04

Grandma and Grandpa had three children: Aunt Marta, my mother and Uncle Alfredo.

Aunt Marta married Osvaldo; a wealthy businessman, owner of a network of appliances and completely asshole. With him, had Anelise and Junior. Junior married a dondoca named Martina, they had been together since high school.

My mother met my father at an 80s dance. He was a musician and she was a teacher. They only had me as their daughter.

Uncle Alfredo - God knows how - was a tremendous chicken, did not marry or have children, and even at the age of forty-nine, did not leave his parents' house.

Grandpa passed away when I was sixteen. Grandma was still intact, with her eighty-two years of age, living under the care of uncle Alfredo and his girlfriend at the time - a stripper mega blonde, thin and busty, who was close to the forty-five years.

And seriously, Uncle Alfredo was ugly. How did he get these girlfriends? There’s a big mystery.

In short, that was my maternal family.

I knocked on the door, uneasy. To my surprise, it was Aunt Marta who opened it - not one of her seven smiling employees and always willing to help.

— Hi, honey - she said, greeting me with kisses. Clara was behind me. My aunt evaluated her from head to toe, looked at me and, disappointed, said: - Ah, you brought your girlfriend.

That was one of the reasons I didn’t like family reunions. Since my relationships didn’t last as long, everyone thought I was a lesbian and was dating Clara.

I had nothing against anyone’s sexual orientation, but, unluckily, I was always 100% straight. Because, let’s face it, liking a straight man was a tremendous punishment.

- And my mother? - I asked without even bothering to deny.

She wouldn’t believe it anyway.

- Not yet arrived. - And rolled his eyes dramatically. - Late, as always. Come, come in, lunch will be served shortly.

That said, we walked into the huge, super-exquisite house full of beautiful, polished furniture that would certainly cost me a kidney. Aunt Marta was leading the way, guiding us.

- Where are the guys? - I was wondering.

- In the living room. - Said. - I will go up to call Osvaldo. Clara, dear, what bad manners mine, how are you?

Even though the intention was good (and I knew it was), I could notice the dislike in his voice.

- Uh... well, what about you?

Aunt Marta stared at her once again, I don’t know if it was me, but I noticed a spark of sadness in her gaze. Still, she smiled, and finally replied:

- Best impossible. I’ll be right back.

- Am I still your girlfriend? - Clara whispered in my ear as soon as Aunt Marta left.

- By the carriage - I said -, you will be for a long time.

Then we went to the living room, where everyone was present - except my mother, Anelise, Vicente and Martina. Sitting on the couch, eating appetizers, there they were. On the edge; Uncle Alfredo, Simone (the stripper) and Grandma, next to the three; Junior, half thoughtful.

- Zoe! - It was my cousin who exclaimed, coming to meet me, as soon as he saw me. - How are you?

- I’m fine - I lied, deep down everything still hurt a little - and you?

- Good too. Working hard, eating little. - smiled. - Hi, Clara.

My friend opened a shy smile and babbled something like, "Hi," but it was almost inaudible. I understood her, Junior was a beautiful boy, his short dreadlocks made him even more attractive, although to me he was always the kid who spit in my latte when we were kids.

I went to Uncle Alfredo and greeted him, but he was so entertained on his girlfriend’s breasts that he barely gave me good morning. So I knelt down, took Grandma’s hands and cried out:

- BLESSING, GRANDMA.

She was kind of deaf, poor, just worked like that. Smiled, made the sign of the cross on my forehead and said softly:

- God bless you.

Just smile at her.

After we greeted everyone, we sat on another couch and the suspicious and inquisitive looks began. My uncle whispered in Simone’s ear, who said something like, "New times, my love, new times."

To pry, I laid my head on Clara’s shoulder, but she kind of pushed me discreetly (and I didn’t quite understand why), so I preferred to leave it alone.

- Why didn’t your wife come? - I asked.

- Martina has colic - Junior explained -, preferred to stay at home even.

- What a pity - but inside I vibrated, Martina was unbearable, really.

- You who will make up Anelise? - Clara asked, kind of bringing up subject.

- I will - Junior replied, happy -, as I have a specialty in black skin, it will be very quiet. Although my sister is very annoying when she wants.

I laughed.

And so the mood was getting lighter and relaxed as we talked about makeup, until Clara interacted.

My cousin was a professional makeup artist and well known in the city, gave even lectures and everything. The guy was fucking.

- When I get married, I want you to make me up - said Clara, dreamer.

- It will be a pleasure - Junior replied, winking at me.

