~*~

Hector

“That’s him,” Hector said, reading his text from Felix.

Overslept but we’ll be down there in a few for breakfast and definitely in time for the walk.

Hector smirked. “I figured as much. He says they overslept but they’ll be down in a few. I can’t believe he wanted to get us all season passes to this place. He’s gonna be flying down here all the time? Florida’s nice once or twice a year, but that’s it.”

Noah and Roni had now arrived too with their two boys. Roni had sat down next to Bianca with their youngest. Those two were constantly comparing pregnancies since they were due almost at the same time.

“It’s about Ella,” Noah said, sitting across from Roni with little Jack. “She’s the Disney fanatic.”

“It’s not so much that she’s a Disney fanatic,” Roni explained. “It’s their thing.” She turned away from their little one, who was giving her a hard time, and looked at Noah. “I’m gonna need a high chair for Noah.”

“No!” Little Noah looked up at his mom with those big puppy dog eyes.

“Okay then,” Roni smiled, leaning over and kissing him on the forehead. “You be good and sit still on the chair like a big boy.”

Little Noah settled down especially after Noah gave him the look. Hector chuckled until Charlee started talking.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” she said. “I mean talk about romantic. That wedding . . . my God.”

“Our wedding was romantic,” Hector said, turning to her.

“It was, baby,” she said, slipping her hand in his, “but I just mean the whole Disney theme, especially because that’s where he first told her he loved her and then took her back and proposed at the very spot. Then flying everyone out to Disney World for a big princess Disney wedding. The horse and carriage she arrived in . . .” She sighed. “It was just very special especially after everything they’d gone through.”

This was true. But Hector still thought their wedding had been the bomb. Charlee had fallen in love with France after a chess tournament she’d flown out there for. So Hector had suggested a French-themed wedding, and all the girls had run with it. He’d spared no expense then surprised her with a month-long honeymoon in France.

But he guessed a Disney princess wedding might be dreamier. “Daddy look!” Hector glanced down at little Hector’s plate. “All gone!”

“Damn!” Hector said then felt Charlee nudged him. “I mean wow. You want more?”

His son nodded, holding up his plate for Charlee to see too. “Very good,” she said, smiling big. “We’ll get you more.”

“I got it,” Hector’s mom said just as Charlee began to get up. “You stay with the baby.”

His mom and little Hector walked off to the massive and extravagant buffet. His son turned to look at Hector as he held his grandma’s hand. Hector gave him a thumbs-up, smiling proudly, and his boy quickly lifted his thumb in the air too.

Hector was still staring at his boy and his bright blue eyes. He remembered all through both Charlee’s pregnancies everyone kept wondering if his kids would inherit her hair. Hector had already looked it up; the chances of that happening were slim to none. Charlee had let him in on something she told him not to tell anyone because everyone was a little too excited about the possibility. She was really hoping none of her kids did. She’d always hated her red hair, even though Hector called her crazy for that.

“Now as an adult I can appreciate it, and I actually like the uniqueness of it,” she’d explained. “But while I was growing up, it made my life miserable.”

Hector didn’t care either way, but he had been relieved for her sake when, as expected, both were born with his dark brown hair. The surprise and consolation to those who’d been hoping for a redheaded Ayala were little Hector’s bright blue eyes. The new baby’s eyes were almost black like his, and Charlee said she loved that. She said already, at only a few months old, they were big, dark, and intense like his daddy’s.

Charlee leaned into him. “Since the baby’s asleep and your mom’s here now,” she murmured in that way that already had Hector squeezing his legs together, “how about we say we forgot something in the room and go back and get it?”

This was their last day at Disney World. The entire time they’d been there that week they’d only been able to sneak in a few quick ones in their room. With the kids in the same room, it’d been nearly impossible, but, of course, they’d done their best and managed a couple of times. Still they’d been real quick. Hector could go for something a little longer, and he knew with everyone here still waiting on Felix, the kids would be fine for a little while.

As soon as his mom and little Hector were back with a couple of loaded plates, Hector was on his feet. “Ma, Charlee wants to change her shoes. She thinks these are gonna bug her, and we have a long day of walking. The baby’s asleep. You think you’ll be okay with them for a few?”

His mom immediately nodded, waving him off, and Nellie assured them they’d all help his mom with the kids. Abel gave him a look so Hector turned away, quickly pulling Charlee behind him. “Aren’t those running shoes she’s wearing?” Abel asked.

Hector smirked, feeling Charlee squeeze his hand. “Oh my God,” she gasped under her breath as they heard a few chuckles. “You should’ve said something else. How embarrassing. They probably all know we’re full of it.”