I brought only two suitcases and a lot of hope with me when I went from Mexico to the United States. People in my sister Ana’s American husband Tom’s small Ohio town made me feel welcome. I told myself it would only last a short time, until I found my own way. During those first few months, I missed home and learned English while helping Ana with her daughter Emily.
Amy was a nice girl back then. She had a beautiful smile and big brown eyes. I made her hair look cute with braids and sang old Spanish songs to her while I cooked. She loved calling me “Tía” so much that it hurt my chest sometimes.
I missed her quinceañera. That still makes me think. In my home country, a girl’s fifteenth birthday is a big deal. It’s the day that her family sees her as a woman. I had to skip. I had to work two jobs and look through my visa papers. Emily’s party was without me. It wasn’t the same when Ana sent me pictures.
I told myself I would make it up to Emily on her sixteenth birthday. She would have the day she got from me.
I put her down in the kitchen one night. She had schoolwork to do.
I smiled and said, “Mi amor.” “I want to plan everything for your birthday.”
Emily looked up with her eyes wide. “Everything?” “Tía, really?”
I said, “Everything.” “The party, the cake, and the signs. Just show up and have fun.
She jumped up and wrapped her arms around me. “You’re the best!” “That’s crazy!”
I laughed and gave her a tight hug. Micha, I want today to be the best day of your life.
After that, the house was always full of people and things.
It took me days to scrub every part of the floors until they were like new. I strung fairy lights across the garden and chose decorations in Emily’s favorite colors, lavender and silver. I rented a big white tent in case it rained.
I scheduled a group of nail techs, makeup artists, and hair stylists to come in the morning. Emily and her friends could get lots of attention all day. I knew that was fun for young girls.
The kitchen turned into a bakery for me. I chose to make the cake myself. With three levels, a chocolate and raspberry cake with soft frosting flowers on top. It wasn’t perfect, but love was in it. I used pink sugar pearls to pipe Emily’s name on top.
Ana looked in while I was wiring flowers one afternoon. “You know you’re giving her too much.”
I smiled. “She truly deserves it.”
Emily walked in right then. She was still in her clothes and had her hair in a messy bun. The cake made her gasp.
“Tía!” Really? Does this whole thing happen for me?” She said it while holding her heart tight as if she couldn’t believe it.
I told him, “Of course, mi amor.” “Today is your big day.”
She came up to me and kissed my cheek. “Your aunt is the best ever.”
It was worth every hour of work to hear that.
On the morning of the party, the house was full of happy people.
While getting their hair and nails done, girls in similar robes laughed and took selfies. The air was filled with the smell of hairspray and treats. In the background, soft music played.
I kept myself busy by making sure the lights were ready, the food trays were full, and the drinks were cold.
I finally went upstairs to change around 3 o’clock. I put on a soft velvet green dress. It wasn’t fancy, but it made me feel lovely. I just brushed my hair back and put on a small pair of silver earrings.
When I got downstairs, Emily was doing something to her ears by the mirror. Lavender material made her dress float around her like a cloud. She looked beautiful.
“Are you ready for your big moment, princess?” I asked with a smile.
She looked at me. Her face changed.
She asked, “Where are you going?”
I said with a light laugh, “To the party.” That’s where we’re all going, right?
Emily moved in a strange way. “Um… no, Tía. “You need to stay in the kitchen.”
I opened my eyes. “Will you stay in the kitchen?”
“Yeah, like…” She curled a piece of her hair and said, “Someone needs to make sure the food is out and everything is clean.” “Just…” You know, it’s mostly my friends. To hang out. “You don’t need to be there.”
Even though it was funny to me, I laughed again. “Are you kidding me?”
She shook her head and looked away from my eyes. “Okay, this is better. The music will still be there. After that, you can eat cake.
I looked at her. It hurt to breathe. When the doorbell rang, Emily ran out the door without saying a word.
I stood there with my hand on the edge of the counter for a moment. The house was filled with people as the music began.
