“Well, I started making breakfast. But you woke up before I finished the tea. And I know you want tea, because you were talking in your sleep again.”
“What did I say this time?”
“He’s perfect, or he would be if he made tea,” he teased.
“Really?”
“No,” his expression grew serious. “You just kept saying, “holy.””
“Huh,” Vanessa rubbed her hand over her face and yawned with her mouth closed. “You know, I never told you about my shrine last night. I’ll be back in a minute.” Vanessa padded to the restroom. On the way back, she stopped by the shrine to retrieve a few items, which she brought to the table.
While she was gone, Javier had set out waffles, syrup, and butter, as well as the blue bowl of fruit. Steaming mugs of tea with honey and cream sat next to their plates.
Vanessa inhaled the steam rising from her mug. “You remembered.”
“Of course.”
Overcome with hunger, Vanessa laid the shrine objects to the side and joined Javier at the table. They would have plenty of time in the days ahead to talk about mementos of grace. She did not want them to distract her from experiencing grace in the moment.
Javier poured maple syrup over a waffle and tasted it. “These are good, but…” he smiled, a teasing look in his eyes.
“But?” Vanessa teased back.
“I think you promised that you would make cinnamon rolls for me?”
“I did. But you will have to wait for winter, or at least autumn. Baking weather. We can make them together.” They smiled. Vanessa’s vision of the future arced to include the certainty of Javier, and she found that she liked the change.
“Speaking of seasons, what do you think of an autumn wedding?” Javier asked casually. He wrapped his lips around a slice of plum seductively as he watched her for her answer.
“Yes, please. Fall colors are my favorite,” Vanessa grinned impishly, thinking of how perfectly October would suit the long, wine-hued silk dress hiding in her closet. “I could wear late roses in my hair, or carry them in a bouquet, at any rate. I’ll let the ladies decide that one. Perla and Gabi are the gardeners.”
“I would like to have an afternoon wedding so that I can see you in the golden hour before sunset. You are already radiant to me, of course. The camera will notice what I always see, on an autumn afternoon.”
“October?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll need to call the ladies to let them know.”
“And we can put it on our blog.”
“Right,” Vanessa smiled, remembering Javier’s proposal, and her proposed time frame for intimacy. She laughed with joy and at herself.
“What is it, mi amor?”
“Two things. One, I’m happy,” she squeezed his hand. “Two, for not wanting to sleep together yet, we sure have slept together a lot.”
“And you’re worried that we won’t be able to stop ourselves?”
“I wouldn’t say I’m worried. I’m just thinking that we need to vary our location a bit, get ourselves out of the orbit of my couch. Besides, if we’re going to pull off a wedding within two months, I’m going to have to turn this place into a mission-control center.”
Javier laughed and nodded, “I can live with that. Why don’t we stay tonight at my place? My couch is not so relaxing,” he teased.
“Your place,” she smiled at the unexplored possibilities. “Your parents!” Vanessa suddenly remembered. “This will come as a shock to them,” she indicated their joined hands, where her ring sparkled. “They must know about the separation.”
“No, they’ll just be happy. I never told them about the misunderstanding. We didn’t see each other much after Mary went into labor. Mami and Papi stayed with old friends of the family who have a farm just north of town. Mami never passes up the opportunity to be around chickens. She loves those birds, but they can only keep a small flock in their garden at home.”
“Your parents raise chickens?”
“Yes. Here,” Javier pulled out his smartphone and navigated around a bit, “this is Mami’s favorite, Bea the Pea.”
“How did you make a cell phone photo of a hen look so good?”
“Photography is my hobby.”
“The scrapbooks,” Vanessa nodded, remembering the details of the previous night’s conversation.
“All my photos,” Javier smiled.
“Those photos are why I fell in love with you. I felt weird about it at first, but now I guess it just makes sense. You were speaking to me through them all along.”
“I think I know what we can do today,” Javier smiled. “But first we have to go to my place to pick up my camera. In my rush to ask you to marry me, I ran off without it.”
