Substance

Chpt. 12 Fiesta, Fiesta!

Their intimacy served only to make them a much happier couple, Veronica and Courtland became inseparable. If not at work, they spent all their available time together. When they couldn’t they would video chat just to wish each other sweet dreams. It was all terribly romantic the way they would both list off into space whenever they spoke of each other. They seemed to be two matches perfectly paired together.

Since Courtland and her parents hit if off so well during dinner, Veronica invited Courtland to accompany her to her family’s first barbeque of the year. It was a big to do with the family and Veronica felt like she could introduce him to her extended relatives. It was, after all, the least she could do since she regularly visited his parents and siblings at their coffee shop. She couldn’t predict an outcome of how the day would go, she could only hope that her younger cousins didn’t start calling him Professor X.

Señora Sonja Varges was known for her parties throughout the neighborhood. So, when the last week of the spring solstice came along it was of no surprise to the neighbors that her lawn was freshly mown bright and early before a fresh rain could descend. Señora Sonja was a wonderful host for the family functions that she held at her home. There was never a short supply of food and drinks and good music to dance to. Picnic tables were set up and lights were strung up and stretched out over the expanse of her fenced in back yard.

The celebration was held as a way of thanking God for keeping her family alive and well throughout the past months of winter and throughout the spring. It was a well known fact that she and her husband had suffered greatly during that time when they were first married. Tragedy struck them in more ways than one, from job lay offs to an accidental death of a child, they had weathered through their fair share of bad luck. Until one day, their misfortune turned its back to them. Their prayers of better times were answered and for that, Señora Sonja and her husband celebrated. Now years later, the celebration continued every year at the end of the Spring Solstices, to celebrate their lives on Earth through it’s the dark and light days. 

The children had just begun a game of tag when Veronica and Courtland arrived. To see all her cousins and uncles and aunts in one place overwhelmed her sometimes and she advised Courtland to brace himself. However, he shrugged off her warning claiming that he was used to it with his own family reunions. But then again his family was used to seeing him at family functions.

Veronica tried to smile and put on a brave face but she was too concerned about Courtland. Those people may have been her family but they were strangers to Courtland. Veronica made introductions as she saw people, pointing out who was married to whom and what child belonged to what couple. When Señora Sonja finally made her appearance carrying a tray of diced tomatoes she stopped momentarily in her tracks. Clearly she hadn’t known that Courtland would be accompanying Veronica and it showed on her face. She smiled at Courtland and Veronica nodding her head then turned to place the tomatoes down on the nearest table. She went back into the house and retrieved another tray.

Veronica shook her head and looked down at Courtland as he reached for her hand. “Its okay baby. Not everyone is accepting.”

“I know I just thought maybe she would be. She shouldn’t have acted so rude though.”

“Her house, her rules. I'm gonna go hang by Norm. Seems he’s on the outs with Señora Sonja as well,” Courtland said before taking off toward Norm.

If Norm was there then that meant Claudia had to be there somewhere as well. She looked around the yard but Claudia was no where to be found. She decided to continue her search for her sister in the house.

She stepped through the kitchen crammed with other family members and still could not find her sister. She only managed to do so when she stepped into the dinning room and took a seat on the couch.