Plain Again

by Sarah Price

  “Us?”

  She felt, rather than saw, Alejandro stiffen at the interviewer’s single-word question. “The Amish, I mean.”

  “But you are no longer Amish,” the woman stated.

  “Nee, I’m not,” Amanda admitted. “You can be raised Amish but never join the church. There are cultural Amish, and there are religious Amish. While I have decided to not remain religiously Amish, I’ll always have more than a touch of the cultural upbringing inside me.” She smiled. “Can’t remove that, I reckon.”

  The woman began to wrap up the interview before announcing a short commercial break. Afterward, Amanda knew that Alejandro would perform for the audience and then they would quickly depart the studio for their next appointment. To her relief, she realized that her part in the live show was over, so she relaxed, taking a deep breath as she shifted her eyes from the interviewer to her husband.

  “And where do you go from here, Viper?”

  He reached for Amanda’s hand once again, giving her a gentle squeeze. “After New York, we will be traveling around the country for holiday concerts,” he said, glancing at Amanda just briefly. He paused to smile at her before turning his attention back to the camera. “But as long as we are together, wherever we are is home.”

  This time, it was Amanda who felt herself stiffen at his announcement. He knew that she had to return to her parents’ farm, that Anna and her husband were only visiting for a few weeks. She had no choice but to leave him in order to help her daed and mamm. As far as the holiday concert tour, this was the first she had heard him mention it since her daed’s stroke.

  During the commercial break, Viper briefly walked toward the audience, shaking hands and posing for photos with the people seated in the immediate front of the theater. Amanda made no movement to join him, standing by the side of the stage as she watched Alejandro. His face lit up as he smiled for the cameras, that picture-perfect expression of delight that he had mastered for his fans.

  The stage was a bundle of activity, the stagehands quickly transforming it into a concert setting for Viper’s performance. Amanda turned her attention to watch, amazed at the activity in the studio. Within minutes, everything seemed to change. Men dressed in jeans and black shirts removed the furniture and desk while others set up the sound system and speakers.

  During all of this, Alejandro appeared completely relaxed, ignoring the activity as he interacted with his fans, moving among those seated closest to the stage so that they could take photos with him and shake his hand. At one point, he took a woman’s phone and turned around, snapping a photograph of himself with the woman and the audience behind them. Everyone cheered, and he waved his hand in acknowledgment before returning to the set.

  Amanda stood near the host as the commercial break ended and the red light atop the camera flicked on. They were live.

  “We’re back!” the host said with a big white smile plastered on her face. “And without any further ado, let’s give it up for Viper!”

  Once again, for the second time that morning, Amanda watched as an audience applauded, their cheers wild and loud. The music began to play, and Alejandro transformed into Viper before Amanda’s very eyes. And once again, she found herself transfixed as she watched him dance and sing, pandering to both the cameras and the audience as he did. For a moment, she turned her gaze to the adoring faces of the women in the audience as they stood, mouthing the words to his lyrics and dancing to the music of the songs, their eyes glowing and bodies moving in time to the energizing beat.

  He moved about the stage, singing and dancing, his movement so natural and fluid that she, too, found herself swaying in time to the music. When he glanced over in her direction, pausing just briefly to lower his dark sunglasses and wink at her, the crowd roared in delight and Amanda felt color flood her cheeks. He had such a way of turning every moment into one in which she felt as if she were living in a dream.

  She was silent when the performance ended and the cameras stopped filming, watching him as he thanked the crew before they began to rapidly dismantle everything. Alejandro waved once again to the audience, then after giving the host a warm hug, he grabbed Amanda’s hand and led her out of the studio, pausing a few times to allow some of the crew to take photos with him.

  When they were situated in the backseat of the SUV and headed toward the hotel, Alejandro sighed and removed his glasses, leaning his head back and rubbing at his eyes. “Ay, Dios,” he sighed.

