by P. Macias
“Si my hijo, que pasa, what happened on Sunday? Where did you go? I didn’t see you after you left on Sunday morning,” asks Mama Maria, with concern.
“Mama, I went to Vegas with Monique. We got married,” says Christian, with felicidad, waiting for her reaction.
“Why mi hijo didn’t you wait the six months? Que pasa?” asks Mama Maria, the concern manifesting in her voice to Christian.
“Mama, I married Monique because la amo. Mama, Monique is having my bebe. If something happens to me, I want her, and my bebe to be taken care of,” says Christian with conviction.
“Mi hijo, I don’t like it when you say these things. Dios will not allow anything to happen to you, mi vida,” replies Mama Maria with lots of anxiety in her voice. “Monique is having your bebe?”
“Si mama, I left Monique with her padre’s this week. She doesn’t know you and my papa. I will collect her on Thursday to bring my esposa to our casa. Will that be okay with you until I get a casa for us?” asks Christian. He waits for his mama reply. He knows that his padres will always welcome him and his esposa into their casa.
“Mi hijo, you know that you and your esposa will always be welcomed in tu casa. I will tell your papa, okay?” replies Mama Maria with felicidad, her alegria transmitting loud and clear to Christian. “I’m going to have a nieto. Mi hijo, you have made me muy feliz.”
“Mama, I also need to plan the church ceremony. Can we have the reception in tu casa?” asks Christian with felicidad.
“Si mi vida, do you want me to get some new bed sheets and clean your room for your new esposa?” asks Mama Maria, bubbling with felicidad. “You should go shopping for a new bedroom set on Saturday mi hijo.”
“Si mama, that’s why I asked for a pass to be off on Friday thru Sunday. Mama, I’m going to let you go. I have to call my Cielo, adios,” says Christian, smiling.
“Si mi vida, take care and dios te bendiga,” replies Mama Maria, happily.
Christian’s mama sets the phone down and turns to tell her esposo with the news. I know he heard most of the conversation. He walked into the kitchen when I was asking Christian all about his boda, thinks Mama Maria, walking to her esposo.
“Arturo, Christian is married. He went to Vegas last night and married his novia Monique,” says his esposa, Maria.
I wonder what my esposo thinks about this, I know he will not be upset. Christian is totally hombre and knows what he wants, ponders Mama Maria.
“Si Maria, I heard. Mi hijo had already told us he was marrying his novia. It’s a little quick, but I know that he does love her deeply,” replies Papa Jose Arturo. Her esposo, Arturo, looks at his esposa with amor.
“Si Arturo and he said that he knows that she’s having his bebe. My hijo feels that she’s pregnant. I don’t know about that. Can he really feel that she’s having his bebe?” asks Mama Maria. She gazes at her esposo, thinking about the bebe. “You know that if she’s pregnant, that will make me real feliz,” says Mama Maria, smiling, flashing her dimples.
“Maria, lots of hombres feel that they know when their esposa conceives, they state that they feel it. I think that I will believe him,” responds Papa Jose Arturo, smiling.
“Arturo, I’m so happy. I can’t wait to meet Monique,” says Mama Maria, smiling. “I have lots of things to do,” She hurries to start getting Christian’s bedroom ready.
Christian is extremely feliz. Now I can call my Cielo and see how she’s feeling. He dials, she answers quickly, and breathlessly.
“Hi Baby, I miss you,” says Monique, trying not to cry.
“I know, my Cielo, I do to. I did get a three day pass starting on Friday. I will be home on Friday morning. How are you feeling?” asks Christian, worried about her.
“Baby, I was here in our room waiting for your call, looking at our photos. Te amo mucho,” says Monique, tracing his face on the photo with her finger. “Did your day go well?”
“Yes, my Cielo, and I called my mama. I told her about our marriage. My mama is immensely feliz and especially about the bebe,” says Christian, smiling with pleasure. Oh yeah, my Cielo is going to look awesome when she’s big with my bebe.
“Baby, what if I’m not pregnant? Will you be disappointed?” asks Monique, worried and chewing her lower lip in doubt.
“My Cielo, I will not be mad. I know that you’re pregnant, my Cielo. I can feel my bebe,” replies Christian, grinning with felicidad.
