Sixty Days (33 page)
Authors: Zoe Glez
I was surprised when she said that although she would have loved the idea to be buried in la Isla, the place she was born
that will always be carried with her, she wanted to be close to her family, always. So, as she wished, we had buried her in the family plot she had acquired before her death. A few of the relatives back in Puerto Rico had come to say their last goodbyes to her.
Asides from
everything, it truly was a beautiful ceremony. Angel had sung a few songs, along with Ari. Maddie had made her a drawing of the two of them and we had put it in inside Mama’s coffin.
T
hings had changed a lot in the last five years. Lola stayed in the main house. Much to Mickey and Chino’s pleasure, Junior had moved in with her. I could actually see a little something, something growing between them, but at this rate who knows. He had cleaned up a bit and cut the alcohol out completely. Especially since Mario got married and had a beautiful baby boy. He’s set to be two years old soon and he’s the light in Junior’s eyes. Mario’s, too.
My mom and dad ha
d stayed true to their word and moved back to their old house. Mom had helped me take care of Maddie once my very round pregnant belly wouldn’t let me. They were both pretty happy and excited when they found out I was pregnant. Maddie, too, had been excited to be a big sister. You should have seen their faces when they found out they were twins. I think we shocked the breath out of them for what seemed the nth time. My mom started crying and my dad was, I don’t know what he was, he seemed happy and worried. It was just a whole mess of emotions. But, above all, they were the proudest grandparents ever.
My brother eventually met a wonderful woman and they are now engaged
and set to be married any day now. Ari had finally decided what she wanted to do with her life. She majored in medicine and is starting her doctorate and internship program, where she’s specializing in cancer treatment.
Mary had gotten married not too long ago to some guy she had met
during a night of clubbing. Never in a billion years had anyone seen that relationship going anywhere, but they do seem happy together and that is all that matters. Chino is still single, but pining for Ari’s attention. Poor girl is too enthralled in her studies that she doesn’t even notice. Sure, there is a major gap in age, but love is love, as Mama always said. I can only hope that they work it out.
Carla and Angel got married a year after M
ama’s death and they had a baby soon after. Little Angelica is four years old. Not only does she share her grandmother’s given name, but also her eyes. Luke and Trey are still going strong and as happy as ever. They had gotten married on what was supposed to be mine and Mickey’s wedding day. Since, I was already married and very pregnant, there was no way in hell I was going to have my second wedding while sporting a belly the size of the earth. They are now looking toward adopting and we turned them to John, since I had happened to know about a couple of kid’s that needed parents like my uncle and Trey. That house, without a doubt, will be full of love.
As for Mickey and I, I had given birth
to our twin boys, Dante and Caleb, on a hot summer day. They are almost five and Maddie is eight now. Our kids are happy kids, to be honest. Sure, there comes a time where they are a pain in the ass but I, we, love them with all our heart. Mickey’s shop is doing great. He had finished the Nova he was working on. We now use it for when we go on our date nights without the kids.
My painting career is going
well. Some of the paintings have been showing in local galleries and Luke set up a website where I could sell those that weren’t in the gallery. Sales have also been good there. I have also taken up a side job in room designing. I’ve had the pleasure of turning rooms and offices into a dream. After seeing how I have decorated Maddie’s and the twin’s room, my mom had bragged about it to a friend. That friend loved the job I had done and hired me to do her kids room. She, of course, then referred me to another friend. And before you knew it, I had made a career out of it.
Like promised
, I had made sure our family sticks together. Most of them have moved close to each other and we get together on every holiday…and every non-holiday, for that matter. Most of all, we have continued our tradition of the sixty days. We are now gathered in the backyard, it is January sixteenth, set to celebrate Mama’s life, the way she had always wanted it. All of us united as a family.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Mickey whispers hugging me from behind and wrapping his h
ands over my growing belly. I am in my second trimester and it looks like our fourth child might be a girl.
“Do you think she is happy and proud of us? You know, for not letting all
those secrets and lies ruin us? For maintaining that connection she had always fought for us to have? For staying united as the family we are, like she always wanted for us,” I ask, relaxing in his arms and overlooking our overgrowing family, who seem to be enjoying each other’s company. They all seem happy and joyful, as it always should be.
“Yeah, I really think she is. She always was and always will
be,” he says, planting a kiss on my cheek.
The End.
Note to reader
Although the story is based on fictional events and characters, I must admit that there are some parts that I can relate to. I can relate to each and every one of these characters in different ways, they are a part of me as much as I am a part of them I dedicated this book to my grandmother who I lost at a very young age. Like Laylah, I was very close to my grandmother, unlike hers mine passed away to a better life due to natural causes. But cancer has still been a disease that has left a mark in my family.
During the writing process of this story the last thing I ever saw coming was its ending. But somehow
it sort of sneaked up on me and this was the path that my characters guided me to and I obeyed to what they wanted me to say. Cancer is a disease that has at least affected someone close to each and every one of us. I applaud those who have taken a fight against it and have won it. I also applaud and hold close to my heart those who have lost it. Because I am sure they had given it its best. I admire you all.
Like I mentioned before,
I dedicated this book to my grandmother, but there are four women in my life who also deserve a dedication in one of my books. I promise you all that I will do so on my next one. But right now I want to give all four of you my praise. Blanki, Maggie, Judy & Mita; you have all battled this war against cancer, some of you still are. All four of you have somehow always been there for me, I love you all the same for that, I am proud of calling you all my family; I’m proud of sharing my blood with all of you. It is because of that and so much more that I praise you all, along with all the other cancer warriors that are out there in this world. I admire all four of you, you are all strong women who haven’t given up on that hope and strength that is needed in the battle. I can only wish to be as strong as all of you amazing women.
On a last note, I would like to share with all of you some of the charities that deal with this sickness and that I hold very close to my heart:
http://www.standup2cancer.org/
https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/
https://donate.cancer.org/index
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First of all, I want to thank my mom for always being there for me. For worrying whenever I spent hours sitting in front of a laptop and reminding me that I needed to eat and sleep. To my wonderful familia for giving me the inspiration for this story. Thank you all for lending me some of your names and some of the stories about the things you all used to do back then.
A very special thanks to my editor and savior, Monica Black, without you this book wouldn’t have been the same. Also, to Karri Klawiter for the amazing cover design, that I love so much.
My thanks go to the Zombie and the Cricket in my life, you girls know who you are. Thank you so much for enduring my constant nagging and talks about the book. I’m sorry for all the incomplete teasers and unanswered questions.
Big thanks to my beta readers, you all also know who you are. Thank you for giving my first baby its very first chance.
Lastly, but not least, I would like to thank
you,
beautiful person reading this right now. You rock!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
“I was abducted by aliens, I’m sure of it. Otherwise there is no other way to explain all those voices that have suddenly come to my mind, begging me to tell their stories.”
Zoe Glez is an islander, as in she was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She currently attends the University of Puerto Rico, majoring in psychology. Student by day and writer by night. She started writing when she was in high school; writing for her has always been a therapy and she loves it, as much as she loves her family and her two furry daughters.
She’s obsessed with books, vampires, superheroes and music. During her free time she enjoys reading a good book or grabbing her DSLR camera and capture the great beauty mother nature provides us.
You can contact Zoe Glez here: