Chapter 21.- Naty, Naty.

By Lina.

We continue in the kitchen, talking about the flavor of the cookies, the sizes, the calories they have, the glaze they will have, color and flavor. We have two large trays full of cookies and another one in the oven, along with two vanilla and chocolate cakes that are being baked, we already have two on the table decorated with Christmas figures, Christmas Eve, stars, Christmas trees, among others There is a mosaic jelly with the flavors of lemon, strawberry, grape orange, and my favorite raspberry.

We are finishing the cookies, we arrange them on some plates to be able to take them to the dining room, my mother-in-law left a few minutes ago taking the cakes with her, my mother has not returned, she is in the living room with my sisters or so Carlos who came told me a moment ago to be able to steal some cookies, Aaron is with my father and father-in-law in the study talking about the company.

We are about to go out to the dining room when a well-known figure shows up in the doorway, I'm sure that at this moment I have a puzzled face, but what is he doing here? I thought he had more important things to do, but hey, it's so volatile I don't know what to expect, I see Irina and Nat's surprised and confused faces out of the corner of my eyes. The latter without saying hello or anything leaves the kitchen in the direction of the dining room.

- Good night Maria, what are you doing here? - We weren't expecting her, I know I sounded a bit rude but I'm impatient to know what she came for.

- Hello, apparently they finished the cookies as soon as you see ... - Irina won't let her finish.

- It is not necessary, as you can see we have finished, so do not delay us and even to one side to pass. - Apparently Irina has not forgotten the altercation we had a long time ago, before someone says otherwise, I take the floor.

- Well, how about we go to dinner? Yes! Well we wait, let's go.- Irina goes ahead, Maria looks annoyed but says nothing, I can see that it is difficult for her not to say anything.

- And tell me Lina, how was the honeymoon? I found out that you are leaving the country, and I hardly find out, thank you for letting me know, it is very considerate of you. - Uff I have to choose my words well, I'm not in the mood to argue.

- Yes, well there are two of us, I just found out, so there is nothing more to say.- I know that it is cutting and somewhat rude on my part, but it must be made clear that this is not the time to talk about this .

- Yes, of course, I hope you do well.- he says it with indifference, it is incredible that the Maria of my memories has disappeared, before it was not like that, since high school I change and I have no idea why, maybe before I'll talk about it with her.

We stop when we get to the dining room, it is preferable that no one knows what we have talked about, I have to know what it is or what made her change, and I know that this will only be being alone, of the four Maria and I were inseparable until four years ago, Since that day it has not been her, and the truth is that I miss her a lot.

When my parents see her, they greet her as usual like another daughter to them, when Maria sees them she changes her face to one of smiles and happiness, we all prepare to have dinner calmly listening to Christmas carols and the background talk as in all meetings, we have dinner without any problem.

When we have all finished it is time to open the gifts, my sisters without wasting time run to the Christmas tree that is in the window that faces the street, next to it is the nativity scene.

They were in charge of distributing each other's gifts, we just had to open it, when they saw what my parents gave them they shouted loudly, since it was what they had been asking for months, they received clothes and toys. My aunts couldn't come because of last minute work and commitments. We all opened our gifts, they gave me clothes, earrings, makeup, shoes, underwear, among other things, Aaron received a lotion, underwear, ties and shirts, my brother almost the same, unlike one thing, a box that looked like of a necklace, the confused one opened it, I thought it was something else, so I turn to Natt to see if his face reflects something but nothing.

- Thanks, dad, I like the pen but you don't think you've given me the same gift for ten years, it's not a complaint but ...- Carlos is about to say something else, however he is stopped by his expression of sorrow and a little of disappointment on our father's face, so he decides to change the words. - But because one, I don't think it will last long, dad.

My father's face changes and shines with that smile of joy and relief, I don't know why my father does that every year, even my sisters and I have one, every year it's the same, but well, the intention is what counts.

"I'm glad you like it, son," says my dad.

- Well it's time for dessert, Lina help me with the cookies.- says my mother as she gets up from the chair, Natt and I follow her to the kitchen, she serves Champurrado atole, while we take things to the living room, for higher comfort. Returning for the atoles, I decide to know why Natt has been very serious all night.

- What's up Natt? Because you don't smile, are you like this because of the "matter"?

- Lina, today I don't want to talk that is a family reunion, do you think if we talk about it later? - I can see her tired and exhausted face, but I don't know how she hasn't said anything to her father or Carlos, it's a burden that She's wearing alone, I just hope she doesn't regret this.