“Okay, I will take a test on Saturday to see what happens. It might be too early for a test,” says Monique, thinking about the dates and trying to figure out how this works.
“My Cielo, on Friday I want to go to the store. I want to purchase a new bedroom set. I also want to schedule the date for our church ceremony. I asked my mama if it’s okay to hold the reception at her casa. What do you think?” asks Christian, with a smile in his voice.
“That will make me muy feliz, Baby. It will be wonderful to set our church ceremony and to get our own bed set. OMG, that will be so special,” replies Monique, sighing, dreaming of Friday. “Baby, I can’t wait to see you.”
“My Cielo, you know that I feel the same. I really miss making love,” responds Christian, thinking of making love and instantly gets hard.
Uh god, this really sucks, to have your esposa, and not being able to make love to her. Damn, my poor primo Ricky, now I know how he feels. At least my Cielo’s padre wants me to take her home with me, he grins.
“My Cielo, you’re killing me,” says Christian, adjusting himself. “You’re going to start work manana, are you anxious?”
“No Baby, I’m looking forward to working. That way I will be able to think of other things. I wouldn’t be worrying about how you’re doing and if you’re okay,” replies Monique.
“Monique,” Mama Ana knocks on her door calling out. “Mi hija, mira las rosas,” says Mama Maria, opening her bedroom door, looking at her niña, smiling. “They just arrived.”
Monique squeals. “Baby you sent me some rosas? They’re so beautiful, te amo!” says Monique with felicidad. She grabs the card, reading it. Her mama quietly leaves her alone to talk to her esposo. “To my Cielo, that holds my corazon and my alma. Te amo,” reads Monique. She smiles, cries, and smells the rosas.
I wish he was here instead of the rosas, thinks Monique, trying not to cry, listening to Christian. “Mi Cielo, I don’t want you to cry, te amo. I will be there on Friday,” says Christian, feeling bad that he’s away from her a few hours after the wedding.
“Baby, do you want to wait until after I get out of the Navy to look for a casa?” asks Christian, hoping to distract her, hearing her sniffle.
“Baby, I love you so much. I miss you. I want you. I’m scared for you,” says Monique, lying on her bed, looking at the ceiling.
All these emotions and there’s not anything I can do about this, ponders Christian with frustration. “Baby I’m okay. I will be with you in no time. I want you to make a list of things that we need to buy.”
“Baby, okay, I’ll be fine, don’t worry. I will start work manana. I will try to fill my days with planning our ceremony at the church. I’ll be talking to your hermana and primos manana at work,” says Monique, smiling.
“Good, Baby, I know that they will be there if you need them,” says Christian, looking at his watch. “Baby, I have to go back to class, te amo.”
“Si, Baby, te amo,” says Monique, before he ends the call.
Monique stands and strides over to smell the beautiful bouquet of rosas. My Baby is so sweet and thoughtful, thinks Monique, looking at her wedding ring. He doesn’t stop on the cost. I will have to try to keep a control of too much spending, thinks Monique, nodding.
She looks at her new clothes. These should last me for a while. I better get my clothes ready for manana. I will be meeting some of his familia. I want to look professional and classy.
Chapter Sixteen
Jose Enrique is at the office early, working out in the gym. I have been lazy lately, thinks Jose Enriq
ue finishing up. He heads for the showers. I need to remind Ricky and Tony to work out or they will get fat.
I feel better already, asserts Jose Enrique. He sits onto his deep burgundy leather chair and starts to review the last request for a building from a very influential business man in the area. He signs off. I will give this it to Tony. Tony will draw some preliminary designs to present to the client next week.
I’m going to meet and welcome Chris’s esposa Monique into la familia and the familia company, thinks Jose Enrique, looking at his watch. She should be here by now. He stands and grabs the file to give the paperwork to Tony on his way.
He stops at Tony’s office. Tony is busy on his drafting board. My primo truly is an artist, thinks Jose Enrique, full of pride.
“Primo, I have another request for a building. I reviewed the request and signed off. It appears to be a good client. I have his requirements in this file,” says Jose Enrique, looking at his primo work.
“Okay primo, please put them on my red tray,” replies Tony, drawing another line. “When do we need to have the designs ready?” Tony continues to work and talk without looking up from what he’s doing.
