Chapter Text
Cecilia thought pacing the halls of the church corridors would help her relax, but she was fuming. She stared up at the giant crucified Jesus and wondered how he let someone so unholy walk through the grounds. A man like Luciano seemed like he would start burning up walking into a church carrying that much sinful energy.
Cecilia flopped into a pew and closed her eyes trying to pray, like that would calm her down. Instead as soon as she closed her eyes all she saw was his face dangerously close to hers and her eyes flew back open and she let out an aggravated sigh.
“Qué te pasa hermana?” Father Gabriel’s booming voice startled her and she sat up straight turning to face him as he entered the church.
“Oh, sorry.” Cecilia wasn’t sure what she was apologizing for, but it felt right. Father Gabriel swung his cane around and approached her, “No need to apologize! What’s the matter dear?”
Cecilia put on a thin smile, “Nothing. Just a little tired.”
He seemed unconvinced and tapped his chin. “Hmm well sounds like you need-”
“A nap.”
“Some excitement!”
Cecilia squinted at him, “I’m sorry?”
Father Gabriel smiled and puffed out his chest, “Yes! You need more activity, being with others can be really good for you Sister Cecilia. Why don’t you go help the others oversee the visitations?” He waved his arm out in a motion gesturing for her to stand up and go.
Cecilia stared at him blankly and when she didn’t move right away he nudged her with his cane.
“Okay Father… I guess I’ll go.”
She slowly stood up and started walking out of the church, he gave her a big thumbs up and she groaned internally.
If only he had just given her some prayers or silent reflection. Cecilia walked back outside into the hot sun and surveyed the courtyard, families huddled together with their daughters chatting happily. Nuns spoke with some concerned parents about schooling and first communion plans.
Cecilia spotted Mother Superior talking to Reverend Omar across the grass. She shot her a look that let her know she was watching and Cecilia sighed and walked forward to find some way to be useful.
A pink gloved hand landed on her shoulder, “Cecilia! There you are.”
She spun around trying to keep a neutral smile, “Yes?”
Estefania was thankfully alone, neither of her cousins in sight, “I just wanted to see how you’re doing. Dulce seems particularly worked up lately.”
Cecilia couldn’t fight back the small laugh, “Well her brother returning sure has her excited.”
Estefania scowled, “Oh yes the great Luciano,” She glanced at Cecilia and waved a hand, “Sorry I know that’s probably not very kind to say about my own primo but it would have been nice if he let me know he was coming back.”
“And engaged no less.” Cecilia wasn’t sure why she said that but it slipped out and Estefania raised her eyebrows.
“That’s true. Engaged. To some random woman he has only known for three months? He thinks he’s so smart but can’t tell she just wants his money.”
Estefania grinned at Cecilia, “You know that’s the first real thing you’ve ever said to me.”
Cecilia looked away, messing with her habit, “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Oh I don’t know, every time I come visit Dulce you sit in the corner and barely say a word. It’s like you’re trapped in this place sometimes.”
Cecilia stared at Estefania with wide eyes, heart tightening, “I-”
Dulce ran up now her brother in tow looking irritated. “Ceci!! You’re coming to get lunch with us right?”
Cecilia glanced at Estefania, her words haunting her, then she smiled at Dulce, the little girl’s dark curls bouncing around her face. “I guess so.”
Luciano fixed his tie and ran a hand over his face, “Can we get out of here already? All these nuns are exhausting.”
He flashed Cecilia a big smile, “Except for you of course.”
Cecilia smiled back, making sure it didn’t reach her eyes, “Of course.”
Dulce watched them, delighted at the interaction unaware of any sarcasm. She grabbed Luciano’s hand in one and Cecilia’s hand in her other and started skipping towards the exit.
Estefania stifled a laugh with her hand, “Oh this’ll be a fun time.”
