Dahlia

Family Ties

As they pulled up in front of Cortez’s parents house he squeezed Dahlia’s thigh. Her anxiety must have been on a thousand because Cortez looked over at her and smiled. “Baby relax, it’ll be fine, don’t be nervous.” His smile always calmed Dahlia’s nerves. He was without a doubt the most beautiful man Dahlia had ever laid eyes on. Cortez was about 6’5 with a football player build. He played as the quarterback in high school so it was no wonder. He had short curly hair and caramel colored skin. His eyes were dark brown and he had long girlish eyelashes. If it was possible to have perfect facial features, he did. His eyes, nose and lips were perfectly proportioned. He had pierced ears that he wore diamond studs in and a very attractive neck tattoo. Armed with a smile to die for Cortez was everything that Dahlia never knew she needed.  He was often stereotyped as a “thug” because of the way he dressed but he was the farthest thing from it. For dinner tonight he was wearing a pair of dark jeans, a plain, fresh white tee shirt with wheat colored timberland boots and a backward New York Knicks fitted hat to match. As he was getting out of the car Dahlia chuckled. “What’s funny babe?” He said. “You look exactly like one of the memes I saw the other day describing what a dude from New York looks like.” “It’s all good though because I find you incredibly sexy.” Cortez smiled. “Well, I’m glad about that.” “Cause you bad.” He walked around the car and opened Dahlia’s door. She slid out of the passenger seat and took Cortez’s hand. It was early April. The sights, sounds and smells of The Bronx gave Dahlia butterflies. She saw neighbors talking to each other on their front stoops and heard little girls giggling on the sidewalk and little boys playing ball in the street.She smelled the many different types of food that people were cooking around them. The sun was close to setting and Dahlia looked around, not believing how incredibly lucky she was. Dahlia looked up at Cortez with a worried look on her face.“Baby what if they hate me?” “I got you babe.” Cortez said squeezing her hand. “Whatever happens, just know I got you.” 

The uneasy feeling she had was creeping back into her heart and it made her blood feel like ice running through her veins. “We’re here” Cortez yelled as they walked in the front door of his parent’s house. “Cortez mijo!” His mother came to the door and kissed both of his cheeks. “Mama, I want you to meet Dahlia.” “Hi Mrs. Flores, it’s very nice to meet you.” Mrs. Flores looked at Dahlia, took her right hand and shook it. “Ay, the illusive Dahlia.” “We have heard so much about you but it's so nice to finally meet you.” Dahlia smiled but she was still a little bit guarded. There was something is Mrs. Flores’s tone that was unsettling. “You are so beautiful Dahlia.” Mrs. Flores said looking her up and down. Mrs. Flores couldn’t deny that at all. Dahlia was beautiful.  Today, her jet black hair was curled in soft spirals and stopped just above her shoulders as she was letting it grow out. Her deep milk chocolate skin was flawless. Her almond eyes were lined lightly with black eyeliner and mascara but she wore no other make up. Her size 14 frame showed off a sleeveless black bodycon dress with a denim jacket  and her black, pink and teal Nike Airmax sneakers. Mrs. Flores forced a smile. “Bienvenidos Dahlia” she said a little hesitantly. And I believe congratulations are in order. Dahlia smiled. “Thank you Mrs. Flores.” Cortez led Dahlia down a long hallway into the living room where the rest of the family was. As Cortez was making the rest of the introductions his mother slipped into the kitchen and quietly made a phone call.

