No Ordinary Love

Chapter 25

*****NOT EDITED****

It was Xmas Eve and the house was starting to get packed. Don Xavier and Enrique sat on the sofa by the fireplace. Listening to Zayra play the piano. Martha stood up with her wine in hand, singing along with her. Roman and Rudy played the guitar near by.

Yolanda and Antonio had arrived earlier in the day with Aida and Carlos. Jimena and her husband Hugo were talking to Marina and Lourdes. Their daughters Karen and Xio were gathered by Zayra who tried to help them play the piano.

She smiled at the girls. Karen was a year younger than Zayra and Xio was 14. Hugo Jr. was running around the house. She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat as she remembered her siblings.

Don Xavier had also invited a few of his close first cousins over. Everyone saluting them as they entered the room. They lived about two hours away. Not too far yet they didn't see each other as often as they knew they could.

His cousins Jorge and Diana arrived with their family and children. They were family from his mother's side. Their mothers were sisters.

Jorge's son, Diego was about the same age as Roman. He was living in Washington D.C, where he worked and was studying to be an engineer. His sister Daniela was graduating high school and soon would be leaving to France to study as a chef. The youngest of Jorge's children was Naida was 13.

The staff quickly took their coats and bags and placed them in their designated room.

Diana walked in after Jorge, her husband Victor quickly greeting everyone happily. They had two set of twins. The first set were the boys and the second set were the girls. They were 16 and 12. Victor and Andres. Angelica and Julissa.

They smiled and surveyed the room and found their cousins gathered together playing. They hadn't seen Zayra in a few years, quickly recognizing her. They said hello to their aunts and cousins making their way toward the crowd.

"Zayra!" Daniela exclaimed.

Zayra stopped playing and smiled at Daniela. She watched her brother Diego smile and walk to Roman and Rudy. Both brothers standing up to greet the members of the other side of the family. Zayra smiled at everyone she hadn't seen this side of their family in a few years. Amazed at how quick everyone had grown. She watched the twin boys eyes dance as they walked toward her.

Carlos and Aida made their rounds saying hello to everyone they knew. They smiled sweetly at everyone. Zayra noticed their jealousy, they tried to hide it with smiles but saw it in their eyes. Everyone began to gather around Zayra, expressing her condolences and their happiness to have her there with them for the holidays.

Zayra felt lightheaded by the attention. She felt Roman standing close to her, leaning his body to hers for support. His eyebrows knitted together as he noticed one of her panic attacks start to manifest. It didn't help that everyone of them kept telling her how sorry they were of her loss.

She bit her lip from exploding. He laced his fingers on hers. She looked up at his face and saw his gaze on hers assuring her he was there. She began to breath, in and out, slowly. She slowed her heart, began to chant the poem in her head. Everyone around her oblivious about her distress. Excitedly they chatted. Zayra saw Aida's eyes widened at the sight of them holding hands.

She was made aware that they were officially a couple but to see it, it just pissed her off. She looked at her brother who's hooded gaze looked her over. His jaw set.

Fuck them, Aida thought.

She smiled at her cousins and family, her resolve to end their relationship beginning to unfurl. It was the fucking principle. She was supposed to have ended up with Roman and Zayra with her brother. That was the plan. It was the plan. She needed to figure out a way to end this.