Incest/Taboo Destruction and Rebirth

"Hello, this is Mrs. Huffman; how can I help you?"

"Hello, I was wondering if you could hold the 2018 Volvo S60, the one with fifteen thousand miles on it, until tomorrow," I spoke into my phone when the very polite woman answered.

"I can, but why not today? We don't close till nine."

"You do? I did not know that," looking down checking my watch, noting that it was four in the afternoon, "can you have it ready to test drive in, say, thirty minutes?" I asked, knowing it would be a very good car for David and Amber.

"I certainly can. May I have the name of whom I'll be dealing with?"

"Mr. Nathan Hal."

"Well, Mr. Hal, I'll be looking forward to seeing you in half an hour." With that, we hung up, and I walked hurriedly back to my parent's place. They were still clustered outside, chatting away, waiting for my return.

"Amber, keys," I commanded, which, to my daughter's credit, didn't bat an eye when she tossed them to me. "David, you're coming with me. Mom, Dad, sorry about this, we'll be back," I said, seeing the confusion on everyone's faces except for Catalina's. Who just smiled and gave me that approving nod.

"Where are we going? You just got here?" David asked as I backed out of the driveway.

"It's a surprise," I said with a smile as I backtracked to the dealership.

"Nathan?!" I heard the surprise in his voice as we pulled into the dealership.

"You and my baby need a car, a reliable car," I said, cutting off the engine. "And what's more reliable than a Volvo?"

"But you..."

"Think of it as an early Christmas present from Catalina and me to the two of you," I said, holding up my hand when he began to speak. "This way, you two will have a car while you decide on what to do with your other one." As on cue, Mrs. Huffman had the car waiting and standing right beside it, eager to sell.

"Good afternoon, which one of you gentleman is Mr. Hal?" she asked in a polite tone.

"I am, but the car is for my future son-in-law and daughter, so he'll be doing the test drive," I said, placing my hand on David's shoulder.

"I wish my in-laws were as nice as yours," Mrs. Huffman said, flashing David a smile. "Now, Mr..."

"Callister," David supplied.

"Shall we take a drive, Mr. Callister?" Mrs. Huffman asked, gesturing to the car.

I could tell David was in awe of all the fancy gizmos packed into the dashboard as he started the car up as I sat in the rear. Got to say it was rather roomy in the back. Listening as Mrs. Huffman listed off all the bells and whistles that came with the car as we cruised down the streets of my hometown. I knew David liked the car when he handed the keys back to her once we had returned to the dealership.

"Please, if you'll follow me, I'll get the paperwork started," Mrs. Huffman said after I made sure with David that Amber would like the car. "Now, how will you be paying for this?" she asked once we got into her little cubicle.

"In full," I said, handing the woman my debit card seeing the flabbergasted look on David's face.

"Nathan, that's..."

"I told you; early Christmas present," I said with a smirk. After all, I did miss buying my daughter her first car. I do have a lot of time to make up for.

"Wow. My in-laws never bought us a car, lucky," Mrs. Huffman teased; I kept my chuckle to myself at how red David was getting. "Just let me go run this and get the car detailed for you," she said, rising from her seat.

I looked over as David's phone was dinging like mad. "If it's Amber, don't tell her anything; I want to surprise her," I said, seeing him nod.

"Oh, she's going to be surprised, alright. That is if she doesn't flip out," David said, typing away on his phone. "I just told her that you and I were having a little man-to-man talk." I nodded as he pocketed his phone. "You don't know how much this is going to mean to her. She's been stressing out over the wedding bills, house bills, and now the car for the past month. I know this is going to take a load off her mind." Again, I nodded; I know how weddings could do that to the bride. The Bitch and Catalina were like that as well. Then I saw David's facial expression change as this curious ring tone played from his phone. Shooting him a look when the words 'Smack my bitch up' kept playing. I caught a quick glimpse of his screen that said bitch on it before he declined the call.

"Something you want to tell me before you marry my daughter?" I asked in a protective fatherly voice.

"Yeah, your ex-wife is a bitch." I couldn't help myself. I burst out in laughter at David's straightforwardness.

"That she is," I agreed. "I take it that was who was calling?" I asked, seeing him nod.