─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─
They were driven to a nice restaurant that Estefania enjoyed. It had warm lighting and hard wooden chairs. They requested to sit outside and the patio faced a beautiful garden overflowing with flowers, peppers, and squash. Cecilia immediately felt out of place, not that many people questioned the presence of a nun at the restaurant, rather she didn’t want to be spending a family meal as someone distinctly not in this family.
Moreover, she hadn’t really left the school since she arrived at it two years ago. Sometimes they’d go on field trips to the hospital and tend to the sick but that was a short walk away. This felt different and jarring. Like she’d stepped out of her safe bubble into a portal of a world that felt foreign and imaginary.
Everything was too loud, too colorful. People yelled at each other on the street. The other guests at the restaurant laughed and it made her flinch. There was a small band playing music in the corner of the patio that smiled at her and began playing almost a little too loudly. It was too much.
As they were shown to their table Cecilia bowed her head, “I’ll leave you to your lunch.”
Dulce looked at her with wide eyes, “What? You’re not going to eat with us?”
Estefania waved an arm to the seat next to her, “Please! Don’t be shy, join us.”
Luciano didn’t say anything, he was leaning back in his seat, removing his hat and ruffling his hair. He watched her out of the corner of his eye.
“I really rather not intrude. If you’ll excuse me.” Cecilia turned around and tried to find the restroom. Overwhelmed by everything happening to her. She couldn’t find the restroom and ended up back on the street where they had come in. Cars flew by between people on bikes and a rush of people walking to and from their days.
Cecilia flattened herself against the wall and closed her eyes, genuinely praying now that God grant her the strength to make it through this terrible day.
A hand rested on her shoulder and she instinctively swung her arm out slapping it away, eyes flying open.
Luciano stood there holding her wrist with a bemused grin, “Are you alright?”
Cecilia let out a shaky sigh, “Yes, of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?” She stared at his hand holding her wrist and quickly pulled it back.
He pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a long slow drag before looking at her again. “You seem tense.”
She glared at him and crossed her arms narrowly avoiding a delivery person on their bike from running over her feet.
“I don’t know why you’ve dragged me here.”
Luciano held the cigarette between two fingers and looked thoughtful for a moment, “My sister likes you. She trusts you. I need to know who she’s spending all her time worshipping.”
Cecilia narrowed her eyes and stuck her hands in her sleeves. “Right. Like you’ve ever cared about Dulce.”
Luciano jerked his head to look at her and stepped closer, looking angry and even a little malicious, “You don’t know me, so be very careful with what you say next.”
Cecilia wasn’t afraid, in fact it only fueled her frustrations she lifted her chin, “Or what? You’ll throw money at the problem? Have them send me away? Do it.”
Luciano scanned her face, looking surprised at her response, then took another long inhale of the cigarette and blew the smoke in her face, making her cough.
She scowled at him, “You’re terrible.”
He stomped out the cigarette and laughed, “That’s why you won’t be able to join us for lunch? Because you’ve decided you hate me?”
Cecilia waved the smoke out of her face and flexed her jaw, “I’ve been through worse.”
His eyes sparkled, like he enjoyed the challenge of making her life miserable.
“Then come eat.”
He turned abruptly and walked back inside, leaving Cecilia alone, head spinning from another overwhelming interaction.
She shook her head and slapped her face lightly to focus. “Okay. Vamos pues.”
Cecilia walked back inside, her anger helping her focus and shove down any feelings of discomfort from being outside.
When she approached the table she stopped midway seeing Luciano’s fiance, Nicole, draped around him kissing his face and laughing with ease.
Cecilia froze, unsure what to do now that the table was full, and slowly started turning to retreat again when Estefania spotted her.
“Oh Cecilia! Please join us, I’ll have them pull up a chair.”
A waiter brought up a fifth chair and Cecilia sat at the end of the table, an unwilling overseer of this tortuous outing. She sat between Dulce and Luciano, an accurate representation for how she felt trapped between the two Larios siblings.
Dulce glared at the woman with bright red lips and pouted, before smiling up at Cecilia, “Ceci, can you tell the story of how you scared off that crocodile?”
