Page 11 of Yours, Finally

"You have dedicated as much time to the Sotomayor Group as any of us." Gabe's voice echoed the exact same tone as his parents. "We want you to take over because you're good at this, and because then we get to keep it in the family— you know how much we like that."

"I know," I grumbled. "You don't let me forget it."

"Then let's celebrate, okay?" Tío Raúl squeezed my shoulder. "This accelerates everything. It's good for all of us."

I may have had doubts, but I smiled at everyone.

Gabe convinced Vi to come with him, Lina, and me outside after dinner; he leaned against his car with the three of us around him. Vi mostly lived at home with her parents, though she'd been known to stay with boyfriends at times. Since her most recent breakup a couple of months before, she hadn't had much reason not to go to her room right after dinner. She had no reason to come out with us, either.

If I tallied how those patterns came and went, it only tormented me. It affected no one else. I had learned to cope.

"Okay, you're planning something," Vi said next to me, her eyes on her brother. "More often than not, this is when you hurry to take Lina home."

Gabe rolled his eyes, not embarrassed, and Lina laughed. Vi's lips curled in a satisfied shape, and I had to cross my arms not to reach and kiss her. It was a daily occurrence.

The night was warm, and the mild light of the garden lamps gave the space a certain intimate feeling. The automatic sprinklers had just started their nightly ritual, making sure to keep the flower beds and other greenery happy.

"Yes, I'm planning something." Gabe kept his voice quiet, so it wouldn't carry through the yard to the house.

We all leaned closer, getting the memo that this was private.

Gabe looked into the house through the kitchen windows, further confirming his parents weren't around. "We may have messed up. We've been focusing on the transition so much of late that I didn't realize— until Dad said it in passing—"

Vi startled. "Oh my god. It's their fortieth anniversary in a few months."

"Shit. We haven't planned anything." I frowned. "Did your dad say if they have planned anything?"

"Dad said he's taking Mom on a trip. We could have a party the night before they leave."

Lina nodded. "Tell them that we're all taking them for dinner and then, bam! Surprise, it's a party."

"It should be a big one," Vi added. "Forty years! And they've done amazing. They're wonderful. We should really take it as a chance to show them how loved they are."

Gabe, Lina, and I nodded in vehement agreement.

"The problem will be logistics." Lina tsked. "Four months is very little time to plan a big party like this."

"We'll work as a team," Gabe said. "Lina and I can organize catering, music, invitations… you two could book the venue and figure out decorations? We need to come up with the guest list asap."

Vi and I exchanged a quick look. I nodded and pushed my lips to the side. This would get us spending a lot of time together, compared to the past couple of years, but the risk was necessary. It was important to me to help organize a party for the people who'd shown me what warmth was like. I would need to keep myself under control, but that wasn't new.

"We'll do it." Vi crossed her arms as well. "We'll make this happen."

"We'll figure it out," I added, and hoped I was right.

"I don't think we should hire a planner." Gabe shrugged. "You know them. They would love it if we made the effort."

Vi nodded. "We'll make the effort."

"Okay, let's do that." Gabe stood and opened his door. "Let's go home now. We have the initial steps. We'll text as things come up."

Gabe and Lina gave Vi a kiss on the cheek, in the Chilean style for hellos and goodbyes.

"Chao, hermanita." Gabe gave her a quick hug and got in the car.

"Let's go for coffee soon," Lina added for Vi.

After the latter nodded, Lina got into the car as well, next to her boyfriend.