Dahlia

Revelations

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Cortez said to his mother “Why in the world did you invite Anita over here?” “You know this is going to be a disaster.” “Anita is the last person in the world I want to see right now Mama.” “Why would you call her?” Mrs. Flores huffed. “Well mijo I just think you need a nice woman to take care of you the way that I do and Anita has always been that for you.” “Now Anita is beautiful, she makes good money AND she’s boriqua which is an added bonus!” “She understands you the way no one else could my son.” “Why can’t you fall in love with her again?” “Ay dios mio Mama!” “Is that all you care about?” Cortez couldn’t believe what his mother was saying to him. “Listen, I’m with Dahlia, I love her and I am going to marry her!” Mrs. Flores turned beet red.“Mami I love you and I really need you to support me on this.” “Cause I’m not changing my mind.” With that Cortez walked out of the kitchen before his mother could get another word in. 

“Escuchame familia” he said. “I brought Dahlia over here so that we could have dinner before I said this.” “But since I’m not stickin around here for much longer I am just gonna say it.” “I love Dahlia Dennis with all my heart and soul.” “And we are engaged.” “We’re going to be married next year after graduation.” Only Mr. and Mrs. Flores and Bucky knew they were getting married.. “Uncle Juan and Titi Enid looked at each other and then at Alvaro Flores. Dahlia made a pained face and laughed nervously. “Show them the ring baby.” Cortez said. Dahlia pulled her hand out of her left jacket pocket and showed everyone the ring. She quickly put her hand back in her pocket. “I can’t believe he just did that” she thought. Anita sat back in the seat a little stunned. “Tito, you’ve know this girl for like five minutes and you wanna marry her?” Not addressing Anita, he turned to his family and said “I’ve been with Dahlia for two years now and I love her.” To Anita he said “Don’t you ever in your life question me Anita.” Anita stood up and got in his face. “Well I think I’ve earned that right Cortez Flores” she said menacingly. “You didn’t even check with me before you ran off with this tramp!” Dahlia took a step forward but Cortez shielded her with his arm. Anita burst into tears. “You’re son has been without a father for two years and then you bring HER in here and say you are marrying her!” Dahlia glared at Anita, then at Cortez but did not react otherwise. Cortez’s heart skipped a beat. “My son?” he asked. “Demetrius is my son?” He felt the air get thick with tension while he awaited Anita’s response. “Yes he’s your son!” “But you wouldn’t know that because as soon as you went off to college you forgot about me.” Anita broke down in clearly exaggerated sobs. Dead silence fell upon everyone in the living room. Cortez turned to Dahlia and looked her in her eyes with a pained expression. “Dee” he said slowly. “I didn’t know.” “I swear to God she didn’t tell me.” Anita looked Dahlia up and down. “That’s right bruja.” She said, her tears disappearing instantly. “Cortez and I have a child together.” “So if you think I am going to let you break up my family, you are sadly mistaken.” 

Dahlia stared at Anita for a few seconds and then spat “You know what?” “I have let you get away with smart remarks because we are in Mr. and Mrs. Flores’s house and I want to be respectful, but I will not let you keep disrespectin me.” Anita chuckled cruelly. “Oh, is that a threat ma ma?” Sensing that the situation was going to get ugly very quickly, Titi Enid stood up. “Ok, that is enough ladies.” Enid looked at Anita. “Now, everyone just needs to calm down and we can talk about this like adults. Mrs. Flores had walked quietly back in the living room before Anita made her announcement. She looked really hurt. “Anita sweetheart, how could you have kept something like this from us?” “You mean we have had a grandson for two years and have never met him?”  Anita spilled more crocodile tears. “Mama, I’m sorry I never mentioned anything.” “I just didn’t think that Cortez would care since he went off to college and left my by myself.”  Mrs. Flores went to Anita and pulled her into a hug. “Sweetheart, why would you think that Alvaro and I would not be willing to help you?” “Mom!” Cortez yelled. “Are you serious right now?” He started pacing back and forth.  ““If that were my son why would you not tell me Anita?” He was absolutely fuming. “What about me Anita?” “You think that I would have abandoned my child?” Dahlia grabbed Cortez’s hand in an effort to get him to stop pacing and calm down. She was so conflicted but she did not want Cortez to lose it. Titi Enid shook her head. “Anita, I’m sorry but that is no excuse.” “Cortez lives in Queens, its not that far.” “Him going to college should not have dictated your decision to tell him about his child.” “Especially after he completely changed…” “Enid!” Mrs. Flores said. “I don’t think this is the appropriate time to bring that up.” She said, glancing at Dahlia. “Oh, you mean like Anita is doing?” Titi Enid said. “Why is she allowed to do that to your son but no one can defend him?” Mrs. Flores looked a bit hurt but stayed quiet. Dahlia was listening to the exchange and was getting angrier by the second. She was disgusted and in disbelief. A simple introductory evening had been turned into a f*****g circus. 

