Aurelia grew up without much love from her mother, and she never thought her real dad would ever come into her life. But then, he did. Now, she wonders if it's too late for him to rescue her from the darkness her parents left her in, or if there's s...
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We walked to the car, Storm cradled in my arms, and I settled into the passenger seat. As Santiago began to drive, the silence between us was peaceful, not the awkward or strained kind. For once, I felt at ease.
"Would you like to go eat something?" he asked. When I glanced over at him, I saw the same hope in his eyes that I had seen at the shelter, and I couldn't say no.
"Yes, I'd like that. But what about this little guy?"
"We'll take him with us, of course. What would you like to eat?"
"I'm not really sure. You can choose; I'm fine with anything," I said honestly. Having food at least once a day was more than enough for me to be content.
"Okay, how about some Mexican food?"
"Sounds good," I replied.
We came to a stop, and I followed Santiago into the restaurant, cradling a sleeping Storm in my arms. This little soul was the cutest thing I had ever seen.
We sat down and were handed menus almost immediately. As I glanced around, I noticed the restaurant was completely empty. It was just Santiago, me, the staff, and security.
"If you don't mind me asking, why are we the only ones here?" I asked.
"Honey, remember you can ask me anything," he replied, reassuringly. "To answer your question, they have a specific time frame for certain guests, which is why it's all empty."
"Okay," I said, though I wanted to ask more. But something told me that knowing less might be better for me.
Not long after I asked my question, the food was served. It looked absolutely delicious oh god, I don't think I've ever seen such a mouthwatering food before.
Though I'm Spanish and half Mexican, I rarely had the chance to eat our traditional dishes growing up. Having this meal in front of me now felt like a balm for my soul.
It reminded me of home, of times I tried so hard to forget, of moments buried deep because remembering them hurt too much.
I suddenly remembered how I used to sneak bites of food when my mom would cook for herself and her husband. The aroma would fill the house, and I couldn't resist slipping into the kitchen, hoping she wouldn't notice as I stole a taste. Those stolen moments were fleeting, but they were mine small joys in an otherwise difficult time.
Lost in these memories, I didn't even realize that tears had welled up in my eyes until Santiago's voice gently pulled me back to the present.
"Peanut, is everything okay?"
I quickly blinked, trying to push the emotions back down. "Yeah, I just remembered something," I replied, hoping my voice sounded steady enough.
"Would you mind sharing it with me?" he asked, his tone filled with genuine concern.
I hesitated. "It's not really anything," I said, hoping he would let it go.
"Of course, but just know you can tell me anything, as long as you're comfortable with it."
His words were kind, but they only made the awkwardness return. They wanted me to open up, to share the parts of me that I'd kept hidden for so long. But all I wanted was to be left alone, to keep those parts of me locked away where they couldn't hurt anymore. Don't get me wrong—they've been nothing but sweethearts to me, and I appreciate it. It's just that I'm terrified of having my trust shattered again, the way it has been so many times before.
Santiago's eyes were still on me, waiting patiently. I could see the concern etched on his face, and I felt a pang of guilt for not giving him what he was asking for. But trust wasn't something I could just hand over, not after everything I'd been through. So, I simply forced a smile, hoping it would be enough to ease his worries, even if only for now.
We finally made it back to the house.
I caught myself calling it "home" again and quickly reminded myself that it wasn't. This place wasn't mine, and I needed to stop pretending it was.
As we walked inside, Storm was safely tucked in my arms. We entered the living room where everyone was talking, but their conversation came to an abrupt halt as soon as they noticed us.
"Aurelia wants to show you guys something," Santiago announced, drawing all their attention to me.
My heart skipped a beat. Why would you put me on the spot like that? I thought, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over me.
"I... I took in a dog from the animal shelter," I said quietly, almost wishing the floor would swallow me up. My voice was so soft I wasn't sure they even heard me.
Ramón's voice cut through the silence. "Speak louder. I didn't catch that!" He sounded irritated, his frustration palpable.
Before I could muster the courage to repeat myself, Storm leaped out of my arms and dashed towards Cristián, barking excitedly. I watched in surprise as Storm bounded up to him. Apparently, the little guy had already found his favorite.
Cristián bent down and scooped him up effortlessly, making Storm look even smaller in his large hands. He began to gently scratch behind Storm's ears, and I couldn't help but smile as I heard Storm purring in delight.
"What's his name, princess?" Fernando asked, his tone softening.
"I named him Storm... but if you don't like it, you can change it," I replied, avoiding their gazes and bracing myself for their reactions.
"Storm fits this little guy perfectly! I've always wanted a dog!" Lorenzo exclaimed with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.
"Really?" I asked, genuinely surprised by his enthusiasm.
"Yes, ask Dad," he said, nodding toward Santiago.
I turned to Santiago, who was already watching me with a fond expression. He let out a small laugh, clearly amused by the memory.
"He wouldn't stop begging for a dog. Once, he even made a whole presentation on why he should get one," Santiago said, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
I couldn't help but laugh along with him, picturing a younger Lorenzo passionately pleading his case for a dog. It was a small, light-hearted moment, but it felt like a tiny bridge being built between us—a connection I hadn't expected but welcomed nonetheless.
Storm wriggled in Cristián's arms, clearly enjoying all the attention. For a moment, it felt like maybe, just maybe, this place could feel like home after all.
But I quickly pushed the thought aside. This wasn't my home. Not yet, at least.
"I've wanted a dog for a long time," Ramón said, his voice tinged with frustration. "It's funny how the moment you mentioned wanting one, you immediately got it." With that, he stormed out of the room, leaving a charged silence in his wake.
The room seemed to hold its breath, everyone processing Ramón's abrupt departure. I stood there, feeling a pang of guilt. I hadn't intended to overshadow Ramón's feelings, but his reaction stung nonetheless.
"¡Asegúrate de que Ramón esté en mi oficina en 20 minutos o, que Dios me ayude!" Santiago roared angrily at Cristián.
["Make sure Ramón is in my office in 20 minutes, or so help me God!"] Santiago roared angrily at Cristián.
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