“Buenos dias Mrs. Castillo,” I said into my cell phone.
“Buenos dias Samantha. How come the wedding plans?” She asked her accent thick and heavy like buttermilk in my ear.
“They are coming along fine. We have everything we need so far to pull off a successful wedding. How is the travel plans coming along?”
“We have tickets to be there one week before wedding,” she responds cheerily. I am excited to officially meet Dominic’s family. I have spoken to his sister Isabella regarding being a bridesmaid and she is extremely happy to have an active role. Consequently we are giving Dominic’s younger siblings a similar role to Charlie’s role in making sure the wedding goes off as planned. She and I talk a few more minutes before we end our conversation about the wedding.
“I have an idea Dominic. The apartment downstairs is a two bedroom and its empty your family can stay there instead of paying for a hotel,” I suggest hanging up the phone.
“But what about furniture?” He asked mulling the idea over in his head.
“I found a furniture rental place that would be able to get us a good deal. Plus I am thinking of keeping it furnished and renting it as such. It’s one of the things I would like to implement to keep the transference of bugs down in our buildings. What do you think?”
Dominic gets off the couch walking to me with a rather pensive expression on his face. “I think my wife to be is very darn smart. Oh and I love her and that idea.”
Wrapping my arms around his neck I cooed, “She loves you very much.”
When this man kisses me my legs go weak as the place below my waist start to heat up. Thankfully we remain chaste as the boys interrupt our intense kiss, coming into the apartment from playing basketball.
“Mom what’s for dinner,” Charlie asked as we pull apart.
“I want some mac-e-roni,” Bryce chimes in smiling.
“Don’t you mean macaroni?” I correct him as he shakes his head no. “Okay mac-e-roni it is.”
CHAPTER 29
“Dominic you have to be here to let in the furniture people please,” I said pushing my hair into a serious looking bun.
“I was going to head to the pool for some practice Sammie,” he protests.
“Sorry it’s my turn baby. I need to get to the other apartment building for a lease signing. Plus I am headed to the gym to workout afterwards. I have a wedding dress to fit into.”
“Fine I will stay but as soon as you are done we have to switch off. I really need to practice.” He licks his tongue at me prompting me to ball up a piece of paper and throw it at him. My son is at the table coloring while Charlie is practicing on his new keyboard. I give all the men in my apartment kisses before I leave.
Dominic and I have been doing amazingly well at refraining from making love. I believe since we have all started attending mass on a regular basis this has renewed Dominic’s faith in self-control. We still have this insane desire swirling between us as we mentally rush the days along to get to our wedding night. It’s not just to have sex we both miss making love and the intimacy it brings.
Sherbrook Terrace is a small brick and wood building housing six units as does Gable Apartments. However there are no three-bedroom units in this building. The two-story building is a mix of mostly two-bedroom apartments with only one one-bedroom apartment. I am grateful that its location still makes it a prime rental for students, faculty, and university employees. This was the first apartment building my parents purchased almost seven years ago. I am thinking it maybe time for some renovations but I will have to look at the net operating income this building generates. The HVAC system, thankfully, was updated a few years ago under my uncle’s watch. The small laundry facility generates additional income from the machines however maintenance on them is a pain in my hindquarters.
I meet with my new tenants, two female graduate students in the last rental unit I have available in Sherbrook Terrace. They eagerly sign their new lease after we complete an intense inspection of the apartment. The small building with six units is completely rented out for at least the next six months. I am going to implement my new furnished apartment plan after Dominic’s parents leave at Gable Apartments. Starting with the one unit I can increase the rent to cover the costs of the furniture rental. I can decrease the amount of money I spend on pest control in the long run especially with the rising cases of bedbugs hitting the area.
When the girls have their keys I am on my way to hit the gym for some much needed relief. Not having sex with Dominic has me so overly energetic. I have no idea what to do with the energy except workout. My workout usually consists of thirty minutes on the treadmill and another thirty minutes running on the indoor track. Today after the track I still feel rather amped up so I do some crunches and sit ups to improve this tummy of mine. With two weeks until my wedding day I am thinking I need to rev up my workout a little more. I haven’t lost a lot of weight but I have gained muscle, which I love, especially in my legs.
The rental furniture looks amazing in the apartment that Dominic’s family will occupy. I was able to secure a six month lease on the furniture and after talking to the manager we may have worked out a new contract for any unit that becomes available. While the furniture is sparse it gives the rooms a homey feel that I think his family will love. I run my hand over the soft brown leather couch as I take it in.
“This looks great Sammie. I think this was a great idea. The rest of my family is going to be a little jealous,” he said smiling wrapping his hands around my waist.
“Thanks but they do not have to pay a zillion dollars to fly all the way to Arizona like your parents do. Besides I do not have any more units available,” I informed him.
“So with the three houses and two apartment buildings this is the only empty unit?”
“Yes sir! We are almost at full capacity.” I keep a huge grin on my face as I speak.
“I am proud of you Sammie. Your parents would be very proud of how you are keeping their name and business going so well.” Dominic gives me a kiss on the neck and I turn to face my fiancé. His beautiful eyes glimmer with love and I give into them as I kiss him passionately.