"Yeah, only ring tone I could find with the word bitch in it," David said, joining my mirth.

"Well, I say it's damn fitting; wish I had thought of it," I stated, "it would have been so much fun in arbitration."

"I can imagine," David nodded.

"Mr. Hal, here is your card and the receipt, and Mr. Callister, if you could please sign on the dotted lines where you see the red tabs," Mrs. Huffman directed. I wondered if this was the fastest she's ever sold a car before as I folded the invoice before stuffing it into my pocket.

While we might not be able to take that vacation, Catalina and I had been planning to Spain; given how I used that money, it was for a very good cause. So I knew my wife wouldn't be too upset by it. Then again, how could she? She did sign off on it beforehand.

"Mr. Callister, the title for the car should be mailed to you in a few months, and the plate within the week," Mrs. Huffman said, rising from her seat and shaking my and David's hands before handing David the keys and the temporary license plate to him. "Thank you for choosing Crown Volvo, and if you have any problems with the car, we're here to help." Waving to her as she led us out of the dealership.

"What am I going to tell Amber?" David asked, running his hand through his hair as we waited for the detailing to be done.

A sneaky smile formed on my lips at what popped into my mind. "Here's what we'll do," I said before whispering my plan to David.

It was twenty past six when I pulled into my parents' driveway with David waiting two houses down for my signal. I saw movement from the living room window of my parents' home as I walked towards the front door.

"Dad?! Where's David, and where have the two of you been?" Amber asked heatedly as she stood on the brick porch of my childhood home with my wife behind her, wearing a smile.

"Yeah, Papi, you can't leave like that," Alondra said, mimicking Amber's stance, which, I'll admit, was adorable as hell.

"Oh, doing this and that," I mused as my parents joined us. Handing my mother her keys as I hugged her and then embraced my father.

"Dad?!" I couldn't help but smile at the tone of my daughter's voice.

"Patience, li'l mouse," I mused, seeing my daughter's cheeks heat at the pet name I used for her when she was a child. "You'll see." Texting David that it was showtime. Amber didn't pay attention to the blue four-door Volvo as it pulled along the curb, that was until David got out of it.

"David, what did you do?!" Amber asked, eyeing the car.

"You should ask what did I do?" I corrected her. "I hope you like the car, honey," I said, watching that annoyance fade to shock, then glee.

"You... bought... us... car?" Amber's words stumbled off her lips as she tried to get her brain to work.

"Well, Catalina and I did," I said before I was crushed in that hug of hers.

"Thank you so much!" Amber said happily into my ear.

"You're welcome, honey," I said, watching how Catalina held Amber when she hugged her too.

"Don't you worry about a thing; this is what family does for one another." I noted how my parents gave me that look, knowing I was never going to live this down. Well, I have said I was an idiot, so you can't expect greatness all the time. A smirk was on my lips as I watched as Amber jumped from the porch and ran towards David, and leaped into his arms. I could see the relief on my daughter's face as David spun her around at the fact they wouldn't have a massive repair bill looming over them unless they decided to fix their old car. Personally, I would junk it if the engine died on them. Probably would cost more to put in a new engine than the car was worth.

Pulling my wife into me as Amber called out that she was going to take a quick spin in it around the block. I nodded in understanding, watching how Amber rushed to the driver's door. Seeing David shaking his head when Amber said: 'Get in, you goof, you're coming with!' I could tell the moment Amber slid into the driver's seat she was in awe of all the gizmos before her eyes.

It wasn't even five minutes before Amber pulled the car back to its former position. We all had waited outside for her to get back. My smile lifted the corners of my mouth at how joyous my daughter acted as she danced in the seat when she cut the car off. Then she bolted out of the car, leaving the door open as she raced towards us.

"I so love you two!" Amber said, hugging both my wife and me at the same time.

"Amber, you're very welcome," I noted how Amber looked at Catalina like she had done to her mother before her mother went batshit crazy. "Your father and I are happy that we could help the two of you. I know this will take some of the stress off of you that I know you've been feeling lately." I noted how Amber's eyes watered at that as she nodded. Wondering what the two of them talked about when Amber would call Catalina. Not that I would pry into their private conversations, I was just curious.

"But you didn't need to buy such a fancy car?!"