“You want to photograph me?”
“Yes, and I want to photograph us.”
The picture of Bea the Pea disappeared from Javier’s phone and was replaced by a notice of an incoming call from “Mami.” Vanessa gestured that it was okay for him to answer it. She played with her ring in the light from the kitchen window while Javier shared the good news with his mother and agreed to his mother’s plan to meet them for dinner. He stroked Vanessa’s arm while he listened to his mother, a wide smile on his face. When he hung up, he kissed Vanessa’s fingers, admiring the effect of the ring on her hand.
“I knew this was the ring for you, Vanessa. It has the right flash to compliment your spirit.”
“I really like it,” Vanessa made a wave with her fingers. “Understatement.”
“Papi will be happy. It belonged to his favorite Aunt Maribel. She was a Bohemian.”
“I look forward to hearing about her.”
“Mami and Papi insisted on driving up to congratulate me in person. I would love for you to come to dinner with us this evening, but I do not know your work schedule.”
“Thanks. I would love to join you. As it happens, you are not the only one who had hopes for this weekend. I filled in for a couple of the other bartenders this week so I could take tonight off.”
Vanessa showered and dressed in another of her new skirts, this one patterned in dark red silhouettes of chickens on bicycles on a light grey background. She topped it with a white cotton tank and a deep red crocheted sweater. The mirror showed her a woman radiantly happy. She wiggled her toes and smiled at her reflection. Then she opened the closet and pulled out two more of the new skirts and a couple of coordinating tees. Along with fresh underthings, her least sexy pajamas and her robe, she tossed them into her smaller foraging backpack.
“I think I’ll bring Jesus along to keep us honest,” Vanessa announced as she walked out of the bedroom, toting the glowing figurine. Javier replied with a suggestive smile and brow raise. He was wearing a bright blue apron with red polka dotted ruffles, loading the dishwasher. “Oh, that suits you.”
“The apron or doing the dishes?”
“Both. Is this a habit of yours, doing dishes?”
“My philosophy is that surprise breakfasts include clean up.”
“You get better and better, the more I know of you,” Vanessa reached up and hugged his neck and kissed him. He had a plate in one hand and forks in the other, so she made the kiss brief.
“The one thing I wasn’t sure about is the silverware. Dishwasher, or hand wash?” he held up the utensils in two wet hands.
“Seriously, you are going to have to just stop talking full stop if we’re going to leave here without jumping into bed. It’s enough that you’re smart and sexy and beautiful and talented and romantic and good, but caring about my silver? Mmm-mmm,” Vanessa took the silver from his hands and set it on the counter. He wrapped his arms around her, and they held one another close, kissing tenderly. Vanessa made a small contented noise and leaned back. “Let’s finish these dishes and go play outside before it gets too hot.”
They spent the day wandering through Duke Gardens and the Nasher Museum. Javier said that the next best light besides the sun at the beginning and end of a day
was found at art galleries. Vanessa grew confident under the gaze of Javier’s camera. She even suggested a few shots in the art museum. They posed with a medieval statue of Jesus for Carla’s sake. Javier pretended to face off with a luchador in a Mexican American photography exhibit for Gabi. When the sun grew lower in the sky, they returned to the garden for a few more photos of them as a couple. Javier said they would be perfect for the engagement announcement on the blog. Vanessa thought they would be perfect because they showed that her happiness was real.
“Mami and Papi are meeting us at Old Havana. Mami’s friends said the food is great, plus a lot of it is locally sourced.” They were in Javier’s car driving into downtown. The air between them smelled freshly green from all of their time spent outdoors.
“Oh, yes. Marian and Carla love that place, too. I’ve had their pastries, but I’ve been wanting to try their main dishes.”
“I’m sure the food will be great, and I’m glad you get to talk with Mami and Papi. You will like each other. But I confess, I’m eager for afterward. I have a bit of a surprise planned for us.”
Vanessa thought of their first date. “Well, you know I like surprises. But after our long day, I may not be up for more lemurs.”
