“Señor Lopez, I assure you that we never associated or ever will associate with those animals. I didn’t recommend you or anyone else to associate with them,” said Jose Enrique, standing up to pace. “I don’t know what juegos they are playing.”
“Si, I agree, they are playing juegos with us,” said el Señor Lopez, watching Jose Enrique pace. “I don’t know what to do, and we can’t call the police.”
“Si, I know, I have installed security at the office, jobsites, y casa,” said Jose Enrique, turning to sit down. “Is this the reason that you have been against Sebastian Antonio y Cynthia’s marriage?”
“Si, I didn’t want mi hija to marry into una familia that associates with those animals, to marry into un familia de drug dealers,” said el Señor Lopez with fury.
“Señor Lopez, we have never been involved in that type of business. Mi familia are hardworking, honest, humble working people. We have worked real hard to get in our position. Mi primo, Sebastian Antonio, is honest, hardworking, talented, healthy hombre. He loves Cynthia,” said Jose Enrique.
“I still don’t like what he did!” said el Señor Lopez, standing up to pace. “No respect and Cynthia left la casa.”
“Señor Lopez, mi primo wants to marry Cynthia. She will be okay en casa de mis tios,” said Jose Enrique. “Cynthia wants your support.”
El Señor Lopez continues to pace and peers out into the park, thinking. Mi niña loves Sebastian Antonio. They want to get married. I have no reason now to oppose this boda. I knew that la De La Cruz familia are honest working gente. I was just furious, hurt, y disappointed that they were part of the cartel. Now I know differently. Si now it is okay to become familia.
“Jose Enrique, si, they can marry. I still a have some anger with the way they disrespected me, mi esposa y mi casa. I now feel better knowing that tu familia is not part of the cartel. We now have to find a way to get the cartel off our backs,” said el Señor Lopez.
“It pleases me that you’re allowing mi primo to marry tu hija. I agree we need to find a way to get rid of those animals. I just had a call right before I called you. They said that they will not call again and that they will force our association. Si, they threatened us,” said Jose Enrique, standing up to pace again in frustration and pulling at his tie.
“Si, I had a call earlier and told them no. They threaten to hurt mi familia,” said el Señor Lopez with rage.
“Señor Lopez, you are aware that, tu guards beat up Sebastian Antonio and he’s seriously hurt in the hospital. That’s why Cynthia left tu casa,” said Jose Enrique. “We thought it was the cartel at first until we realized it was tu guards.”
“Si, I ordered them to beat him up, but not to kill him,” said el Señor Lopez with anger y regret, looking at Jose Enrique.
“Si, he was seriously ill, and now he is doing okay. They want to go to Vegas to get married and then have the church ceremony here,” said Jose Enrique, looking at him, “Cynthia esta esperando bebe.”
El Señor Lopez stands looks at Jose Enrique with disbelief. “They just met,” he said with confusion.
“Si, y she is pregnant. She fainted at the hospital when she arrived to see Tony. Tests were done, and they indicated that she is expecting Tony’s bebe,” said Jose Enrique, looking at Señor Lopez with interest on his reaction to the news.
“Dios mio, that was quick. Si, it will make mi esposa muy feliz. I agree that they should go to Vegas, and then the church ceremony can transpire later,” said el Señor Lopez with a small smile, unable to prevent some joy to fill his corazon, thinking Si after so much grief, now we have some alegría. “Tell them that I will be muy contento if they will come to la casa to visit. Maybe Sebastian Antonio’s padres can also come.”
“Si, that sounds good, and I will tell them. It’s a relief to know that you were not responsible in the animals harassing la familia,” said Jose Enrique, extending his mano to el Señor Lopez. “We’ll talk again soon.”
“Si, that sounds good,” said el Señor Lopez smiling, taking the peace offering and extending his mano. “Now I have a little less on mi plate.”
They walk to their carros, talking about the new building construction that is scheduled to start in a few weeks.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
TODAY IS THE DOUBLE WEDDING for Erica y Gabriel and Ricky y Jacki. The entire familia is all excited and feliz for the two couples.
Jacki looks like the reina that Ricky adores. Her padres y hermana are exiting the white limo and walked over to stand at the side of the chapel. They are waiting for the ceremony to start. I don’t want mi Ricky to see me until it is time to walk in, thought Jacki. I want to give you gracias, Dios mio, for allowing mi padre to understand y por mi Ricardo.
