“All right, Sienna,” he said. “How do we get past this?”
Art Kelton signaled for Sienna to join him, and she nodded. “Excuse me, but work calls.”
Joey moved between her and the producer. “No.”
“No?” She shook her head. “Have you lost your mind? Go back to playing Hollywood heartthrob, and I’ll go be Mr. Kelton’s PA. That’s why we’re here tonight, remember?”
“That might be why you’re here, but I asked to be invited.”
“What?” Sienna looked past Joey to nod once again at Mr. Kelton. “Why would you do that? These things are hopelessly boring most of the time.”
“Because I knew you were going to be here.” He reached to cradle her jaw with his hand. “I guess Kelton will toss me off the film for romancing his PA, but I don’t care.” Joey chuckled. “My agent is ready to kill me, and the new publicist is probably going to quit, but I figure Letterman and Leno and all those morning talk show hosts will survive if I don’t do their shows this week.”
Mr. Kelton gestured for her again and Sienna frowned. “But you chose me?”
He nodded. “Funny how easy it was. Guess it’s because I love you.” He leaned closer. “Did you hear me, Sienna? I. Love. You.”
The producer had ceased attempting to get her attention and was now storming her way with a less than pleased look. At the same time, the Nashville singer emerged from the men’s room.
Joey shook his hand then introduced him to Sienna. “I’m trying to convince her to take me back,” he said.
“How’s that going?” the singer asked, his attention purely on Sienna.
“Not so well.”
“Even after I played ‘Besame Mucho’?” He winked at Sienna. “You’re tougher than he thought.”
So Joey discussed her with this man? Odd. And yet interesting. And more than a little flattering.
“Well look at that, Joe,” the singer said. “I believe she’s coming around, though if I were you I’d learn how to sing that song just in case. Being an actor’s fine and good, but the ladies love a singer, you know.”
Joey grinned. “Why don’t we take a stroll down to the river and talk about this, Sienna? Just the two of us,” he added. “And maybe I’ll give that singing thing a try.”
“Maybe,” was all Sienna could say before her boss closed in on them.
“Miss Montalvo, what is the problem?” the producer demanded soon as he was within earshot. “Grab your pen and paper. I’ve got some ideas, and I need you to write them down before I forget.”
Joey said nothing, but his disappointment was obvious.
Sienna paused. “Actually, Mr. Kelton, I’ve got a situation here that needs handling.”
“Excuse me, sir,” the singer said. “But I was wondering if I might have a moment of your time. My agent’s been begging me to consider that bit part you offered in this movie, but I wasn’t much interested until the record hit number one. Now I’m thinking, after some serious conversation with a group of your investors, as a tie-in to the movie we might …”
And somehow, a moment later, the singer and the producer were walking away.
“He’s good,” Joey said. “And not just at singing.”
“You had him play ‘Besame Mucho’.” She paused to gather her wits. “And you came here instead of going on Letterman.”
Joey moved quickly to wrap his arms around her. “Leno,” he said. “Letterman would have been tomorrow. Leno’s West Coast, but Letterman’s in New York and that’s—”
“Joey.”
He looked down at her, caramel eyes full of what she recognized as love. “Yes?”
“Shut up and kiss me, would you?”
Chapter 12
December 23, San Antonio
Two weeks into filming, Mr. Kelton relented and gave the crew a full week off. Although Sienna enjoyed watching Joey act, she couldn’t wait to see how he performed in front of her family. For though he had been in Texas all this time, Kelton’s talent was not allowed off the set, and he’d not yet seen her family.
Before Sienna could unbuckle her seat belt, her family came pouring out of the house. While Britny and the aunties pressed forward toward the driveway, Dina held back to watch from the porch. Joey endured hugs, kisses, and at least one pinched cheek before Consuela, Vi, and Dolores finally let the poor man go.
Sienna reached for her niece, who looked strangely shy. If she was in awe of Joey, he’d cure her of it soon enough. “Britny, honey,” she said as they headed for the porch, “are you ready for tonight?”
“I’m a little nervous,” she admitted. “But I think I’m ready.”
Joey fell into step with them. “All the big stars get nervous.”
“Really?” Britny’s eyes widened. “Even you?”
