James + Leona

James + Leona / The Yangs + The Fernandezes

James and Leona decided to invite their families to Leona's apartment for dinner.

James wore his best button-up shirt.

Leona wore her best dress.

"What if they don't like me?" Leona had asked James as they set up the table an hour before.

James was genuinely surprised at her question. "Why wouldn't they like you?" He replied. "You're perfect."

It was the Yangs that arrived first. James' older sisters, Winona and Cher, were excited to meet Leona. "What pretty eyes you have," Cher, the bubblier of the two, said. Looking closely and carefully, Winona agreed.

Leona went pink at the compliment.

James beamed.

Mr. Yang was very polite to Leona. He shook her hand and thanked her for the invitation, smiling slightly. Mrs. Yang, not a hugger, took in her features, much like her daughters.

"You have such gentle hands," Mrs. Yang complimented. "And such a pretty smile."

"Thank you very much," Leona replied.

The Yangs said their hellos to James and Tania, who stood awkwardly to the side. Then, they sat at the table. Of course, the Fernandezes were late.

"So that's where you get it from," James whispered to Leona as they waited. Leona made a face at him.

The Fernandezes finally arrived ten minutes later. Leona's parents brought Leona's cousin, Rafael, who was like a brother to Leona, along. "Hey, prima," he said.

As they hugged, Mr. Fernandez shook James' hand. "Nice to meet you," he said. He hesitated. "Ah... Joseph, yes?"

"Pa!" Leona exclaimed, pulling away from Rafael. "I told you—"

"It's Jaime, mi amor!" Mrs. Fernandez interrupted, patting her husband's back. "Jaime!"

James stifled a laugh as Leona became more and more embarrassed. "No, mamí!" she tried. "It's just James—"

"Oh! Lo siento mucho, Jaime," Mr. Fernandez continued, shaking James' hand with both hands sheepishly. "My old brain just isn't what it used to be."

At that point, the Yangs had already gotten up to introduce themselves. Mr. Yang shook Mr. Fernandez's hand. Tania joined the group and hugged Rafael, who shook James' hand. Leona sent an apologetic look to James through the chaos, but James didn't seem to mind one bit.

At last, the ten sat down at the table to eat. James and Leona had worked together and made a salmon dinner, which happened to be a favorite for both Mr. Yang and Mr. Fernandez. They talked amongst each other as they ate. At the end of the meal, Leona got up and cleared everybody's dishes from the table, while James served everyone some champagne.

Of course, the Yangs and the Fernandez became suspicious of the traditionally celebratory drink. "Ay, what's this for, Mija?" Mr. Fernandez asked, looking at Leona. "What's going on?"

So, James and Leona told them. As they did so, however, the parents' smiles began to fade.

"Oh, this is so exciting!" Cher exclaimed, clapping her hands. She looked at Winona, who was surprised but equally as happy. "Aren't you excited?"

"I am," Winona said, standing up to hug her brother, who gladly accepted.

Leona was watching her family's faces, happiness fading. "Raf?" She tried. He was staring at them, eyes unreadable. Tania was staring at the table.

Mr. Yang cleared his throat. "James," he said. "Perhaps we should talk about this elsewhere."

James' happiness faltered at the tone of his father's voice. He pulled away from Winona and looked at his parents for the first time, heart sinking at their lack of excitement.

James reached out blindly for Leona, but there was nothing to touch.

Leona had her arms tight around herself.

James and Leona found themselves in two separate worlds in a single moment.