Flashed Golden Photographs (Sunset Avenues #1)

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Madrid

You finally made it to Barcelona..

Nag-aagaw na ang liwanag at dilim nang makarating kami sa Madrid.

A grand mansion in the middle of a wide lawn welcomed my eyes. So it's Cameron's lair here in Madrid? How come they are Italian-Americans and chose to stay here in Spain?

Venecia Cameron is my grandmother, an Italian socialite, as what Aunt Esther once told me. Her husband, Favelo Cameron was a retired American soldier. They met in Rome and definitely moved to Spain.

The old woman was elegant and even gorgeous at her age. The old man speaks for command and authority but he's smiling at us. I suddenly remembered Don and Donya. Malakas pa rin ang kanilang pangangatawan kahit sa kanilang edad.

Lines of old age were prominent but it's easy to say that they were gorgeous individuals back in the days.

"Salve!"

"Do they speak english?"

I consciously asked Enrique about the unfamiliar words. I knew it was some kind of greeting in foreign language. He turned his gaze at me while the Camerons were on their way welcoming us. Venecia's hand waving in the air.

"Just do what they please," he simply answered. Iritado pa rin at nagsasalubong ang mga kilay.

"I'm nervous," hindi ko mapigilang usal.

Kinakabahan ako. Alam kong hindi na sila makapaghintay na ipakilala ako ni Mommy bago pa man siya mamatay but seeing them made me feel mixed emotions.

"Let me carry Hopie."

Ibinigay ko naman agad ang anak. Tulog na tulog na ito sa balikat ng tiyuhin na marahan namang hinahagod ang likod nito.

"Who wouldn't love you both?" he uttered reassuringly nang hindi na ako makaimik.

Huminga ako nang malalim at kinalma ang sarili. Hindi ako sanay sa mga bagay na ganito..ang mga pang-mayaman. Paano kung hindi nila kami tanggapin wholeheartedly?

Imposibleng wala silang sama ng loob kay mommy. At ako ang kaisa-isang anak nila ni Timotheo, the man she ran away with. They turned their backs on her and worst, they treated my mommy as a family's disgrace when she left for freedom.

I have seen my mother in the flesh and I could say that she's exactly Venecia Cameron. Nagiging klaro iyon habang papalapit sa portico ang matandang mag-asawa. While Enrique inherited a bit of our grandfather, Favelo Cameron.

It was surreal even to think that this family is my family. Pinalaki ako sa isang simpleng pamilya sa Santa Maria. Sinong mag-aakala na galing pala ako sa isang maimpluwensya at mayamang angkan ng mga Cameron?

Malapad ang ngisi ng dalawang matandang paparating. They were escorted by maids with umbrellas! Wala na ang haring araw ah?

"What shall I do?" I asked Enrique again.

He's obviously annoyed pero kanino pa ba ako magtatanong? If Elicia's with me then it would be easy.

"Relax. They will love you both," he replied nonchalantly.

Nang makarating ang dalawang matandang mag-asawa ay agad nila akong hinalikan sa pisngi.

"Buona sera, grandpa, grandma." I bowed a little.

"Sei una bella donna," the old man murmured.

I smiled a little and let them kiss my cheek. Napataas ang kilay ng matandang babae nang mapuna ang katabi ko. Ang matandang lalake man ay tumikhim din. Amused sa presensya ng pinsan ko.