“Two more weeks and I get to call you wife,” he whispered against my lips, “Oh and make love to you until you beg for mercy.”
“What makes you think that I want mercy?” I said seductively as he pushes himself against me to tempt me. I giggle trying to keep our lower halves from touching.
“Oh you will want mercy. I want you so much and when you become my wife I will have you all the time.” Dominic waggles his eyebrows making me laugh even more.
I finally stop laughing looking at my husband-to-be taking in all his fine facial features as I spoke. “You shall have me whenever you want me husband. I love you so much.”
Dominic exhales sharply before he resumes kissing me, “Wife, I love you.”
“Hurry two weeks please,” I beseech as he runs his tongue the length of my neck. It takes what I assume to be a lot of will power for Dominic to tear himself from our embrace. When he leaves heading to the pool I miss him immediately.
In the apartment Bryce is taking a nap while Charlie reads over some music for his piano class at the summer camp.
“Hey Charlie,” I announce dropping my gym bag on the floor near the door.
“Hey mom, I washed a load of clothes downstairs,” he smiled up at me sweetly.
“Wow! What are you trying to get out of me?” I asked with the same phony sweetness.
Charlie looks around for a second before he announces, “I just want to get a new game for the Xbox, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.”
“I knew it was something sneaky bugger.” I laugh and give him a hug around the neck. “When Bryce gets up we can go get the video game but you have to pay half of it with your own money Charlie.” An eager nod of his head ensures that he is willing to comply with the request. I am grateful he does not go into his room and wake Bryce up immediately. Instead I have one hour
of quiet to work in my room before we head to the local gaming store to purchase the new game.
CHAPTER 30
“Buenos diás mama,” Dominic said wrapping his mother in a backbreaking hug. His mother is crying buckets and unable to answer Dominic right away. I look over my future mother-in-law and see where Dominic gets his amazing good looks. Although demure in stature Sofia Castillo is quite a beauty with ebony hair pinned into a haphazard bun. Dominic gets his height from his father who is taller than he by a few inches. Luis Castillo is a very statuesque man with a neatly trimmed mustache. His voice that I have only heard over the phone does not match the power this man seems to command in one room.
Dominic and I drove to the airport to retrieve his family after leaving the kids home, including the newly returned Morgan from gymnastics camp. With one week to go before the wedding we are going to take this time to get to know each other. Dominic wraps his arms around his sisters Isabella and Renata as he makes the formal introductions.
“Isabella, Renata, Diego, mama, papa this is Samantha my fiancée,” he beams. Several people all at once as his mother continues to sob hysterically embrace me. The scene inside the bustling airport is a sincere one as I get to know my new family. I am treated to a barrage of Spanish, some I know some I do not know. I do my best to keep up.
“Encantado de conocerle,” I stutter nervously recalling Dominic’s rushed Spanish lessons each night the last two weeks. My nervousness to speak Spanish encourages the family to speak in English much to my relief. I would hate to be offensive trying my hand at a language I read and hear better than I speak. We make our way to the minivan with their luggage bags and I wait patiently for the Arizona heat to hit them. Collectively they all flinch as the extremely dry heat covers them after stepping outside the air-conditioned airport.
“It’s something to get used to,” Dominic said noticing their instant discomfort.
“Wow it is really something hot,” Isabella said with the same beautiful brown eyes as my beloved. Isabella and Dominic could easily be mistaken for twins except she is about a foot shorter than he. Her hair is trimmed in a neat bob haircut that I’m thinking her parents did not approve. I like the way it frames her lean face providing her a certain girlish quality that distinguishes her from Dominic. The younger siblings Renata and Diego take after their father in every aspect. They are both quite tall for their respective ages of twelve and fourteen, with sandy brown hair like Mr. Castillo.
I am excited for my children to meet our new family members. I think it is going to be wonderful for Morgan and Charlie to have some family around that is more in their age bracket. While I am certain Bryce will love the attention of doting grandparents, once he warms to them. With Dominic as acting master of ceremonies for this meet and greet, our families will blend seamlessly together. The love Dominic and I have is strong enough to bring together these culturally different groups of people.
“Me llamo Bryce,” he said delicately extending his hand to Mr. Castillo. Dominic has scooped Bryce up in his arms as he makes the introduction of the kids to his family. No one is paying attention to the newly furnished apartment as the families exchange pleasantries. Bryce is much more comfortable speaking Spanish than I am at this point. Dominic has been providing him an ongoing course in the language since our friendship began.
The next few days speed past in a blur for me. Dominic and I are stretched to our near breaking point as we try to accommodate his family and make last minute preparations for our wedding. Sitting at the dining room table with a rare precious hour of quiet to myself I go over my checklist for the wedding.