"Fancy?! That's a standard model," I joked. "You'll just have to pay the taxes and the upkeep on it." I huffed as those arms wrapped around me, hugging me tightly. I didn't say a word as I just cradled my daughter, seeing how she needed it at the moment.

"Okay, everyone wash up; dinner is almost ready," my mother said from behind me. Looking down as Alondra took her hand as she led Alondra into the house.

"I must look like a mess," Amber chuckled as she wiped her eyes as David came to stand at her side.

"Nonsense, you're beautiful as ever," David said, laying on the charm. Catalina and I left the two love birds so Amber could gather herself as we headed in.

We were halfway through our meal when Amber's phone rang from in the living room. She would have just ignored it, but whomever it was just kept calling. Excusing herself as she got up from the table and hurried into the living room. I tried not to eavesdrop, yet the moment Amber uttered the word 'Mom,' old habits came back.

"No, I told you this Thanksgiving David and I are having it with his parents and that we would see you on Christmas. Well, I don't care if that doesn't suit you. Take it or leave it because we aren't going to be home that day."

"How would I know if Dad will be in town. I haven't talked to him since you chased him off, remember?" I looked down when Catalina placed her hand on my left forearm and shook her head when she knew I was about to get up from my seat to confront my ex-wife. "Why do you care anyway, isn't that new man you're seeing not living up to your expectations?" I arched an eyebrow when I saw the sparkle in Catalina's eye at the tone of my daughter's voice. "Hey, I wasn't the one calling in the middle of dinner and kept ringing my phone until I was forced to answer it, interrupting my dinner with Papa and Nana." Hearing my daughter's frustrated 'Ugh!' from the living room. I could relate to it. My eyebrow rose once again when I noted that proud smile on her lips.

"Sorry, you had to hear that," Amber said with an embarrassed look as she reentered the dining room.

"Honey," laying my hand over hers as she retook her seat, "has she been giving you problems?" I asked in a concerned voice.

"A little, she's under the impression you're back in town. I don't know who told her that, but it wasn't me," Amber said; I noted how her eyes begged me to believe her.

"I don't care if she does or doesn't know I'm here. What matters is the way she treats you. Do you want me to have a word with her?"

"No," shaking her head, "I can handle Mom," I noted how Amber glanced to Catalina, "I don't want this week ruined because of her."

"Okay, but if she gets too much, you let me know, and I'll snap that woman back so fast she'll sue for whiplash," I said, patting my daughter's hand.

"Thanks, Dad," I noted her reddening cheeks as we finished enjoying our meal.

When it was time for Alondra's bedtime David and Amber hugged her for a long time before I led her off to my old bedroom, where Alondra usually stayed in, given it only had a twin-size bed in it. Catalina and I would be using the hide-a-way bed in the study that used to be my cousin's room when his folks got into a very rough patch and lost custody of their son to my parents until he turned eighteen. I knew he still talked to my folks daily; I don't know if he does with his own. Not that I can blame him; if I remember correctly, his father got sent to jail for cooking meth or some such thing. Amber and David left around ten that night, seeing both of them had to work in the morning but promised to be over the moment they both got off their shifts.

The week rolled on, and no sightings of the Bitch cropped up. Which I was thankful for; I don't know who would have taken a chunk out of her hide first, my wife or me, if she thought to show herself. It would have been an amusing sight, I assure you. When Thanksgiving rolled around, my mother, David's mother, and Catalina banished me to the living room. David was chatting away with my father and his father joining in as the football pre-game show aired. Amber was on the floor playing an old board game with Alondra as the fireplace crackled. As I looked around the room seeing the three generations under the same roof, I couldn't think of a more heartwarming sight. I looked down when Alondra came to my side and took my hand into hers.

"Come play, Papi," Alondra said in that loving voice of hers.

