tatiana, her voice tight.
“Sorry I gave you that impression.”
“Apology accepted.”
“I can be a bit gruff sometimes.”
Tatiana smiled. “Well, just a little bit.”
Tristan returned the smile. “I’m glad you didn’t put up with me,” he said with admiration.
“Communication is important.”
“Don’t ever feel you can’t talk to me,” declared Tristan. “I can dish it out but I can take it too. By the way, I’d like to wish you a happy birthday.”
“How did you know—”
“I overheard someone in the office say it was your birthday.”
“Oh, thank you.”
As he was leaving, Tatiana couldn’t help thinking that this arrogant fool really was a tall, dark, and handsome guy. She had always liked men in suits with business appearances. She had always liked intelligent people. And he hadn’t cut her down to size when she had confronted him. Wasn't that surprising?
With the exception of the incidents with Suzanne and then Tristan, Tatiana was having a quiet day. People had stumbled into her office wishing her a happy birthday. Beatrice Berry brought a cake. Judith gave her silver earrings. Still, there was no phone call from Randy.
Suzanne eventually stepped in to Tatiana’s office. Tatiana hoped it would only be for a very short moment, but Suzanne closed the door and sat in front of her desk.
“Happy birthday, Tatiana.”
“Thank you.”
“I know you must be self-conscious about turning thirty, but you shouldn't be.”
“I'm not self-conscious.”
“I turned fifty this year,” grumbled Suzanne.
Tatiana remembered how hard she had taken it. Instead of a birthday party, she had had a face lift.
“Aging doesn't have to happen with today's technology,” Suzanne continued. “You’re lucky you're at an age young enough not to need surgery yet. You can get by on botox.”
“Botox? You mean poison to the face?” Tatiana asked.
“It's not as bad as it sounds, and there are other avenues too. Technology today is amazing.”
“Suzanne, with all due respect, I'm not interested in freezing my face so I can look eighteen forever. To be honest with you, I was an awkward teen-ager and am glad to get as far away from that place as possible.”
“My goodness, I didn't mean to offend you,” Suzanne rushed to say. “I hope you know that. You're one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen in my life. I wouldn't dream of trying to ply you with beauty secrets.”
“Don't worry. You didn't offend me, at least not with this conversation.”
“Actually, that's what I wanted to discuss with you. I imagine you heard Augusta and me speaking this morning.”
“I couldn't help it. You had the door open, and Augusta's voice can wake the dead.”
“I hope you know we were just having a little harmless chat, not even worth mentioning except I think Nydia got offended.”
“You'll have to talk to her to get her feelings on the subject. I can only speak for myself, and I can tell you that I did get offended.”
“But there’s no reason to feel like that. As the owner, I want everyone in my agency to be happy. Naturally I'm concerned when I see snags here and there.”
“So you get in touch with your agency through Augusta? You have those supposed little harmless chats with her never questioning the poison that comes out of her mouth?”
Suzanne smiled diplomatically. “I know you don't like her but—”
“This isn't just about me not liking her. Don't you put the ball on my court—as if the problem is with me because I dislike her.”
“But you don't like her, do you?”
“You’re not going to turn this into just a personality conflict, Suzanne. If I don't like her it's because of who she is and not because I have a problem with her lipstick. She's disruptive, envious, spiteful, incompetent, and twirls you around her crooked finger.” The truth came tumbling out of her mouth without brakes.
Suzanne sighed. “Tatiana, I know this is a small office and we're bound to have some problems with one another.”
“I repeat, this thing with Augusta isn't a little conflict of personalities where an employee gets upset over a missing paper clip. Augusta is a hurricane that destroys everything around her. I don't know why you can't see what's so obviously in front of you.”
“I know Augusta can be a little curt, a little hard to take. I know she exaggerates sometimes. I don't necessarily believe everything she tells me.”
“But you believe a great deal of what she tells you, especially when she works you. She does her act, the 'I'm not gossiping but. . . you know me, butter doesn't melt in my mouth but . . . The only reason why I'm mentioning it is because I'm concerned about so and so' number. What she's really doing is trying to make someone look bad to make herself look good.”
“I'm aware she's an insecure person, but because of that I try to be understanding. She's had a hard childhood.”
“Please, Suzanne. Who hasn't?”
“The stories she's told me about her relationship with her mother are heartbreaking.”
“I'm sympathetic with that. I, of all people, understand childhood traumas, but I still don't condone behavior like hers. She has no right treating people with such disrespect and outright viciousness.”
“I know that deep inside she doesn't mean to offend anybody. She desperately craves for everyone to look at her as being competent because her mother doesn't see her that way. Augusta works so hard to prove her worth. She spends days with any project I give her, trying to do her best.”
“Are you kidding? She works much less than the rest of us do. She constantly gossips and it takes her longer to finish a project because she's incompetent. How can you not see that? She works you with all that sighing she does, so you think she's hard at work.”
“I—”
The door swung open. Augusta marched in with her defiant condescending face on. “Your mom's here, Tatiana.”
“Don't ever barge into my office like that again.”
“I was only trying to do you a favor. I imagine that you don't want your mother sitting in the lobby for long,” Augusta sniffed, looking at Suzanne and shaking her head as if Tatiana didn't understand how grateful she should be to her.
The h
eck with you.
“Next time, knock on my door before coming in,” Tatiana growled.
“I'm not your secretary. I've got more than enough to do around here without having to take care of the lobby too," she retorted, sighing and stepping out.
Suzanne bounced off her chair. “I've never met your mother. I'd love to meet her.”
Suzanne had the perfect excuse to get out of their prickly conversation. When they walked out to the lobby, Augusta was suspiciously at the copy machine trying to look busy but eyeing Tatiana's mother. She had never met her either, since Candida had never visited her daughter in the agency. Periodically, Augusta had asked Tatiana if she looked like her mother. Now she could size her up herself.
Candida sat in the lobby with happy birthday balloons and a vase of flowers. Judith was having a conversation with her. Candida smiled widely as Tatiana got near.
“Happy birthday, Tati!” she exclaimed, hugging her. “I know I already called you this morning, but I thought I'd bring you these.” She handed her the balloons and flowers.
“Thank you, Mama,” Tatiana said with a smile. Candida knew that lately her daughter was more off balance in her job than usual, so she showed up with cheer. “Let me introduce you. That one over there is Augusta.”
“We've just met.” Candida's voice was tight.
“This is Suzanne.”
“My goodness, you're as beautiful as your daughter,” Suzanne gushed.
“Thank you,” Candida said.
“And you've met Judith.”
Bill and Jack stepped in to the lobby and did a double take when they saw Candida. They practically ran to her.
“Bill, Jack, this is my mother Candida, ” Tatiana said.
“Your mother?” asked Jack. “Really?”
“Not your sister?” questioned Bill.
Normally Tatiana would've thought this was a line, but both looked authentically surprised and truth be known, Candida did have a youthful look about her.
“I'm this talented woman's mother,” Candida said proudly. Tatiana always loved that about her, that she was proud to be her mother as if Tatiana was super accomplished.
Augusta ran around the copy machine and almost shoved herself in between Suzanne and Tatiana. “Suzanne, we need a new copy machine. It keeps jamming and—”
“Is today your birthday, Tatiana?” asked Bill, looking at the balloons.
“Yes,” answered Candida.
“Happy birthday,” Bill said.
Augusta looked as if she was ready to pop. “Bill, Mr. Torres called you. I left the message on your desk. I—”
“Candida, it's so considerate of you to come down for Tatiana's birthday. I barely get a phone call from my mother,” Bill stated. “You must be a great mother.”
“My Tatiana is special,” Candida expressed.
“How old are you, Candida?” asked Suzanne and then caught herself. “I'm sorry . . . I shouldn't have asked that. I—”
“It's okay,” Candida said. “I don't mind. I'm fifty-two.”
“How do you look so young?” asked Suzanne.
Augusta jumped in. “You look as young as she does Suzanne. You—”
“I bet it's good genes,” remarked Bill.
“I don't really think in terms of age,” Candida said. “I spent part of my life obsessed with how I looked, but I've gotten over myself.”
“It sure works for you,” Bill gushed.
The front door opened and in walked Nydia. She had gone out on an errand earlier.
“Nydia, this is my mother,” Tatiana introduced her mother, smiling warmly.
Nydia smiled back. “Hi, I'm so happy to meet you.”
“I've taken enough of your time, Tati,” Candida said, hugging Tatiana again. “I need to go. I'll see you tonight.” Tatiana walked her to the door. “Bye everybody,” she said, leaving.
For a few seconds, everyone stared after her. It's strange the impact my mother has, thought Tatiana.
“She's a dead ringer for that beautiful old time Mexican actress Maria Felix,” Nydia expressed.
“Let's get back to work, Judith,” Augusta snapped with a growl in her tone.
Lately, Tristan seemed to be having confrontations. Tatiana had done it earlier, and it had already been a week since Cora had confronted him. He hadn’t expected it but if he was honest with himself, he was actually relieved they had occurred.
“You have absolutely no passion for me,” Cora had said with eyes brimming with fluid.
“Cora, I’m just not a very demonstrative man.”
“You have affection for me. I’ll give you that but that’s where your feelings for me stop.”
“Cora—“
“No, Tristan, stop. Stop trying to convince me and even yourself of something that isn’t. You have no spark for me. Face it.”
“Cora, I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you.”
“You’re in love with someone else, aren’t you?”
Tristan cleared his throat. “Cora, the problem is that I’m married to my work.”
