by Sarah Price
For as far as her eyes could see, the streets were lined with people. Thousands upon thousands of them. They stood as thick as could be, along the sidewalks and behind the barricades, screaming and yelling as they waved their hands to the float as it passed. Police were everywhere, their backs to the floats as their eyes scanned the crowds, looking to identify any potential mischief.
Up ahead of them, she could see balloons in the air being held along the parade route with marching bands leading the way. The noise from the crowd was almost loud enough to wash out the music that was being played from a speaker on their float.
“You like?” Alejandro asked, brushing his finger across her cheek.
She could barely contain her excitement as she looked up at him. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before!” she gasped.
He leaned down and gently pressed his lips against hers, ignoring the cheers from the crowds that had just witnessed this public display of affection. Amanda, however, flushed and pulled away, lowering her eyes. Her reaction only caused him more delight and he laughed, pulling her close as he raised his arm and started waving to the people lined up along the streets and the reporters in the starting line broadcast booth.
For the next fifty minutes, they smiled and waved to the crowds. There was a palpable energy along the parade route, and despite the chill in the air and having awoken so early, Amanda felt herself pulsating with it. The faces of the people lit up when they recognized Viper and his wife, some people screaming and yelling for his attention. Several people even called her by name, which made her flush with embarrassment.
And then the float stopped. They had approached the staging area just before the television zone. People hurried around the float, and a man approached Alejandro to give him a microphone. Amanda stepped aside, trying to stay out of the way and wishing that Alejandro would let her disappear inside the castle so that she wouldn’t have to be in front of all those people.
He caught her attention and, as if reading her mind, raised an eyebrow. “And you would disappoint fifty million people?” he teased, as he took off his coat and handed it to the man.
“That doesn’t help,” she said, frowning at him.
He laughed at her nervousness but turned his attention back to the man who was giving him instructions. Alejandro appeared to be only half listening, being far too familiar with performing and having already reviewed the procedures earlier in the week. Still, he remained respectful and nodded his head as the man talked, only pausing once to wink in her direction.
When the float finally moved forward into the television zone, Amanda felt a moment of panic. Television cameras were focused on them and the people in the official viewing area. When the float finally stopped again, the music began to play, and before her eyes, Alejandro transformed into Viper.
She had never been on the stage with him, not like this. For a moment, she was transfixed as he began to sing one of his songs. And then she realized that he was singing it to her. It was a new song, one that she had not heard before, but as soon as he reached for her hand, she knew exactly what was happening. It was upbeat and lively with words that seemed to flow from his heart.
She found herself swaying to the music and clapping along with him. When he nodded his head at her, she knew that was exactly what he had wanted. He gestured toward his heart as he looked at her, his words flowing into the microphone and being broadcast to the millions of people listening.
On the street beside the float were dancers dressed in blue and white, their outfits sparkling as they moved in perfect coordination with the music. Amanda managed to look into the crowd and noticed that people were watching not the dancers, but Alejandro and her. She pushed aside her nervousness and smiled, knowing that was what Alejandro would want her to do.
When the song ended, the crowd roared with applause and he waved to them, lifting his arm into the air and, with his other hand, blowing a kiss toward the sea of people. The float began to move again, and within minutes, they were nearing the end of the parade route.
Alejandro posed with several people for photographs, occasionally pulling Amanda into the picture. The people were full of smiles, their eyes glowing. Amanda watched with enormous curiosity, realizing that this moment was very special to her husband’s fans. But time was limited and security was quick to approach him, eager to escort him to his waiting vehicle in order to clear the area as swiftly as possible.
As they headed back to the hotel, Alejandro entwined his fingers with hers and leaned over, kissing the side of her head. “I have a surprise for you,” he said. “I hope you will like it.”
She smiled, her eyes sparkling. “Another surprise?” She wasn’t certain that she would ever get used to his gestures of affection. “What is it?”
Touching the tip of her nose with his finger, he winked at her, his blue eyes flashing at her. “You will have to wait, sí? That is what makes it a surprise!”
It didn’t take long for her to realize that the surprise was not back at the hotel but at the airport. A small private plane waited for them on the runway.
“What is this?” she asked.
“Our ride to Thanksgiving dinner,” he answered, leading her onto the plane. “Thanksgiving is for family, and we have not been home for a while, no?”
She stopped moving toward the plane and blinked her eyes. “Home? Lancaster?”
He frowned and rolled his eyes. “No, Amanda. Miami!”
Immediately, she flushed and quietly apologized.
“But you have a concert here tomorrow night!” she exclaimed, changing the subject.
He laughed, that look of delight in his eyes. “Today is today. We have thirty hours to ourselves, and we are going to enjoy them, Princesa.”
Chapter Fourteen
It was four o’clock when they finally arrived at their condominium in Miami. Everything felt out of place and surreal to Amanda. The weather was warm and the sun shone overhead. Unlike New York with its cold weather and gray landscape, Miami was in sharp contrast. Reaching into her small handbag, she pulled out a pair of sunglasses and slipped them on, shielding her eyes from the bright sun that felt oh-so-good on her face.