Cortez introduced Dahlia to his father, his uncle and aunt and his two little sisters. She already knew his brother Buckey from school but he hadn’t arrived yet. His sisters immediately fell in love with her. Nina and LaLa were 12 years old and they were identical twins. “What a beautiful family you have.” Dahlia said to Mr. Flores after she shook his hand. Cortez’s father was obviously where the boys got their height from. He had to be 6’4 or 6’5. At 51 years old he looked more like 40. He had a crop of curly black hair like Cortez’s. His skin was an olive color and he has a smile just like Cortez. His brother, Cortez’s uncle Juan, could have been his father’s twin. “I’m Titi Enid.” “Tio Juan’s wife.” “Lovely to meet you.” Dahlia said as she reached her hand out for a handshake. “Ay no!” Enid said. “We don’t do handshakes here mija.” We’re family! She pulled Dahlia into a hug and rocked her back and forth.” Dahlia raised her eyebrows at Cortez. He chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. Dahlia liked Titi Enid immediately. She had a good vibe and spirit about her. A genuine spirit. When Titi Enid released Dahlia from her hug Dahlia smiled at her. “Thank you all for welcoming me,'' she said to the adults.  The twins, Nina and La La were the most beautiful girls Dahlia had ever seen. The two were identical in every way except Nina (whose given name was Christina) had hazel eyes and LaLa (whose given name was Laila) had green eyes. The girls had long, black, curly locks. They were very fair skinned and built more like 18 year olds than 12 year olds with curvy but slender bodies. They looked so “New York”  that Dahlia couldn’t help smiling when she saw them. She had been sucked into the New York style the minute she arrived, getting a name chain and ring of her own. LaLa and Nina both had chains, earrings and rings with their name on them. If they dressed the same no one would know the difference unless they looked at the eyes. Being 12 they were busy texting and doing streaks on their phones to care about what was happening around them. They were huddled in the corner of the living room doing their dances and effectively ignoring the adults in the room until Dahlia came in. They took to Dahlia like moths to a flame. They were asking all types of questions about random things. “Who does your hair?” “Is it a wig or is it natural?” “What size shoe do you wear?” “I love you sneakers, where did you get them?” “Do you drive?” “Can you take us to Roosevelt Fields mall?” “Tezzy said you are from Virginia right?” “I want to go to Virginia.” “Do they have good shopping there?”  Dahlia smiled at them and answered the rapid fire the best that she could.The adults laughed while the twins grilled Dahlia. After a few minutes Mr. Flores stepped in to save her. “All right ladies.” He said smiling. “Give her some space.” “Why don’t you girls go upstairs to your rooms while we wait for dinner?” “Ok, papi.” They said at the same time, then scowled at each other for speaking at the same time. They got up and headed for the staircase. Dahlia chuckled at them. “That has got to be the cutest thing I have ever seen.” She said. 

The adults sat around talking for a while. Cortez’s parents were asking the usual questions. Where Dahlia was from, what she was majoring in. Dahlia was waiting for someone to publicly comment on the engagement and her ring even though she was trying her best to conceal it. Mrs. Flores was on to her though, staring at the ring and then at the door. Buckey came in the house a few minutes into their conversation. “Deelicious!” He yelled out. Dahlia smiled at the corny nickname that Buckey had given her. “What up Buck?” She said with a smile and the two did their secret handshake greeting. The family sat around talking and laughing and Dahlia actually contributed to the conversation. She had already charmed Mr. Flores and Uncle Juan and Titi Enid. “So far, so good.” Dahlia thought. Everyone had begun to warm up to her with the exception of Mrs. Flores and Dahlia’s uneasy feeling was growing stronger by the minute.

The doorbell rang 20 minutes later as the family was sitting around getting to know Dahlia. “Oh, I’ll get that.” Mrs. Flores hurried to the door. It sounded as if she had been expecting this person. She came back with a beautiful girl that looked to be about Dahlia’s age. This girl was a model, she had to be. She looked like a Victoria’s Secret angel. Long dark hair, pecan colored skin and a goddess body. “Look who’s here Cortez” Mrs. Flores said with a beaming smile on her face. Cortez looked up. “Oh no” he said under his breath. Dahlia instantly noticed a change in his body language. He became tense and his jaw tightened up. She knew he was pissed and felt like something big was about to go down. She braced herself. She didn’t know what, but she knew that it was something. “Hola Cortez.” “You don’t know me anymore?” “What’s up Anita” he said rather coolly. “Hi everybody.” She said loudly. “It's been a long time!” “Alvaro you look well.” The young lady said. “Uh, thank you Anita.” Mr. Flores said quietly as he raised an eyebrow and looked around clearly confused. “Ay dios mio.” Titi Enid said, perhaps a little too loudly. “Who invited you Anita?” “We haven’t seen you in years.” Titi Enid was clearly not happy with this girls presence. All the while, Dahlia kept her eyes open, observing the situation. Anita said “Mama Flores invited me Titi.” “I would think that you would be happy to see me.” Enid shrugged her shoulders and took Juan’s hand silently. Cortez looked at his mother with venom in his eyes. His father saw this and said in a stern voice “Cortez, watch it.” Cortez stood up abruptly and said “You know what family, this has been fun but Dahlia and I have to be going. He took her hand and pulled her off the couch. She gave him a bewildered look and he mouthed to her “we will do it another time.” “Wait” Anita said smugly, “aren’t you going to introduce me to your little friend?” Dahlia looked at him wondering who this girl was, then she shot a look at Anita for calling her a “little friend.” Obviously this girl knew how to get under people’s skin. Cortez knew his mother did this because he brought Dahlia over and he was seething. Everytime Cortez even mentioned another girl his mother did this. Why couldn’t she just understand that he and Anita were through? They were through a long time ago but Mrs. Flores adored Anita for some reason and constantly tried to play matchmaker.“Anita, this is my fiancée, Dahlia.” “Dahlia, this is Anita.” “Hi” Dahlia said as cordially as possible. “It’s very nice to meet you.” Anita grinned smugly at her. “So,” Anita started, brushing his introduction off. “Is this like your girlfriend?” Cortez sighed. “Not exactly, Anita.” “Fiancée means we are engaged to be…” “Because…” Anita cut Cortez off mid sentence. “I knew it!” “I knew it couldn’t be a girlfriend. She laughed, completely ignoring the fiancée comments. “Funny, Tito and I talk all the time and he’s never mentioned you to me before.” “Tito?” Dahlia said out loud before she could stop herself. “Yeah, Tito.” “That’s what the people closest to Cortez call him.” He looked up sharply. “You know I haven’t spoken to you in a long time Anita.” “Don’t come up in my parents’ house and try to make trouble.” “And anyway, you know no one calls me Tito except you.” “Why are you bringing that up?” 

