room. I can’t help but wonder if the trait comes from their father.
Jaylee goes to the refrigerator and uncaps two bottles of cold beer. He hands one to me and slips a protective arm around my waist. It makes me feel secure; I want his arm around me, but I’m also wary of what’s going through his family’s minds. It’s one thing to touch your girlfriend in front of your parents and another to touch your girlfriend who’s as old as your parents in front of them. I hate to put him – I hate to put all of them – in this position. Jaylee, however, appears to be completely oblivious, to the age difference, to the tension, to anything but me. He pulls me in front of him and kisses my shoulder from behind, one arm still wrapped protectively around my waist.
Jaylee and I eat at the kitchen table with Janet. Gladys refuses to join us despite much pleading from me. She places steaming bowls of sancocho in front of us. Gladys explains to me that it’s a traditional dish containing pork, chicken, and fish. I’ve had it before but never homemade and never this good. I heap the praises on both of them and finish the entire bowl.
Gladys asks me what I cook and I opt for not telling her that Carmen does most of the cooking in our house.
“I’m not much of a cook, really. I do pasta well. I like to bake,” I say. It all comes out sounding feeble and inadequate.
My guess is that both of these women might be judgmental about me leaving Carmen to do what ought to be my homemakers duties in their eyes. It’s not like I work a full-time job. Neither of them ask me what I do for a living so I’m guessing that either they think I do nothing or that Jaylee has indeed filled them in on the details. If so, Janet’s hostility is even more understandable. Jaylee finishes his bowl and Gladys refills it without asking. They smile at one another as the bowl passes between them. He loves his grandmother, and she obviously adores him.
My first meal with Robert’s parents was a rigorous operation in information gathering. Although both sweet, they drilled me endlessly about my upbringing, my schooling, and my plans for the future. Surprisingly, I passed the test and fit the mold they’d created for Robert’s life. They practically all but welcomed me into the family before dessert was served. My family subjected Robert to the same inquiry, and understandably so, he more than measured up. I’m not sure who married up between the two of us. My family was wealthier, while Robert’s was more accomplished and connected.
Currently, I’m living out my parent’s worst nightmare. I’ve fallen for someone who, under no circumstances, could be included in one of their family gatherings. The list of grievances would be never-ending, even without factoring Robert, Ada, and Pearl into the equation. Jaylee is too young, not educated, unemployed, and although they’d never admit it, they’d have a problem with him being Dominican too. Of course they would come up with a myriad of reasons as to why race had nothing to do with their disapproval of him – but in reality, it would be on the top of their list.
I reach out and squeeze Jaylee’s thigh. I’m honored that he’s brought me here, that he has enough confidence in our relationship to make it public to the people that matter most. He puts his hand on top of mine and drinks me in with his golden eyes. My heart surges in response. I want to take him in my arms but it seems too inappropriate. I catch Janet looking at us and I feel ashamed. Her scowl has me anxious enough to blow a gasket. Jaylee is again oblivious.
“Mamá, no te dijé que era la mujer más bella?” he says. It’s Gladys that he calls Mamá.
“Sí, mi hijo, Gladys replies, un mujerón. Cuidado, tal vez sea demasiado buena para tí, Jaylito.” Gladys winks at me conspiratorially. Jaylito? I love this exuberant Senora. I smile at her and then at Jaylee. Janet busies herself with dishes in the sink, having no part
Jaylee goes to the refrigerator and uncaps two bottles of cold beer. He hands one to me and slips a protective arm around my waist. It makes me feel secure; I want his arm around me, but I’m also wary of what’s going through his family’s minds. It’s one thing to touch your girlfriend in front of your parents and another to touch your girlfriend who’s as old as your parents in front of them. I hate to put him – I hate to put all of them – in this position. Jaylee, however, appears to be completely oblivious, to the age difference, to the tension, to anything but me. He pulls me in front of him and kisses my shoulder from behind, one arm still wrapped protectively around my waist.
Jaylee and I eat at the kitchen table with Janet. Gladys refuses to join us despite much pleading from me. She places steaming bowls of sancocho in front of us. Gladys explains to me that it’s a traditional dish containing pork, chicken, and fish. I’ve had it before but never homemade and never this good. I heap the praises on both of them and finish the entire bowl.
Gladys asks me what I cook and I opt for not telling her that Carmen does most of the cooking in our house.
“I’m not much of a cook, really. I do pasta well. I like to bake,” I say. It all comes out sounding feeble and inadequate.
My guess is that both of these women might be judgmental about me leaving Carmen to do what ought to be my homemakers duties in their eyes. It’s not like I work a full-time job. Neither of them ask me what I do for a living so I’m guessing that either they think I do nothing or that Jaylee has indeed filled them in on the details. If so, Janet’s hostility is even more understandable. Jaylee finishes his bowl and Gladys refills it without asking. They smile at one another as the bowl passes between them. He loves his grandmother, and she obviously adores him.
My first meal with Robert’s parents was a rigorous operation in information gathering. Although both sweet, they drilled me endlessly about my upbringing, my schooling, and my plans for the future. Surprisingly, I passed the test and fit the mold they’d created for Robert’s life. They practically all but welcomed me into the family before dessert was served. My family subjected Robert to the same inquiry, and understandably so, he more than measured up. I’m not sure who married up between the two of us. My family was wealthier, while Robert’s was more accomplished and connected.
Currently, I’m living out my parent’s worst nightmare. I’ve fallen for someone who, under no circumstances, could be included in one of their family gatherings. The list of grievances would be never-ending, even without factoring Robert, Ada, and Pearl into the equation. Jaylee is too young, not educated, unemployed, and although they’d never admit it, they’d have a problem with him being Dominican too. Of course they would come up with a myriad of reasons as to why race had nothing to do with their disapproval of him – but in reality, it would be on the top of their list.
I reach out and squeeze Jaylee’s thigh. I’m honored that he’s brought me here, that he has enough confidence in our relationship to make it public to the people that matter most. He puts his hand on top of mine and drinks me in with his golden eyes. My heart surges in response. I want to take him in my arms but it seems too inappropriate. I catch Janet looking at us and I feel ashamed. Her scowl has me anxious enough to blow a gasket. Jaylee is again oblivious.
“Mamá, no te dijé que era la mujer más bella?” he says. It’s Gladys that he calls Mamá.
“Sí, mi hijo, Gladys replies, un mujerón. Cuidado, tal vez sea demasiado buena para tí, Jaylito.” Gladys winks at me conspiratorially. Jaylito? I love this exuberant Senora. I smile at her and then at Jaylee. Janet busies herself with dishes in the sink, having no part
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