Broken Paradise by Cecilia Samartin

Author:Cecilia Samartin [Samartin, Cecilia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 2004-02-15T05:00:00+00:00

“She definitely has the García smile,” Papi said, peering into the crib.

“Don’t be silly, José. She can’t smile yet.”

“I’m telling you, I saw her smile just a minute ago when you weren’t looking.”

We’d grown accustomed to Mami and Papi’s good-natured arguing since the baby was born. It seemed their entry into grandparenthood had momentarily caused them to forget about how to get along. Mami could talk of nothing else but the baby and how Marta was doing and whether or not she and Eddie were dealing well with parenthood. Anyone would think that Marta and Eddie had contracted an exotic and incurable disease that required everyone’s constant vigilance. And for the first time in years, Papi was coming home early from work so he could accompany Mami on her daily visit before the baby was put down for the night. We’d hear him whistling a tune as he came in through the back door with a smile from ear to ear.

But Mami’s joy over Marta’s domestic good fortune wasn’t enough to distract her from the disappointing developments in my life.

“I don’t understand why you let that nice young man go, Nora. He had a good job and very decent sensibilities. Even more than that, I’d say he was quite in love with you.”

I wondered if Mami was suffering from premature dementia when she brought the subject up as if we hadn’t already talked about it at least twenty times. Several weeks earlier I’d spoken to Mami and Papi separately and explained that I was no longer seeing Greg. Papi accepted the news with a blend of surprise and curiosity and then made a simple statement that reflected his acquired American ideals more convincingly than his evolving preference for American football over baseball. “As long as you’re happy, Nora. That’s what your mother and I want for you more than anything.” He thought for a moment. “If you haven’t told your mother, I suggest you do so as soon as possible. She’s grown quite fond of Greg.”

Mami stared at me as if I’d told her I’d become an astronaut and was leaving for the moon the next morning. “Was this your decision?”

“Yes. I just didn’t feel comfortable with him, Mami.” I could’ve told her that his touch had begun to repulse me and that the last time we made love I found myself thinking about a back pain I’d developed and the dreadful fact that I’d plucked out my first gray hair the day before.

She smoothed out Papi’s shirt on the ironing board, but the crease between her brows deepened and began to glow pink. “I hope you thought carefully about this. Greg’s a good man. He has a good job and a very promising career and you can’t find that every day you know.”

“I know, Mami.”

“And he understood things…”

“Yes, Mami.”

“About our culture and respect and…I’m telling you right now, I think you’re making a big mistake.” She began to iron furiously. “Oh, I know the American way. Parents aren’t supposed to interfere in their children’s lives.

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