Page 124 of Yours, Finally

"She and Lina are inside." Gabe ushered everyone into the building with a gesture of his hand.

The group went up the stairs, and onto the welcome hall.

"Such a beautiful place!" Tía Sonia said. "I didn't know they did small family dinners."

"We wanted something special for you." Vi grinned and exchanged a mischievous look with me.

"I hope you enjoy it," Gabe said, and I opened the door wide for them.

We let them go in, and a chorus of excited voices exploded to welcome us in.

"Surprise! Felicitaciones!"

Tío Raúl's mouth hung open, and Tía Sonia gasped. Applause started timidly around us, but soon it boomed through the room. The crowd took over the center of the ballroom, while tables with floral arrangements stood in wait at the sidelines, ready for dinner later.

Hints of ruby red popped around the hall and near us, while different fun sections gave people options: a photo zone with costumes and signs, which would produce two copies, one for the Sotomayors and one for the guests. A big paper frame, showcasing a recent picture of Tío Raúl and Tía Sonia at the lake house, invited everyone to sign it with their name and write a couple of words.

The photos would go to an album, and the frame would be placed on a shadowbox with some souvenirs from the party.

All the way across from the ballroom, a small stage waited for the speech the extended sibling group had prepared.

The people we had organized this for still looked around with eyes open wide; Gabe and Vi were the first to hug them. Max, Javier, and I followed.

"I hope the surprise is justification enough to have hidden this part," Vi said to her parents with a smile.

"You deserve the celebration. I hope you enjoy it," I added.

"Happiest of anniversaries, Mom and Dad." Gabe took Lina's hand, grinning at his parents. "Now come to the front. We have a little speech to share."

We guided them toward the stage; they yelled in delight at some of the faces, and waved at the people they recognized from afar. We had prepared the guests for this, so no one approached to say hello, and they let us set up for the intro uninterrupted.

Tío Raúl and Tía Sonia stood at the feet of the dais, surrounded by people who loved them. The usual culprits, also known as my chosen family, gathered at the platform. A Remington Estate staff member passed a microphone to Gabe, who held a piece of paper in front of him.

He had trouble unfolding it, and Lina helped him. He smiled at the crowd. "I promise we won't take long, but we want to tell Mom and Dad a few things to start with."

His parents gazed at all of us up on the stage, the remnants of surprise still on their features.

Gabe took a deep breath and started reading. "Mom and Dad, everyone up here put work in some way to put this party together for you. We all wanted to participate in showing you, with this simple gesture, how much you mean to us. Words or actions will always feel incomplete to express how grateful we are for the two of you, but we had to try. We hope that seeing the amount of people who appreciate you will give you a little understanding of how much love there is in the world for you and what you have built."

His words had roughened as he read, his emotions showing through. It tightened my throat, too, and I swallowed.

I took the sheet of paper from him. It was my turn.

"Who you are as people, as a couple— it has shaped us. Saved us, at times. All of us count ourselves lucky that your generous hearts welcomed us. That you've shown us what love that endures looks like."

Vi took my hand and I squeezed it hard, pushing aside the realization that my eyes had filled with tears, and that my voice could barely hold back my feelings behind sandpaper.

She took the piece of paper from me and gave me a soft, warm smile. Tío Raúl's eyes were glossy, while Tía Sonia patted at her cheeks to dry the tears falling freely down her face.

Max jumped down the dais and offered her a monogrammed handkerchief, before returning to the platform to hold Eva's hand.

Vi stepped closer to me and grinned at the crowd, and at her parents. "Of all the privileges we hold, having you is the source we will always honor. It's our joy. It's the example we want to follow. Forty years is afeat, and everyone here wants to celebrate you both and this incredible journey you've been on. We love you. Now go mingle with your people. You may find a few surprise visitors around."

Gabe took the mic again. "We love you. Enjoy."

The whole group went down the stairs. The same staff member took the mic back, while the guests of honor hugged Vi, then Gabe, then the rest of us.

"Thank you," Tío Raúl said. "Thank you."