He laughed. “Yeah, even me.” And then his face went serious. “Hello, Mr. Montalvo.” Joey moved ahead of them to reach out in an attempt to shake Papa’s hand.
For a moment, Sienna thought her father might not take it. He surprised her by greeting Joey like a long-lost friend.
And then, to her further surprise, the two of them walked off together speaking Spanish. “Joey,” Sienna called, “could I talk to you a moment?”
“Sure, honey,” he said. “Mind if I catch up with your dad for a few minutes first?”
She watched the men head toward the back door and then shook her head when they disappeared outside. Dina came to stand beside her. “What do you make of that, Dina?”
“Don’t try and figure it out,” she said. “They’re guys. My guess is they’re talking football.”
A peek out the window and her sister yanked her back. “Don’t you dare go spying on them. Leave them be, and come help me get ready to start the tamales.”
Reluctantly, Sienna joined Dina and the aunties in what had become a Christmas tradition. Though most of their friends had turkey and dressing for the holiday meal, the Montalvos had always preferred traditional tamales and queso.
Working with a recipe that required neither measurements nor instructions, the aunties supervised while Dina, Sienna, and even Britny did the work of chopping the meat, mixing the masa, and preparing the tamales. When the husks were filled and the tamales steamed, Sienna took a glass of sweet tea to the table and joined the ladies of the Montalvo house in conversation.
Only then did she realize Papa and Joey were still outside.
“Don’t you wonder what they’re talking about?” Auntie Vi asked.
“I think he’s asking for her hand in marriage,” Auntie Consuela said.
“Do people still do that?” This from Britny who rolled her eyes then jammed the earphones from her iPod in place.
Auntie Dolores moved to the window and peered out the blinds. “You’ve got to come see this.”
By the time Sienna got her turn at the window, the other ladies were staring at her. “What?” she said as she lifted the blind and saw there were now three men on the porch, and one of them looked suspiciously like—
“The General?”
Sienna burst through the door and landed in The General’s arms. “It’s so good to see you,” she said. “Where’s Mrs. Ramirez?”
Joe laughed. “You’ll see her tonight at the play. She’s back at the hotel getting ready.”
“She’s coming to Britny’s play?” Sienna looked to her father. “What’s going on here, Papa?”
Jorge Montalvo merely shook his head. “It’s Christmas, Sissy. Don’t ask so many questions.”
The General shrugged. “Joe’s far too modest to tell you, honey, but he’s being honored tonight.”
“Honored?” She looked to Joey. “What kind of honor?”
Leave it to The General to deflect the question. “Remember that drama teacher?”
“She’s not—” Sienna laughed. “You’re being honored by the Thespian Society?”
Joe thought fast. “Thespian of the Year,” was the best he could come up with.
“Wait a minute,�
� she said. “You have to be in high school to get that honor.”
“Give poor Miss Harrison a break. She’s righting a wrong. She knows I should have won that award instead of Buck Batson.” He paused to give her a hug. “Actually, it’s a surprise, so if you see her beforehand, don’t mention it.”
What he wouldn’t tell her is the surprise was about to be on Sienna.
Leaving her to hitch a ride back to the hotel with his father was not what he felt like doing, but if Joe spent another minute with Sienna, he’d never be able to keep quiet.
“She’s good for you,” The General said.
Joe reached across the seat to clasp his father by the shoulder. “Yeah, she is,” he admitted.
His father gave Joe a sideways look. “You’d best treat her right.”
“Or I’ll have you and the United States Army to answer to?”
The General laughed. “Hardly. I was thinking of a much bigger threat: Jorge and the Montalvo women.”
Sienna followed Dina and her husband down the dimly lit aisle of the high school auditorium. “Still smells like mothballs,” she commented as she took her seat and settled in.
Dina giggled. “This place never changes.”
“So, did Britny get over her nerves?”
Her sister launched into a story about her daughter’s afternoon preparing for her role that had Sienna laughing aloud. When Papa joined them and gave them a look, the laughter increased. His attention was diverted, however, when The General and Mrs. Ramirez slid into place at the far end of the row.
Joe sank into the seat beside Sienna and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Just like old times,” he said.