Ah, for God’s sake!

- Sorry for the delay, my car malfunctioned and I had to go through the repair before - the annoying voice of my cousin came to my ears - Vicente could not come, had a last minute trip.

I turned around and spotted her.

Linda, damn, how beautiful Anelise was!

The skin was so soft, I was sure that his pores were all closed. The long, black and smoothed hair was loose and shiny, wore a dark glasses held high on the head and social clothes. Junior stood up to greet her, giving her a tight hug.

Then she spotted me, looked at me with that kind of look I hated, like I was a worm and she could step on me with her Louboutin pair.

- Ah, hi, Zoe - said in a neutral tone.

- Hi, Anelise - I returned, dry.

He turned to Clara and greeted her, then went to our grandmother and asked for the blessing, hugged uncle Alfredo, but did not do the same with Simone, who ended up without grace.

You smile at her, like I say, "Hey, I get you. The problem isn’t with you."

- Aunt Augusta won’t come? - She asked me, without looking me straight in the eye.

- Come - I replied. - It’s just a little late.

- She didn’t call you? - She wanted to know, and before I answered again, she said with disdain: - Oh, I forgot that you’re not so close.

That hurt, because as stupid as my cousin was, I knew deep down that she was right.

- She won’t be long - I just said, ignoring her comment and pretending not to care about it.

At the end of the day I was right, my mother was not long to come. But to my surprise, she was not alone.

Next to him was a boy, probably in his thirties, handsome and smiling, full of muscles and tight clothes.

- Oh, no - I whispered to Clara. - She’s gonna want to fix this guy up for me.

- Friend, with a boy like that, I would not complain.

However, I was wrong.

It was only my aunt arriving in the room with her husband, which my mother, to my utter chagrin, announced:

- Hi, family. That’s Wellington. My boyfriend.

So that’s it, my mom was actually dating.

My mother!

And he was a younger boy, who certainly wanted to steal what little money she had.

- How are you? - Clara asked, so we sat at the table.

- If I were not sitting - I spoke softly -, I would surely fall.

- Relax, Zoe - my friend comforted me, but I was still trying to digest all that.

How could my mother do that?

And just now, that I had been dumped and was vulnerable and needy.

It’s okay that she didn’t know, but I would tell her in case she actually cared about me.

Ah, how I wanted my father here.

He always knew what to say. Always.

The food was served, but I barely touched it. Suddenly, I had lost my hunger. Peter used to say that I ate like a lioness.

Pedro.

The bastard who kicked me without pity. Did he miss me? Would one day this feeling of being insufficient cease altogether? Will I be happy?

Ah, never mind, I just needed a job.

- How’s the bakery, Lise? - My mother wanted to know.

- Great, aunt - my cousin answered -, I’m opening a branch in São Paulo.

- How wonderful! Why didn’t you tell us?

- Oh, Mom, I wanted to surprise you. And you, Zoe, working?

Shit. Shit. Shit.

- No. But something cool will come up. I just need to be patient.

— You have to fight for it. Don’t settle. See my daughter, she managed to become a great entrepreneur with a lot of sweat and dedication, I believe that...

— I disagree, your Osvaldo - Clara opined, acting in my defense -, not everyone has this opportunity. It’s easy to say that when you’re riding in the money. For us, everything is much more complicated.

- But...

- I agree with Clara - Junior said, opening a gentle smile for us. - Zoe, if you need help, do not hesitate to call me.

- Thank you. We can... We can talk about something else. Uncle Alfredo, how’s grandma’s health?

— Okay, Zoe. Mom has an envious health. She’s just a little stubborn sometimes, but Simone is so patient, takes such good care of her.

- It’s from the heart, dear - his girlfriend stated, and I liked her a little more.

- And the love life, cousin? How are you? - And you looked at Clara, ironic.

- Err...

- Tell her, Zoe. Tell everyone about your game.

I stared my friend in disbelief. What the hell was she talking about?

- I did not...

- Zoe found the perfect guy. He’s so beautiful, romantic and good. A real gentleman.

- But I thought...

— That we were girlfriends? No, Junior, we’re not. I don’t know who started this story, but it’s past time to deny it. Zoe and I are friends. Best friends. I can’t live without her, she can’t live without me. But only.

- What is the name of your boyfriend, Zoe? - Aunt Marta inquired, as if she were doubting everything.

Gelei.

I looked at Clara in panic, looking for help, my friend’s eyes shone, as if in front of a great idea, and, excited, she replied:

- Alex.