  “Tired, then?” she asked, her voice soft and caring. “Do you have time to rest a spell?”

  He opened his eyes and stared at her, his blue eyes watching her as he reached out and caressed her cheek. “You are so beautiful, Amanda,” he responded, avoiding her question.

  “That wasn’t what I asked.” But she smiled as she answered.

  “Sí, sí,” he murmured, lifting her hand to his lips and brushing it with a soft kiss. “I would like to rest a spell, but only if I have company.”

  She blushed and averted her eyes.

  “Is that a ‘ja,’ Princesa?” he teased, leaning over so that his body was pressed against her shoulder. “I saw you watching me,” he murmured into her ear. “You liked it, sí?”

  “Sí,” she whispered back.

  “I thought so.” He touched the tip of her nose with his finger and smiled before leaning back into the seat. “I saw it in your eyes.” Watching her reaction, he seemed pleased that he had, once again, pushed her outside of her comfort zone. “We have a busy night, Princesa. I think some time alone is in order, but I don’t think rest is on the menu,” he said, his voice low and the intention more than clear. “Too much lost time to make up, sí?”

  She let him pull her into his arms, her cheek pressed against his shoulder as he held her. When he kissed the top of her head, she shut her eyes and took a long, deep breath, enjoying the moment and knowing that, as long as she was with Alejandro, her life was, indeed, a dream. If only, she thought, enjoying his attention as well as the anticipation of an afternoon spent alone with him, I could live this moment forever.

  Chapter Twelve

  Dear Anna,

  I hope this letter finds you well. Please bestow my thoughts, prayers, and well wishes upon the entire family.

  I trust that your journey from Ohio was easy and safe. I understand that you took a bus, rather than the train as we did last spring. I’m sure that was much faster and probably a lot more comfortable.

  So much has happened since then. I often think back to last year and can hardly believe the changes in both of our lives. It will be ever so gut to see you next week and to meet your husband, Jonas. I’m sure that I remember him from church service at the Troyer farm. I seem to remember him staring over our way several times.

  Alejandro is performing in a big parade in New York City tomorrow. I’m not certain how big it is, but everyone seems very excited about it.

  Today he had another morning interview on a television program. I did not accompany him this time, although I did yesterday. He also was on the radio and then worked on a new song. I spent my morning crocheting for a while, waiting for his interview to be aired. It was fun to watch him on the television.

  Tonight we are going to go out to dinner. I sure do miss Mamm’s home-cooked meals. Traveling so much does not allow for home cooking, I reckon. I can’t wait to return to the farm for some of Mamm’s fried chicken and meatballs.

  There is a party tonight, too. So many endless nights. I find it hard to adjust to retiring so late only to have to wake up early. Alejandro does not seem to even notice. He sleeps when he can and never complains.

  I best get going if I want to have the hotel people mail this letter.

  May the Lord bless you and the family, keeping his face shining upon you as he bestows his graciousness upon all of you.

  Amanda

  It was on Wednesday evening when Alejandro surprised her with a single white rose and a gift-wrapped box, all in white with a bow atop it. They were standing in the
living room of their suite at the Peninsula Hotel; Amanda had just emerged from the bedroom, dressed for an evening on the town before the parade the following morning.

  Alejandro stood by the glass table near the window, a drink in his hand as he watched her walk through the doorway. It had been a long day, with more interviews and appearances. In the afternoon, Alejandro had met with several men in the suite, sitting on the sofa and staring at his computer as they played a recent recording of one of his songs. Amanda had taken the time to retreat to their bedroom and, with the doors shut, fell into bed for a late-afternoon nap.

  She wasn’t used to the busy schedule and constant movement between appointments. The crowds were worse than anything she had ever experienced while she had been on the road. Twice, someone had grabbed her arm when they were walking through crowds, and security had to intervene. Alejandro hadn’t noticed, and despite being unnerved by the physical aggressiveness of his fans, she had not told him about those two incidents.