Cecilia laughed nervously and straightened the beret on Dulce’s head to keep her hands busy, “It wasn’t a crocodile, just an iguana in the church. Not very interesting.”
Dulce smiled up at her and giggled, “It was so cool!”
Nicole clicked her tongue and took a sip of her drink watching over the rim of her glass. “How cute.”
Estefania was leaning forward and jumped on the Ask Cecilia Questions train, “How did you join the church Cecilia?”
Her least favorite question. Cecilia took a tiny sip of water and smiled politely.
“Also not interesting. Just uh felt right.” She felt Luciano’s eyes watch her intently and she pressed her lips together and made her eyes wide, “Anyway! I mean enough about me. Dulce why don’t you ask your brother and his future wife some questions. They’ve traveled so much they must have good stories.”
Dulce sighed, leaning her head on her hand, “Hermano never tells me anything. Always work this and work that. So boring.”
Estefania barked out a laugh, “I agree, Luciano used to be the funny one.”
Nicole perked up, running an arm down Luciano’s arm, “Oh? I’d love to hear stories about you when you were younger.”
Cecilia was grateful for the shift in focus and leaned back in her seat, trying to make herself small.
Luciano shrugged, “I’m still the funny one, look at my competition.” He waved at Dulce and Estefania across the table.
Dulce stuck out her tongue at him, “You used to be funnier and fun! Luci used to play pretend with me all the time. We’d go in the backyard and pretend to go on crazy adventures. He always came up with the bestest ideas. Like one time he came up with this candy land adventure where we had to stop bad guys from stealing maple syrup. Era lo maximo!”
Dulce looked lost in her memories jumping in her seat. Estefania laughed, “Oh yes I remember your adventures. Luciano do you remember when we were little how we used to dress up and go…what was it?” She tapped her chin thoughtfully, “Oh! You called them gloinks. We’d go look for imaginary gloinks in the house. That was always fun.”
Luciano was tense, arms crossed and head bowed not making eye contact with either of them. Nicole was eating it up, “That’s so adorable! Quite the imagination you had mi amor.”
Dulce suddenly sat still and slumped in her seat, “Then Mama went away and you didn’t want to play anymore.”
Luciano’s hand hit the table startling everyone with the impact, “Ya! We’re here to have lunch, not talk about stupid things that don’t matter anymore.”
Dulce’s eyes welled with tears and she sniffled, lowering her head into her arms on the table. Estefania sighed heavily, “Lucaino…”
Nicole reached for him and tutted with concern. Cecilia placed a hand on Dulce’s back lowering her head so it’d be level with hers. “Dulce?”
The small girl didn’t answer, just soft cries coming from her arms. Cecilia frowned, swallowing a fresh wave of anger at Luciano.
Instead she focused on Dulce, “It’s okay. You can talk to me.”
Dulce didn’t look up and Nicole said, “Just leave her be, sometimes kids need to throw a little tantrum.”
Cecilia shot a look at the woman in disbelief. “This isn’t a tantrum.” Was all she said turning her focus back to Dulce.
Luciano groaned and stood up, “Dulce Maria.”
When the girl didn’t answer he said her name again, gentler, “Dulce Maria, look at me.”
She looked up now, face wet with tears. “Go back to school. We can try to have a nice time out together when you’re more behaved.”
Cecilia felt a flush of fury roar through her and Dulce looked crushed, retreating into herself even more.
Cecilia stood up and took Dulce’s hand, “Come on Dulce, I’ll take you home.”
Dulce didn’t resist just standing and hugging her side. Then Cecilia leaned close to Luciano and whispered, “Malcreado.”
His eyes widened and he opened his mouth to say something but she didn’t stick around for the response. She walked out of the restaurant taking Dulce with her.
Outside Cecilia wasn’t sure where to go but she started walking and Dulce plodded along quietly sniffling.
“Dulce! Cecilia! Espera!”