“Gracias, Papa,” said Jacki with tears in her ojos and a trembling smile.
“Si, mi niña, we will go on from here en paz,” said her papa, giving her a hug. “Todo esta bien.” Si, now I am muy contento porque Ricardo is going to marry mi niña en la casa de Dios.
“Dios te Bendiga mi niña,” said her mama, giving Jacki a hug and un beso. “Mi niña Jacki, your extremely bella.”
“Si hermana, you look hermosa, y Ricky is going to be contento,” said Jessy, looking at her hermanas amazing wedding dress. Geeze I should had gone to Vegas to get married. They have the most amazing wedding dresses.
Erica is muy feliz and cannot believe that their wedding day has arrived. I’m muy feliz mi wedding dress is so beautiful. I’m going to be Gabriel’s esposa. Oh dios mio, I love mi baby so much. Now we will always be together. Finally after so many weeks of waiting, the day is here. I know that mi Gabriel is going to look like a prince. Toda la familia is going to be at the ceremony. Si, this is even better than I ever dreamed. I think that it is so awesome that it is going to be a double wedding.
Mi hermana y mis primos are a little sneaky and took off to Vegas. I sometimes wished that I had thought of that. Hmmm … it’s okay because now is the most important day of mi vida, thought Erica, looking into the mirror in her cuarto. Si, the dress is a dream. I can’t wait to see Gabriel’s cara when he sees me walk down the aisle toward him.
“Hermana, are you ready to leave?” asks Bella, walking into her cuarto, dressed in her maid-of-honor dress.
Si, mi hermana esta muy bella. “Si Bella and I can’t wait to marry Gabriel,” she said smiling, turning to look at Bella.
“Wow, Erica, you look so hermosa. You really look like una princesa,” said Bella, looking at her younger hermana. “I can’t believe it. We are all getting married at the same time,” said Bella with huge ojos that are sparkling from felicidad.
“Si, Bella, I’m so excited, and we all are going to be having our bebes around the same time,” said Erica, sighing with felicidad.
“Erica, you’re going to stop working after the bebe is born?” asks Bella, wondering about their plans.
“Si, I think so. Gabriel is working at the familia company, and we have some money saved up to buy our casa,” said Erica with a felicidad, turning to look at her lipstick one more time.
“Hermana, remember that you’re also part of la familia company, and you do have some money to live from,” said Bella, looking at her hermana. “You have enough money to buy any casa you want.”
“Hermana really, I knew that we were okay with money, but I didn’t know that we had lots of money,” said Erica with huge hazel ojos.
“Si hermana, you’re a wealthy niña,” said Bella smiling. “You don’t ever have to work if you don’t want to.”
Bella is looking at her hermanas feliz cara, thinking si I know that mi hermana will love to stay en casa and bake her cookies for her familia. I’m so feliz that she can have what she always dreamed of.
“Bella you just gave me the best regalo ever,” said Erica, hugging her, “Gracias.”
“Hermana, es nada, you’re familia, and we all have a share of the familia company,” said Bella. “Gabriel is going to get paid a manager’s salary.”
“This is so wonderful, and now we don’t have to worry about our future,” said Erica, trying not to cry. “I don’t want to ruin mi makeup,” she said while grapping a tissue to dab softly at her ojos.
“Erica, it’s time to go to the chapel. You don’t want Gabriel to get nervous or scared that you’re not showing,” said Danni walking into the cuarto. Si mi prima looks hermosa.
“Si, prima, we need to hurry because I want to be Gabriel’s esposa,” said Erica, grabbing her purse.
Erica, Danni y Bella went into the sala, and the entire familia is waiting for them.
“Mi hijo, do you know if Alex is running late?” asks his mama Maria while fixing Erica’s veil.
“No, mama,” said Chris, pulling out his cell to call him. Hmmm … he doesn’t answer. Maybe he is delayed at work. “Mama, Alex doesn’t answer. Maybe he’s at work,” said Chris, looking at his padres and Nick.
“Okay, mi hijo, maybe he’ll meet us at the chapel,” said his papa Jose Arturo, walking toward Erica.