I have to admit it; at first, I was dreading going back home. Not because of my daughter; no, it was the 'I told you so' my parents would give me for being so damn stubborn. Sometimes it's a good thing to be proven wrong. David's parents were nice people, although I didn't like how David's father eyed my daughter when she called me Papi. Still, I wasn't going to make a fuss about it at the dinner table. Not on Thanksgiving; my mother would kill me if I ruined Thanksgiving. Yet, I made a note to keep my daughter away from him in the future. It wasn't lost on me that Catalina noted that look as well. Unlike me, she had the grace to hide her glances. Once dinner was over, I pulled Amber into my old bedroom and asked what was the deal with David's father while Catalina kept Alondra close to her. Okay, kick me in the ass for thinking the worst of the man. It wasn't because he was a racist or a child predator; no, it was because Alondra had a resemblance to the daughter they had lost around the same age as Alondra. I fell down to my old bed, dropping my face into my hands to assume the worst of the man. I wouldn't know what I would do if I lost one of my daughters and another couple had one that looked similar to my own. It must be tearing that man up inside.

Other than making a total ass out of myself, the holiday wasn't so bad. I know Catalina and David's mother hit it off after I told her in private about what Amber had told me. I know David's father was very attentive to Alondra whenever she would ask him something. I even saw him playing cards with her one time. I knew the man was letting Alondra win on purpose. So I let them be and ambled out the back to help bring in some firewood for my father.

"Need some help?" I heard David's voice behind me.

"Could use an extra hand," I chuckled. "Load me up, Doc."

"That enough?"

"Should be," I nodded. "So you didn't tell us you had a sister."

"Yeah, we don't talk about her too much," David said, dropping his gaze. "I know Mom and Dad nearly divorced after her passing."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."

"It's okay; I know the way my dad acted set your hairs on end. He gets like that sometimes, but he doesn't mean anything by it," David said, trying to reassure me.

"No, I get it; I would probably be a nervous wreck, curled in a ball in the corner of a padded room somewhere if that happened to one of my girls. It couldn't have been easy for them going through that," I said; I don't know how I managed it with a load of wood in my arms, but I did as I patted David on the back. "Alondra, what are you doing, you goof," I teased as she chatted away with David's parents, who were listening to every word. Nodding my thanks to David as he unloaded my arms and stacking them with the others so my father could have his fire going through the night if he so chose.

"Talking," Alondra giggled.

"Oh, you are, are you?" I mused. I nearly dropped the last pieces of wood on my foot when a spider crawled out of the gaps between them if it wasn't for David's quick thinking in getting it onto a stick and tossing it into the fire. "My hero," I teased, getting a laugh out of David's parents. Sitting down on the couch, calling my daughter to me, and resting her on my lap. "And just what are the three of you talking about, hmm?"

"Everything!"

"Everything?! You don't say," I said, smiling at my daughter as she used her arms to depict the whole of her knowledge. I noted from the corner of my eye at how smitten David's mother was with Alondra. I know she must be thinking about the daughter they had lost.

"Mmmhmm," Alondra nodded.

"You have a lovely daughter," David's mother, who I learned was named Meredith, said as she looked at the two of us.

"I can't take all the credit; that honor goes to my wife," I said, knowing my spider-sense was telling me she was standing behind me within earshot. "But I do love this munchkin," I cooed, tickling my daughter, who was laughing like mad.

"You wouldn't mind if we take a picture of the two of you, would you?" David's father asked, pulling out his cell phone.

"We don't mind," I replied once I made sure with the little monster in my lap when she shook her head. I watched how Meredith leaned against her husband, resting her head on his shoulder as they stared at our picture. Helping Alondra down, watching her amble over to them to see how good she looked in the photo. I noted how they looked at me before they picked her up, which I nodded. Watching how Meredith nestled Alondra between her and her husband as they just chatted away with one another.

"Can I get you two something to drink?" I asked, rising from my seat, listening to my dad snore in his turkey coma. "I'll just be a moment."

"So, what do you think of them, Dad?" Amber asked when I entered the kitchen as she, my mother, and Catalina were chatting at the kitchen table.

"Not bad folks, but they're going to be your in-laws, not mine," I said, patting Amber's shoulder as I went to make David's father, who was named George by the way, and Meredith a drink.

"Yeah, but you're coming to the wedding, and I want you all to get along." I felt my daughter's eyes on my back as I filled their glasses with ice.

"Other than that little misunderstanding, I don't see a reason we would..." Then the world turned cold as I heard that voice from the past coming through the front door as she knocked rapidly on the door. I turned to go put that woman in her place for ruining this day, only to see my daughter surging from her seat.

"I'll handle it Dad, if Mom knows you're here, she won't leave," Amber said, marching towards the front door.