“Next week primo, you have time. Primo, I want you to go with me to welcome into the familia Chris’s esposa,” says Jose Enrique, grinning, looking at his primo drop his pencil. He stands up, walking towards him.
“You have to be fucking kidding me, no shit. No way, he’s my party buddy,” says Tony, with a load groan of frustration. He looks at his primo, trying to see if he’s messing with him. “You telling me that my primo married that chica he just met last Friday. What’s up with my primos and eloping on weekends,” he turns to look out the window, thinking.
“I didn’t see her here yesterday,” says Tony, looking at his primo. “She’s the new assistant for Jessy?” asks Tony with disbelief.
“Si primo, he married Monique Acosta. She’s our new interior decorating design assistant. Christian didn’t want to have her start on Monday,” says Jose Enrique. He didn’t have any issues with that.
“Uh, ah, I bet,” thinks Tony, striding back to his drawing board. He wants his bride to rest after eloping, thinks Tony.
“Let’s go and meet her. We need to welcome her because Christian is away. She probably feels bad,” says Jose Enrique, walking out of his primo’s office.
“Wait for me, primo,” says Tony, striding quickly after him.
He walks down the hallway to the Interior Decorating Design department. Yes this is where my amor is at right now working her little heart out, thinks Jose Enrique, with pleasure.
They entered the Interior Decorating Design Department, which is full of activity. Jessy also has hired a young lady to be their secretary. Jose Enrique smiles at the secretary and introduces himself and Tony.
She’s young and nervous. “It’s nice to meet you, Sirs. I’m Sally Dias. Do you want me to announce you?” asks Sally, looking nervous and unsure.
“No Sally, don’t worry. We’ll just walk in, thank you,” replies Jose Enrique, opening the door to his bella novia’s office.
“Hola mi amor,” says Jose Enrique, going to Jessy. He gives her a quick beso on her cheek, smiling. He turns to Monique. “You must be Monique, Chris’s esposa,” says Jose Enrique, smiling. “I’m Jose Enrique De La Cruz, Chris’s eldest primo and this is our primo Sebastian Antonio De La Cruz.” He smiles at his amor.
“Hola, I’m Monique Acosta, Uh, hmm, I meant Monique De La Cruz,” says Monique, smiling and blushing like crazy from embarrassment. “I have to get used to this,” she smiles at them, extending out her hand to greet them.
“Monique, I hope Jessy told you that she’s my novia,” says Jose Enrique, walking over to her and draping his arm around her waist. “I wanted to meet you and welcome you to la familia and to la familia’s company.”
“Si Monique, if you need anything, you can ask us,” says Tony smiling. Wow, so this is Chris’s esposa. This bella chica stole my primo’s corazon, thinks Tony. No wonder Chris ran to get married. This chica is a belleza and looks sweet. I’m glad that he found the one, his alma gemela.
“Please don’t forget that we’re here in case that you need anything. We know that Chris is only at home occasionally,” says Jose Enrique, looking around the office.
“Si mi vida, I told her that she can count on us for anything,” says Jessy, smiling at Monique. Si, she’s sweet, smart and capable of doing a great job as my assistant, thinks Jessy.
Jessy’s phone rings on her desk and she answers. “Sally? Yes, Sally, bring them in here, we still need to get her office ready, thanks,” says Jessy, turning around as the office door opens with Sally carrying a huge bouquet of red roses for Monique.
“Monique, I think those are for you,” says Jessy smiling, feliz for Monique. Si, it must be hard to be separated so quickly after marrying, thinks Jessy, observing Monique.
Monique eyes start to tear up as she takes the card to read what her Baby wrote.
Mi Cielo, I’m with you always. I love you lots. I love you like a loco. Te amo! I’m forever yours, Christian.
She reads the card. She leans down close to the rosas and smells them.
Now I have some red rosas for my office and some for my room. He sent me red rosas with all of his amor. We also had red roses on our wedding, contemplates Monique, attempting not to cry.
Jose Enrique observes Monique’s reaction to the rosas and knows that she truly loves his primo with her entire corazon. She will be good for Christian, thinks Jose Enrique with alegria.