- Yes, okay, come and sit down with the girls to talk. - He just nods, we walk until we reach Irina with an annoyed face and Maria who talks very animatedly with my mother.

We sat on the floor, on some cushions that my mother bought especially for that, from here I can see my father, father-in-law, Nat's father, Aaron and my brother talk very animatedly about I don't know what, my mother-in-law with my mother , my sisters playing with their new toys. It's funny how things change, when I was a child we had to wait the next day to open them, after that we had breakfast as a family, my cousins, uncles, grandparents came, well in general the family to have breakfast in the family heat, all that change since my grandparents died, the family separated, everyone has their customs for this day, they travel to another country, they have dinner with friends, but we no longer meet only for parties, it is for the only thing we do, on these dates we are just my parents, brothers, Natt and his dad and me.

I stop thinking about it, and focus to my right, everyone is still talking, Natt. Irina and Maria are talking without fighting. Thank God! I hope it continues to be a peaceful night.

- And tell me Lina, you will soon have a child. - That was Irina, who says it with a big smile. - I'm sure Aaron wants children, or what have they talked about?

- Yes well, he wants children soon, I instead want to finish my career first, and then who knows. - I tell him.

- It is a good decision, you are still very young, first enjoy your husband and then God will say. - says Maria with a smile and a tender look, there is no! She is not like that, what is wrong with her? She is rare since she arrived as if she wanted to tell us something but she doesn't dare.

- Maria, are you feeling okay? Is something wrong? - says Natt, who is confused by his reaction.

- No, no, no, I'm fine, nothing's wrong.- He says it with a bigger smile, it's as if the old Maria was here, I see how Irina and Natt don't believe anything, like me, but it's more the joy that I feel to see my childhood friend in front of me.

- Well, since you are well, I would like to say that I am glad that it is you again, I hope that the distance that there will be is not an impediment for us to continue talking, I hope you can visit. - I communicate with a sincere smile. Natt turns to see me with a face of few friends, I do not know what happens, and we are friends.

- Yes, I hope I can go soon, maybe in May, I still don't know. - Irina tells us.

- Well, let me know and that's how we travel together. - says Maria. Irina nods with a small closed lip smile, however her eyes say otherwise, when did we grow up? When did Maria change? That is something that she has not wanted to say is something we all know but we do not dare to say it, it has been many years, it is time for me to tell you exactly what happened that night, with him.

We continued like this all night, until it was three in the morning and we decided to rest, we said goodbye to everyone, my brother and Natt stayed here in their old room, as did Aaron and me. Everything remained normal, like one more Christmas.

By Natt.

The day I got married was the best of all so far, what I most want is to be happy with my love, my only love, however that does not mean that I have not had boyfriends before, to be more specific two, the first Arturo was sixteen years older than me by two years, he was already of legal age at that time, it was a good courtship until Maria got involved with him, he did not care that he was my boyfriend, I remember his words very well. If I had done it, someone else would have done it", she says she does it for us, so that whoever is our husband is the right one, but how do you know if she doesn't let us see what her true intentions are, she says one thing and does another, I don't know when to believe him, and when the Irina thing happened I don't miss the least bit.

The second boyfriend was Maximiliano, who showed his intentions in less than a month, which were none other than to obtain my virtue, as I know this for himself, who without knowing when talking to his friends, and without noticing my presence I speak all the intentions that I would carry out, that day was that I decided not to have a boyfriend until my heart leapt and butterflies fluttering in my stomach, my reason clouded in his presence, all that happened when I saw Carlos again, after So long, and when he came and asked for my help on the matter as he called it, that's when I knew that he would be the only man to occupy my mind, the father of my children and the last to see the light of my eyes.

But I did not count on the presence of my mother and her lies, that event that is still present in my memory, the way she defended that one.

There is no doubt that they are one for which, I am glad that he left, but what would my childhood have been like? With his lies he did me irreparable damage. What's next? What are you looking for from me? What does she gain from her intrigues towards Carlos? Isn't it a mother who takes care of your dreams and illusions, isn't it the one who takes care of you and defends you from all evil, why did she change? Why can't you tell me what happened? Why do you say error? What happened? I couldn't answer those questions, that day I saw her I wanted to face her but it was useless, it was as if she was talking to the wall, I couldn't get another word out of her that wasn't "Naty, naty, you don't know anything" was all what he said, I don't speak anymore, he just left again.