TWENTY TWO

TWENTY TWO

CATHERINA

I could tell that he was avoiding my gaze which was strange; the man who always pinned me with a stare, taunting and daring me to look up at him was avoiding my gaze. He was looking at his plate with a frown coating his forehead like there was something about my mamma’s food that he found distasteful. The dinner was over… almost over and I was waiting for my papa to move us all back to the hall for the usual fun and drinks before the announcement of the wedding was made.

One glance at my sister told me she was miserable and wanted to be anywhere but at her own engagement party.

“We should move to the hall for some drinks” My papa said in rapid Spanish and the men around the table cheered, pushing their plates away and rising to their feet.

I made no move and neither did Andres who by now was staring at me with a confused and almost furious look on his face

“Andres” My papa called to him.

He glanced up and then nodded which was my cue to flee from his presence and