by Sarah Price
At the door, Alecia turned to Amanda and placed her hands on the young woman’s shoulders. She spared her a soft smile and leaned forward to kiss her cheeks. “You keep my son the way you see him . . . as a good man, sí?”
Alejandro made a noise, and Amanda didn’t have to look to know that he was rolling his eyes. She never broke her gaze with his mother as she nodded. “I will try,” she said truthfully, although she wasn’t certain whether that was possible. Clearly, Alecia had a different perspective of Alejandro than Amanda did, a perspective that came from years of knowing her only son.
“That’s a good girl,” Alecia said, a slight smile on her lips. One last time, she turned to Alejandro. Waving a finger at him, she scowled. “Remember what I said! No ruining this!”
“Ay, Mami,” he groaned, rolling his eyes again.
His mother reached up and pressed her hand against his cheek. “And you!” she said firmly. “You call your madre more, sí?” She kissed him on the lips, a maternal gesture that surprised Amanda. Then she turned and walked away, heading for the stairs without so much as a “good night” to the rest of the family.
He was silent on the ride back home. Amanda gave him that time to reflect and think. She knew that it had been a strenuous day for him and he needed to be alone. She wondered if he would retreat to his studio when they returned home or if he would disappear into the Miami nightlife as he so often did. She sensed he needed relief from the stress of the day.
Back at the condo, he was still deep in thought as he went into the living room. She stood in the doorway, watching him as he went to the bar and poured himself a drink. Vodka and cranberry. He hesitated, then poured a second one and carried it over to her. She was just about to shake her head and refuse the glass, but he wasn’t paying attention, and she took it, not wanting to upset him.
Lifting his drink into the air, he toasted her. “Here is to you, Princesa,” he said, his face drawn and stressed. “To the only woman who has broken through my mother’s shell of resistance.” In one motion, he swallowed half of the drink and turned away from her, walking over toward the sofa to sit down. He held the glass in his one hand and raised his other hand to rub at his eyes. “Dios mío,” he mumbled.
Confused, Amanda stepped into the room, wondering whether she should just retire to her bedroom. She had never seen him like this, tough and hard, fierce and emotionless. She wondered whether this was the real Alejandro or if it was just the result of having spent time with his mother and extended family.
“What’s wrong?” she quietly asked.
He sighed, sipping again at his drink before he leaned forward and set it down on the glass coffee table. “Nada, Princesa. Nothing is wrong.”
“But you seem upset . . .”
He shook his head and forced a weak smile for her. “Just the opposite,” he said. “I have never been happier.”
She didn’t quite believe him.
After a few minutes of silence, he gestured for her to join him on the sofa. She obliged, setting the untouched drink on the table next to his. He reached for her hand and lifted it to his lips, softly kissing her fingertips. “You are perfect, Amanda,” he started, immediately silencing her protests with his other hand. “You win everyone over. It’s an art that took me years to perfect.”
His words worried her. She had never tried to win anyone over. She was always just herself, behaving as she was raised to be: honest and truthful. Did he think it was an act?
“I have worked very hard to build this image,” he continued. “To get all of this.” He gestured absentmindedly with his hand, indicating the room and everything in it. Yet, she knew that wasn’t what he meant. It was much more than his penthouse condominium. It was the wealth, the adoration of fans, the image. “There is a lot at risk,” he admitted. “I hadn’t counted on getting sidetracked.”
“I don’t understand,” she confessed, wishing with all of her might that she could help him. But his words didn’t make sense to her. What did the evening at his mother’s house have to do with his career?
“No, I imagine you don’t,” he said, sighing one last time. He kissed the back of her hand again and stood up, lifting her to her feet. He reached down and caressed her cheek. “I suppose it’s time for you to retire, no? It has been a long day, and I must go out for a while. I won’t be home late tonight as I have some recordings scheduled for tomorrow. But the following day, I have a surprise for you.”
The change in his demeanor, the rapid way he could release his dark mood of reflection and deep thought to return to his regular self, startled her.
“A surprise?”
“Sí,” he said. “You get up early and pack your bathing suit and a pretty dress. We are going on an adventure!” He kissed the top of her head and walked her toward the stairs. “It will be a day that you will not forget, I promise,” he said. “A day to make up for today.”
She wanted to tell him that she had enjoyed the day, despite the tension between Alejandro and his mother. She had enjoyed meeting his family and answering their questions about her background that was so very different from theirs. She had even enjoyed the music and the food, so spicy and different from what she was used to. But he didn’t give her the opportunity as he turned and retreated back toward the front door.
Minutes later, she heard the engine of the car start and the wheels peel out of the driveway.
Chapter Seventeen
When she walked downstairs, she was surprised to see him, standing in the kitchen and giving directions to Señora Perez. They were speaking in Spanish and laughing as he pointed to things in the pantry and refrigerator, while the older woman moved about the kitchen.
“Buenos días, mamacita!” he exclaimed when he saw her. He was wearing all white, from his shirt down to his shoes. He rushed to embrace her in a big, warm hug, the comforting feeling of his arms around her a welcome greeting.