“Well, sort of,” Sienna admitted. “Except for the fact you were delayed a full fifteen minutes by autograph seekers.”
“Sweetheart, I’ve always had my fans, but you are the president of my fan club.” He laughed at his own joke while Dina groaned.
As the curtain rose, the aunties came hurrying up the aisle to take the last three seats in the row. “The gang’s all here,” Dina said. “This should be fun.”
A brief medley of Christmas tunes courtesy of the high school honors orchestra prevented Miss Harrison from speaking immediately. Instead, she remained at the microphone, her posture impeccable, until the last cowbell was struck.
“Welcome to the Thespian Society’s annual Christmas show. As you know, this is a time when our best and brightest shine.”
And shine they did, though Sienna decided Britny’s monologue was the best of all. And that was speaking from the point of view of a professional, not her aunt.
“Be right back,” Joey said after Britny had finished.
By the time Miss Harrison reappeared on the stage, Sienna was beginning to wonder where Joey went. Surely there weren’t that many people looking to have a photograph with the guy. Then she remembered his comment about the surprise award.
Likely that’s where he’d gone.
“And now for our grand finale.” Miss Harrison cleared her throat. “Please welcome to the stage one of our school’s more famed alumni.”
Sienna craned her neck to see if she could spy Joey.
“Miss Sienna Montalvo.”
A cheer went up from the family as Dina poked her arm and Papa looked over to beam at her. “Go on up, Sissy,” he said.
She shook her head. “What’s going on, Papa?”
“Just go,” he said. “And remember nothing’s impossible with God.”
Sienna pondered Papa’s words as she made her way onto the stage. Though Miss Harrison thrust a microphone into her hand, Sienna kept silent.
“For those of you who don’t know, Sienna was once a student of mine.” She paused. “And now she’s in Hollywood making movies. Isn’t that something?”
The smattering of applause was accompanied by loud hoots and hollering from the Montalvo row. Leave it to her family—
“And so, given the fact she’s been quite an asset to our drama department, we thought it appropriate to honor her with a plaque.” Another round of applause that Miss Harrison brought to an end with a wave of her hands. “So, in order to accomplish this, I’ve asked a special friend of Sienna’s and of this school’s to do the honors.”
Sienna looked off to stage left and saw Joey standing there. He waved and pointed to what was obviously the plaque that Miss Harrison was so excited about.
“Without any further ado, may I present the Academy Award nominee and alumnus of our fair school, Mr. Joe Ramirez.”
Joey’s round of applause lasted much longer than hers, giving him time to whisper a quick “I love you” in her ear.
“Did you know about this?” she responded, and he answered with a wink.
When the applause ended, Joey walked to the edge of the stage and pointed down at the orchestra. On his cue, the string section struck up the first chords of “Besame Mucho.”
“What are you doing?” she mouthed to Joey when he glanced over his shoulder to meet her stare.
Rather than answering, he walked over and took the microphone from her hand.
And then he began to sing.
In flawless Spanish.
Somewhere around the second stanza, Sienna’s tears had begun to fall. By the time Joey had finished, she’d cried off her makeup and generally made a fool of herself.
“Gracias,” Joey said. “And now for the award.” He turned to the audience and gestured to the plaque under his arms. “Since we’ve made Miss Montalvo stand there and do nothing, I’m going to have her read the inscription. What do you think?”
When the cheers subsided, Joe slid his arm around Sienna’s waist then handed her the plaque. “Go ahead and read it, sweetheart.”
“To be or not to be?” Sienna began to giggle.
“Go on,” Joey said. “Read the fine print.”
Sienna squinted to read the words beneath the quote. “My wife?” She shook her head.
Joey released her. “Start over at the beginning.”
She lifted the plaque again. “To be or not to be my wife. That is the question.”
And then it hit her.
Wife.
“Joey?” She found him kneeling before her. “Joey, this isn’t from the school.”
Laughter rose from the audience.
“Sienna Montalvo, will you marry me and live happily ever after?”
Of course, when she found her voice, Sienna said yes.
Bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo has written more than 30 books. More than 950,000 copies of her works are in print, and her books have been translated into several languages, including German and Dutch. A tenth-generation Texan, Kathleen lives near Houston.
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