Amanda found it hard to believe that just four hours ago they had been in New York City. As the car maneuvered through the traffic, she peered out the window at the tall palm trees that lined the streets, breathing in the smell of sea air.
“I think I missed Miami,” she said as she shut her eyes and breathed in deeply.
She felt his hand on her knee, a soft reassurance that he had heard her. Glancing over at him, she saw that he was scrolling through the messages on his phone with his other hand. She smiled to herself, wondering how it was possible that he could always work and still remain so attentive. With a soft sigh, she returned her attention to the window.
The car pulled up at the building, and the doorman was quick to assist them out of the vehicle. Amanda thanked him and wished him a happy Thanksgiving, all the while wondering when, indeed, he would have a Thanksgiving. In the past, she had never thought much about Thanksgiving or any holiday among the Englische. She had just presumed that they all spent it together: families enjoying food, relatives having fun. However, as the doorman nodded at her well wishes, she realized that the world of the Englische was different, and in that world, some people did not get to celebrate with their families.
When the door to their condominium opened, Amanda paused. While it felt like home with the open doors and high ceilings, something was different. The air smelled of home-cooked food, and there was noise coming from the rooftop patio.
“Is someone here?” she asked as she set her bag down on the chair by the front table.
Alejandro gave her a mischievous look. “It is Thanksgiving, no?” He said, reaching for her hand and, after pausing to kiss the back of it, leading her through the foyer and toward the kitchen. The noise increased and she began to realize that Alejandro had planned something much more than a brief twenty-fo
ur-hour trip to Miami for Thanksgiving.
It was when they walked through the French doors that led outside to the patio that she saw the people. His family was gathered there: his mother, aunts, uncles, cousins. People she had not seen since their wedding. She felt the color rise to her cheeks, feeling shy at this unexpected Thanksgiving dinner at their home.
“¡Hola!” he shouted happily as they stood in the doorway, lifting his arm in greeting to the people gathered around the pool. A collective cheer filled the air, and people began to crowd around them, embracing both Alejandro and Amanda.
When Alecia approached, the group of people quieted down and moved aside, watching as the matriarch stood before her son and his wife. For a long moment, her eyes searched Alejandro’s face, her expression devoid of any emotion. But when she turned to Amanda, something changed.
To everyone’s surprise, she reached for Amanda first, pulling her into her arms to greet her with a warm embrace and kissing her on both cheeks. When she pulled away, she placed her hands on Amanda’s cheeks and stared into her eyes.
“My daughter brought my son home for the holiday,” she said, her tone full of pleasure and admiration. “I see that your words were spoken in truth. My son is a changed man, and I see that it is you who have changed him.”
Not knowing how to respond, Amanda looked down at the ground and felt the heat rise to her cheeks. Her humble response caused Alecia to laugh softly.
Then she turned her attention to Alejandro. For a long moment, she studied his face. Amanda tried to read her expression, but as usual, she remained stoic and inscrutable. “My son comes home and arranges a holiday gathering for the family,” she began. “The first holiday in years that we have seen you.”
No one spoke, waiting to see in what direction Alecia was headed with her statement. There seemed to be a cloud of suspense lingering over the family members seated at the table. Amanda noticed that Alejandro stood there, his hands clasped behind his back and his chin jutting forward without so much as a twitch of a muscle in his cheeks. He, too, was as unreadable as his mother.
And then she smiled. “I am most pleased with you, Alejandro.”
There seemed to be a collective sigh among the gathering, as if the family had been holding their breath to see in which way the day would turn. With Alecia’s stamp of approval, the direction would surely be one of festivity and joy, a day to truly give thanks for the goodness that God had bestowed upon their family.
After greeting everyone and reintroducing Amanda to those family members she had only briefly met at the wedding, Alejandro excused himself to go change into more comfortable clothing for the afternoon. He reached for Amanda’s hand and took her with him, climbing the stairs two at a time.
Alone in their bedroom, Amanda stared at Alejandro, her mouth hanging open and her eyes sparkling. When he saw her, he laughed and pulled her into his arms, nuzzling his lips against her neck as he held her tight. Their bodies were pressed tight together, and he gently pushed her backward toward the bed. While she protested weakly, he ignored her and forced her onto the mattress.
He covered her mouth and kissed her, his one hand entwined in her hair. Putting her arms around him, she responded with an equal passion, feeling her heart burst with love for this wonderful man.
When he pulled away, leaning over her and staring into her face, he smiled. “You like your surprise, Princesa?”
“You are truly an amazing man,” she whispered. “And just when I think it is not possible to love you any more than I do, I find that there is no limit to the depth of love in my heart for you.”
He rolled over beside her, his hand resting on her waist as he pressed his forehead against her neck. “Ah, Princesa,” he murmured. “You have a way of making me feel six feet tall and as though I could walk on water.”
She laughed. “You are almost six feet tall, but only Jesus could walk on water.”
He pulled her closer to him, her hip tucked neatly against his stomach. “Seven feet tall, then,” he teased.
Placing her hand atop his, she caressed his skin. “It does feel good to be here, doesn’t it now?”