“Gut mariye to you, too.” She couldn’t help but laugh at his joyful mood. Considering how hard he worked, Amanda knew that he must be tired, especially since it was so early in the morning—at least for Alejandro.
To her surprise, he held her at arm’s length and studied her, his blue eyes traveling the length of her body. “You are ready, no?” he asked, gesturing to the baskets and coolers on the counter.
“For what?”
“Your surprise!” he answered, his arms spread out as he spun around. She loved watching him, the way that the motion of his body was so fluid and supple. She could watch him for hours and often found herself envious of his ability to move. “Today,” Alejandro announced, “today is your day, Princesa!”
She stood at the counter, her fingers tapping on the granite, trying not to smile at his exuberance. Today was no different from any other day, as far as she was concerned. And, while she remembered that he had mentioned a surprise, she certainly didn’t expect him to make such a fuss. “My day?” she asked. “Why?”
With a mischievous smile, he placed his hands on her shoulders. Just his touch was enough to make her light-headed. “You will see! Today, Amanda, is about you,” he said. “You and me! We spend the day together. No cell phones. No people. Nothing but you and me.”
That was something different. She wanted to argue that she didn’t need that, that she knew he was so busy. But the thought of having him alone, to herself, with no technology or people to interrupt them, intrigued her.
The previous day, she hadn’t seen him at all. For the most part, she had spent the day alone, gardening in the morning and reading all afternoon. She had received several texts from him—little messages to let her know that he was thinking of her as he recorded a new song. Needed it completed before his next round of concerts.
Still, when suppertime came and went, she had been surprised, if not mildly disappointed, that he hadn’t returned home yet. A text at nine o’clock informed her that he was wrapping t
hings up and she shouldn’t wait up for him. A long day indeed, and she had missed him.
“Ja vell,” she said demurely. “That might be right nice, spending the entire day together.”
He laughed and reached out to hug her, spinning her around in the kitchen, oblivious to Señora Perez’s eyes. “Ay, Dios,” he said, holding her close.
With her cheek pressed against his shoulder, Amanda inhaled and could smell the musky scent of his cologne and she shut her eyes, just enjoying his affection and attention. She didn’t even care if Señora Perez saw.
“Today is a day meant for us!” He was jovial, laughing and happy in a way that she hadn’t seen before. It was as if he felt a newfound freedom. And Amanda was only too happy to enjoy it with him.
They left the building in a town car, Rodriego helping to carry the baskets and coolers downstairs to the trunk. Alejandro held her hand as he led her to the car, opening the door for her to get in before he settled next to her. When the car took off, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in close, kissing the top of her head.
“Are you ready for a fabulous day, Princesa?” He clapped his hands and then pumped his fists in the air. “Fabulous! Just for you!”
Amanda laughed at his enthusiasm. “I would be if I knew where we are going!”
They headed toward the sun, which had already risen over the Atlantic Ocean. The drive was short, and the air began to take on a different quality. It was cleaner and tasted of salt. The ocean. Amanda pulled away from Alejandro and leaned against the door, peering outside as the great Atlantic Ocean and miles of pristine beaches appeared.
She felt his hand on her shoulder, gently rubbing her back, and she glanced back at him. “We are going to the beach?” she asked.
“We are going to the ocean,” he responded, correcting her.
“Then we are going to the beach?” she said, laughing at the twinkle in his eye and mischievous grin on his face. But he didn’t respond, merely took his sunglasses out of his pocket and slid them on his face. He shifted his hips and reached into his pocket for something, then in a fluid motion, turned to look out the window while handing her something. She looked down at his hand and saw an oblong-shaped black box. “What’s this?”
“Open it,” he said, his voice flat and commanding.
She took the box and did as he told her. Sunglasses. Dolce & Gabbana. She pulled them out and laughed when she saw that they were black with an animal print on the temples. “Do I need these, then?”
“Sí,” he said, still looking out the window, but she could tell that he was smiling.
Ten minutes later, they pulled into the driveway of a marina. The wooden docks were surrounded with boats, dozens of boats. Each one dipped and bobbed as the water lapped against its hull. Some were plain fishing vessels; others were large sailboats with their tall masts wrapped in sail covers. Farther out on the docks were larger boats, floating houses with double decks and lounge chairs in the back.
“Are we going sailing?” she asked, clapping her hands like a child. “I’ve never gone on a boat! Oh, Alejandro!” She reached out and touched his arm, his skin warm beneath her fingers. “This is so exciting! A sailboat!” Then she gasped. “Is it safe? Do you know how to drive a sailboat?”
“Drive a sailboat?” he repeated, amused by her choice of words. “¡Ay, mamicita!” He wrapped his arm around her neck, chuckling as he pulled her toward his shoulder and gave her a hug. “You are deliciosa, Princesa! Simply deliciosa!”
When the car stopped, the driver stepped out and hurried to open the back door for them. Alejandro helped her out of the backseat and said something in Spanish to the driver, who nodded and moved toward the trunk. Several men, dressed in shorts with white-collared shirts, hurried over, smiling as they greeted Alejandro.
