by Ruff, K. S.
Isabel steered us toward the kitchen. “Sientase,” she said, pointing toward the breakfast bar. Cenia and I complied.
Her mom handed each of us a plate heaped with pinto beans. “The tortillas will be ready in a minute.” Bowls full of shredded cheese, shredded meat, lettuce, and pico de gallo were sitting on the counter in front of us. “Eat. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
I wasn’t about to argue. The food smelled too good to pass up.
Cenia and I were eating our second helping of beans by the time the men joined us in the kitchen. Isabel handed each of them a fresh tortilla and a plate full of beans. “Would you like a glass of wine?”
Kadyn shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m good with water.”
Isabel handed Kadyn a glass of ice water. “Roger, Alejandro?” she asked. She topped off the wine she’d poured for Cenia and me while waiting for their response.
Roger gave Cenia a kiss on the cheek before joining Alejandro and Kadyn at the table. “Yes, please,”
“I would love a glass of wine,” Alejandro replied. “Your madrina and padrino will be here shortly,” he told Cenia. “A few of your cousins will be stopping by as well. I’m going to put some music on so we can dance out back.”
Isabel tsk’d her husband under her breath. “Alejandro, I told you not to schedule the fiesta until tomorrow night. The kids are tired. They had a long flight.”
“I did schedule the fiesta for tomorrow night. This is just a precursor… a warm up for the main event,” Alejandro protested. He winked at Cenia.
I joined Cenia at the sink so I could help with the dishes. “What do our sleeping arrangements look like?”
She handed me a dish towel. “My parents have two guest rooms. You and I will be sharing a queen size bed in the first bedroom to your right.” She nodded toward the hallway. “The bedroom across the hall from us has two twin size beds, so I figured Roger and Kadyn would be more comfortable sleeping in there,” Cenia explained. “If you want to skip the party…”
“The party sounds fun. I’ll be fine,” I replied. I nudged her shoulder with mine as I began drying the plates.
“Well, don’t be afraid to retire early. We’ve got a long day tomorrow,” Cenia warned. She handed me another plate.
“You should do the same. You’re the one who has to look good for the photographer,” I chided.
“I’ll help Kri finish the dishes,” Kadyn said, edging between us. Cenia’s godparents had just arrived.
Cenia handed him the dish brush. She rolled onto her tiptoes and gently kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Kadyn.”
I smiled at Kadyn when Cenia joined Roger and the rest of her family in the living room. “That was very sweet. Thanks for freeing her up so she could spend time with her family.”
Kadyn rinsed the suds off a glass before handing it to me. “I was just looking for an excuse to hang out with you.”
I laughed. “Yeah, right.”
Cenia’s brother, his wife, and children arrived a few minutes later. Kadyn and I finished the dishes and joined them in the living room. Alejandro introduced us to everyone. I ducked inside the bathroom to freshen up for the party when the cousins began trickling in. Isabel was already shooing people into the backyard.
I brushed my teeth, patted my face with a cool washcloth, and refreshed my lip gloss before applying a new layer of deodorant and Bvlgari perfume. The ivory, pink and green floral dress I had worn to the airport seemed appropriate enough. The soft flowing material ended mid-thigh in the front but mid-calf in the back. A thin leather belt cinched the waist. I’d purchased a pair of brown cowgirl boots to wear in Texas. Rafael had gaped at me when I paired them with the dress this morning. He made me keep the boots and the dress on when we had sex.
I was still thinking of that early morning tryst when I stepped out into the backyard. I stopped short when I looked up. Alejandro had strung red, green, and white paper lanterns among the pecan and orange trees. They were glowing softly against the darkening sky. I walked over to one of the lanterns, curious as to how they’d been lit.
“He tucked battery operated LED lights inside,” Kadyn explained.
I glanced at him, uncertain as to how long he’d been standing next to me. I reached up and gently tapped the lantern. “This place looks magical.”
“Maybe it is,” Kadyn mused. “Would you like to dance?”
