Unsuitable Obsession - Part One (3 page)

“Yep,” she smiled again, realizing he was just as
big a fan as she. “Front row seats. My Dad felt guilty for not
picking me up one weekend and bought me the tickets.” Now why
on
earth
did she just confess that to him? She never offered
personal information to anyone before, especially to Smelly
Apes!

Victor collected the delicate info and decided not
to pursue it, he was just too stoked that this ravishing girl was
as crazy about Van Halen as he was. “That’s awesome...my cousins
and I went last year, followed them all the way to Portland, came
back with tons of posters and T-shirts, this is one of them,” he
presented, pulling down his shirt for display.

Amber grinned and turned her body around, flaunted
her backside and lifted up her mane. “I got this shirt actually
signed
by David Lee Roth back stage, it’s at home...I wear
this one to school though.”

Victor was bowled over!
“Awesome!
Have you
eaten lunch yet?”

Amber turned sharply around and bore into his eyes.
Warm, brown and sincere, she’d never met anyone quite like him.

They sat together in the cafeteria, not paying
attention to the other kids doing double takes at the mismatched
twosome. They spoke about everything: school, cars, part-time jobs,
dogs, cats, and then finally
family
. She informed him about
her sister and Mom—failed to point out one or two dark little
secrets—explained to him that she wasn’t Native American like he
initially thought, but Irish American on her father’s side. That
somewhere in her ancestral line was gypsy blood bronzing her skin.
Victor seemed intrigued, but Amber felt awkward talking about her
clan and instantly wanted to know about his. His parents were from
Mexico and he had one brother, and when he spoke about the rest,
she was
enthralled
. She learned that he came from this huge
Mexican family of nearly three hundred or more relatives,
all-living close by, or in California, and on certain holidays,
usually the big ones like Christmas, they would all gather together
and have a huge party—like a fiesta! Amber was in heaven, the more
she learned about Victor Sanchez and his marvelous family, the more
she was interested in him. If it weren’t for him popping into the
dark room unexpectedly, she would have never given Victor Sanchez a
second glance. He wasn’t her usual one-night stand boyfriend
either; he was a jock, which was totally abnormal for her and she
sometimes had to pinch herself that someone that good wanted to
spend time with her.

After graduation, they dated awhile going to the
movies, meeting at the arcade and taking walks in the parks with
their dogs. Talking, talking, talking, they communicated about
anything and everything, it was all very innocent, casual and
smooth. Nothing was complicated about Victor; he was always there
when she called on him, always available when she needed a shoulder
to cry on, especially on the days her father never showed. He was
there with open arms and restful comfortable hugs. The further she
hung around him, the more she wanted to be with him.

* * * * *

Victor parked his car in the driveway and shut off
the ignition. “Now Amber, let me tell you something about Mama,” he
said, looking deep into her eyes and searching for a nice way, a
cautious way to tell her. “Mama is, well, she’s your typical Latina
mother.”

Amber was about to meet his parents for the first
time. Amber was apprehensive herself, having never been introduced
to any of her boyfriend’s parents before and was constantly shocked
with Victor’s sense of honor. Amber was willing to sleep with him
months ago, but Victor refused. Told her that he would know when
the timing was right. When the timing was right? Good Lord, she had
never come across a male with so much integrity, he was definitely
a keeper, definitely not a Smelly Ape. “Oh Victor—relax, I think I
can hold my own with your mother, Latina or not. My Mom is very
opinionated, and I think I hold my own with her.”

Victor let go a hoot. “OK—whatever.”

Amber fanned out her hand and combed her locks with
it and bit down on her lower lip (an unconscious act she always
seemed to do, by the way). “Will you stop?”

Victor watched Amber survey her face in the
passenger vanity mirror. “Thanks for wearing that skirt by the way,
Mama still thinks all girls should be wearing dresses, cried the
day she saw a girl wearing pants.”

“Oh my,” Amber let go, fanning her fingers through
her hair a second time. “I borrowed this from my mother actually;
we’re the same size, thank God. I just folded over the waist a
couple of times to make the skirt look like a mini, so you like it,
huh?”

Victor gazed down at her legs, so smooth, so tan.
“Awesome. I hope Mama approves.”