My dress has been finished and I had my final fitting yesterday. The bridesmaid’s dresses arrived at the store two days ago so that is not an issue any more. I am so grateful this is a small ceremony however it still feels rather large with the number of people constantly swirling around us. My Uncle Winston and Aunt Camille have the catering arranged and we are pleased with the menu considering the rush. Sidney has been a huge help as my maid of honor running errands for me whenever I need her to. The floors have been ordered for both the church and the bouquets. The bride’s bouquet contains twenty-four ivory roses with a champagne colored ribbon around them. The bridesmaids will have a simpler version of my bouquet with only a dozen roses each. The budget for the wedding is well under what we first thought we would spend having a proper wedding. Dominic is quite relieved to hear this news as money continues to worry him. He has put the job offer to work at the hospital on the back burner because he wants to try out for the Olympic swim team. I fully support his decision to wait because I have faith he will be successful in Nebraska next month at the Olympic trials.
Sitting at the table I imagine the moment that Father Foster will pronounce us husband and wife. I allow my happiness to manifest into a goofy grin at the thought. I love Dominic so much and to finally call him my husband will be a wonderful day for us both. He has become more proactive where the wedding is concerned mostly due to his mother’s insistence. Mrs. Castillo and I have had a few chances to bond, just the two of us. I am appreciative of all her advice about Dominic plus it feels good to have a mother figure around again. Dominic’s sisters are fitting right in with the status quo helping out whenever they can or hanging out in Morgan’s room.
I allowed them the chance to just behave like normal American teenagers dropping them off at the Tucson Mall for some retail therapy.
“Please do not spoil them with your crazy American ways,” Dominic said playfully.
“Hey you are about as American as apple pie. That’s some nerve Mr. Castillo,” I respond back to his chiding.
“I know I feel bad. I feel more American than anything. Especially with my hot African-American wife to be.”
He grabbed me pulling me into his warm embrace. I love the heat radiating from his body as he plants a swift kiss upon my lips.
“Just a few more days and I can have you all to myself,” I whispered as he plants another kiss nodding his head in agreement. The kiss deepens and I am lost in his lips and tongue. I do not hear his parents walk into our living room as Dominic devours me with his mouth. I press my body against his as his arousal takes shape against my stomach.
“Oh excuse us for the interruption,” Mr. Castillo said clearing his throat. We separate instantaneously as I flush with embarrassment. Mrs. Castillo gives me a pleasant smile happy to see the genuine love between the two of us.
“We need to go to the market. Sofia is going to make her famous tamales for the wedding.”
Mrs. Castillo nods to indicate she is definitely going to do just that. I want to launch a protest that my aunt and uncle have the food covered but I decide otherwise. It is important that I do not alienate my new family. Dominic gives my hand a reassuring squeeze as I keep my mouth clamped tight.
CHAPTER 31
Sidney gives me a devilish grin as she takes my hand leading me to what I thought was supposed to be some simple fun at the Hub. With my wedding two days away I am not really up for too much excitement.
“It’s a tradition that you have something that resembles a bachelorette party. Mario, Drake, and Nicolas are taking Dominic out tonight so we are going to celebrate too,” she is radiating with purpose. I do not want to rain on her parade so I allow her to lead me to my minivan. The loud cheer that erupts from six ladies from behind the minivan nearly scares the crap out of me. We load up in the van as Sidney snatches the keys from my hand.
“I am driving bride,” she informed me. Cassie leans forward in her seat and places a short white veil on my head. Another girl, Erin, one of Sidney’s friends places a bridal sash around my waist. I am laughing at my new attire as the van lurches toward Interstate 10.
“Okay Sammie you have to select your name tag,” Briana, my cousin, said extending a brown bag my way. I reach inside feeling the paper of the nametags wondering why they are weirdly shaped. For the sake of time I just select one pulling it out with a look of horror on my face.
The tags are shaped like penises but in different colors and with various adornments. Briana takes the tag from me and quickly scribbles my name on it before pinning it to my shirt. One by one the remaining seven ladies select their penis nametags as I cringe.
“Take a few deep breaths and just enjoy tonight ok Sammie,” Sidney said patting my knee. I shake my head that I will comply with the rules of the evening and try to have fun.
“So cousin spill the beans about this hunk of a man that you are marrying,” Briana gushed.
I frown at her and shake my head, “Uh no beans will be spilled about my husband to be.”
“It’s a bachelorette party you are supposed to talk about sex stuff or so I heard at least.”
“Well I heard that he is amazing in bed,” Sidney chimed in with a statement she made months ago. I hit her arm good-naturedly as my mouth gapes open.
“Well is he?”
Briana looks about ready to burst if she doesn’t get any juicy gossip. I hesitate looking down at my penis shaped nametag before responding.
“Well we haven’t had sex in almost a month but…” I am interrupted by Sidney who screams out her displeasure at the start of my answer. “What the fuck Sammie? Why not?”
“Well I converted to a Catholic and we had to make a promise not to have intercourse until we were married. It has been killing us so if after the wedding we disappear for a few hours we will be somewhere getting it on,” I jest. Briana slaps me a high five as she shakes her head in wonder.
“Wow you have waited so long to get with him in the first place,” Cassie added. “You have great self-control. I would have had that fine man naked ever chance I get.”
Deporting Dominic Page 18