Remember This Part

9. What's a Party Without Family Drama?

Thea.

After listening to hushed whispers and picking up on the few Spanish words I know, I figure out that Manuel is Alex's brother. But I haven't taken a language class since my second year of high school, so I'm really only seventy-eight percent sure of that.

I feel the mood shift in the room. Of course, I have no idea why. Ellie looks as confused as I do. Felisa looks angry. Gonzalo looks annoyed (but he's been looking annoyed this entire evening, so I'm not sure if that has anything to do with Manuel). Imelda looks completely surprised. And as for Alex, well, I can't really interpret how he feels. He doesn't give much away.

Antonio comes out of the kitchen with an unsettled expression gracing his features. He and Alex exchange a few words in Spanish, which ends in Antonio releasing a weary sigh.

"Abuela?" Manuel says again.

Alex doesn't make a move toward the door. No one does, not until Antonio steps forward and presses the button to unlock the building's front entrance. Alex just turns around and solemnly walks into the kitchen. Of course, I'm curious to know what's going on. If this Manuel guy is, indeed, Alex's sibling, Alex doesn't seem to be too happy about that. Clearly, there's been some kind of breakdown between them. I can grasp that much. I mean, I'm no stranger to family complications.

I turn my attention to Imelda, who's watching the door with a very still face. I hear footsteps from the hallway outside the apartment, and then there's just a long, silent pause. No one dares to interrupt it by breathing.

Finally the door opens, and Imelda's dark eyes immediately gloss over with tears. She springs from her seat and rushes over to the man now standing in the doorway.

He's tall, like Antonio and Alex, but he's not nearly as bulky. He's got longer hair that curls up at the base of his neck. His face is narrow and his eyes look young, but there's a certain aging about him, too. The kind of aging that doesn't come with time.

"Manuel, mi chico, mi dulce chico," Imelda says over and over again, cupping his face in her small hands. He leans down and lets her place a kiss on his cheek.

"Feliz cumple, Abuela," he says to her.

I look back at the table and see that Gonzalo is putting all the playing cards back into the box. Apparently, the game is over. I wonder if everyone knows what's going on except for me. Well, maybe except for me and Ellie.

My eyes go toward the kitchen, but I can't see Alex. I might not know what's happening right now, but I feel bad for him. He's upset. I'm considering whether or not I should go in there and check on him when Imelda approaches the table, pulling Manuel along with her.

"Manuel, I'm sure you remember my friends," Imelda says. "But there's someone else I'd like you to meet. This is Thea. She helped me when I had to go to the hospital a couple weeks ago. Thea, this is my grandson, Manuel."

"Hi, Manuel," I greet him, putting on a warm smile. "It's nice to meet you."

"Hey," he replies, and that's all that comes out.

"She's very sweet, Manuel," Imelda prattles on, and I feel my cheeks grow hot. "And she's good at rummy, too." Manuel nods, and this time, he gives me a very slim, very tired smile.

"You must've been fifteen, last time I saw you," Felisa cuts in, her eyes hard. "It's been almost three years."

"It's good to be back," Manuel states. "I couldn't miss my grandmother's seventy-fifth birthday, after all."

"Manuel, we are not talking about my age tonight," Imelda jokingly reprimands him. "Seventy-five is no cause for celebration. Instead, we will celebrate the fact that you are home, yes? Alex made ponque!" Manuel's eyes dart nervously to the kitchen doorway.