“Oh Victor, you’re so nervous. Don’t be! There’s
nothing to be nervous about! I’m going to make such an impression
on your Mama and your Papa that you won’t ever have to worry.”

“I know, but this is sort of a special day,” he said
looking out the window towards his house. “My brother just
graduated law school; everyone will be there, all my aunts, my
uncles, all my cousins—”

“Good Lord Victor,
relax!
What could be so
bad?”

Amber didn’t know what she was walking into, but
when Victor opened up that door—all one hundred Sanchez’ that day
alone—she knew exactly what he meant! She had never been so
panicky. Amber’s family only consisted of her sister and mother,
and that was it. Her grandparents both died ten years prior in a
train accident and her father’s parents were virtually strangers to
her.

The Sanchez home was both elegant and comfortable
simultaneously, with warm Spanish colors of terra cotta, brown and
green, simple sofas, La-Z-boy chairs and hand-painted oil paintings
of Jesus. Countless pictures of family members—some so old—were
faded and ripped. A display of tropical palms and green ferns
filled several corners of the space as smells of fresh oregano
finished every crevice of the living room. Outside, a piñata hung
from a large tree and directly underneath the standing timber, a
hefty barbeque with a massive piece of Tri-tip sizzled in the
center of the grill. Streamers trimmed the rafters, while screaming
kids filled the swimming pool. Each person was laughing and
enjoying him or herself; it was like walking into a wondrous
circus.

Amber was in awe of every little thing; grassy play
area away from the pool, several enormous fruit trees midpoint and
an endless amount of folding chairs lined up against the walls for
relatives to sit on. Victor told her once about every activity—he
and his brother along with dozens of other cousins—played during
the summer in this great backyard. Fabrizio (Victor’s father)
learned welding at a very early age, became so successful at it; he
was able to purchase the four-bedroom/three bath home in the San
Fernando Valley with half an acre early on. Now the home was paid
for and the Sanchez family lived relaxed and celebrated often.

Victor guided Amber around and introduced her to
every relative that he came across: Tiá Lorena, a red-haired
beauty, her husband Lamberto, equally just as handsome, heavy-set
Tiá Sonya, skinny Tiá Gemma and her husband Simone, just as thin.
So many aunts and uncles, she couldn’t keep track. And his Cousins?
Five Javier’s, two Justino’s, ten Maria’s, a Connie, a Hector,
Priscilla, Monica, Jorge, Sylvia, Magdalena, the list went on
forever and ever. And everyone (oh, and Amber couldn’t believe it
when it happened) greeted you with a hug or a kiss on the cheek!
She didn’t know any of those people, and they all welcomed her with
such a personal gesture. It was all so amazing and uplifting she
actually felt like she was walking on air.

Walking around with a stupid smile pasted to her
face, Victor was suddenly taken away when it happened. It was so
swift, such a surprise; she actually felt her heart skip a beat. A
man on the other side—across the backyard laughing with a
woman—tempted Amber’s intrigue. She didn’t recall being introduced
to him and tried to figure out who he was. The man was very
handsome and assuredly nodded to every affected lady that seemed to
walk by. He certainly was put together very nicely, tall in height,
several inches taller than Amber, she assumed with broad shoulders
and a slim waist, tawny skin, groomed chestnut hair. She actually
felt compelled to go and talk with him, which was really odd and
felt her feet moving towards his vicinity. Where the heck was she
going? Amber turned away from him instantly, the fellow made her
feel sensations she never felt her entire life! Frightened of the
temptation, she marched around in the opposite direction bumping
into bodies looking for Victor. Bumping, knocking, bashing into the
crowd until Victor spun her around to face him—he’d been following
her this entire time?

“You OK?” Victor asked visibly noticing Amber’s
uncertainty.

Amber blinked the man out of her system. “Um—oh,
Victor, I was looking for you, where’d you go? Don’t leave me all
alone to fend for myself again, you brat,” she squealed, pinching
his shoulder.

“Ouch...sorry, but my cousin Javier wanted to show
me the present he got for my brother,” Victor said, putting his arm
around Amber’s shoulders and hugging her near.

Amber gave him a small peck on the cheek. “Where is
your brother? I haven’t met him yet.”

Victor squeezed her tight, “First things first,
ready to meet my parents?”

Amber sucked in her stomach, “I think so—for
sure.”