She was angry at Anita for all of the disrespect. She was disgusted at the Flores’ for the way they were handling the situation. She was especially disgusted with Mrs. Flores because this was clearly her fault. If she had never called Anita to her house there would have been no incident. However, if she had never called Anita to her house, Cortez would never have known that he possibly fathered a child. Dahlia was beginning to have an anxiety attack. Her palms began sweating, her face became clammy and her breathing became labored. She needed to get out of there immediately. She did not want to bring any attention to herself and she quietly made her way to the door. At this point, Anita and TiTi Enid were yelling back and forth. There was so much confusion. Cortez’s mother was sobbing in his father’s arms. His sisters came downstairs to see what all the commotion was about and were met with pandemonium. Tio Juan was in the middle of TiTi Enid and Anita who looked as if they wanted to kill each other.

 It all became too much for Cortez who bellowed “ENOUGH!!!!!!”  The room fell completely silent. Cortez searched around for Dahlia and became panicked when he could not find her. “Where is Dahlia?” “Who cares?” Anita screamed. “She doesn’t belong here!” “I do!” “You all have ruined this moment for Dahlia and I.” “All I wanted to do was have my family share in my happiness.” “I wanted to show Dahlia what a real family was like.” “A family that had each other’s backs!” “I am sorry that I even brought her here!” He screamed. Mr. Flores said “Cortez, you need to watch your tone.” “You are on the verge of becoming very disrespectful.” “I need to watch MY tone?” Cortez screamed. “All do respect Dad, my MOTHER invited my former girlfriend here in an attempt to undermine my fiancee.” “And you want to speak about disrespect?” “And then you…” He turned to Anita. “You waltz in here, to my parents home, and announce casually that your son belongs to me?” “You have had a million opportunities to tell me that Anita.” “But you didn’t!” “So forgive me if I DON’T BELIEVE YOU!” “Cortez Flores!” Mrs. Flores yelled. “Anita was invited here!” “You will not be disrespectful to her in my house.” Cortez wheeled around to his father. “And you expect me to be respectful when YOUR WIFE is acting this way?” Mr Flores started toward Cortez but Tio Juan got in the way. “Alvaro, I’m  sorry but he is right.” Titi Enid shook her head at Mrs. Flores. She walked over to Cortez and cupped his face. “Lo siento mijo.” Meanwhile, Anita stood silently next to Mrs. Flores. She began to sob uncontrollably when Titi Enid was comforting Cortez. Mrs. Flores took her hand and led her into the kitchen. Cortez was absolutely disgusted. “You know what?” He said. “I have had enough of this foolishness.” “I’m out of here.” Cortez grabbed his hat and stormed toward the door. “Cortez!” “Don’t you walk out of this house like that!” His father yelled after him. It was no use. Cortez was gone and he wasn’t sure when, or if he would ever be coming back. 

He found Dahlia sitting in the truck trying to steady her breathing. “Baby,” Cortez said. “I am so sorry about all of this.” Dahlia nodded while she was trying to calm down. The ride back to Queens seemed twice as long as it usually would have. Cortez was pissed and rightfully so. His face was tight with anger and he squeezed the steering wheel with force as he drove. “Should I call Buckey?” Dahlia said quietly once she calmed down. “Yes, please baby.” Cortez said. He softened a little bit. “I am so sorry about all of this Dee.” “If I had known that my mother was capable of doing that I would have NEVER taken you there.” “I feel like this is all my fault.” Dahlia rubbed his arm. “Cortez, you had no idea that this would have turned out the way that it did.” “I am still in disbelief myself.” Cortez glanced over at Dahlia as they exited the Grand Central. “You know baby, I don’t know what I am more disgusted about.” “The fact that my mother disrespected you like that or the fact that Anita is trying to pin a baby on me.” “Well,” Dahlia said. “Could the baby be yours?” “I mean, think about the timing.” “How old is the little boy?” “I’m not sure.” He said. “Maybe two?” “Ok,” Dahlia said. “So according to what she said about dating you for six years and our relationship timeline, that would have made her pregnant about a month or so before you met me.” “Does that sound like it could be feasible?” “Yeah, actually it does.” Cortez was beginning to feel it sinking in. “Ay Dios Mio”. He said. “I can’t concentrate on this right now.” “This s**t is so crazy.” “First off,” Dahlia said you have to realize that none of this is your fault.” “And I know that is a lot harder than it seems. “It had taken me long time for me to be able to forgive Linda for all of the crazy things she had done to me.” “But, I had to do it for myself.” “Otherwise, I would have held on that for years and I would have never moved on to find you.” Cortez sighed deeply. “I think if that child is mine, I am going to be super upset because I have missed so much time already.” “I understand baby.” Dahlia said rubbing his arm gently. “Just know I am right here or you baby.” “I’ve got your back.” Dahlia called Buckey. “Hey Buck,” She said. “Are you busy?” “Ok, good.” “You better come meet us at the house.” “Cortez has a lot to tell you.”