My eyes drifted toward the patio, where Cenia’s cousins were dancing. Alejandro was playing salsa music. “I don’t know if I can salsa anymore. I think my body may be permanently stuck on waltz.”
“I think I can fix that,” Kadyn assured me. He bowed gallantly and held out his hand.
I slipped my hand in his. He stopped to talk to Alejandro before leading me toward the large travertine patio.
Kadyn twirled me under his arm before positioning me for the waltz. I studied my friend’s handsome face, then glanced at Alejandro in surprise when Norah Jones began singing “Come Away With Me.” Kadyn stepped forward as he began the waltz.
Cenia and Roger joined us on the dance floor when her cousins cleared out. Alejandro led Isabel to the patio, and they too began to waltz. The remaining guests gathered around the patio to watch.
The tension eased from my body as Kadyn whisked me around the makeshift dance floor. Our bodies rose and fell in time to the music until it felt as if we were drifting across an ocean of lyrics that felt more perfect than they should have.
I was vaguely aware of Cenia’s cousins clapping when the three men dipped us at the end of the song. Time seemed to stand still as they held us suspended in that precarious pose.
Kadyn and I stared at one another when he finally pulled me to his chest. My eyes fell closed when his thumb brushed across my bottom lip. My pulse quickened. I knew he was about to kiss me. “I can’t,” I breathed… but it was too late.
* * * * *
The bedroom door creaked open. The latch clicked when Cenia closed the door behind her. She looked freshly showered. She stole quietly across the tile floor and sat on the edge of the bed. “We’re going to have to sneak into Mexico,” she confided in a hushed tone.
I grabbed my cell phone off the nightstand and glanced at the time. I groaned when I saw it was only six o’clock. “We can’t sneak into Mexico. What are you talking about?”
“Roger doesn’t want me to go,” she confessed miserably. “I have to go, Kri. It’s a tradition. Every woman in my family has had her bridal portrait taken at this studio. My mom is going to be heartsick if I break this tradition.”
I leaned against the headboard as I slowly sat up in bed. “Why doesn’t Roger want you to go?”
Cenia took a deep breath and blew it out. “He’s worried about the drug cartels. They’re still fighting over territory on the other side of the border. You never know when a fight is going to break out. It’s getting more dangerous to cross over at Reynosa. We could try to cross further down the border, but it would add an entire day, maybe longer, by the time we drove back around. We don’t have that kind of time. We’ve still got a lot of things to do for the rehearsal dinner and the wedding.”
I frowned. “I thought Roger and Kadyn were going with us.”
Cenia shook her head. “I don’t want Roger to see me in my dress before the wedding, and we’re bringing the portrait back with us.”
I suddenly felt very nauseous. “I don’t know, Cenia. Sneaking over the border seems like a really bad idea. I understand this is a family tradition, but I think we should talk the guys into going with us.”
Cenia began pacing across the room. “The more I push, the harder Roger’s going to fight this. I don’t want to fight. I’d rather just go and plead for his forgiveness later. My mom made this appointment months ago. The photographer is expecting us in four hours. This is beyond rude, canceling four hours before the appointment.” Cenia grew quiet. She appeared to be waging some internal war as she carved a trail across the floor. Suddenly, her feet stopped. “If we cross at R
eynosa, we can be back in six hours. My father has agreed to take the guys fishing this morning. We should just go and get this knocked out while they’re fishing.”
I pulled my knees to my chest. Fear and dread were playing tug-of-war with my heart. “Is your mom going with us?”
Cenia nodded. “Yes. She knows her way around San Fernando far better than I do. Besides, this event is like a rite of passage. My mom wants to see me in the dress and help me get ready for the portrait.”
“Does your father know we’re going?” I asked. I was curious as to whether Alejandro was a coconspirator or an unwitting accomplice.
Cenia put her finger to her lips as someone walked by the room. She joined me back on the bed. “Yes. My father knows we’re going, but my mother has sworn him to secrecy. He’s supposed to be rounding the guys up now. As soon as they leave, we can head out.”