He led her back into the house and towards the vast
kitchen domain where other family gathered. Victor then walked over
to this large lofty woman and tapped her on her shoulder.
“Mama—Mama, can you turn around for a moment?”

Rosalba Sanchez rotated around with a spatula in the
air. “Qué? What’s so important to take me away from my sopá?”

Victor swallowed hard. “Mama, this is Amber. You
know, the girl I told you about? Amber?”

Rosalba’s eyes grew wide. “Oh sí, yes...Amber, your
hair, usted es alto...
so tall
like me, boñita, you’re so
pret-tie!”
Rosalba presented, grabbing Amber and giving her
a meaningful hug. Full-size arms around her body (and to be
complimented on being pretty) what a marvelous feeling! Slightly
taller than Amber, Rosalba was a comely woman, with gray streaked
brown hair, a strong nose and sherry eyes. Here was a mother who
loved her relatives, Amber recognized instantly, treasured everyone
around her and showered them with her affection, her grace and her
cooking.

Amber was then twirled around to greet Victor’s
father.

“Papa, this is Amber.”

Amber was startled once more with a huge fond
greeting and a smack. Fabrizio was slightly taller than Amber, with
a thick parrot chest stretched over bulky muscles, a man in good
shape for his age. Fabrizio was also good looking and Amber
couldn’t help but blush. “Nice to meet you Mr. Sanchez.”

“Ella es hijo encantadora, usted está seguro que
ella es su amiga?” Fabrizio guffawed, joking with his son. Amber
was a lovely girl and Fabrizio teased Victor and asked him if she
really was
his girlfriend.

Victor punched his father fondly, “Don’t Papa, and
yes she’s my girlfriend.”

Amber looked at Victor questionably. “What? What did
he say?”

Victor’s smile dropped. “It’s good, don’t worry,
it’s
very
good.”

Amber was astonished that day. Meeting aunts and
uncles, first, second and third cousins, relatives she never
believed existed but in books. There were so many names to keep
track of, different faces, looks and personalities, she knew she
would never be able to comprehend them all, and then finally,
making his debut fresh from Harvard Law School, Victor’s older
brother, Eduardo Sanchez. Victor called him
‘The pride and
trophy of The Family’
. All the hard work, the overtime Fabrizio
and his uncles worked just so Eduardo could go to Harvard. Oh how
everyone, including the relatives that didn’t contribute
financially took credit in Eduardo’s accomplishment.

Amber was guided over by Victor’s arm around her
shoulders to his brother. Eduardo had his back turned towards them.
Amber immediately recognized the man’s external appearance the
moment they approached him privately. Her heart dropped, it was
him!

“Eduardo, I want you to meet someone,” Victor asked
moderately tapping his brother on the collar. Victor wasn’t
hesitant introducing this girlfriend to his brother. He felt
confident not only in Amber’s facade, but with her admiration for
him not to fall for Eduardo’s charms. Although Victor loved his
brother immensely, Eduardo was brutal competition when it came to
exclusive female attention. Girls Victor dated always seemed to
plunge head over heels in love with his brother.

Eduardo circled around and gazed at Victor first—his
smile however weakened when his eyes straight away crashed into
Amber’s.

“This is my girlfriend Amber Fitzgerald,” Victor
stated, proudly hugging her shoulders.

“Nice to meet you Amber,” Eduardo gave to her
understated.

Boy, Victor’s brother’s presence was compelling;
Amber couldn’t help but substitute stares. Amber was entranced by
the sheer innuendo in his eyes. His smile so sensual—the reaction
dropped straight to her toes. Eduardo Sanchez was
so
different from Victor Sanchez. Several inches taller than his
little brother, Eduardo stood erect and swollen with pride.
Nut-brown hair neatly combed behind his ears. Olive tone silk shirt
opened slightly to show shades of darkened chest hair, a gold chain
around his neck, black slacks creased to flawlessness, Italian
leather loafers. Are those green eyes below those dark eyelashes?
Oh yes, he was a pole apart from Victor; lovable inoffensive
Victor, her boyfriend. Amber looked away from Eduardo and back at
Victor.
My boyfriend.
Victor was harmless, never could hurt
a fly kinda guy, Dodger Blue T-Shirt, and faded jeans, white
Converse tennis shoes.