My primo won the lottery with this bella chica, ponders Tony, observing Monique’s reaction. I pray that I find a treasure like this chica for my esposa.
“Monique, you’re okay?” asks Jessy, walking over to her, giving her a hug, feeling her tremble.
Oh dios mio, how embarrassing, thinks Monique, blushing. She quickly whips her eyes and smiles at Jessy nodding. “Si Jessy, I’m okay. I just miss him,” she whispers, smiling.
“Monique, time will fly and he’ll be here with you on Friday,” says Jessy, looking at her new assistant and also new familia.
I can see that we’re going to be great primas. “Yes, he told me yesterday that he’ll be here on Friday to take me to his casa,” says Monique, smiling with felicidad.
Walking into the office Bella sees Monique and verifies that she’s okay. Yeah, I see that the welcome party is here, thinks Bella, with amusement smiling, walking towards Monique.
“Monique, I want to welcome you to la familia,” says Bella, smiling giving her a hug. “I’m Chris’s hermana, Isabella De La Cruz.”
“Oh si, Bella, Christian told me that you were his hermana and that Paty was his prima,” replies Monique, smiling and nodding.
“Did Chris send you this beautiful bouquet of rosas? I’m impressed,” says Bella, leaning down to smell the roses. “Hermana, you have to show us the photos, cd, and your rings. Let me see,” squeals Bella, turning to look at the enormous ring that her hermano bought his bride.
“Wow, my hermano really went all out, it’s beautiful,” says Bella, inspecting the ring that sparkles no matter which way you turned it.
“Yes, Monique, that ring is just gorgeous,” says Jessy, smiling, nodding. She looks at Monique and notices that she looks like she’s feeling a lot better.
Now that Christian’s hermana is here, it makes me feel like a little of him is with me, thinks Monique.
“Monique, my mama wants to know if you would like to go over sometime this week. I told her that you might want to wait until Christian brought you over. What do you think?” asks Bella, observing her face. I can see why my hermano fell in love with her. She’s smart, sweet, and really bella, contemplates Bella.
“I would love to go over and meet Christian’s padres. I would like to talk to him about it and see what he wants,” replies Monique with a shy smile, looking at his Hermana and praying she will not feel hurt.
“Monique, that’s very wise of you,” says Jo
se Enrique, impressed with her. She’s giving Christian his place as her husband and making decisions together, thinks Jose Enrique, nodding with pleasure.
“Si, Christian will be here on Friday prima, that’s only a few more days,” says Tony. “I need to get back to work. I will be seeing you, Monique,” He turns to leave.
“Si, Tony, gracias for the welcome.” says Monique.
That was Tony and I thoughts that I would like him. No, dios knows what he’s doing. My Baby is the one, contemplates Monique, smiling at Bella.
Bella has the same coloring and a little of Christian’s features. It makes me relax a little knowing that she’s here, don’t know why, thinks Monique.
“Yes, I need to get back to work, nice meeting you, Monique,” says Jose Enrique, leaving las chicas alone.
He stops quickly to let Paty know the news about Christian and Monique. “Hermana, Monique is here today working. Did you know that Christian and Monique eloped on Friday? She’s now Chris’s esposa,” says Jose Enrique, grinning, striding away.
“You’re just telling me now, you’re so mean,” squeals Paty, running to Jessy’s office, not bothering to continue to listen to him.
“Is it true?” asks Paty, running into Jessy’s office. All three of them turn to smile at Paty.
“Yes, it is Paty,” replies Monique, blushing, smiling.
“How exciting, my primo knew!” says Paty, all excited. “Welcome to the familia, let me see your ring.” She looks at the rosas.
“Did he send those rosas? Wow, my primo is in love,” exclaims Paty, looking at her beautiful ring. “Look at the ring! It’s huge and sparkles like crazy! Geeze, I want one!” pouts Paty, at her primas.
“Yeah, you and me, it’s starting to look like we are going be old maids,” says Bella, shaking her head.
“No, I don’t think so. You two are real young,” says Monique, smiling, looking at her new familia.
The phone rings and Jessy answers. “Yes, okay I’ll tell her,” says Jessy. She turns to Bella. “Jose Enrique wants you to stop at his office. He has a job that he will like you to do,” says Jessy, looking at Bella.