"What have you been teaching my daughter?" I asked, looking at my wife, who had a coy grin on her lips. It wasn't lost on me that my mother was smiling into her glass.

"This and that," Catalina said vaguely.

"That so?"

"Mmmhmm," arching an eyebrow when Catalina sat all proper in her chair, "you don't have to worry about that woman holding sway over her any longer," Catalina took her own sip of her drink.

"Please, tell me you didn't teach her how to be as feisty as you are?" I uttered feigning a sigh as I pinched my nose.

"I... that's not nice, Nat," Catalina grumbled, puffing out her cheeks when she caught on that I was only messing with her. "I thought you would be happy."

"I am; it's good you helped her to get her confidence back. At least I know she has two mother figures looking out for her," I said, praising my wife and mother. Seeing my wife blushing hard at that.

"Well, she's my daughter now, and women in this family are strong-willed," Catalina said, regaining her composure.

"Don't I know it," I said under my breath as I carried George's and Meredith's drinks out to them.

"What was that?" Catalina's voice trailed after me.

"Nothing, honey," I called back.

"Better be nothing." I knew she only said it in jest.

"Papi, who is that woman? She doesn't seem like a happy person," Alondra asked, peering out the window through the crack of the curtains.

"No one you need to worry about. Now what have I told you about spying on other people's conversations?" I asked in a fatherly voice as I handed the two of them their drinks.

"But David is watching; why can't I?" Alondra pouted.

"Because David isn't watching to spy on them, he's watching to ensure Amber will be alright," I stated, seeing David nodding along.

"Is she a bad person?" Alondra asked innocently, unaware that the stranger was my ex-wife.

"I think she is," I said, noting how David's parents were staying out of it.

"But what did she do?" Alondra asked with the curiosity of a five-year-old.

"Leave it alone, Alondra," I said. She must have noted the look in my eyes, for she didn't say another word about that woman again.

"God, she pisses me off sometimes," Amber hissed as she stormed back into the house and buried herself in David's arms. "Sorry, Dad, I didn't mean to curse with Alondra in the room. I'm sorry Papa, George, Meredith that you had to be here for that," she said, looking around the room when I peered back at her.

"Amber, are you alright?" I asked, knowing her mother was a touchy subject.

"I will be," Amber sighed, hugging David tight.

"Young man, are you trying to take liberties with my daughter?" I asked in a teasing light as they kissed. Noting how David's parents were trying not to laugh.

"I am," David said with a smile on his face.

"Good."

"Dad?!" Amber gasped.

"What? This is 2021, no sense in being stuck in the 1900s, live a little," I said, embarrassing the hell out of my daughter; after all, isn't that what parents do when their kids are in love. "Although, I do wonder if his thoughts are pure enough for my girl," I mused, tapping my chin, watching my daughter's face go through various shades of red as I continued my teasing.

"I assure you, Nathan, they are not." I chuckled when Amber slapped his chest, telling him not to play along with my antics.

Dinner was a hoot as we all gathered around the table to have the leftovers from lunch. Laughter and stories abounded as we all swapped one story for another. With Alondra chiming in telling them all about our trip to the beach and the zoo, while Catalina let on that, we were thinking of taking a trip to Spain sometime next year, after the wedding, of course. Although it didn't seem that Amber was surprised by the news. After all, she and Catalina had become thick as thieves over the months. Then we said our goodbyes to David's parents, then to Amber and David, promising to spend that Friday together before we flew back to Charlotte on Saturday. When the time came to leave, there were a lot of hugs to go around, knowing we wouldn't be seeing each other till March unless they flew in to see us on Christmas. Which I hoped they would but knew Amber wouldn't not if she didn't want to deal with my ex-wife for being left out. Personally, I say she could rot in Hell, but Amber is the one that has to live in that town with her, so I didn't want to rock the boat and leave her to deal with the mess.

The next twenty-one days were brutal on me as I was on edge to see my son. Carson was planning on flying in on the 19th and leaving on the 26th so he could save the rest of his leave for Amber's wedding. Not that I cared, I would have my boy with me for six whole days. That was six days more than I have had with him in seven years due to my stubbornness. I know Catalina got a little annoyed with me. Still, she didn't say anything, given she knew I was on pins and needles as I, along with Catalina and Alondra, waited for Carson's plane to arrive.