“You’re hunting for clues,” Javier said impassively.
“Come on. Just one hint?”
“It’s not lemurs.”
“Fine. Don’t say. I’m going to be completely distracted when I meet your parents tonight. If they think I’m ditsy, you’ll have yourself to blame.” She stuck her nose in the air, but the charade did not last long.
Javier grinned impishly, relenting. “Very well. I’ll keep my plans to myself until after dinner.” He lifted her hand to his lips without taking his eyes from the road. “Don’t worry about talking with my parents. They like to read, they like to garden, and they like people. If you are at a loss for words, just ask about one of those subjects.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Vanessa smiled, a thrill running up her arm from where Javier stroked her hand. They pulled into a parking space across the street from the restaurant, and Javier kissed the hand again. “Just don’t get upset if I turn to goo if you keep touching my hand like that.”
Chapter Sixteen
Family Planning
Vanessa, so good to see you!” Javier’s parents rose from their seats when she approached the table. They each hugged her before sitting.
“Mani tells us that you have made him the happiest man in the world already. I’m glad you could make some time to see us today, so we might share the joy as well,” Papi said warmly.
“Yes, I know you would probably rather be holed up with him somewhere, celebrating,” Mami said with a good-humored directness. “But as much as I want grandchildren, I think it’s nice to have a little break to meet the old folks as well.”
Javier chuckled. Vanessa choked on her water and coughed.
“Rosa, be gentle with her. She doesn’t know our sense of humor yet,” Papi smiled encouragingly to Vanessa.
“Speaking of sense of humor, did y’all pass that statue down the street on the way here?” Mami interjected.
“Statue?” Vanessa knit her brows. “The Confederate soldier statue? No, we came another way.”
“Well, you ought to look him over when you leave, if you’re not in too much of a hurry to be alone again,” Mami teased.
“Why?” Javier smiled impishly. Vanessa had the fleeting thought that if their children looked like their father, they would get away with an awful lot of mischief. His mother gave way almost instantly when he grinned.
“Well. Somebody dressed him up. What do you call it, Edgardo? Yarn pirates?”
“Yarn bombing.”
“Yes. Somebody yarn bombed him. He’s wearing a Viking hat and toting a huge crocheted banjo.”
Vanessa and Javier looked at one another and burst out laughing.
“Friends of yours?” Javier asked when the laughter had subsided.
“I’m pretty sure, yes. I wondered why Squeak said she left her banjo behind. They must have gone back after they dropped me off.”
Javier’s parents raised their eyebrows in polite question.
“Vanessa won me over from a bout of foolishness through honorable lucha libre,” Javier’s supple lips tried not to smile as he gave this information.
“Well, that’s as it should be,” Mami said in a mock matter-of-fact tone, smiling only with her eyes. “And?” she prodded.
“Her luchadora name is,” here he leaned in and whispered, “Banjopera, banjo plus opera.”
“Ah,” Mami said. “And someone you know celebrated,” she grinned.
“Well, you may have won the match, my dear, but my son has won the real prize,” Papi smiled, causing Vanessa’s smile to broaden. “I see the ring fits. Do you like it? It belonged to my Great Aunt Maribel. She was a Bohemian in New York in the nineteen twenties and thirties. She emigrated from Argentina after the first war. I wish you could have known her. Aunt Mari had such a spirit, and a laugh to make a room vibrate! Mani says you have something of her energy.”
“Thank you,” she looked from Papi to Javier and back. “I love the ring, but I have a feeling I’m going to like the stories around it even more.” Vanessa rubbed the back of the band with her left thumb. “Is the ring from Argentina as well?”
“Oh, no. Maribel received it in 1922, from her lover Solomon. He was a painter from a family of jewelers, and she was his model. She always said that ring was why she would not be Sol’s mistress. It was nicer than the one he gave his wife, and Maribel did not truck with such disorderliness.”
“She sounds like quite a forceful personality,” Vanessa chuckled.
“Oh, she was. Samuel and Mani used to argue over who got to have the ring after she passed.”
