Forever

Chapter 20 _ Perdón

When Juliana opened the door she could not believe who it was. Her mother was standing right outside her door. Juliana didn't know how to react, whether to let her in or close the door.

"What are you doing here?" Juliana said after staring at her mother for what felt like hours.

"Your dad told me you moved here and that he was coming to dinner with you." Lupe said avoiding eye contact.

Juliana began to get angry at her mother. "Okay yes dad is coming to dinner with me and my girlfriend, the woman that I love, but what are YOU doing here? I thought I was your greatest shame and you wanted nothing to do with me if I was with Valentina. So why are you here?"

"Puedo pasar?" Lupe asked hopeful.

"No. What do you want?" Juliana said standing out of her apartment closing the door behind her and crossing her arms against her chest.

Lupe's hopeful face fell. "July don't be like this, I just want to talk. I'm not here to fight."

Juliana simply raised her eyebrow encouraging her mother to continue.

"I would really like to talk inside with you." Lupe said.

Juliana stood her ground against her mother. "I don't want you in my apartment, it's the place I plan to share with Valentina and I don't want your homophobic energy around it. I love you mom but I'm in love with Valentina and you're not going to change how I feel about her."

Lupe let out a sigh in defeat at Juliana's defensiveness. "That's why I'm here, Juliana. I'm not here to try and talk you out of it. I know this is not a phase, I get it. You love her and I can't get in the way of that. I want you happy, you're my baby and I just want to protect you. I thought that by keeping you away from her I was doing the right thing but that just backfired completely. I'm here to say I'm sorry. I'm not ashamed of you and I'm actually really proud of you. Your father has kept me up to speed on your life since you left and how well it's going and I'm really happy. I know we always fought about school but I'm glad you're going after your dreams. Thank you for giving me 18 years, I'll step away if you need me to but know that I love you and I always will. You know where to find me baby. Take care please. Te amo, y perdón por todo lo que te dije aquel dia."

Juliana didn't know what to say and Lupe took her silence as her answer. Her mother began to turn around and walk away with her posture showing her defeat. When Juliana finally realized what was happening she stretched her arm out to grab her mother's hand pulling her towards her into a hug.

Lupe was taken aback by her daughter's hug but embraced her tightly regardless. Juliana began to cry against her mother's shoulder. "Gracias mami."

"Te amo, corazón. Predóname." Lupe said as she let tears fall from her eyes as well and she kissed the top of Juliana's head.

After a few minutes they separated from their embrace and Juliana looked up at her mother's eyes. "Would you like to stay for dinner?"

A huge smile invaded Lupe's face as she said, "I would love that. Thank you."

Juliana was about to open the door when she noticed Valentina standing awkwardly with her hands full just looking at the two of them with a smile on her face.

"Baby, Val. You should have said something, here let me help you with that!" Juliana said smiling at Valentina.

"I didn't want to interrupt. Everything okay?" Valentina said as Juliana took some of the bags from Valentina and leaned in to give her a peck on the lips.

"Right in front of your mom's salad, really?" Valentina said laughing and getting red.

Juliana let out a chuckle and linked her arm with Valentina's while shaking her head and walking towards her mother. "She's staying for dinner. I'll tell you about it later though. I love you."

"I love you too Juls." Valentina said as they approached her girlfriend's mother.

Juliana and Valentina stood together in front of Lupe. Valentina extended her hand for Lupe to take and said, "Hola señora Valdes, how are you?"

"Bien, Valentina, what about you?" Lupe responded while accepting the handshake.

There was an awkward pause and Juliana decided to cut in. "Well let's go inside, yeah?" She said as she opened the door and led the way, dragging Valentina in with her as her mother followed.

"It's looking good Juls. How are you this fast it's looking great and you've only had around 3 hours to set up!" Val said as she set the bags of groceries on the counter. She stopped by the store on her way to Juliana's new apartment to get the girl some food for the refrigerator and the pantry.

Juliana smiled as she took out the 3 boxes of Oreos Valentina brought to the apartment knowing they were Juliana's favorite. It was definitely the little things that made her heart happy.

Lupe sat at the table while she observed the interaction between her daughter and Valentina. She saw how easily they got along and how gentile they were with each other.

As the hour went by they got more comfortable between the three of them and got into easy conversation. By the time Juliana's father arrived he was surprised to find his wife there but glad to see that there was no hostility.

"Mija, I'm glad you and mother are speaking again." Chino told Juliana as they shared a hug.

"Me too, dad." Juliana said.

They enjoyed a lovely dinner as a family. Juliana & Valentina updated her mother on the news that she was accepted into the fashion school and that she was managing Renata's new shop. By the end of the night they were all laughing and telling jokes. Lupe sat back as she observed how happy her daughter truly was.

When Chino & Lupe decided to call it a night they helped clean up the table and eventually said goodbye to the girls.

"I'm glad you and your mom are back on speaking terms baby." Valentina said as she wrapped her arms around Juliana and placed her chin on her shoulder as Juliana closed the door after her parents departure.

Juliana turned around in Valentina's arms and wrapped her arms around Valentina's neck.

"Me too, baby. I missed her." Juliana said as she leaned her forehead against Valentina's.

Valentina closed her eyes taking in Juliana's scent. She loved her perfume and since the night of the gallery show she felt even closer to her.

"Thank you for sticking by me, I don't know where I would've been without you." Juliana said leaning against Valentina's chest.

Valentina wrapped her arms tighter around Juliana and kissed her head.

"I love you." Valentina whispered against Juliana's head as she held her.

"& I love you, Valentina Carvajal." Juliana said as he leaned her head up to capture Valentina's lips in her own.

The girls finished cleaning up and turned the lights off before heading back to the loft. Juliana was still staying with Valentina while her furniture arrived. Most importantly her bed because sleeping on the floor was not an option Valentina would allow.