"Carson! Carson! Carson!" Alondra shouted in joy at the sight of her half-brother as she bounced on her feet beside her mother. Waving her hand wildly as we waited for my son to make his way through the throngs of bodies.

"Go on, Amor," Catalina whispered, giving me that loving smile of hers as she nudged my arm.

Carson's bag dropped to the ground as his pace quickened. We crushed each other in a very tight hug as I held my boy in my arms like I had done long before his mother went insane. "Look at you," I said. Pride filled my eyes as I held my son's face in my hands. "You've grown so much!" I tried not to tear up, I tried, but this was my boy, wouldn't you?

"Come on, Dad, don't embarrass me in front of Mom." Even if my son was a grown man now, I could still see that little boy I raised. Although, I did wonder when my kids started to call Catalina their mother. Not that I was opposed to it, it was just a pondering that probably would go unanswered.

"I hope your flight was uneventful, Carson," Catalina said when she joined my side, getting her own hug in from my son.

"It was; thank you for everything." I arched an eyebrow when I heard my son whisper that to Catalina. I wondered just what my son meant when he said that.

"It's what family is for," Catalina said, rubbing his back. "I'm always going to be here for you two, so don't you hesitate to call." I noticed how my son was hugging her tighter when she said that. I looked down when Alondra tugged on his pants when she too wanted her own hug as she held out her arms to him.

"Hello, li'l sis," Carson greeted as he squatted down and hugged his sister tightly to him. I noted the 'Wow' when Alondra patted Carson's right bicep when he flexed his muscle for her. I still think I got my son beat. I might be old but not so old that my son can beat his old man.

"Carson, what are your plans when you get out of the Army?" I asked as we walked back to my car.

"Thinking of becoming an engineer." I heard the matter-of-fact tone in his voice when he answered me.

"Oh? Is that what you are in the Army?" I asked, peering over at him as he walked beside Catalina.

"No, I'm just a grunt," Carson said, shaking his head.

"You looking at schools?"

"I got a few in mind." I saw his nod.

"Maybe we can help you narrow them down," Catalina said in that loving tone, which I nodded along.

"I have one in mind, but I don't know if you'll go for it." I noted how my son slyly eyed me.

"Oh, and where would that be?" I asked as I popped the trunk of my car.

"Duke." I stopped in my tracks as that name left my son's lips.

"What did you say?!" I uttered, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I know it's not close, but it's closer than California, and I thought, maybe you'd be alright with me coming..." I heard my son's huff as I hugged him abruptly.

"Of course, son, you can come home anytime you want, you know that," I said with a trembling voice. "I can't promise you you'll keep that figure with the way Catalina cooks." Feeling my wife playfully slapping my arm. Yet I knew from that smile she was thrilled as well.

"You sure? I don't want to..."

"Carson, you're always welcome in our home; it's yours and Amber's home too," Catalina cut in with that warm motherly voice of hers as she lightly touched my son's right arm.

"Yay! My brother is coming home!" Alondra squealed as she did a little dance.

"I'm so glad you two said that." I arched an eyebrow when I noted the stress leaving his shoulders. "I already got accepted into it for the start of fall semester there next year." I could only laugh, laying my arm along his shoulders and pulling Carson into me. Seeing that blushing face of his as I bestowed my fatherly pride on him.

"Well then, let's get you home; Amber and David are so going to be mad they lost the guest bedroom," I chuckled as I stowed my son's bag in the trunk of my car.

"Here," I said, holding out a beer for my son as he leaned on the railing of my balcony, looking out upon the city. "You're old enough, don't give me that look," I uttered when my son looked at me and the beer in my hand.

"Just never thought I would be able to do this with you," Carson spoke, taking the bottle from my hand.

"I didn't either," I admitted. "Glad I was proven wrong."

"Catalina seems to love you a lot," Carson muttered offhandedly.

"As do I." Turning to wave at her as she puttered around in the condo while Alondra colored in her coloring book at the coffee table.