I went back into the kitchen slowly. I could see everything from that spot. Moms talking, girls laughing, and balloons flying. I stayed behind the opening, though, like a shadow.
Then…. I thought I heard steps.
A girl, maybe 15 or 16, looked into the kitchen. She wore a dress with sparkles and had long blonde hair. With a nice smile, she asked.
“Hi!” she said with a smile. “Sorry…” “Um, who are you?”
I used a towel to clean my hands and tried to smile. “My name is Emily’s aunt.”
Her eyes got bigger. “Wait, what?” “Are you her aunt?”
I replied, “Yes.” Even I thought my voice was small.
She cocked her head. “But… Emily said you were the cleaner.”
The words hit me hard. I went cold. I did not understand what to say.
She turned around and ran away before I could even breathe. She was talking to someone in the living room in a loud whisper.
After a minute, some more girls looked in. Then more. Their faces were heavy with doubt.
A tall girl with dark, curly hair spoke up. “Did you bake the cake?”
I replied, “Yes.”
Someone else asked, “What about the decorations?”
I said, “Yes.”
In a whisper, they looked at each other. After that, they walked back into the living room without saying a word.
I moved just close enough to the door to see. Emily sat on the couch with two friends and laughed. The other girls crowded around her.
The tall girl spoke up and said, “Emily.”
Emily was startled and looked up. “Yes?”
“Why did you say your aunt was the maid?”
Emily’s face turned white. She spoke slowly, “I…” That’s not what I meant. “I just… I thought…”
“What did you think?” With her arms crossed, another girl said. “That having your aunt at the party would be stupid?”
Emily quickly blinked and said, “I didn’t think it would matter.” “I thought no one would ask.”
The tall girl turned her head away. “She made plans for you all day.” You were rude to her and ignored her.
Emily’s lip shook. “I meant to be nice to her.” Just… People shouldn’t have thought I was… different.
A girl who looked about 17 years old stepped forward. She spoke in a calm but strong way.
She told him, “If she gave you this day and you’re embarrassed of her, you don’t deserve it.”
There was silence in the room. There was less noise, even in the sounds.
Emily put her hands over her face and began to cry. Not easy.
My heart broke all over again as I stood there. I wanted to run upstairs and never come down. A bigger part of me wanted to hold her.
The tall girl came over to me. Her voice got softer.
“Thank you, ma’am,” she said. We all do. “Thank you for today.”
I took the lump in my throat in.
Emily cried and ran over to me. She took my hands.
She sobbed, “Tía, I’m sorry.” “I did something stupid.” I was scared. I believed that they would think less of me if they knew.
It was soft, but I touched her wet face. “They will never think less of you because of me,” I told Mija in a soft voice. They might, though, if you act like people don’t matter.
Emily cried more. She clung to me like she was five again.
The other girls began to clap softly. They came over one by one. Some people hugged me. Some gave Emily hugs.
Ana walked up to the opening with wide eyes. “What’s going on?”
I didn’t say anything. I said, “Family lesson.” “One that we all needed.”
Emily wiped her eyes and smiled even though she was crying. She asked, “Tía, please come to the party.” Please. “It’s also your party.”
I gave her a big hug and smiled. “Of course, my love.”
We went back into the living room together.
I didn’t know the hit song the girls made us dance to, but they made me. I laughed so hard that my sides hurt.
We cut the cake afterward. Emily told me I had to stand next to her.
She told everyone, “My aunt made this cake,” when we gave out pieces. She made everything. “She’s the reason why today was great.”
As I passed out plates, I tried not to cry.
It was getting late, and there was soft music and sleepy goodbyes. I felt a strange peace settle in my chest.
That day, Emily learned something. There must be more to life than birthdays and dresses. She learned to be proud of her family, where she came from, and her life. I also learned something.
Love isn’t forgotten forever. It only takes a little time and a lot of heart to be seen.
This work is based on real people and events, but it has been made up for artistic reasons. To protect privacy and make the story better, names, characters, and circumstances have been changed. Any similarity to real people, living or dead, or real events is completely accidental and not on purpose by the author.