Dahlia felt extremely uncomfortable but she kept her composure. Anita boldly positioned herself beside Cortez and looked Dahlia in her face. “I bet he didn’t mention to you that I was his girlfriend.” Dahlia glanced at Cortez out of the corner of her eye. It was taking everything she had to not reach over and slap the hell out of this chick. Dahlia smiled at her. “He didn’t.” “But since he tells me everything, it must not have been that important.” Anita didn’t expect a response and stiffened, but she was not going to back down. “Yeah,” She started in her heavy Newyorican accent. “Tito and I were a couple for six years.” Dahlia raised her eyebrow. She didn’t trust herself to say anything so she sat there quietly and kept her composure. Cortez noticed Dahlia’s restraint and was absolutely furious with his mother. He squeezed Dahlia’s hand then turned to his mother. “Mama, can I speak to you in the kitchen por favor?” The two of them went off into the kitchen and Anita stood face to face with Dahlia. Buckey, who had been watching the whole event unfold silently, was getting angrier by the second. He felt the atmosphere shift as soon as Anita came into the house. He could see that Dahlia was uncomfortable. Over the past two years he had become really fond of Dahlia and he felt the need to step up for her. He saw how hard she was working not to lose her cool and he respected that.  He got up and stood next to Dahlia, putting his arm around her protectively. “Anita, what are you doing with your life these days?” “I haven’t seen you around the hood lately.” “Oh, I’ve been working really hard.” “I have a good job down in Manhattan so I spend all my time down there.” Buckey chuckled. “Oh, I didn’t know that people consider the strip joint a good job these days, my boy Dez said he saw you down there.” “What do you call yourself?” “Was it Cheeky Red?” Anita turned red with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. “Cerre la boca Bernardo (shur your mouth Bernardo)” his father snapped at him. Buckey sucked his teeth. “Well I just call it the way I see it, but I know one thing, if she’s here then I’m leaving.” “I know we were supposed to be having dinner but I lost my appetite when this bird flew into the house.” “Bernardo!” Mr. Flores said. “Sorry Pops, but I’m out.” “Love you everyone.” “Catch you lata Dee” he said heading down the hallway leading to the door. “Lo Siento Anita” Mr. Flores said. “You know the way Bernardo can act sometimes.” Dahlia noticed the way Cortez’s family seemed to act around Anita which made her think that they knew something that she didn’t. Or that maybe there was some truth to what Anita was saying. She did not believe in her heart that there was anything going on between Cortez and this woman but something did not sit well with her. 

This girl was a little bit too aggressive, like she had an ace in the hole. Dahlia knew that Anita was going to be an issue and she sat back assessing the situation and figuring out how exactly she was going to have to deal with this woman. Anita turned to her and turned on her smile. “So what is it that you do with your life Dominique?” Her voice was dripping with honey and fakeness. “It’s Dahlia actually” she said to Anita. “I’m going to school to become a family therapist.” “I want to work with children.” “Wow, a therapist?” “That’s a beautiful profession.” “It takes time and patience to deal with people, children, especially in this day and age.” Mr. Flores smiled at Dahlia. “My students greatly benefit from the therapists that come into the building.” Mr. Flores was a teacher at P.S. 984 in the south Bronx. He loved his job and his students as if they were his own children. Mr. Flores and Dahlia began passionately talking about therapy and schools and kids. Enid and Juan looked back and forth between Dahlia and Mr. Flores while Anita fumed trying to think of a way to bring the attention back to herself. Mr. Flores made a joke and the whole living room erupted with laughter. Anita was becoming uncomfortable and desperate to find a talking point but she couldn’t just yet. That didn’t stop her however from formulating a plan.