The Billionaire Playboy’s Secret Family
Chapter 34

"Tita!" Gabriella happily shrieked.

"Hello precious!" Ulima turned and hugged the little girl as she ran up to her.

Renata paused to greet her and her siblings as well. Gabriella's smile lit up a room wherever she went and all were eager to take a moment to bask in it. Tony and Carlos immediately reached for the food on the table when they thought the adults weren't looking. "Hey! You two heathens," Ulima admonished. "You'll ruin your appetite."

"These two are bottomless pits," Regina shook her head. "Boys, manners."

"Sorry, tita," they answered in unison.

"Oh, some here you rascals," Ulima chuckled embracing her grandsons. "Lunch will be ready shortly."

"Look tita! I made a special card for tito!" Gabriella excitedly held up a card made from a sheet of construction paper. "Do you think he'll like it?"

"Of course, he'll love it!"

Gabriella giggled happily.

"Savannah, why don't you take your siblings outside," Regina suggested as Carlos and Tony made another attempt to pilfer from the various trays on the table.

"Sure. Come on," Savannah herded her younger siblings out into the backyard.

It wasn't very big but it provided an outdoor space for them to run some energy while Ulima and the adults finished their preparations. Regina watched them a moment before joining Renata and helping.

"You shouldn't get her hopes up, mom."

"Your father is a stubborn man but he loves you. Love will always be stronger. He'll come around. You just have to speak with him."

"I've tried. It's been ten years and I'm done trying," Regina said. "If he wants to ignore me and write me out of his life, fine. But if he breaks Gaby's heart... I will never forgive him."

Ulima pressed her lips together but said nothing. While she understood her husband's anger and disappointment...what was the past was past. There was no reason to force that pain onto the future. It was costing him love and time with his grandchildren, time he would never get back. Yet nothing she said seemed to get through to him and she feared Regina would carry out her threat.

It wasn't long before other family members began arriving. Ulima's sister as well as Lorenzo's brothers and their spouses arrived with a few of Regina and Renata's cousins. Also with them were their children giving the triplets people their own ages to play with. Though Savannah was older she still had fun.

Regina's uncles fired up the grill and soon the savory smells of roasting vegetables and grilling meat drifted through the backyard and probably the neighborhood. As it neared noon Ulima shooed everyone outside in preparation for her husband's return. The factory where he worked maintained half-days on Sunday and though he could have retired he continued to work.

The party guests waited quietly. Regina wasn't sure why they even bothered. Every year they held a surprise birthday party for her father and she was fairly certain they all played along purely for her mother's sake. Greeting her husband Ulima herded him to the backdoor.

As soon as he appeared the guests exclaimed, "Surprise!"

With a stiff smile he accepted their congratulations and took the seat of honor at the patio table. Food quickly followed and as alcohol was banned from the Torrez residence sparkling cider was poured and passed out to everyone. The guests settled into comfortable groups while they ate with the adults clustered around the tables on the patio and the kids at the old picnic table in the yard.

Regina kept herself busy taking in exhausted platters and exchanging them for new trays of vegetables, fruits and salads. It wasn't all that different from when she worked Renata's catering jobs and the less time she spent in her father's presence the better. Once, just once, she wished he would look at her with something other than a scowl.

"Regina, there you are."

She turned to see one of her aunts enter the kitchen. Smiling she gave her a hug, "Looking for desert, tia?"

"No but I was talking to your uncle Sebastian. You remember him, don't you?"

"Y-yes. He's still in Texas, isn't he?" Regina asked vaguely recalling her mother's brother. "How's he doing?"

"Oh fine. He has that shipping business, remember?"

Regina nodded. Her uncle had been a truck driver for several years before starting his own trucking company. He now had a small fleet of semis. She hadn't seen him in years but he always called on the holidays and her mother's birthday.

"Well, we were talking and he could use someone to help him in the office and keep the books straight. And I remembered how good you and your sister were with numbers when you were in school. So I mentioned you."

Regina paused realizing what her aunt was suggesting, "You...want me and the kids to move to Texas?"

"Well, I know it's a long trip but he'll pay you good money and he'll put you on his company's health plan."

"Sofia, that's very generous," Renata said sensing her sister's hesitation. "But you know Regina has plans..."

"Yes, I know your sister's dreams, my dear. Dreams don't pay bills. Your mother was a talented singer too and when she had you girls she set that aside for a good job to raise you."

"Sofia, what are you talking about?" Ulima asked entering and catching the last part.

"Oh nothing," Sofia waved off her sister. "I was just telling the girls about how you used to sing but gave it up to raise and provide for them and Sebastian is looking for someone to help him in the office."

Ulima frowned. She didn't need to hear anymore to know what her sister was trying to do. Aloud she said, "Yes, I did sing. But I didn't have half Regina's talent and certainly not her drive or passion." "But Ulima..."

"I made my decision and I'm satisfied with it. I made my choice so my daughters could have the freedom to pursue their dreams. That's what a mother does."

"Yes, that is what a mother does," Sofia quietly agreed.

Regina sighed. She appreciated her mother and sister's support but she also couldn't fault her aunt. For years she struggled to follow her dream only to fail. She was used to it. It was the guilt of failing her children that was the greater burden. Perhaps it was time to give it up...but Texas? "We'll discuss it later," Ulima said after a moment seeing Regina's pensive expression.

She knew how difficult it was for Regina and would be lying if she hadn't considered talking to Regina about looking for other work but she didn't want her daughter moving so far away. Even if Regina chose to do something else there were plenty of opportunities in New York. There was no reason to move the kids halfway across the country.

If they moved to Texas she would never be able to see her grandchildren again. It was unlikely they would make regular trips back to New York. What was more it was a birthday party. It wasn't an appropriate conversation as far as Ulima was concerned.