Treinta y Cinco

My mom was super stoked that Kit came. In fact, she was so stoked that she got the name book. A book of names from all over the world and their definitions.

Whenever mom meets somebody she really clicks with or they have a unique name, she looks up what their name is. That way she could tell them later. Now Kitrick, is a name my mom couldn't help but see if it was in the book.

"Name book, huh. Does your mom do this much?" he asked me with a smirk.

"We don't entertain much," I replied.

"You said that before, you know." This time, Kit's smirk upgraded to a full grin. It was contagious. No matter how much I resisted, I grinned back.

Mom rushed to her seat with the book in her hand. "Found it! It wasn't in the normal place I usually put it."

Kit only exchanged a knowing look in my direction before looking at my mom. "I'll admit, I never thought of what's in a name. Did you use that book to give Kat two first names?"

My mom's face went rigid for a moment, before focusing on Kit. "Actually, Katrina is a family name on her dad's side."

"What about Claudia?" asked Kit.

"Claudia is the female equivalent of her father's name, Claudio." My mom placed the book on the couch while she walked towards the altar we made for my father. Taking my father's picture, she hands it to Kit. In the picture, Claudio is holding me and we're both smiling in the camera.

Kit smiled as he said, "Claudio is a very handsome man."

"He was," said my mom.

"My apologies," replied Kit nonchalantly. He handed the picture back to my mom. "May I ask how you and Claudio met?"

For a moment my mom's face looks uncertain, till she blinked. "How about this...I will tell you how Claudio and I met if I get to tell you what your name Kitrick means. Hmm?"

"Deal, but I'm making an exception and taking your word for it Mrs. Andersen. I usually get my deals in writing because my dad is a lawyer."

My mom sticks out her hand, "I know a handshake isn't legally binding, but it shows my sincerity." Kit and my mom shook hands. Then, my mom narrows her eyes as she added, "I learned how to give a handshake by being the Mayor's assistant."

Kit raises both brows as he said, "Kat said you worked for the city but not for the Mayor himself."

"She's just got teenage angst about it is all," she replied.

"She's right here," I grumbled. "Are you going to tell Kit what his name means or what?"

Kit frowned at me before beaming at my mom. "I'd love to know what my name means."

"Okay!" exclaims mom as she opened the book of names. Mom's face leaned away from the book. "Kitrick is from an Old Norse personal name Sigtrygrr which means...True Victory."

"Seriously?!" asked Kit as he moved to sit near my mom and looked at the book too. "Well, I'll be damned. My name made it in the book!"

"The book of names is full of surprises," my mom said with a small smile, before closing the names book. "True Victory, does that sound like you, Kit?"

"Of course it is! He's on the debate team at school mama. He's also competitive." Kit blushed as he shrugged.

"It's true. Your daughter's known me for too long." My mom laughed after Kit said that.

"Hmm. A deals a deal." My mom looked at me as she asked, "Do you want to tell Kit or should I, hija?"

"You can tell him," I replied with what I hoped was an encouraging smile to match.

"Once upon a time, there was a young lady from Colombia who moved to the United States on a work visa because she worked for a hotel chain." As my mom spoke, her eyes grew more distant. "However, she wanted to stay in the United States. So, she went through the grueling immigration process. During that process it was recommended she enroll in a free citizenship class. So, she did so she could learn about U.S. history for the citizenship test as well as the citizenship pledge of allegiance to the United States. In this immigration class, she met a young man from Denmark named Claudio Andersen." My mom's eyes went watery for a moment before adding, "Claudio told me it was love at first sight for him. For me, it was love at first laugh. So, we almost fell in love at the same time."

An expression crossed Kit's face that I never saw before it just as quickly vanished. "That's a beautiful way to meet somebody. You really know how to set the bar high Mrs. Andersen."

"Love isn't a competition, Kit. It's best you remember that," replied my mom.

Kit sighed as he said, "The debater in me wants to prove to you otherwise. The gentleman in me knows better than to debate with my host."

My mom smirked as she said, "You're a charmer. Are you the ones bringing the flowers?"

"No Mrs. Andersen, I'm not."

"Sorry Mama, but he has a girlfriend he should be getting flowers for, already," I said.

"Oh! Does she got to school with you, hija?" she asked me.

"Yes. Her name is Rona," I replied. "She's nice."

"Rona....hmm, that's an interesting name too. Let me look it up!" My mom flipped through the name book again as I sighed. Kit seemed engrossed in this particular name search too as he looked over my mom's shoulder.

When both of them gasped at the same time, I suppressed an eye roll. "What is it?"

"Rona means light," replied Kit. "And I definitely agree with this definition."

Yes, Kit is definitely smitten.