  The constant “on” was exhausting, and she had been thankful for the time alone in the room. It was quiet and peaceful, the curtains drawn and the bed inviting. For a few minutes, she had lain in the king-sized bed with plush pillows and soft sheets, her eyes closed as she tried to make sense of the recent days in New York City with her husband.

  She missed the days in Miami; that was the first thing she realized. When they were in Miami, there had been some semblance of routine and life as a couple. Yes, he had gone out late at night. Yes, he had people stopping by at strange hours. But still, it had been just the two of them and limited crowds.

  She did not care for New York City with the crowded streets and aggressive people. Even though it was beautiful at night with the skyscrapers lit against the dark sky, she only saw the roughness of the screaming crowds wherever they went. She found herself thinking about home. When she realized that the word home conjured images of her parents’ farm, she chastised herself. Home was no longer at the Beiler farm but by Alejandro’s side. She had married him knowing that home would be on the road as much—if not more—as it would be in Miami.

  And that thought disturbed her as she fell into a fitful sleep.

  Now, however, as she stood in the doorway and caught his gaze, she felt ashamed of herself for having been so careless with her thoughts earlier in the day. He wore black pants and a light blue shirt, unbuttoned at the neck. His black jacket was tossed over the back of a dining chair, and the wrapped package sat next to the rose on the tabletop.

  “Qué linda,” he purred, setting down his glass and reaching for the gift and rose. Crossing the room in three easy strides, he reached for her hand. He lifted it above his head and motioned for her to turn around beneath it. “You are lovely as ever, Amanda,” he said approvingly.

  She wore a simple dress, black and pale blue, the colors matching Alejandro’s apparel. The princess cut of the dress accentuated her small waist. The long skirt hugged her hips and flared out, just slightly, above her shoes. If she felt uncomfortable in the high heels and fancy dress, she said nothing. The look in his eyes, so approving and delighted, made up for her discomfort.

  “Still, I think you are missing something, Princesa,” he said teasingly as he handed her the wrapped box.

  Color rose to her cheeks, but she knew better than to argue with him. In her world, presents were for birthdays, and even then, they were practical and useful. She didn’t need to open the box to know that this gift was neither.

  She unwrapped the ribbon and slowly opened the box. He moved behind her, brushing the soft rosebud along the side of her neck. It tickled and she smiled, lifting her shoulder in response to his touch. Inside the box was a beautiful necklace, sparkling with diamonds in a drip fashion on a white-gold chain. She caught her breath and tried to glance over her shoulder at him, but he was leaning against her, his lips touching her neck as he reached over her shoulders for the box.

  “¿Permiso?” he asked, but did not wait for a response before he took the necklace and gently placed it around her neck. His hands lingered on her bare skin, his thumb gently caressing the edge of the necklace, before he turned her around to study her. “Perfecto,” he purred.

  “That’s too much,” she countered, not certain how to respond to such a luxurious gift.

  He laughed, a soft sound, as he leaned down to brush his lips against hers, quieting her demure protest. “Nothing is too much for mi Princesa,” he whispered, pulling her into his arms and pressing her against his body. “Nothing . . .”

  With his arms wrapped around her, Amanda felt safe and secure. The musky scent of his cologne wafted to her nose, and she breathed in deeply, shutting her eyes as she enjoyed the brief moment of intimacy that he had bestowed upon her.

  The knock on the door interrupted them and Alejandro sighed. “Time to go,” he announced, a hint of regret in his voice. “I’d much prefer to savor you alone, Amanda.” He pulled back and touched her chin, tilting her face toward his. “But that is not to be tonight, no?” Without waiting for an answer, he leaned down to kiss her, a soft and sweet kiss, before he moved away, walking back to the table to get his jacket.