“Mi hija, yo y tu mama estamos muy feliz that you are going to have un wonderful esposo. I know you both are in love, and I know that it’s a true love. Que dios los Bendiga siempre in tu matrimonio,” said Papa Jose Arturo, giving Érica his bendicion.
“Gracias Papa,” said Erica, trying not to cry and ruin her makeup, hugging her padre with lots of love. Erica turns to her mama and gives her a hug. “I love you,” she said.
“Mi hija, yo tambien sé que Gabriel es un gran hombre. Dios los Bendiga siempre,” said her mama Maria, hugging her little niña.
“Gracias,” said Erica, hugging her mama with todo her corazon.
Danni walks up to her prima smiling “I love you prima and I’m muy feliz that today es tu boda. Felicidades” she gives her a huge hug.
“Gracias Danni and I love you” said Erica looking at her prima. Si Danni is also feliz after so many years of pain. Finally Nick returns a casa.
“It’s time to leave. It’s getting late, and Gabriel is calling me,” said Chris with an evil glint in his ojos. “Erica, I’m telling him that you changed your mind.”
“Chris, you best not!” screams Erica, getting hysterical. “I’ll get you, Chris.”
“Si, Gabriel we’re on our way,” said Chris with a huge grin, looking at Erica’s relief on her hermosa cara. “Are you sure you want to marry Erica?”
“Mama!” yells Erica with frustration, wanting to hit her hermano on the cabeza.
“Mi hijo,” said Mama Maria, shaking her cabeza at Chris. He will always torment his hermanas.
“Just kidding, Gabriel,” said Chris, laughing and walking out of la casa with Mona at his side.
“Baby, you’re being mean,” said Mona, shaking her cabeza.
“I’m just playing,” said Chris, taking Mona to his carro assisting her into the seat.
The limo is waiting for Erica, Bella y Greg, y su padres, “Let me help you, mi hija,” said her padre, feliz that his niña is getting married.
Nick, Danni and Angel Nicolas followed in their carro.
They arrived at the chapel and exited the limo. Gabriel is at the front of the doors with his familia, waiting. Damn, this is worse than going on a mission, thought Gabriel. Finally mi baby is here. Now I can start to relax. Chris was just messing with me. Damn.
“Mi hijo, Erica has arrived,” said his papa, looking at Erica exit the limo. Si, she is una belleza. Tambien mi hijo, Carlos, married una belleza from the same familia. Si estamos muy feliz that nuestro hijos found such wonderful mujers, he thought, taking his esposa’s mano in his.
The priest came out and asks the wedding party to get ready to start the ceremony. The entire familia y guests went to their seats. The wedding party got into their position to start walking down the aisle.
Gabriel’s mama walked down the aisle with him, and Ricky’s mama walked down the aisle with him. The best man walked down the aisle followed by the maids of honor.
Now it is time for the brides. They started to walk down the aisle on the arm of their padres.
Jacki went down first and then Erica. They look incredibly feliz that they glowed. Their padres handed them over to the bridegroom with felicidad on their caras.
Oh dios mio, mi reina looks so bella. I know that I had seen her in her wedding dress, but that seems like a long time ago. Now todos can see what a reina she is, thought Ricky, looking at Jacki with adoring ojos.
Mi baby looks so much better now. I’m so feliz that finally we will be able to start our married vida juntos y gracias a Dios that he is okay now.
Si, I knew that mi angel was awesome. She looks more bella than ever. I love her so much. The wedding dress makes her look like una princesa, un angel, thought Gabriel, smiling at Erica, taking her mano in his.
Si, mi baby es todo un prince, thought Erica, smiling at Gabriel with todo her amor in her ojos.
The ceremony starts, and the priest has wonderful vows for them, and it’s very emotional for the entire familia.
“Si, acepto” was repeated by Erica y Jacki, accepting taking Gabriel y Ricky as their esposos.
“Si, acepto” was repeated by Ricky y Gabriel, accepting taking Jacki y Erica as their esposas.
Ricky slid onto Jacki’s left mano the wedding ring, and Gabriel slid onto Erica’s left mano the wedding ring. The priest pronounced them husband y wife, and they may give the bride un beso.
Si, it’s about time, thought Ricky, pulling Jacki into his brazos and giving his esposa a hungry beso. Now es toda mia, he thought, hugging her tight.