"Dad, about that day..." Carson's words stilled in his throat as I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay, Amber told me; your mother should have never put you two in that kind of situation. That isn't how a parent should act. I just never knew she would sink that low to wrangle the two of you into her schemes to keep me as an unknowing cuckold. So let's not worry about the past and focus on the here and now, okay?"

"I can get behind that," Carson said with a warm smile as he tapped the neck of his beer bottle against mine. "So Dad, you two planning on having any more kids?" I nearly spit out my beer when my son asked me that.

"Don't you do that!" I chided, wagging my finger at my son. Who was just smiling like a fool. "Have you been talking to Catalina?" To this, my son just nodded. "We're going to try after your sister's wedding. But I don't know Carson; by the time Alondra is in high school, I'm going to be in my sixties."

"So? Does that matter if you are or aren't?" My son did make an excellent point.

"And you'll be alright with another brother or sister?" I asked, leaning on the railing.

"Yeah, our family might have imploded, but you were always a good dad. I can't say the same about Mom." I rubbed my son's back as he sighed.

"What your mother did is solely on her and no one else. So don't trouble yourself over it," I said before taking the last sip of my beer. "Come on, lunch should be ready," I spoke, taking my son's empty beer bottle from him.

"What we having?"

"Carnitas, you'll love them, I promise," I said with a warm smile as I led my son back into the condo.

"Oh, this is good." I watched as my son groaned in enjoyment as he took his first bite of his carnitas. "What's in this?" I saw how he looked to my wife like a child seeking his mother's knowledge.

"Pork, just pork, a little seasoning, but pork mostly," Catalina answered with that smile of hers. "Please, if you're still hungry, there is still plenty more for you to enjoy, although, if you are, I'd get to it before your father does." I shot my wife a glance when she winked at my son, who sat beside Alondra. Who blew me a kiss, I knew she was so overjoyed that my two adult children enjoyed her cooking. I watched how Alondra told Carson how to fold it so that the filling wouldn't fall out when he took a bite. Noting the wide smile on Alondra's lips when Carson asked if he had done it right. I took heart to know that my children were getting along with one another despite their age differences. I knew Alondra got lonely sometimes with being the only child in the house. It warmed my heart to know that she could now speak with her siblings when that happened.

"Son?" I warned when he reached for the hot sauce.

"Relax, I can handle it; Mom's got me hooked on it," I noted how Catalina's face was burning when my son smiled at her.

"What have you done to my son?" I asked in a teasing voice.

"Expanded his pallet, don't blame him because he has excellent tastes," Catalina said, turning her nose up at me.

"I think we need to have a discussion about this later, in the dormitorio," I said in a sinful tone.

"Oh? Is that so?" Catalina replied with a purr.

"Oh yes, a nice azotaina is in order," I said low so Alondra wouldn't hear me. Noting how my wife's nostrils flared, how her breathing quickened, to the way that blush colored her cheeks as the flames of her hunger burned in her eyes.

"I look forward to it," Catalina said in this sexy tone before taking a bite of her rice. It wasn't lost on me on how Carson was looking at the two of us during it as he chewed his bite. Before that smile appeared on his lips, and went back to his meal.

When Christmas came, as all children are on that day, Alondra was there at my bedside at far too damn early in the morning on my day off with that look on her face that it was time to open presents. I wonder if children have this network for such events so they could freak the ever-loving shit out of them when their parents were still half-asleep.

"Thanks, Mom," Carson yawned as he took his cup of java from Catalina. What can I say Catalina wore the mantle well, nor was I ever going to stop my kids from calling her that. After what Amber had told me, I figured they needed someone that actually treated them like their child. After breakfast, we all gathered around the living room. Alondra raced around giving out presents to each of us and setting her pile off to the side. I got my son a very expensive watch with a time zone setting set to the east coast while the main face was on pacific time. However, the gift I gave my wife other than the pearl earrings and necklace, not the kind you're thinking of, but I do give her those as well, but that's neither here nor there. What truly had my wife perplexed on that Wednesday morning was the set of keys she pulled out of a velvet box I had placed them into.

"Nat?!" Catalina gave me that look as to explain.

"Well, you've always wanted a large family, you never said it, but a husband knows," as I spoke, I saw her eyes widening, "and well, this condo isn't large enough to house our family and the future members to come," I stated, placing my hand on her stomach as she looked down at it. "I know my fretting about this entire month got on your nerves about Carson coming in, but that was also to keep you unaware of what I was doing as I was in talks. You do have a way of sniffing out things," I spoke, a smile touching my lips. As her mind raced to comprehend what I was saying.

