Meeting Maria

The girl’s mom came to visit after hearing about the pregnancy. She lived several states away, so this would be my first time meeting her.

“She’s super chill,” Angie told me. “I talked you up to her.”

“Plus, she knows that you take care of me,” Victoria affirmed. “She’s going to love you.”

Because she was going to stay over for a few nights, Angie would give her the bed in the office and sleep on the couch, sometimes in our bed.

Finally the day came and I was greeted with a hug by a very pretty woman who seemed much younger than I was expecting.

Side by side, the girls all looked like they could be sisters. At first glance, she reminded me of Sophia Vergara from Modern Family, only ten years younger. She had great curves while still appearing to be in good shape.

“So you’re the man that has been taking care of my daughters during this global pandemic!” She greeted me with a hug and a kiss on a cheek. “I’m Maria.”

“They are the ones taking care of me, I assure you,” I told her as I led her inside. “I don’t know what I’d do without the home cooked meals.”

“Probably cook them yourself. You’re a better cook than we are!” Angie talked me up as promised.

“They are good girls,” Maria said with pride. “I raised them to know how to run a household.”

I gave her a quick tour of the place.

“This is it?” She asked. “I mean, it’s very nice, but it seems like a small place for three people.”

“You have no idea,” Victoria told her. “But we’ve gotten used to it.”

For dinner I was asked to cook my jambalaya and told that Maria liked things spicy. I decided to play it safe and only had the usual amount that I used with the girls that was far less than I would use for myself, offering hot sauce and seasoning on the side. This proved to be the right choice as Maria started to cough after eating her first bite.

She made a fuss about taking care of Victoria who was already the baby of the family and put her to bed early while the rest of us chatted and got to know each other.

The next day I got to learn more of the family’s customs, including more Spanish soap operas, a game of dominos and a fondness for desserts. I took them out for another hike, this time cut short by Maria as she fussed over her youngest daughter.

This time Maria cooked us dinner, making enchiladas that competed with my own. Once again we sent Victoria to bed early as the three of us stayed up to talk.

“Isn’t my mother beautiful, Dan?” Angie asked me.

“Absolutely,” I replied, trying to be conscious of the fact that I had my third glass of wine in hand. “If they had told me that you were their sister, I wouldn’t have questioned it.”

“You flatter me,” Maria said with a smile. “But it is true that I had the girls very young. I was sixteen when I had Angela.”

“Wow,” I said. “So that makes you only-”

“Turning forty this year,” she said with a sip of her wine. “And don’t remind me.”

‘Well, you make thirty nine look easy,” I said. Angie gave me an approving smile.

“Thank you, Dan. You are a charmer. I would protest, but I’m trying to teach the girls how to take a compliment graciously.”

She looked me over. “So, Dan. When do you plan to marry my daughter?”

“Mom!” Angie protested. “Leave the poor boy alone. They already live together. They aren’t going anywhere.”

“I know. And I’m teasing. But so you know, I approve.”

“That means a lot,” I told her.

“I only have one question for you.”

“Okay,” I said, looking again for Angie’s reaction.

“Does she know?”

Angie tried to come to my defense. “Does she know what, Mom?”

“About the two of you.”

I caught Angie’s eye again. She looked just as surprised as I felt.

“What about us?” She asked.

“I’m your mother, Ange. I can tell when you are in love.”

She turned back to me. “And you look at Angie exactly the same way as you look at my other daughter.”

Angie and I both looked down at the floor.

“So I’m asking if Victoria knows about the two of you.”

“She knows we are fond of each other,” I told her. Angie reached over and held my hand.

“But she doesn’t know that you two are together?” She asked.

“No,” Angie said as she lay her head on my shoulder. “And that’s because we aren’t. Dan is with Victoria. They have a baby coming. And that’s the way it is.”

“Then you have to make sure that’s how it stays,” Maria told us.

“We are,” Angie told her. “We have been being good, ever since we found out about the baby.”

Maria was silent for a moment. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad, Angie. But how did you let this happen?”

Angie sighed. “Have you met this man? How could I not?”

“Because he’s dating your sister.” She turned to me. “And don’t take this the wrong way, Dan, because I have only known you two days. But how can I trust you with my baby girl when you’re in love with my oldest?”

“I love Victoria,” I told her. “It’s not just that she’s pregnant. She’s amazing. I’m happy with her.”

“Are you in love with her?”

“Yes,” I said, feeling wrong saying it in front of Angie. “I really am.”

I paused.

“But both of your daughters are amazing.”

“I can’t argue with you there,” Maria told me. “I can tell that you aren’t only after their looks. I had to learn that one the hard way. It’s the curse of being born with a pretty face and a killer body. You never know who really appreciates you and who only wants you as a trophy until you get to know someone.”

“Well, Dan really loves me,” Angie said as she squeezed my hand. “He really loves us.”

There was another silence as Maria watched us.

“Fuck, that feels good to say!” Angie sighed. “I haven’t been able to talk to anyone about this. Usually I share everything with her.”

“So what are you going to do?” Maria asked.

“Nothing,” Angie said. “Because I love my baby sister and I will do everything I have to so that I make sure I don’t hurt her.”

Maria’s raised eyebrow reminded me of Angie. “You can’t always control your heart, love.”

“Don’t I know it,” Angie and I both said at the same time.

“Well, I want you to know that I love you, Angie. And I trust you that you will do your best to do the right thing. I’m just worried that there is no way that someone doesn’t get hurt between you and your sister.”

“I know,” Angie whispered.

“This is one of the reasons why sisters stop talking,” she reminded us.

“I know.”

“Are you religious, Dan?” Maria asked me.

“I believe in God,” I told her.

“Then let’s pray.”

We held hands as she prayed, asking that the situation would end well and that everyone would be okay at the end.

The next day Maria gave me a big hug and a kiss when she left. “Take care of my daughters,” she told me. “And if you need anything, you call me.”

“I will,” I told her. “Thank you for understanding.”

I looked over at Victoria, worried for a second, until I realized she thought I meant about getting her knocked up.

“I understand, but that doesn’t mean I condone your actions,” Maria told me. “I love you all.”