I eyed Cenia’s wet hair as I threw the covers aside. “Okay. If you’re done in the bathroom, I’m going to take a quick shower. Do you have everything you need? Makeup, dress, shoes, veil...?”
Cenia nodded. “My mom has all my wedding clothes stashed inside her bedroom. We’ll haul everything out to the car after the guys leave.”
I sank onto the floor as I began digging through my suitcase. “What are you wearing to the appointment?”
The door creaked as Cenia peeked out into the hallway. “A sundress.”
“Okay. I’ll meet you in the kitchen in twenty minutes.” I pulled an azure blue chiffon dress from the suitcase, grabbed my makeup bag, and followed her out the door. Cenia ducked into her parents’ bedroom when I stepped inside the bathroom.
I showered quickly, dusted a thin layer of makeup over my face, dried and curled my hair. I paused briefly in front of the full length mirror to ensure my new dress wasn’t too short. The filmy sky-blue dress fell halfway to my knees. While the dress was fairly shapeless, the long split sleeves made it look incredibly romantic.
I stashed my pajamas, makeup, and curling iron back inside my suitcase; grabbed my cell phone, purse, and sandals; and hurried toward the kitchen.
Cenia’s mom handed me a cup of coffee. “Buenas dias. Has dormido bien? Did you sleep well?”
I smiled. “Si. Muy bien, gracias.” I set the coffee on the breakfast bar so I could fasten the straps on my sandals. “Have the guys left yet?”
Cenia set a plate next to the coffee cup. She had piled a warm tortilla, eggs, beans, shredded cheese, and pico de gallo onto the plate. “Yes. They left ten minutes ago. We’ve already loaded everything into the car, so we can head out as soon as you’re done eating.”
I dug into the Huevos Rancheros. “Thanks for fixing breakfast.”
Isabel handed me a glass of juice. “Oh, it’s nothing, really. Just something to tide you over until Cenia has her pictures taken. We can go out to lunch in San Fernando while we’re waiting for the photographer to develop the pictures and frame the portrait. I know the perfect place.”
I sampled the juice. “This is delicious! What is this?”
Cenia laughed. “It’s fresh squeezed orange juice from the oranges out back.”
I stared at the glass. “Wow. That tastes nothing like the stuff I buy from the grocery store. This is really good.” I downed the juice and finished eating breakfast while Cenia and her mom gathered snacks, bottled water, and the camera. I carried my dishes to the sink. “Aren’t you going to style your hair?” I asked Cenia while quickly washing the dishes.
She grabbed a dish towel and dried my plate. “I have an appointment at a hair salon in San Fernando at ten. They’re doing my hair and makeup before we see the photographer. The two businesses are located right across the street from one another.”
“Are you girls ready?” Isabel asked. “The sooner we leave the better.”
I dried my hands. “I’m ready.”
“Me too,” Cenia replied. She handed me my purse. “Do you have your passport?”
I glanced inside my purse. “Yep! It’s right here.”
I followed Isabel and Cenia out of the house. I was digging the cell phone out of my purse when I ran into Cenia. She had stopped abruptly in front of me. “Did you forget something?” I asked, looking up from the purse.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Roger asked. His tone was anything but casual. My eyes widened. Roger and Kadyn were leaning against Isabel’s car with their arms folded across their chests.
“I… I thought you were fishing,” Isabel stammered. She glanced down the street, looking for Alejandro’s truck.
“Your husband is siding with us,” Roger explained. “Alejandro dropped us off at the end of the block so we could discuss your plans. I believe he’s gone to the butcher to get the meat for the rehearsal dinner. He may be awhile.”
Kadyn’s eyes captured and held mine. “Really, Kri? What were you thinking?”
Heat flushed my cheeks. I was too embarrassed to respond. I glanced at Cenia and her mom. They looked heartbroken. I suspected this was one of those situations where the maid of honor was supposed to step up and advocate for the bride. I took a deep breath, folded my arms across my chest, and steeled myself for battle. “Look, guys, we appreciate your concern for our safety, but this is a family tradition. With or without you, we’re driving to San Fernando to get Cenia’s portrait made. She is not going to be the first woman in her family to break a hundred year tradition.” I had no clue how old Cenia’s grandmother was, but I figured my hundred year estimate was close enough. Arguably, I was just rounding up.
