Chapter 16: Familia

*Zain*

“So, you’re in love with her, right?” Raphael took a sip of his beer as the ocean breeze blew through the open bar. It was one of their favorite sports bars, Louie’s on the Beach. They served seafood and steaks, wings, and had the best beer on tap around. And the beautiful view of the beach didn’t hurt.
Zain nodded, looking down at his beer, and took a swig. Then he looked out over the ocean. “I’m going to keep in touch with her while she’s in college and I’m playing ball.” Zain smirked as his eyes met Raphael’s. “I just don’t want to lose her to another guy in the process.”
Raphael shrugged. “Then marry her.”
Zain’s head snapped up. “What? Where did that come from?”
“Marry her in secret.” Raphael took another sip of his beer. “No one would know. And then you’ll know that she won’t be going anywhere while she’s in college.”
Zain laughed, shaking his head. “Of all the crazy ideas, I think this one takes the cake.” He took another sip of his beer. He would give anything to be able to marry Jasmine now... everything except for baseball. He couldn’t do that to his father’s memory or to his mother.
“Why not?” Raphael shrugged as he took another sip of his beer. “No one ever said you can’t play ball and not be married.”
“But what about Jasmine?” Zain shook his head. “I couldn’t do that to her.”
Raphael lifted one shoulder. “Then marry her and divorce her.”
“You’re a nut.” Zain downed his beer as he quickly rose to his feet and threw some cash down onto the bar. “What’s the point of marrying her if we’re just going to get a divorce?”
“One hot weekend.” Raphael wiggled his eyebrows as he finished off the rest of his beer and reached for his cash, too, but Zain stopped him.
“No, man.” Zain held his hand up. “I’ve got it this time.” He motioned with his head toward the parking lot. “Come on, and I’ll take you back to your car.” If not anything else, Raphael was always good for a laugh.
“I can’t believe you said that.” Zain shook his head in disbelief as they headed out to his truck.
“Why not?” Raphael slid into the truck as Zain climbed into the driver’s side and started the car. They were on their way a few minutes later.
“Would you be able to do it?” Zain looked over at him, completely serious.
“Hell, yeah!” Raphael laughed. “You love her, right?”
Zain nodded. “Yes, I do.”
“Then give her a night to remember.” He shrugged. “And while you’re at it, why not a weekend to remember?” He sat back and looked out the window. “It’ll ruin her for all other men.”
Zain burst out laughing. “Yeah, right. I don’t know about that. But I can’t do that to her.”
“Why not?” Raphael looked into Zain’s eyes as he popped a stick of gum into his mouth and offered Zain a piece. But he waved it off. “That way, she’ll never forget you, and when she’s ready, she’ll come back to you.”
Zain’s head snapped up, arching an eyebrow. “You think so?”
Raphael nodded. “Sure! Why not?” Then Raphael playfully nudged his shoulder. “But with your lack of skills in the sack, you never know.”
“Hey, I’ve had no complaints so far!”
They bantered back and forth, and by the time he dropped Raphael off at his car, Zain felt a lot better. He was going to ask him if he could crash at his place for the rest of the summer, but he couldn’t do that to his mother. This may be the last summer he comes home, and he couldn’t let his last memory be of him walking out the way he did. So, after saying goodbye to Raphael, he headed back home.
He pulled his baseball bag from the back of his truck and headed toward the house. But his mother opened the door before he got there and flung her arms around him.
“Zain, I’m sorry,” she said against his chest. Then she placed her hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes. “I’m glad you came back.”
He nodded. “I’m sorry too, Mama. Can we talk?”
She nodded, opening the door for him. “Si. Come on in. We’ll go out back and have a chat.” Then she waved a hand toward his truck. “Go ahead and put away your things, and we’ll talk out back.”
“Before I do, I want to make one thing clear,” Zain said, planting his feet firmly on the porch. “If you’re going to tell me to stop seeing Jasmine again, then I’m not coming back.”
His mother stared into his eyes and nodded. “Understood. Now, you understand. I know you are a man, but I am still your mother. Go put your things away, and I’ll meet you out back.” Then her lips curled into a smile. “Zain, I’m glad you came back.”
He nodded. “Me, too.”
As he grabbed his things and took them into his room, he knew he had outgrown this. If he could just get through the next few months until he went back to college, the better.
When he was finished, he poured two glasses of sweet tea and headed outside where his mother was waiting.
“Here,” he said, handing one to her. “Mama, I’m in love with her.”
“I know.” She took a sip of her tea. “But just be careful.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s not from our culture. She doesn’t understand familia.” She reached over to hold his hand, but he pulled away.
“Mama, she has a family! She understands!” Zain scoffed, shaking his head. “The reason why I can’t marry her now is that she’s an only child, and she promised her parents she would go to college. That will give me time to finish my senior year and to get settled into baseball while she finishes college.”
A crease formed between her eyes as she tilted her head. “How old is this girl?”
“She’s eighteen.” Zain let out a deep breath as he rose to his feet and looked out over the backyard. “But before you say anything, love doesn’t ask for a birth certificate.”
A moment later, she wrapped her arm around him and leaned her head against him. “No, it most certainly does not.”
Zain looked into her eyes.
“Don’t worry, my boy,” she said, placing her hand on his cheek. “Everything will work out. I promise.”