"You bought us a house!" Catalina shouted, leaping up from her seat.

"I did, I knew the bank had some foreclosed houses just sitting around, and I took a look through them until I got to one big enough for our needs. The bank and I worked out an agreement to take the payment out of my checks, so we don't need to worry about a mortgage. We can move in after the first of the month," I said, watching how her emotions were all over the place before she squealed in joy and leaped into my arms.

"You're going to love the place, Mom," Carson said, smiling at the two of us.

"You knew!" I couldn't keep my smile from showing as Carson bowed his head in embarrassment.

"I did; Dad took me to it on Monday to see if I'd like staying there when I came home on the weekends." I bit my lip at how small Carson's voice was when he said that. My hand moved along my wife's back as she rose from her spot and walked over to Carson. Keeping my curious look to myself when Carson had this look in his eye, a look that Amber had on Thanksgiving when she looked at Catalina, that reminded me when he would look at his mother when he was a small boy as Catalina took his face in her hands.

"Did you like it? Good," Catalina cooed after Carson nodded as she hugged him. "We want you to come home as much as you want, Carson. Our home will always have a place for you and Amber in it; never forget that." Taking a dry swallow when those brown eyes of hers cut to me. "Now you are going to show me this house you bought us."

"Now, where are we going?" Catalina asked me as I started up my car.

"Belmont," I answered, backing out of my parking space at the condo complex. Which I was going to rent out since we own it outright. I know the traffic would be bad going in the mornings. Still, really, that condo already felt small when Amber and David came to visit, and I wanted all my children to be able to come home and know they would have a place for them to stay.

It took about thirty minutes to reach Belmont due to the light traffic on I-85 and another ten to reach the old district where the house was located. I heard my wife and daughter gasp as I pulled up the concrete driveway and into the attached garage to the two-story, red brick house. Black fixed shutters lined the windows, while old, the house had been brought up to code so there wouldn't be any cold drafts leaking in.

"How big is this place?" Catalina asked as she got out of the car as the garage door came down, bundling herself deeper into her coat.

"Four bedrooms in the main part of the house, with three baths, and an apartment over the garage. I was thinking of letting Carson stay there so when he comes to visit us, he doesn't have to worry about waking us if he arrives late," I said, pointing at the side door and the stairs that lead up to it. Seeing my wife nodding along.

"You wouldn't mind that, Carson?" Catalina asked, peering at him as my son stood at her side.

"No, I think it's a good idea. I'll try not to bring too many girls home," Carson spoke, causing me to snort in amusement.

Leading them into the house proper and unzipping my own coat given how the heat was on, watching my wife move around the large kitchen, noting how, which I could only assume, she imagined how it would look when we got the appliances in. Smiling as my daughter mimicked her mother as Alondra went about examining the bottom cabinets like Catalina was doing with the overhead ones. Watching Alondra running around the empty living room, laughing like mad at all the space. I showed my wife the only bedroom and bath on the ground floor, which I told her I thought it would be a good place for Amber and David whenever they visited us again. That way, they would have their privacy to do... what couples do. Seeing her nod of agreement.

"You know we're going to have to christen this place," Catalina whispered lustfully into my ear as she snuggled up to me.

"Oh, I'm so waiting for that day," I replied; hell, wouldn't you be?

"Now show me the rest," Catalina purred, pressing those heavenly breasts into me. That impish smile of hers was on her lips when she noted how I adjusted myself. What can I say? My wife has that effect on me.

"Alondra?!" I called out as me, and my wife neared the stairs.

"Yes, Papi?" Alondra's voice filled the house as she raced towards us while she was playing with Carson.

"Let's go see your new bedroom," I said with a smile as Alondra nodded very vigorously. Wincing as my daughter squealed in laughter as she spun around her room that sat on the west wing of the house down the hall from the master bedroom. Showing the room I thought could be the baby's room if we have another while Alondra explored her new accommodations. Kissing the top of my wife's head as she rested her head on my chest. I knew she was picturing the new bundle of joy as she stared into it.​