While you were Sleeping

14. Surprise!

Juliana stretched lazily as she opened her eyes, it was still early, she could hear her mother moving around the apartment, which was good because she wanted to see her before she left for work. They were like ships in the night lately. She didn't know what time Lupe came home last night because she was already asleep, her body still struggling with the six o'clock starts.

Lupe had filled her in on her lunch date with Panchito, everything seemed to be going well between them. The man had brought her flowers and paid for lunch, he seemed sweet. She couldn't remember the last time her mother went on a date; their lives had been hectic for the last few years. Their 'free time' was used to sleep, or spend a little time together, in the house, because they rarely left it at the same time. One always staying behind to care for her grandparents. Their lives were very different now but she still felt like she never saw her mother.

"Morning ma," she said as she opened her bedroom door. "Aaaahhh!" A half-naked man walking around her home was not what she expected! She grabbed the closest thing she could find and threw it at him. The photo frame hitting him square in the chest as she looked for something else.

"JULIANA! STOP!" Her mother screamed as the startled man staggered backwards rubbing his chest.

Juliana turned to face her mother with wild eyes, watching as she secured the tie around her bathrobe. "WHAT THE HELL!?" she asked, gesturing towards the half-dressed man.

"I'm sorry, Pancho. I think you should go," Lupe gave him an apologetic smile. "I'll see you later." The man nodded and practically ran towards her mother's bedroom to collect his things.

Juliana was breathing hard; the shock and adrenaline were still coursing through her veins as she watched the unusual scene play out. Lupe grabbed her and pushed her into her bedroom and closed the door. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"

"Juli, calm down!" She approached her with a hand outstretched.

"Calm down? Ma, are you serious?" She began pacing around her bedroom with her fists clenched.

"I'm sorry, mija!"

Juliana shook her head; this was the last thing she expected. "Ma, you just met this guy! How would you feel if I brought someone home?"

"Juliana! Do not speak to me like that! I know this is a shock for you but I need you to sit down and listen to me."

Lupe's authoritative tone left no room for argument. Juliana huffed in exasperation but moved to her bed and sat down, her arms firmly folded across her chest.

"I'm sorry. I know I promised to give you a warning if he was in the house but it slipped my mind," she smiled, obviously thinking of something else.

"Ugh, gross!" Juliana rolled her eyes. "Ma, you just met him!"

"You had only known Valentina a few days before you went for a sleep over at her house!" Lupe raised an eyebrow and folded her arms.

Juliana's eyes widened, what the hell was her mother suggesting? "Seriously? You're comparing a sleep over at a friend's house to what you just did?" Juliana's face was turning red, with anger or embarrassment? She wasn't sure.

Lupe took a deep breath. "Listen mija, I'm sorry," she joined Juliana on her bed. "I know it seems fast but I can't explain it... Panchito makes me feel young, we have fun together, everything seems so much better when he's around," she smiled and reached for Juliana's hand. "I haven't felt like this since I met your father."

Juliana frowned, growing up she had always hoped her mother would find someone but she didn't expect it to happen so fast after moving to a new country.