But as Tristan sat at his desk thinking about the last conversation he had with Tatiana, he wondered if he wasn’t deluding himself. Tatiana always seemed to be at the forefront of his mind.
“Mr. Segovia, Bernie Sumner is here to see you,” Tristan’s administrative assistant said through the telephone speaker.
“Send him in.”
When Bernie was seated in front of his desk, Tristan started becoming concerned with the unexpected visit.
“Is everything okay?” Tristan questioned. “Is the distribution of my food going as planned?”
“Yes, Tristan, everything is as smooth as silk. That’s not what I’m here to see you about.”
“Oh?” said Tristan, one eyebrow up. “What do you need to see me about?”
“This is a very delicate matter,” Bernie said nervously.
“What is?”
“It’s about a woman?”
Tristan’s eyebrows snapped together quizzically. “A woman?”
“You may not be too happy about who I just started seeing.”
“Did you start seeing Nydia?”
“No, not Nydia,” Bernie answered nervously.
Tristan’s defenses immediately shot up. “It’s Tatiana then,” he blurted angrily. “I thought she was seeing Randy Durbin.”
“No, not Tatiana. I’m seeing Cora.”
“Cora Perez?”
“Yes,” Bernie said as he nervously shifted in his chair. “I would always chat with her when I’d come discuss business with you and she was here. I bumped into her, and she told me you weren’t seeing each other anymore.”
“No, we’re not.”
“Tristan, we’ve got a very good business relationship. I’d hate for this to become a problem between us, but I really care for her.”
“Bernie, it’s not a problem,” Tristan declared, smiling. “In fact, I’m glad she’s found someone. I felt bad about how it ended.”
Relief poured out of Bernie. “I’ll be good to her.”
That evening, Tatiana invited Nydia and Judith to her birthday get together at her mother's house. Tatiana was worried that Judith would decline because of the intervention but to her surprise, Judith agreed to join them if no one mentioned Jack. Nydia and Judith left their car at Tatiana's apartment complex and rode with her.
“I adore your mother,” Judith said. “I talked to her in the lobby. She was saying how proud she was of you.”
“I love my mother, but she sure has a problem with men,” Tatiana stated.
“Some men are despicable,” muttered Judith, making the uncharacteristic comment. Tatiana hoped that Judith was beginning to see Jack for who he was and the games he played.
“Yes, some men are monstrous,” Tatiana returned.
“Your mom is so charismatic, so amazing,” Judith gushed.
In truth, Judith wished Candida would've been
her own mother. While Tatiana was right about Judith growing up in luxury and money, she was wrong in thinking Judith had an easy life. What looked like sunshine was often a burning fire.
Judith and Tatiana kept chattering about Candida while Nydia's memory traveled back to earlier in the day. Her dislike for Augusta was getting out of hand, but she couldn't help it. Look at what happened today, she grumbled and her mind. Tatiana's mom came to the office to wish her beloved daughter a happy birthday, and what does that bitch from hell do? Be the snake haired Medusa she is.
When Tatiana had left the agency to pick up food for them, as they were going to have a working lunch, Suzanne mentioned how unbelievingly gorgeous and youthful looking Candida was. Of course, the snake sprouting pathological hater jumped in and said she didn't think Candida was that pretty. Did anyone notice the crow's feet around her eyes? And she could do with losing some weight. Before Nydia could tell her off, Bill had beaten her to it.
“Jealous, Augusta?” he had declared.
Augusta had looked insulted. “Of course not. I'm only saying that I don't know why all of you made such a fuss. It's not as if you've never seen a good looking woman here.”
Bill had chuckled. “You're jealous.”
Augusta had fumed. “Stop saying that. I'm not.”
Suzanne had shifted in her chair. “Of course not. We're just expressing opinions.”
“Why should I be jealous of her?” Augusta had retorted, her voice sounding especially nasal. “She isn't a raving beauty.”
“Yes, she is,” Nydia had growled.
Augusta's eyebrows had risen. “Not to me.”
“That doesn't surprise me. You don't see beauty in anything, do you?” Nydia had snapped.
The corners of Augusta's mouth had twisted abnormally downward. “Of course I see beauty. I just don't see it in her.”
Bill had smiled widely. “You must not have any taste because believe me, Candida is absolutely a raving beauty.”
In Tatiana's car, Nydia wondered how much of the agency she'd be able to stand. She considered herself a person of reason, a professional. She could have discussions of disagreement with reasonable people, but she wondered if there was any logic to her workplace.
They arrived at Candida's house. When inside the home, it was decorated with many mini piñatas hanging from the ceiling. A big banner saying 'Happy Birthday, Tati' graced the living room. Candida had wanted to throw her daughter a big bash, complete with a mariachi band and flowing margaritas. After all, it wasn't every day that her baby turned thirty. But Tatiana had said absolutely not. She wanted a small get together with the people most important to her.