  There was no one standing outside of the hotel when security escorted them to the awaiting SUV that was to take them to the restaurant and, later, to a special pre-parade party at another hotel, being hosted by Justin Bell and Celinda Ruiz. If nothing else, Amanda was looking forward to seeing Celinda, one of the few people she had met from Alejandro’s circles, whom she considered close to being a friend.

  When the SUV pulled up to the front door of the restaurant, an impressive entrance with double oak doors and simple greenery next to the Greek-style pillars, a man in a long black coat with white gloves opened the door, welcoming them to Daniel. Amanda followed Alejandro into the restaurant, just one step behind him, as he slipped through the door and into the reception area.

  It was a beautiful restaurant with soft music piping through the sound system and dim lighting that cast a soft glow around the dining room. The tables were filled with a variety of people, mostly older men dressed in tuxedos or suits with middle-aged women in designer dresses. A few people turned their heads to look at the younger couple that had just arrived, but few seemed to actually recognize them. There was no fanfare over their arrival, and for that, Amanda breathed a sigh of relief. For once, they could dine in peace without being stared at or whispered about.

  For twenty minutes, they sat in the lounge, Alejandro enjoying a cocktail while Amanda sipped a seltzer water, her alternative choice to alcohol. Only two other couples were in the lounge, both glancing at the famous international star and his wife. Alejandro nodded in their direction and instructed the waiter to buy both couples a drink. Amanda raised an eyebrow at his generosity, but Alejandro appeared as if nothing unusual had just happened.

  Instead, he took off his sunglasses and absentmindedly shut them before sliding them into his breast pocket. His cell phone vibrated, and without thinking, he quickly glanced at it. “Permiso,” he said, politely excusing himself to check his text message, but he didn’t wait for her response as he turned his attention to the phone.

  She took advantage of his distraction to glance around the lounge. The two couples were enjoying their drinks and talking quietly among themselves. When Amanda caught the eyes of the one couple, they raised their glasses to her and smiled. But that was it.

  Looking around the lounge, she took in the glass shelves behind the bar, lined with colorful bottles of liquor, lit up by lighting from the architectural arches above them. The walls were textured but plain white, which, with the dim lighting, took on an orange glow. The décor was more modern than Amanda was used to, although the bland colors reminded her of their Miami condominium.

  “You like?”

  Unaware that he had finished with his text, she returned her attention to Alejandro. “It’s different, ja,” she responded, a smile on her face. “Reminds me of home.” When he raised an eyebrow at her, a silent question o
n his face, she quickly added, “Our home.”

  He smiled when she said that. “You miss Miami, Princesa?”

  “A little, ja,” she admitted.

  “Just wait until you see Brazil and Colombia,” he said, leaning back in his chair and swirling his glass so that the ice tinkled against the side. “It is so beautiful. So different. And it will be warm. None of this cold winter weather.” From his expression, she could tell that he was looking forward to escaping to warmer weather during the harsher months of the year. “Of course, we have to get through the holiday concerts first. But I think some time in Brazil will make up for that, no?”

  “I . . . I think we need to talk about that,” she said hesitantly.

  Setting the glass down on the table, Alejandro stared at her. “Talk about . . .?”

  She averted her eyes and chewed on her lower lip. She didn’t know how to tell him what she had been thinking the day before when he was being interviewed. “You know that I have to return to my parents, Alejandro,” she finally said, her voice barely audible.

  He tapped his finger against the side of his glass. Once, twice. “Sí, sí,” he responded, but she could tell from his casual dismissal that he didn’t really mean it. “We can talk about that later, Amanda. Not tonight.” He lifted his glass to his lips, his eyes staring at her over the rim. “Tonight is for us, to celebrate the holiday and to celebrate us.”

  When they walked into the main dining room, a few heads turned to watch them. A general murmur rose through the room, but to Amanda’s relief, there was no general interruption at their entrance. Alejandro walked behind the maître d’, his hand pressed lightly on the small of Amanda’s back as he guided her through the tables toward the back of the dining room to a private section between two large white columns.