Leaning on his elbow, he stared into her face. “Does it feel like home?”
She had to think about that. When she heard that word, home, blurry visions came to her mind: the farm, the hotel rooms, the condo in Los Angeles, the condo in Miami. In the past, home was her parents’ farm. Today, she wasn’t certain where home truly was. But one thing was for sure and certain. When she thought of home, Alejandro was always standing next to her.
“You are here,” she replied softly. “That makes it feel like home.”
He shut his eyes for a bit, and she saw the muscles along his jawline twitch. His breathing seemed to quicken, and before she knew it, he abruptly pulled away. Sitting on the edge of the bed, his back turned toward her, he ran his fingers through his hair.
“What’s wrong, Alejandro?” she asked, sitting up and placing a hand on his shoulder. “Did I say something wrong?”
He stood up, and her hand dropped onto her lap. “We best get changed, no? We have guests for our first Thanksgiving.”
The abrupt change in his mood startled her. What could she possibly have said to upset him? “Alejandro?”
He turned around, a forced smile on his face as he looked at her. “Nothing is wrong, Princesa,” he said, his tone tense and guttural. “But I cannot stay one more second in this room with you, or we will never get back downstairs. I will hoard you to myself and make love to you all night. So please go get changed before I can no longer control myself.”
The heat rose to her cheeks, and she bit her lower lip, partially in embarrassment at his words but also because she found herself inwardly pleased with the passion that this wonderful man felt toward her. She had never known passion before . . . hadn’t even known that it existed and the form it took. And then, she had met Alejandro.
Obediently, she stood up and disappeared from the room to the adjoining bedroom, where she used to sleep before they were married and which she currently used as her dressing room. Her heart pounded, and her stomach felt as though she had butterflies as she shuffled through the many hanging clothes on the cedar rod, looking for a dress to wear that was modest enough for her taste but suitable for a Thanksgiving dinner with her husband’s family.
After having selected a short-sleeved floral print dress and gold sandals that matched, she stood in front of the mirror, brushing out her hair before twisting it into a bun. She pinched her cheeks, hating how pale they looked compared to the freshly tanned skin of her in-laws.
“Ah,” she heard him say from the open door between the two rooms. “Is that vanity I see?” He wore that half smile, the one that made his eyes sparkle as he looked at her.
She tried not to smile, despite her embarrassment at having been caught studying her reflection in the mirror. “A little pinkness is not vanity!” she retorted playfully, although she wasn’t certain that was true. How many times had she watched her sister, Anna, do the same thing before they had gone to church and then later that same evening before singings? “Just makes me look . . .” She hesitated as she tried to find the right word. “Healthier.”
“And prettier,” he added. “If that is possible.”
He crossed the room and pulled her into his arms once again. Only this time, he pushed her against the wall, one hand over her head and the other on her waist. His blue eyes stared down at her as he pressed his body against hers.
“I thought you wanted to enjoy your family,” she teased, a soft and demure tone to her question.
“I do,” he admitted. “But only for you. I want our first Thanksgiving together to be special.” He dropped his hand from the wall and cupped her chin in his hand, tilting her face so that she was forced to look up at him. “But later, Amanda, I will have you to myself, and that is when I will show you what I am thankful for.”
He didn’t wait for her response before he lowered his lips onto h
ers, kissing her once again with a passion that she could only reciprocate, her heart pounding.
Downstairs, the family was back outside, the younger cousins swimming in the pool while the adults sat around the tables and lounged on the poolside beds with thick white cushions and multicolored pillows. Music played from the stereo system by the cabana, and a few of the younger women hung out in the shade with frozen drinks in their hands.
The woman seated next to Alecia stood up and indicated that Amanda should sit there. To her dismay, Alejandro wandered over to join a group of young men on the other side of the pool. She felt shy as she sat next to her mother-in-law, wondering what in the world they could possibly discuss, for the only thing that they had in common was their love of Alejandro.
“Your father,” Alecia began. “He is well?”
That was a good a start, Amanda thought as she nodded her head. “Oh ja, much better. His speech is a bit hard to understand when he is tired, and he still cannot farm.” She turned and looked at Alejandro. There was a glow of love in her eyes as she did so. “But Alejandro has arranged for a nurse and physical therapist to come to the farm to help him.”
“He did now, did he?”
The tone of Alecia’s voice did not go unnoticed by Amanda. “Ja, he did,” she replied respectfully. “Amish Aid would not pay for that, you see.”
No one else around the table spoke, but they watched with great curiosity the two women who did. It dawned on Amanda that, once again, she was the outsider. No different from in Lancaster, they were staring at her and wondering about her lifestyle and upbringing, as well as how she had fallen for a man like Alejandro.
“And you, too, have been helping him, no?”
Her eyes flickered around the table, feeling uncomfortable under the scrutiny of Alejandro’s family. “Ja, I have,” she admitted. “My schwester . . .” She paused, realizing that they would not know that word. “My sister, I mean, has just returned for a visit with her new husband. But they will soon return to live in Ohio, so I will be helping with the farmwork until we can figure out what to do with it.”