The only person not there was Randy. Tatiana had decided to let the cat out of the bag and finally make her mother aware of her new relationship by bringing him, but he hadn't called.
Another one bites the dust, Tatiana had decided with bitterness.
As they started eating their tamales, Judith and Nydia kept telling Candida how delicious they were. Candida told them that the secret was working the corn gruel with both hands until the texture was soft. Beto mentioned that the ranchero pinto beans were excellent too.
Pina eyed Tatiana with a sly look. “What's new, mijita?”
“Nothing,” Tatiana said, knowing that her Aunt Pina already suspected about her having a man in her life. Tatiana didn't know how her aunt could possibly know, but somehow she did.
“Nothing new?” Candida asked.
“No,” Tatiana said, realizing her mother also suspected something.
How is it that I can never keep a secret in this family?
“What's new with you?” Tatiana asked, trying to divert the attention from herself.
“Your mama has a suitor,” Pina proudly stated.
“A suitor?!” Tatiana asked, surprised.
“Pina,” Candida said with a warning in her voice.
“It's the man next door. He just moved in and he really likes your mama. He may even be in love with her,” Pina declared.
“Pina!” Candida warned again. This time stronger and pointing her index finger at her.
“Stop saying my name, Candida. I already know it.”
“Would you stop telling everybody my personal business?” grumbled Candida.
“No.”
“Pina!” exclaimed Candida.
“Your daughter has a right to know about this new man in your life,” Pina stated.
“Is he a nice man?” asked Judith.
“Very nice,” Pina declared. “He's a widower who saw his wife through cancer. He was married to her for twenty-five years until she passed away three years ago.”
“Three years ago?” Nydia asked. “He didn't get re-married right away?”
Pina shook her head. “No, he said it took a while to grieve over his wife. He finally decided he needed to move on, and he sold the old house and moved here.”
“How do we know he's telling the truth?” questioned Candida, irritated.
“Doña Guevera knew him and his wife when they lived in Las Cruces. She said he's gold.”
“I'd rather form my own opinion, thank you,” Candida snapped.
“You won't even give him a chance,” declared Pina, grumbling.
“It sounds to me like you should give him an opportunity to get to know you, Mama,” Tatiana declared.
“Let's stop talking about this. Today is your day, my Tati, not mine,” Candida expressed. “Today you’re thirty and quite a woman.”
“Here, here,” said Judith, and everyone applauded.
Tatiana told everybody to quiet down. “I've turned thirty, not invented the cure for menopause.”
After dinner, she opened presents. Pina and Beto gave her a sterling silver watch with the Aztec calendar in the middle of the face. Judith had already given her silver earrings, and Nydia had presented her with the gold necklace earlier. Tatiana finally opened Candida's gift and found a print in a beautiful gold frame.
Tatiana smiled broadly. “Mama, this is one of my favorite Frida Kahlo's, even if it's not a portrait of herself.”
That famous Mexican artist painted the most gut wrenching female angst paintings Tatiana had ever seen.
“I love Frida,” Nydia said.
“It's the Viva La Vida one!” Candida exclaimed with a sparkle in her eye.
“What?” asked Judith.
“Celebration of life,” Nydia explained.
Tatiana looked at the vividness of the watermelons in the print, the dark reds, and lifelike greens. Some watermelons were sliced open, and some were whole. She was tempted to pull herself into the print and pick out the seeds.
“I love watermelons,” Judith said.
Candida and Tatiana chuckled.
“Did I say something funny?” asked a self-conscious Judith.
“Mama has a theory about that particular fruit,” Tatiana explained.
“Really?” asked Nydia. “What is it?”
“We women are like broken watermelons,” Candida declared.
“Why?” questioned Judith.
“Is it because broken watermelons have the corazon, the heart, bulging out?” asked Nydia.
Candida smiled widely. “Smart. You picked that up by yourself.”
Judith sadly let out a breath. “You're right. We are broken watermelons.”
“But look at this print,” Pina said. “Let's not live broken. Let's celebrate life.”
That night when Tatiana was alone in her bed, she went over the day. All in all, despite certain occurrences, it was a good birthday. Others made a bigger fuss about her turning thirty than she did. What's the big deal, anyway? Am I different from the day before when I was twenty-nine? Should I start applying for social security? Should I start praying that a sixty-year-old man chooses me instead of a twenty-year-old? Should I have a plastic surgeon inject my butt into my face, or do I simply imprison it with botulism? r />
A bigger concern was that Randy hadn't called. What's up with that? Did he lose her number? Had he changed his mind about her? Tatiana reached over to turn off the lamp on her nightstand. As her head hit the pillow, she suddenly remembered something else.
Dad hasn't called either.
Why are most of the men in my life such a disappointment?