“Mr. Diaz!” one man said, reaching out to shake Alejandro’s hand. “Everything is ready! Just as you instructed.”
“¡Bueno!”
The man glanced at Amanda. “May I have an introduction, sir?”
“But of course!” Alejandro took a step to the side and gestured toward Amanda. “Princesa, this is Captain Charles.”
The man extended his hand toward her and bowed, just slightly, from the waist. “My pleasure, Ms. Beiler.”
Hesitantly, Amanda accepted his hand, shaking it before quickly stepping backward to stand behind Alejandro. The surroundings, so unusual and surreal, made her feel small and insignificant. Such a world that existed, she thought. A world so different from Lancaster County!
In her youth, she had read about boats in stories at school. She knew about travel by sea from reading the Bible. Jesus preached to the masses in the Sea of Galilee from a boat in order for all to hear. He had even calmed a storm when his disciples were terrified that the boat would capsize and sink. She had imagined small boats, boats made of cypress wood and used for fishing. She also knew that some of her parents’ friends took cruises on large ocean liners, being one of the forms of travel permitted by most bishops. But she had never imagined standing in a marina, a captain greeting her, and preparing to go sailing for the day.
So when Alejandro led her along the docks and around the sailboats, she wanted to ask why he was passing them. Instead of asking, she followed him, staring at the different vessels and admiring the tall masts and listening to the gentle lapping of the water as it caressed the hulls.
He stopped at the end of the farthest dock, in front of a massive boat. It had three levels with two back decks for sunbathing. It was long, longer than her father’s dairy barn. The sides gleamed white, and two flags hung from the back: one the American flag and one with five stripes in blue and white, a single red triangle, and a lone white star. Along the back were two words painted in black: Viper’s Nest.
She gasped. “Is this . . . ?”
He laughed, delighted with her reaction. “Let’s get on board, and I’ll show you around, Amanda.”
Taking her hand, he led her up the gangway to the back deck and through the sliding glass door into the salon. She gasped when she walked through, amazed to see white carpet covering the floor and dark, shiny wood paneling surrounding the walls of a full living room and dining room. There were big bouquets of flowers on the table, exotic flowers that looked like the faces of birds.
The kitchen had granite countertops and a small built-in eating area. There was a full refrigerator, sink, and stove for cooking meals. The floor in the kitchen was hardwood stained a deep cherry, similar to the paneling in the other rooms.
He made her follow him up a curving staircase that led to a foyer with three doors. She peeked inside the two doors to the left and saw that they were small bedrooms. The door to the right, however, opened to a large master suite with a king-sized bed that dominated the room. The far side of the room consisted of a sitting area, while the near side accommodated a mahogany desk and some bookshelves along the wall closest to the door.
“Alejandro,” she whispered.
It was magnificent; she had no words to express what she was feeling. It was overwhelming to stand in the middle of this amazing yacht. She couldn’t even imagine what it cost, not just to buy but also to maintain.
“You like, sí?”
She didn’t know how to respond. It was impressive, true. But she wasn’t certain if she liked it. She felt small and far too plain amid such opulence. “I’m not sure,” she admitted truthfully.
Her reaction caused him to laugh, and he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tight to his chest. “That’s one of my favorite things about you, mi amor. Where others would be so impressed, you find yourself questioning it, no?” He kissed the top of her head before he released her. Then, clapping his hands, he motioned toward the door. “Let’s go. They will bring our things in so that we can relax. Once they get started, you can change here, if you’d like.”
He started walking down the stai
rs, and she followed, careful to hold on to the railing so that she didn’t fall.
“Where are we going?”
He walked over to the refrigerator and opened it, pulling out a bottle of water and handing it to her. “The Bahamas,” he said casually.
“Where is that?”
He laughed and pulled out his own bottle of water. “The islands. I want to take you swimming in the crystal-blue water of the Bahamas, Princesa.” He twisted off the top of the water bottle and set it on the counter. “We won’t be able to go onto the island because you don’t have a passport yet. But we can anchor and swim, have some lunch, before heading back.”
“A passport?”
“Sí, a passport. We will need to get you one at some point.”
She knew what a passport was but never knew anyone who ever needed one, not in her community. International travel? The Amish simply didn’t do it. “For what?”
Alejandro set the bottle of water on the counter as he replied, “To travel to different countries.” Turning, he walked out of the kitchen galley and into the next room, calling out in Spanish for someone.
Amanda frowned. Different countries? She had never imagined traveling to a different country and wasn’t certain she wanted to do something like that. Despite their recent travel the previous week, she wasn’t comfortable flying and would prefer to keep her feet on the soil. American soil.
It took another thirty minutes for the captain and crew to finalize their preparations and start the engines. Left alone, Amanda explored the interior of the yacht, opening cabinets and doors, surprised to find everything stocked with non-perishable items and bottles of wine, liquor, and mixers. Shutting the doors, she glanced around and, in her mind, could envision the parties that must have taken place on the yacht. She could hear the music and see the dancing women in small bikinis surrounded by men in shorts with drinks in their hands. She scowled at the image and wandered outside to the back deck.