Vida tucked her feet under her on the sofa and adjusted the weighted lap blanket to cover her legs. Still, goosebumps remained on her upper arms.
The whirr of wheels came furiously from the hallway. “Robert, set temperature to seventy-two degrees,” Lola Naty yelled to the smart speaker. She’d named it after her husband, taking delight in ordering it about like she had her beloved when he was alive.
Immediately, the heat pump hummed and a stream of warm air emanated from the air vents in the ceiling and wall. Vida looked over her left shoulder to the thermostat. Sixty-four degrees Fahrenheit. Ugh! No wonder.
Vida’s grandmother wheeled herself closer to the living room. “Is this how you want to preserve me, apo? By freezing me?” she asked, her voice light and teasing.
“Sorry po, Lola. I got hot earlier and had to turn the heater off. I became engrossed in the details of Eden’s plans for tomorrow and didn’t realize the temperature had gone so low.” Her niece had finally returned to Hacienda Luz after fourteen years and Vida couldn’t have been happier. She was so proud of the woman that the once-rebellious teenager had become.
Her grandmother placed her hand behind her right ear. “Ha?”
Vida repeated her explanation, pitching her voice higher so that her lola could hear her better.
“Ah, menopause.” Lola Naty nodded her head.
“Opo,” she said in agreement, even though her gynecologist had told her she wasn’t there yet. Not until a full year without menstruation. It had only been six months since her last period.
“It’s so quiet here. Let’s play some music,” her lola said. “Robert, play ‘Pasko Na, Sinta Ko’ by Gary Valenciano. Loop mode on.”
Vida groaned inwardly. Her grandmother’s favorite was the most un-Christmassy song she’d ever heard, on par with George Michael’s “Last Christmas.” Lola Naty had started playing it on repeat the year Grandda had died.
The Filipino ballad, translated to “It’s Christmas, My Love” in English, talked of love lost during the holiday season. The male balladeer crooned of his longing for his lover who had left for unknown reasons. He asked why she was forsaking all the promises they’d made and forgetting all the affection and joys they’d showered on each other. He lamented his lonely Christmas without her by his side.
A lump rose in Vida’s throat. Her vision blurred as she touched the heart key pendant on her throat. It was Rafa’s voice singing the woeful words to her. She was the heartless woman who had abandoned him at Christmas.
Vida shook her head. Technically, she hadn’t abandoned him. Yes, she’d left his house with things uncertain between them. Yes, he was angry with her. Was hurt by her. Sniffing, she brushed away the tears she couldn’t hold back from falling.
They hadn’t broken up yet. And they wouldn’t. If she could find the words to explain, they wouldn’t break up. She stared down at her empty hands. Why couldn’t she explain?
“Robert, stop,” her grandmother ordered from Vida’s right, shutting off the music before it replayed the melancholic song. She moved from her wheelchair to the sofa.
Crying earnestly now, Vida felt herself enfolded in a warm embrace. Gentle hands brushed her hair as she sobbed.
“It’s Rafael, isn’t it?” Lola asked after Vida’s tears had subsided.
She wiped her face with the blanket. “You know?”
“Since January. You’ve been talking to me about him when you thought I was already sleeping.”
“Oh. Why did you never ask me about him?”
“Because I wanted you to tell me on your own. When I’m awake. Why haven’t you?”
Vida felt like she was nineteen again, talking to her grandmother about the boy who’d broken her heart when he joined the navy.
“At first, it was because I wasn’t sure how long we would be together. None of my previous relationships lasted longer than half a year. You like him as your doctor. He’s really good to you. If we break up, I didn’t want you to fire him.”
“And then?”
“Well, you know … The age difference. He’s ten years younger than me.”
“So what?”
“I don’t want to be called a cougar or Mrs. Robinson.” A ridiculous excuse.
Lola made a sound of disgust. “Why do you care what other people think? Does Rafael care?”
“No.” He truly didn’t.
Her grandmother tsked. “It’s your parents, isn’t it? They abandoned you and you haven’t been able to trust anyone not to leave you.”
Bingo. “I’ve gotten so used to keeping men at a distance and protecting my heart that I don’t know how to stop.” Nobody had ever persisted in getting closer. Nobody had worked harder to make her fall for them. Except for Rafa.
“I know Rafael loves you. Even my fading eyesight can see how tenderly he looks at you. Do you love him?”
Vida didn’t hesitate. “I do.”
“So, tell him. That’s all you need to do. You might not believe this, seeing as I’m turning one hundred tomorrow, but life is short, my child. I’m only lucky. You might not be. Live and love today. Tomorrow may not come.”
That almost brought the tears back. “Please don’t say that. Tomorrow has to come so you can have your noche buena party.”
“I will cancel the party if you don’t go right now and reconcile with Rafael. He’s the best doctor I ever had. He’s going to help me live twenty-five more years. I have to beat Iska.”
Vida laughed and hugged her grandmother. “I love you, Lola.” Could it be that easy? Just say “I love you” and everything would be all right?
“I love you too, apo. Now go! I’ll call Carlo so we can practice our dance one more time.”
Vida went.
Peering at the house from the driveway, Vida looked for lights, for movement, for anything that would indicate that Rafa was home. Her car clock had said she’d arrived at five thirteen, around the time they usually met for their weekend date. He always showed up before her. Maybe he was already inside. The garage door was closed, which didn’t tell her anything.
“There’s only one way to find out, Vida,” she admonished herself. “Go.” She squared her shoulders and walked up to the front door. Touching her heart key pendant like a talisman, she punched in the six-digit code that was the date of her birth. She released the breath she’d held at the sound of metal retracting. Grasping the doorknob, she twisted and pulled. The heavy door opened with a slight creak. Two seconds later, she was in.
The living room was dark. The tree lights were off, the fireplace unlit. Vida shivered, despite her woolen coat. There was no warmth, no welcome here like the previous week. Her shoulders fell.
She turned to go just as the front door flew open.
“Vida? What are you—”
Rushing to him, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Her heart leapt with joy when he responded, kissing her back like he’d missed her as much as she’d missed him.
She drew back, breathing heavily. “I love you, Rafa,” she said. “I love you. I told Lola Naty about us. Carlo knows too, and soon the entire Moore family will know. I love you, and I’m sorry I took so long to say it. Took so long to tell my family about us.” Her heart thumped hard against her chest. “I love you.” Once she’d said the words, she couldn’t stop.
Rafa pressed his forehead to hers. “I love you too, mi Vida. That’s all I wanted to hear.”
She didn’t deserve this man’s generosity. “I was scared. I’ve been waiting for so long for someone to fall in love with. I spent most of my life wondering where he is, who he is.” She held his gorgeous face between her hands. “I know now. You’re here. It’s you.”
“It’s you as well for me.” He lifted her in his arms. “Hush now. I want to make love with you. You can tell me more later.”
She did. Much later.