Page 82 of Yours, For Now

Gabe's and my family sat around on the deck, our stomachs full of pastel de choclo. The memory of its caramelized golden surface filled my memory with joy, as we all shared warm drinks after a late lunch. Gabe had his arm around me, and being close to him felt easier, better, after we'd let go of our rules earlier in the morning. We sat together, me almost on his lap in a wide chair. Our parents, my uncle, and my aunt sprawled over the outside furniture, while Lucía, Vi, and Gabe's friends played cards on a blanket nearby.

"That meal was truly delicious," my dad said. "I don't think I'd ever had that before."

"You have to send me the recipe," mom added. "I'd love to try it one day."

Sonia shook her head. "I'll make more one day and send it to your office. I hear you keep sending food to the Sotomayor VP floor."

My mom laughed. "Only where Gabe is. We're trying to take care of him."

"Thank you, but there's no need." Gabe chuckled. "I'm doing well."

"I was taught that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Mom waved a hand in the air to reject the notion. "I know nothing will compare to Sonia's food in your mind, but I'll try very hard to be a second favorite."

"We should be teaching our Lina how to do that, though," Edgardo added. "We want him to like her food as second best!"

He laughed, seemingly unaware of the brief look that Sonia and Raúl exchanged.

"I've never cooked for Gabe," I said.

"¡Hija! Pero, ¿cómo?" My mom tried, but Gabe spoke before she could add more.

"I am good. Thank you. I'm a decent cook and I can take care of myself."

"You have a management degree, I saw in the documentation. Right?" Tío Manuel asked Gabe. "My son is finishing a master’s degree in it."

Tía Soledad, Tío Manuel's wife, sat nearby. Quiet as always, but seemingly interested in the conversation.

"Specializing in sustainable agriculture, I believe?" Gabe said, his hand squeezing around my shoulder.

"Well, yes, but management, still." Tío Manuel frowned. "The basic concepts are all the same, and Edgardo and I learned by doing. We didn't need the degree to get here."

"Degrees didn't use to be necessary. I only made it through undergrad back in Chile." Raúl shrugged. "But it's different for the new generation."

Laughter exploded from the folk playing cards, but the rest of us continued our conversation as if nothing had happened.

"It helps them network, for sure," my dad said. "Quite the friend group your son made for himself."

Gabe released a gust of air through his nose, a rough sound accompanying it from his throat. He frowned. I didn't think he liked the implication that his friendships were about networking with powerful, rich people.

"So lucky, to have a son who's followed your steps so closely, Raúl." Tío Miguel added.

"I'm very proud of both my children," Raúl replied. "Each of them brings something to the table."

"I should introduce you to Enrique, Gabriel," Tío Miguel said out of nowhere. "I'm sure you could encourage him to see the potential in joining the family business."

"I talked to Enrique this week." Gabe reached for his cup of cedrón infusion and took a sip. "He talked about sheep."

"Precisely why you could talk to him! Man-to-man."

Gabe shook his head. "Gender is not relevant at all."

"Ay, young people!" Tío Manuel said. "That's not what I meant."

"Besides, I like doing business with Lina," my fake boyfriend added. "We wouldn't have made the shortlist application deadline if she hadn't done such a wonderful prep job."

"I've known Lina for years," Raúl said, "and when she came to propose this deal to us it was incredible."

"If I inherit the company—" I kept my eyes on Raúl— "it would be a pleasure to continue doing business with the Sotomayor Group."