The two turned around to see Estefania running up to them. “Let me take you back to campus. I’ll get us a car.”
Cecilia nodded, “Thank you.”
Estefania nodded and hugged her little cousin, “I’m sorry he was so mean, it was not fair.”
Dulce wiped her face, “It’s okay he just misses Mama.”
Cecilia and Estefania exchanged a look, but didn’t say anything. They let Dulce carry the conversation as a taxi arrived and drove them back to the school campus.
The whole time Cecilia struggled to resist the urge to race back to the restaurant and tell Luciano how much she hated him.
─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─
Luciano wasn’t paying attention, he was playing it over and over in his mind, “Malcreado.” The way her eyes were zeroed in on him as she leaned in close, her breath on his face. Every nerve was alive. Everything about it consumed him. He wanted to do it again. Make her angrier. How far could he push her? He was dying to find out.
“Luciano? Mi amor?” He snapped his head to look at Nicole who was looking at him with narrowed eyes.
He cleared his throat and took a sip of his drink, across from him was Nicole’s father, Theo, he was a stately man with an imposing mustache and glasses. He clearly adored his daughter and was giving Luciano a harsh stare.
“Perdon. What was the question?” Theo frowned slightly and asked again, “I hear you have not much family left. Are you planning on having children? I hope to have many grandchildren.”
Luciano made sure not to react to the question even though he hated it, “Whatever Nicole wants of course.” Preferably none.
Theo grunted in disapproval, “You should know by now. And how many, at least four.”
Nicole practically purred in excitement, “Pues claro! That’s exactly the plan.”
Luciano kept his smile on but started wondering if it’s possible to escape this dinner, this engagement when Nicole placed a hand on his arm and smiled sweetly.
“Plus we have sweet Dulce to care for. She’s like a practice run.”
Luciano laughed, “Ah Dulce. If she’s practice I don’t think we’re going to be very good parents.”
Nicole pouted, “How can you say that? We just started.”
Her tone was teasing and it reminded him slightly why he liked having her around, she was as unserious as he was, easy.
Theo cut in, “Who is Dulce?”
Luciano waved a dismissive hand, “Just my little sister, she’s nothing to worry about.”
Theo stroked his mustache, “Well you must bring her by! I have to meet her, of course. She’ll be family.”
Nicole sighed, “If you do please leave the nun behind. It's exhausting watching her hide behind her skirts.”
Luciano glanced at Nicole and tilted his head, “I’ll see what I can do.”
The rest of dinner went uneventfully and as Luciano excused himself Theo shook his hand and said quietly just for him to hear, “Now I expect you to treat my daughter well. If you leave her hanging I plan to show you just how good I am at using those guns I sell.”
Luciano’s eyes slid to the many rifles on the wall and he nodded smiling politely, “Wouldn’t dream of it sir.” But he felt a pang of fear twist him as he sensed the older gentleman was not threatening him lightly.
Nicole shooed her father away, “Stop frightening my future husband, come along Luciano I’ll walk you to your car.”
Theo watched them exit the house and Nicole looped an arm through his, waiting till the door was closed behind them to wrap her arms around his neck and plant a kiss on his lips. He tried to lean into it but he kept seeing Cecilia’s face and it made the whole thing hard to focus.
Nicole pulled back smiling, “Someone’s unfocused, did my Papa really scare you that bad?”
Luciano took the easy way out, “He does own many firearms.”
Nicole chuckled and patted his cheek, “Don’t worry about it. Now are you going to take me out tomorrow? We could bet on some horses.”
Luciano stepped backwards and looked away, “Maybe. I have some work to catch up on. I’ll call when I can.”
She crossed her arms, smile dipping slightly. “Of course. I have a wedding to plan anyhow.”
He nodded, slipping into the open door of his car and she waved, “Adios. Te quiero.” Then she blew him a kiss and he shut the door trying to calm his breathing with the word “Malcreado” dancing in his ears.
Maybe tomorrow he’d pay Dulce another visit.
─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─