CASSANDRA
The following afternoon, they touch down in Barcelona, Spain. Cassandra is a bundle of nerves about meeting Emilio’s mom, but he seems cool as a cucumber. He’s been glued to his iPad and phone since they left New York early this morning on his private jet. Now they’re on the road to Sarrià–Sant Gervasi, and he’s hardly spoken a word to her.
“Emilio?”
“Hmm?” he replies, not even glancing her way.
He’s not even noticing me, Cassandra thinks.
A few moments later, she feels his hand gently turning her face towards him. “What’s up?” he asks.
She shakes her head. “Nothing.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re not being straight with me?”
Cassandra lets out a sigh. “What do you think your mom will say when she meets me? I bet she doesn’t want an American redhead for her son.”
Emilio strokes her cheek. “My mom is super down–to–earth. Just be yourself.”
As the car starts to slow, Cassandra spots a large, stunning glass house perched on a mountain. They follow a winding road, ascend a lengthy driveway, and finally stop in a roomy courtyard.
Emilio hops out and opens her door, and Cassandra unhooks Alex’s car seat. Her fiancé then takes the car seat from her and strides up to the front door. Her head jerks up when she hears the doorbell echo through the enormous house
Cassandra shifts uneasily on her feet as the door swings open to reveal a stunning woman. She’s about a foot taller than Cassandra and shares Emilio’s olive skin, but her hair and eyes are a light brown. She’s dressed in white pants, a white blouse, and a red jacket.
The woman grins warmly at Emilio, pulling him into a hug. “My handsome boy,”
This is his mom? She looks so young and vibrant.
Emilio pecks her cheeks. “Mama, you should be resting.”
“Nonsense. I couldn’t wait to see my boy.” She glances at Cassandra. “This must be my future daughter–in–law.”
“Mama, this is Cassandra, my fiancée. Cassie, this is my mom, Emilia Rodriguez”
“Mrs. Rodriguez,” Cassandra says. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Was that a tremor in her voice?
“She’s absolutely stunning. Isn’t she a bit young for you, though? his mom asks.
Emilio chuckles. “Mama, Cassie is a grown woman; she’s twenty–four.”
“I’m sorry,” she says to Cassandra. “You do look young.”
“It’s okay, a lot of people make that mistake. Must be my height.”
Mrs. Rodriguez steps aside. “Where are my manners? Come in,” she says.
They step into a foyer that’s as big as a bedroom. While Cassandra gazes up at the massive, crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Emilio and his mom continue on, the latter seemingly unaware that he’s carrying a car seat.
“Go on,” she calls back to Cassandra. “Don’t be shy
Cassandra is led into a vast living room with plush, gray carpet. One wall features a gorgeous fireplace and a large flat screen TV. In the center of the room is an L–shaped couch and two chairs–all white–with a glass coffee table in the middle. The light streaming in through the glass walls gives the large space a breezy feel.
Across the living room, Cassandra can see the kitchen and the dining room next to it, both with tile floors. The dining room has sliding doors that lead out to a terrace and an outdoor pool, and there are stairs off the kitchen that likely lead to the bedrooms.
Emilio sets the car seat on the living room carpet. “I’ll be right back,” he says, then be joins his mom in the kitchen.
12:58 PM MM
Cassandra can hear them chatting as she sits on the couch. If only she knew Spanish.
A woman enters carrying a tray of tea. “Greetings,” she says, placing the tray on the table.
“Good day,” she replies. The woman nods and leaves.
Cassandra sees Alex’s bottom lip start to quiver. Realizing he’s about to cry, she rummages through his bag for his bottle but can’t find
- it.
It must still be in the car, she thinks.
Cassandra stands up to unstrap Alex from his seat and head to the car, but a second later, his cries echo through the room. She gently pats his back to soothe him, but it doesn’t help.
“You must be hungry, my boy,” she whispers, just as Emilio walks in holding his bottle. “Thank you,” she tells him.
After taking the bottle. Cassandra sinks back down on the couch and feeds her son. The moment his mouth latches onto the bottle, he quiets down.
“Emiliano…?” Cassandra hears Emilio’s mom say. The woman’s eyes dart back and forth between them. She slowly walks over to them and stares at Alex, then looks back at her son,
Mrs. Rodriguez turns her gaze back to Alex and sits down next to Cassandra. She can’t take her eyes off the boy.
“It’s like I’m looking at Emiliano when he was this age.” Her eyes well up with tears. “Is he yours?” she asks her son.
Emilio walks over to them. “Yes, Mama, meet your grandson. I wanted to surprise you.””
“Oh, Emiliano, he’s so precious. He’s stolen my heart already.” Her tears roll down, and she wipes them away. “How I’ve longed to see this. I thought I was going to die without seeing my only son happy, but God has answered my prayers.”
“Don’t talk about death, Mama,” Emilio says. Kneeling before her, he takes her hands in his and kisses them. “I still need you, Mama.”
“You’ll have a wife soon who’ll take good care of you what do you need me for?”
“Mother, please.”
“My sweet boy, I’m so happy you’re content. Thanks for hearing me out.”
“Let’s catch up later, okay? Right now, spend some time with your grandson. I’ll show Cassie around the house.”
Cassandra hands Alex to his grandmother and follows Emilio.
As they walk through the house, she learns that the main living spaces are on the second floor, above the garage, complete with a full bathroom. The third floor houses five bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and two of them are master suites with walk–in closets and dressing rooms. The fourth floor boasts a sauna, gym, movie room, and a heated indoor pool. The fifth and final floor has two additional bedrooms with their own bathrooms and balconies, as well as a studio room and a secondary living room.
Cassandra is taken by the stunning views of the city and the ocean. The glass walls in the upper bedrooms let in a flood of natural light and offer a panoramic view of the lush gardens, pristine lawn, extravagant pool, and expansive deck, Waking up to such beauty every day would be a dream–making love on the balcony, feeling the cool breeze against her warm skin.
Cassandra lets out a sigh. How can she continue this charade of loving Emilio? How can she deceive a woman who is so pure, so genuine and honest? How can she?
She turns to Emilio. “I don’t think I can lie to your mom about us being in love and happy. She’s a good woman, and it’s clear she loves you deeply. It’s not right for us to trick her.”
“Cassie, we’re not having this conversation again. My mom doesn’t need any more stress; she just had a heart attack. What do will happen if I tell her we don’t love each other and are only getti
married for Alex? She’ll have a breakdown, and if that happens, I won’t hesitate to hold you responsible. I think I’ve made my point.”
you
think
Emilio heads back downstairs, leaving her alone in the hallway on the third floor.
She just had a heart attack. So that’s why they couldn’t have the wedding in New York; she needs to take it easy. Emilio must be worried.
One thine is clear: he’l
12 ure pure, 30
She turns to Emilio. “I don’t think I can lie to your mom about us being in love and happy. She’s a good woman, and it’s clear she loves you deeply. It’s not right for us to trick her.”
“Cassie, we’re not having this conversation again. My mom doesn’t need any more stress; she just had a heart attack. What do you think will happen if I tell her we don’t love each other and are only getting married for Alex? She’ll have a breakdown, and if that happens, I won’t hesitate to hold you responsible. I think I’ve made my point.”
Emilio heads back downstairs, leaving her alone in the hallway on the third floor.
She just had a heart attack. So that’s why they couldn’t have the wedding in New York; she needs to take it easy. Emilio must be
worried.
One thing is clear: he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her happy.