Oh yeah, now mi angel es toda mia, thought Gabriel, pulling her into his brazos and kissing her with todo his passion y amor. Si, now we’ll be together always.
The entire familia starts to clap, waiting for the wedding party to exit the chapel to follow.
I wonder where Alex is, thought his mama Maria with concern. It’s not like him to miss such an important day. I’m sure that he had requested this day off. She turns to look at her esposo and knows that he is also concern. This is not right, she thought. Gracias dios mio, that the ceremony is over, she thought turning, smiling. The couples are turning to go down the aisle.
They then went down the aisle after them and out of the church. Mama Maria turns to her esposo when the cell rings.
“Hola,” said Papa Jose Arturo.
“Hi, is this Mr. De La Cruz?” asks the medical assistant with a concern voice.
“Yes,” said Papa Jose Arturo, getting nervous. “Who is it?”
“Mr. De La Cruz, I’m calling from the ER, and I’m sad to inform you that Dr. De La Cruz has been in a car accident and is hurt,” said the medical assistant with some empathy.
“Oh dios mio, we will be there in a few,” said Papa Jose Arturo, looking at his esposa. “Maria, Alex was in un carro accident and is in the ER hurt.”
“No!” yells Mama Maria with incredible anguish, trying not to faint. “Mi niño.”
“Calmante, María,” said Papa Jose Arturo. “We need to go to Alex.”
“Si,” said mama Maria, sitting down on a bench looking around. “The wedding.” they will just have to continue without us, she thought.
“Jose Arturo, go and tell la familia. Tell them to go on ahead to the reception,” said Mama Maria, wiping her tears with some tissue.
“Si mujer,” said Papa Jose Arturo, striding over to his hija y sobrino. They look so feliz, y I’m real feliz for them. I still need to be with Alex.
“Mis hijos, Alex has been in un carro accident. He is in the ER, hurt. Maria y yo will be going to him. Please continue with your reception. We will keep in contact,” said Papa Jose Arturo, trying to keep the tears at bay.
“Papa,” said Erica, going to her padre with a torn corazon. “I want you to go to Alex. We’ll be okay. I will tell everybody. We will be there later.”
“Si, tios, we will be okay. We will all be there,” said Ricky, looking around at la familia as they started to learn of accident.
“We’re coming
with you,” said Christian, looking at Mona y la familia.
“Si, we think that’s a good idea,” said Jose Enrique, looking at la familia. “We’ll be showing up later.”
“Si, tio,” said Ricky, turning to look at Jacki who is also nodding.
“Okay, mis hijos try to enjoy your dia,” said Papa Jose Arturo, looking at his hermanos. “Take care of nuestros hijos.”
His hermanos nod in agreement. “Si, hermano, ve con Alex, we will be praying,” said his hermano, Francisco, going to give him a hug.
“Papa we’ll be there later. Danni and I will be taking care of the guests” said Nick giving his mama a hug “I will pray for mi hermano”
“Gracias mi hijo” said Mama Maria giving Nick and then Danni a hug.
La familia De La Cruz is devastated with the news of Alex’s carro accident. The party mood is a little down with concern about Alex’s condition.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
ALEX WOKE UP FROM HIS nap, a little confused. He looks around and sees Carolina in la cama. Everything came rushing into his mind. He quickly tries to get up, disregarding his own injuries. “Baby, I’ll be right there,” he said.
“Primo, wait let me help you,” said his primo, Jose Enrique, rushing over to help him. “Calm down. Tu esposa is okay.” His primo has just walked into the cuarto and saw that he is trying to stand up.
“Si primo, I need to see her,” said Alex, smiling at his primo.
“Primo, this is Carolina Crystal De La Cruz.”
“Mucho gusto, Carolina,” said Jose Enrique, seeing her smile. “I know that you will be at mi wedding.”
“Baby, you did hear that. We have a lot to do. I need you to wake up and get well,” said Alex smiling as he sees her smile, tears falling down her hermosa cara. “Baby, I want you to open tu hermoso ojos so mi primo can see them.” Alex laughs as he sees a blush on Carolina’s cara.
“Primo, I’m so feliz to see your so in love y feliz with tu esposa. Felicidades on your marriage,” said Jose Enrique. “I need to get going. I have to pick up Jessy for dinner.”
Hot & Spicy: De La Cruz Saga Page 34