Niña POV
La Rioja, Spain
2002
"Abuela, what are they doing?" Niña asked her grandmother as they watch a couple at the back garden of their family owned inn. The garden was filled with strangers who were all dressed up.
"They are getting married. They are promising to live their lives together forever. Just like your Mama and Papa." Abuela leaned so she could hear her old voice.
"Married? What's that?" her seven year old mind doesn't seem to fully understand.
"It means husband and wife!" a young boy's loud voice came to her ear.
"Paolo, I said no shouting." Niña complained but the playful boy ran fast that she had to leave her Abuela and catch her silly friend.
She could hear him chuckling as she was trying so hard to chase him. They have been playmates since they were kids. Sometimes they fight over toys but most of the time they do childish things together. Paolo is her best friend.
"Come on, Niña. Run faster with your small legs!" he teased more when they reached the front yard.
"Ugh! Just wait until I catch you I swear I'm gonna kick you a million times!" she shouted back as she fueled her energy up.
Paolo went outside the gate of the Lopez Inn. Right at the front is the vineyard. Paolo turned right and she followed him. The dirt road leads to the Lopez mansion where Niña lives with Abuela, her Mama and Papa, her Tias, Tios, and cousins. It's gonna be a long run for the both of them as they had to pass the wide vineyard on the right side, and the Lopez Restaurante and winery on the left. This is their family's world where everything seems to be brown and green and yellow and orange - El Lopez.
They both stopped at the Lopez Mansion's gate when they saw a car leaving. Her cousin Josefina was running after the car with a face filled with waterfalls of tears.
"Papa, don't leave me. Come back to us! Papa!" Josefina cried a lot more when the car drove faster and her little legs could no longer move quicker.
That night at dinner, everyone was silent. Her Tia Maribel looked like she failed all her exams - that's what her classmates looked at school. Josefina, her pretty cousin, looked as if all her school projects were ruined by bullies. It was the first sad and silent dinner they had at the mansion.
Niña POV
Lopez Mansion
2004
"What's that noise?" Josefina curiously asked them. They were all at the veranda of the Lopez Mansion doing some art work.
"Abuela is angry at Tia Marietta?" Niña said as she tried to evesdrop.
"Si." her cousin Miguelito blankly answered.
"Por que?" Paolo asked as he paused his art work.
"Mi Mama y mi Papa se divorciaron." Miguelito said still blankly coloring his paper.
"Did Tia Marietta cry like my mama?" Josefina asked.
"No. They said they are still friends. Papa even embraced Mama before he left last night." Miguelito explained.
"Good for you. Mama and I both cried the whole night when Papa left." Josefina continued brush paint on her paper.
That night, their family once again went all silent at the dinner table. This time, Abuela did not join them - her seat was empty. Niña sneekily studied her Tia Marietta's face. She could tell her Tia was sad but at the same time she looked like a kid who got an A+ in an exam.
Niña POV
2010
"Do you think we can make it til the end?" Niña asked Paolo as they were walking back to the Lopez Mansion. They just spent the whole afternoon at strolling along the vineyard.
Paolo held her hand a little tighter. "Baby, we've been together since forever and we'll be together forever and-"
"ever and ever and ever" she gave him a little side hug. They just decided to be romantic - a young love they found in each other. "I love it when you call me 'baby'"
"I love calling you baby." Paolo kissed her hand.
Their young love was filled with fun and adventure. In mornings and afternoons, they would run together. Especially when they were both exhausted from school works - they would run to clear their heads. On weekends, they would stay up to late at night at the backyard of the mansion with Josefina and Miguelito for movie nights and pajama parties. But not so late that they can still come with Abuela to church early in the morning - Catholic things they do as a family.
In their free time, they would help housekeep the inn or do dishes at Lopez Restaurante. Niña's parents were lenient to the two of them as they grew up literally together at El Lopez.
It was as if nothing could get in between their love.
But one day, Niña found herself in a family meeting.
"Mariano, Liza, por favor tell me the truth. Why are you doing this? I cannot accept anymore divorce in this family!" Her sixteen year old brain can now understand that Abuela wasn't angry - she just wanted a functioning family.
"Mama, we are not getting divorced. We are moving to America for business." her Papa Mariano assured Abuela. "And we all know Liza is American, we want to give Niña a taste of the American life."
"The business is fine here, Mariano." Abuela insisted. "And what about the rumors I am hearing about you, two?"
"But Mama, this is for business expansion. What rumors?"
"You know I'm an influential person in this town. I heard you two consulted divorce attorneys. Is it true? Mariano? Liza?"
Her Papa denied the rumor and assured Abuela that this is not true. She and her Mama remained silently seated. She's not worried at all for she knew that her parents are doing well. They are only moving to America to expand the family business. Her heart only concerns one person - Paolo, her love.
Niña POV
Las Vegas
2013
"Josefina...they lied to me. They lied to Abuela. They lied to our family. They're divorced now and Papa is flying home to Spain. I'll be with Mama here in America." Niña managed to say all these to Josefina over the phone the night her parents told her the truth.
Niña POV
La Rioja, Spain
2017
The rain helped hide the family's tears as they mourn. Her Papa Mariano went home to heaven after a car accident on the way to Madrid. Niña was looking forward to coming to Spain to visit her Papa but not for funeral. She hated it. She felt like little pieces of broken glass inside - shattered. Her parents' divorce, her Papa's tragic death - her life became gray and dull. The only one giving her life color was Paolo. She was so thankful that their love was still strong.
Or she thought so.
YOU ARE READING
Somewhere to Start
FanfictionRight after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Carlos spent the night partying his exhaustion away. But in the morning, he woke up next to a woman wearing what seemed to be a wedding ring - which looked exactly the same as what was on his ring finger.