Roger and Kadyn exchanged glances.
I stepped forward, purposely positioning myself between the two opposing camps. I forced my arms and legs to relax as I softened my stance. I glanced pleadingly at Roger. “I think we’d all feel better about this if you joined us. You can go out to lunch or go sightseeing while we’re getting Cenia’s picture taken, so you won’t see Cenia in her dress.”
“Kri...” Cenia began. I knew she was about to object.
I offered her an equally pleading look. “We’ll have them wrap the portrait up really well, so Roger won’t see the picture. The dress is still concealed in the garment bag, right?”
Cenia and her mother exchanged glances. “Yes,” Isabel conceded.
“Good. Then Roger won’t be able to see the dress. I want them to come. They’ll feel better about the trip, we’ll feel better about the trip, and we’ll be much safer with them around.” I glanced at Roger. “Please, Roger? This is really important to Cenia and her mom.”
He shot Kadyn a tortured look. “How am I supposed to respond to that?”
Kadyn sighed. “I think it’s as good a compromise as we’re going to get.”
Cenia and her mom sprinted toward the car.
Kadyn snagged Cenia’s arm. “Hold up. We’re not driving to Mexico in this car.”
“Why not? What’s wrong with my car?” Isabel exclaimed.
Kadyn shook his head. “Your vehicle is too nice. Cars like that get targeted by the cartels. We’ll drive your husband’s van.”
Cenia’s eyes widened. “My father’s work van? You’ve got to be kidding. I don’t even know if the air conditioning works in that thing.”
“We’re taking the van, or we’re not going,” Roger announced decidedly.
Cenia and I exchanged glances. “It’s better than not going at all,” I admitted, shrugging my shoulders softly.
Cenia’s mom pulled the garment bag from the car. “I’ll drive the van. The air conditioning works just fine.”
I grabbed the shopping bag with Cenia’s shoes, undergarments, and veil; and the five of us piled into the van. Isabel claimed the steering wheel, Cenia sat in the front seat next to her, and I climbed into the back with the two brooding men. Lucky me.
My thumbs flew over my phone as I shot Rafael a quick text. I didn’t know if my phone would work in Mexico. Heading into Mexico with Cenia, Kadyn, and Roger. Will text when we cross back into the U.S. Should be no later than three o-clock.
Be safe, Rafael promptly texted back. Meeting with the mayor didn’t go well. Trying to win the homeowners over now.
I tucked the phone into my purse with a small sigh of disappointment. The van was quiet. Every single one of my friends was staring sullenly out the window.
There was a long line of cars waiting to get through U.S. Customs, which was located on the other side of the road. The line extended all the way across the bridge into Reynosa. There were no cars waiting to get into Mexico. I glanced over my shoulder. There wasn’t a single car behind us.
“I need your passports,” Isabel said as she crossed over the bridge. We placed the passports on the center console while she lowered her window. She greeted the customs officer from Mexico in Spanish before offering him the passports. He shook his head and waved us through. Isabel set the passports on the center console and continued on into Reynosa.
“He didn’t even look at the passports,” I noted incredulously.
“They’re not trying to keep people out,” Cenia replied.
“Or in,” Kadyn grumbled. He handed me my passport.
I tucked it back inside my purse. A shiver ran through me when I began scrutinizing the battered town. “So what’s the deal with the cartels? Are they really fighting this close to the border?”
Kadyn nodded. “There have been a number of gun fights between the cartels here in Reynosa; one at a supermarket, one in the plaza, and another at a local university. Those are just the ones I’m aware of. I’m sure there have been others.”
I glanced back outside the window. “Is San Fernando any better?”
“San Fernando is worse,” Isabel replied. “We’re not staying any longer than we have to.”
“I’m just glad the photographer can develop the film and finish the portrait today, so we don’t have to come back,” Cenia added.