“Is Samuel married?” Vanessa asked.
“Who? Our Sam? No, he’s far too busy dating all the eligible young women that his patients set him up with. He’s not like our Mani here, who kept an eye out for the right lady and brought her home as soon as he might,” Mami’s eyes twinkled. “At least, I assume he has brought you home.”
“Javier tells me you like books,” Vanessa said, changing the subject.
Mami looked blankly for a moment. “Oh, yes. You call Mani by his first name. All of the oldest boys in the family are named Javier for their first name, so I am unused to hearing it. My sister-in-law Cecilia calls my Edgardo by that name, you know.” She paused a moment, switching course. “But, yes, I like books. I love classics, best sellers, mysteries, romances. When the boys were young, I focused on my old favorites and Pulitzer winners, because I could only read a book per week then. Retirement has allowed me to cast the net wide again. Who is your favorite author, Vanessa?”
“I like a lot of modern literary fiction, but Jane Austen is the one to whose works I return. I read all of the novels except Northanger Abbey at least once a year.”
“Then I understand why you like Mani,” Mami looked at her son with undisguised pride.
Vanessa agreed wholeheartedly, and, feeling as though she had passed a test, she relaxed.
“Has our son sung for you yet?” Papi asked after they had given their orders.
“No, but I’m eager to hear him. This ‘banjopera’ sounds intriguing.”
“Your take on my style was rather impressive,” Javier whispered. His parents did not hear him over the low, happy hum of the restaurant.
“My advice is, get him to write you a song. You won’t regret it,” Papi gesticulated as he spoke. Vanessa found his ease comforting and grinned, listening encouragingly. “Ever since they were little boys, Mani and Samuel have written songs for their mother and me. Mani was the ringleader, of course. You want to know how he really feels, get him to make something up.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” Vanessa smiled politely at Papi, raised an eyebrow at Javier. Javier cast her a smoldering look from under his brows, so that she had to look away to maintain her conce
ntration. Mami and Papi seemed to notice the exchange and looked on with amused expressions. Vanessa groped for a new thought, but all she could remember was the picture of the chicken on Javier’s phone. “Tell me about Bea the Pea,” she said at last. “That’s an unusual name for a hen.”
“Oh, Bea is an unusual hen,” Mami warmed to the subject. “She won’t lay unless her hay is perfectly smooth, but then she will lay two eggs a day. She’s a princess, that one. “The Princess and the Pea.”
Vanessa laughed and listened with interest to Mami’s descriptions of the rest of the flock. The women grew loquacious. Papi had to intervene with a reminder of the time when the two got going on the subject of sewing and nearly let the food grow cold before they ate it. Dinner passed pleasantly, with each woman agreeing within herself that family life once Vanessa and Javier were married would be happier than ordinary mortals deserved. Javier they exempted, since they both loved him enough to know that he deserved every happiness. Only the closing of the restaurant and the promise of meeting in a couple of weeks to advance wedding plans kept them brief on the subject of the upcoming nuptials.
“You were right,” Vanessa told Javier when they were back in the car.
“You loved them, right? And they loved you, too,” he smiled.
“That, yes. But I was talking about the surprise. I’m glad you didn’t tell me. After a perfect meal, it’s nice to have more to look forward to.”
“You won’t have to wait for long,” Javier grinned and drove the few blocks to a parking deck. They parked and walked down the sidewalk hand in hand. Vanessa was mooning over Javier, so she did not notice where they were headed until Javier stopped under the billboard outside the Carolina Theatre.
“Casablanca!” Vanessa exclaimed when she read the bright marquee. She had forgotten about the show entirely after the night of the launch party.
Javier purchased tickets and guided her into the theater with a hand on her lower back. They sat as close as they could get in the old-fashioned velvet seats, and Vanessa rested her head on Javier’s shoulder. He was so wonderful, and the movie was so beautiful, and he was not even talking during the film as he had threatened to do. Vanessa was completely happy, content, and asleep. An ancient man with a broom cleared his throat loudly by Javier’s side.
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