Chapter 1
1633 Words
CAMPECHE CITY, MEXICO
At 9 PM, the clock signaled the conclusion of my shift. I meticulously wiped down the bar for the final time, removing the residual spills of wine and whiskey left by patrons, some as a result of clumsiness, while others were due to excessive intoxication. Despite the chaos, I loved my job here at Criscrow, working for Mr. Fernando. He paid me well and had always been generous. Balancing two jobs; fisherman by day, bartender by night was no easy feat, but I needed every peso I could earn to support my family.
” Goodbye Luisa”, I said to my colleague while passing the keys to Arturo who was taking over from me for the night. Mr. Fernando runs his business till dawn, he makes good cash from it, and it was the best spot everyone in Campeche preferred coming in to eat or to have a drink.
” Bye Sebastian, by the way, say hi to mummy bear for me”
I laughed hard knowing who she was referring to. Catalina, my fiancée. She is pregnant with my child and everyone in town waits patiently and happily for her to put to birth. Nicknaming her mummy bear due to how the stages of pregnancy made her gain weight, which she hates hearing about all the time, but could do nothing about it but scowl and curse back at everyone that calls her mummy bear.
My love. I miss you already.
I couldn't wait to head back home and have her cradled in my arms.
” Relax man your woman isn’t running away. She is just a few blocks away from here and you are already looking puppy sick” Arturo teased while cleaning up a set of glass cups with a towel.
” I am not puppy sick, Arturo”
” Of course, you aren't”, he said with a smirk while Luisa laughed.
Arturo and I have been best mates ever since we were kids. Our mothers were best of friends, which made us closer. We were the same age, played together and also attended the same school, looked alike same height and body built the only difference was that I was broader, we worked together, we were almost inseparable and called ourselves brothers, twenty-six years and we were still close buddies, although he was always a pain in the ass.
I remembered when I first saw Catalina I was so scared of saying hi to her because she looked so much like a snub. Arturo was the one who pushed me until I was finally able to approach her, I'm so thankful for that day because If I hadn't asked her out sooner I doubt she would be mine to keep now.
” Whatever man”, I bid them farewell as I walked out on them and left Crisbrow and walked into town, approaching home.
Greeting everyone every step. Over here, everyone knew everyone's business, we are like a large family that grew up together, nothing stays a secret in Campeche.
Walking into the street of my home I could see it already at a distance with the lights illuminating the surrounding. Everyone was happy when we have electricity today, it was always rare to have a power supply in our homes but luckily after a long while we had.
” Sebastian!” My mother called happily as she saw me walking towards the terrace of the house.
” Mama”, I hugged her tightly, sniffing in the jasmine scent of her hair” I got you some fruits”, I passed her the paper bag of fruits I bought on the roadside.
” Gracias mi hijo” (Thanks my son)
My mother preferred speaking Spanish anytime we were together. She tried with her English but find it hard to phrase the words so she speaks our dialect instead.
We entered the house. It was not fancy but it was clean and homely, we managed all we had here like it was gold. Dropping my things on the rails while scanning the house for Catalina.
”Tienes que ser bastante Sebastian, ella esta dormida sabes como su temperamento puede ser intenta no molestarla ella ya esta dormida en tu cuarto” (You have to be quite Sebastian, she is asleep you know how her temper could be try not to disturb her she is already asleep in your room)
”Seré madre” (I will be mother)
Mother was right, Catalina always had a temper, it worsened after she became heavy with child. Sometimes one can misunderstand that she is unhappy with our child but I knew her better. Each day she anticipated and waited eagerly for the birth of our baby which she loved dearly. It was a girl and we both have decided to name her Ama, she would have all the love of her both parents. Something which I lacked, being brought up by a single mother with no father. I wish I had the chance to meet my father before death took him away in the military.
I had no memories nor pictures of him. Mama said she burnt it all away along with his properties so she would not be reminded of the pain and see a reason to live with her only hope... Me.
She had such a painful past, her family deserted her after they found out she was pregnant with me, they hated the union she shared with my father, she found out she was pregnant with me after his passing and her parents were dead leaving her alone with an aunt who wanted her to take me to an orphanage to be relieved of the burden she carried but she was adamant about keeping me. Her only source of joy left, and epitome of beauty she made with the only man she ever loved.
My late father
That is why I have vowed each day to remain by her side and never leave this town. She has sacrificed so much for me and I can never abandon her, never. I was so happy when Catalina was comfortable with living in my town with my mother and soon, we would be welcoming our newest bundle of joy.
Unbound selfless love.
Stepping into our room, I found Catalina sleeping peacefully. Even in sleep, she was breathtaking. Pregnancy had only enhanced her beauty, rosy cheeks, fuller features, her dark hair cascading over the pillow. I gently brushed a stray strand from her lips, then leaned down to place a soft kiss on her swollen belly.
My daughter was in there. My Ama.
Just as I was about to settle in, my mother appeared in the doorway, motioning for me to step outside.
“I think Catalina is close,” she whispered. “She had cramps today and was crying from the pain. We need to get her to the hospital soon.”
My stomach twisted with worry. I had been saving money for this moment, but it wasn’t quite enough. Mr. Fernando wasn’t in town, so I couldn’t ask for an advance. And I refused to stress my mother with this, it would only make things worse.
"I have it under control,” I assured her. “Did you talk to Aunt Teresa?”
“Yes. She says to be ready, Catalina could go into labor any time now.”
Aunt Teresa was the town’s midwife. She had helped deliver almost every baby in Campeche, but Catalina refused to let her near. She was still haunted by the tragic loss of the twins Teresa had delivered. It had been the only time something had gone wrong, but Catalina couldn’t shake the fear.
She wanted a hospital birth. And I would do anything to make sure she got what she wanted.
“Sebastián?”
I turned to see Catalina standing in the doorway, smiling sleepily.
“You’re back,” she whispered.
“Mi amor.” I rushed to her side, guiding her to a chair. “You should be resting.”
“I have been resting all day. I was tired of waiting, so I fell asleep dreaming of you.” Her smile softened. “I’m happy you are home.”
“My heart belongs to you always,” I murmured, brushing my fingers over her cheek. “I heard you had pain today.”
“It was nothing.” She took my hand and kissed my fingertips.
My mother excused herself, leaving us alone.
“I’m completely fine,” Catalina insisted. “It was just a sharp pain, but it passed.”
“Still, we are going to the hospital tomorrow.”
“But I am not due yet.”
“We need to be prepared. You don’t want Aunt Teresa delivering the baby, so you have to be at the hospital.”
“That will cost too much. Why not wait until I go into labor?”
“That’s too risky. What if I’m at work?”
“Your mother will be with me. I’ll be fine.”
I sighed, rubbing gentle circles on her belly. “How’s your back? Has the ointment helped?”
“Yes, much better today.”
“Good. Let’s get you to bed.”
But as we moved, she suddenly stopped, clutching her stomach.
Then—
“Sebastián!” she gasped, doubling over in pain. “The baby!”
Panic surged through me. “Mamá!” I called, rushing to hold Catalina.
We needed to get to the hospital. Now.
Arturo! I grabbed my phone, dialing his number with shaking fingers.
Catalina groaned, gripping my arm. “The baby… she’s coming!”
Then, in the distance, headlights flashed, Arturo’s truck speeding toward us.
"Hold on, mi amor. Hold on."
- Writer
