by N. I. Rojas
“That’s a là France!” -I grunted displeased. -“You guys want an Arab wedding or a French wedding? Perhaps you can use a decoration like ‘Dreamlike Vacations’ or theme the wedding to ‘Love Worldwide.’”
The couple shared some words before they stood with just an Arabic wedding.
“What about the crêpes then? They are from France.” -While I turned all shades of green from incomprehension, they just laugh at me as if I was all wrong.
So, I’m making a huge batch of crêpe tortillas to fill them before sunrise. While I made these delicacies I couldn’t help but laugh. This was going to be a funny wedding in fact. I have offered to make a real Arabian brunch with dates, fatir or arikah, some hummus, or a kapsa as main dish. They refused it all. They wanted crêpes! So be it.
Sam kissed my head, startling me. Less than an inch would have sufficed to burn him with a round pan.
“I knocked the door but you didn’t open or even answer. When that smell hit me in the porch I forced my entry to your house. In case you needed to be rescued.”
His occurrences made me smile hard but suddenly I remembered why I was angry in the first time. Sneaking from behind me, Sam stole one of my recent crêpes. I tapped his hand softly, scolding him without success. A second later, both his hands were way past my shoulders and he was stealing another crêpe.
“Thank God I came.” -While he chewed his words sounded funnier than how he had initially intended. -“It's obvious you need help.”
“Hey!” -I protested. -“Those aren’t for you. It has regular sugar.”
“What?” -He said, his face turning gargoyle-like. As fast as he turned statue he started laughing. -“So, that fix my low sugar level.”
Leaning against the kitchen island, Sam looked like a happy dream to me. A dream that somehow turns into a creepy nightmare every time I see Connie. His cop uniform still on with a few upper buttons of his shirt unbuttoned. His commodity and his easy ways made me think on how future would be if we were together. He was so natural. Nothing he said seemed forced. Nothing felt wrong or like a lie. Then why was I feeling like he was tricking me? What if I could be his lady? His wife? What if I keep doing what I love the most- baking and cooking- and just surrender to him and his love? What if I just leave this vengeance behind and take a step ahead? What if…?
“I know another way to fix my low sugar tonight…” -The nervousness reflected in the shine of his eyes made me ashamed despite he hadn’t even said what was thinking.
A sheepish smile was drawn in my lips all of a sudden.
“What would that be?” -I dared to ask but while I tried not to sound flirtatious, the teasing tone was a giveaway.
“If you allow me to kiss you, I can bet your lips taste like honey.”
We both bit our own lips in shame. He could bet for my kisses? That sounded so sweet in the heat of the moment. I felt my face ablaze though I was certain that the sizzling skillet in front of me wasn’t the culprit. Trying to suppress the blush in my cheeks I discovered how hardly impossible to achieve it was. But when he straightened and started walking towards me, I felt all my walls falling down, my defenses were weak and my determination to send him away had the strength of a tiny seed.
A caress of his fingers was like the greatest of pills, sending everything away. The tenderness of his true smile was a shield in which he protected me as well. On the other hand, my fast heart rate was a warning or a green light in which I should just speed. I held strongly from my stove, his lips inches away from mine. I had no more space to retreat but I did have a long way to keep going forward.
“Ouch!” -I yelled involuntarily while took my hand to my face. Careless I had burnt with the skillet, breaking the spell of a kiss almost savored. Sam hurried to check the damage. Fortunately, it wasn’t much. Bigger was my fright than the thin line of skin in bright red.
“You did it on purpose.” -Sam said jokingly while he slid his fingers dipped in butter over my small burn. I remained serious despite knowing he was just teasing me. -“I’m kidding, you know it? Right? This is my fault. I shouldn’t have cornered you against the stove. Maybe I’ll remember to corner you against the fridge next time.”
“There will be no next time, Sam.” -I hurried to say. -“Maybe Connie will be happy with you cornering her around her parents’ house.”
“What does that means, Morgan?” -He reclaimed.
“What you just heard. I found Connie today… and her mother… Both told me how nice of you to accept her invitation to their house yesterday. You were there before breaking into my house. Am I right?” -I claimed back.
“Is not that way. For all means it’s not what they told you or what you may be thinking.” -Sam defended himself.
“I need no explanations. We are nothing to the other. I just wanted to make clear that I won’t allow you to play with me. I’m not a village doll like Connie. This is a game just for two. You and her. Don’t force me into another of your things.”
Sam’s gesture of denial was a shocker to me. Soon, he was smiling in his normal way.
“I understand what’s happening here!” -He dared to say while pointing at me. -“You’re jealous, Morgan! Don’t you see you feel the same for me?”
I rolled my eyes at him. But he wasn’t far from reality.
“So Miss Valence has been telling you lies. I’ll tell you the truth.”
Twenty minutes later Sam had told me quite a few things of Connie. But I had learned that her mother was the working ant I should worry the most. That woman had called to the police station requesting cops to check on her house, with lies that intruders were inside. He also told me how Connie was walking back home because her mother threw her off the car so she could ask Sam for a ride and other things she didn’t got. Connie was just a puppet to her mother. A puppet to get a husband and be sent away. Connie was just trying to get the most of it. It was Sam, a nice looking guy with future, or a man who doubled or tripled her age.
“Can I take a bath here or is it better if I just go home for good?” -Sam asked when the silence was so painful to withstand.
“It's okay with me.” -I answered shortly.
“So I leave then.” -Sam said appalled. When he opened the front door I understood what he meant with leaving. He was leaving me. Forever.
“I meant that it was okay if you wanted to take a bath in here. I didn’t mean to be rude or make you think I’m… sending you away.” -I corrected while I reached his side at the front door.
A little past midnight, Sam fell asleep in my bed. I had stayed awake, working in the kitchen. When I heard him snoring, I used my Maghik to glaze and decorate the cakes. Everything ready I could go back to sleep an hour or two but I was so excited I couldn’t close my eyes. I made a few crêpes but this time I modified the recipe so Sam could enjoy some when he wakes up. Opening the door that led to my back garden I sat in the small porch with a cup of coffee and a small plate with a crêpe. Inhaling the fresh breeze I felt in peace. Closing my eyes I felt so madly in love.
One thing worried me. Sam had said that he was going to take me with him to the wedding. But this wedding was right in the church. One thing I once read came to my mind. Witches melt when they enter any church. This should be something senseless but for some reason it was affecting me deeply.
“Can you wear this later?” -Sam said suddenly. He was standing shirtless in my porch and I’m certain my jaw was collecting rocks from the ground.
The best of this reception was that I was hired just to make and deliver the cake and the food. I wasn’t serving today, wasn’t even answering questions about the food. The menu was strictly chosen and the couple’s budget was very tight. The bride’s family was serving the food and in charge of all the trivial details. If the napkins disappear… If the cups aren’t sufficient… That’s just not my problem today, but somebody else’s. This job can have many irritant aspects. Without wanting it, I’ve been forced to testify nasty scenes or to overhear last minute confessio
ns and secrets.
Sam had insisted on accompanying me, appearing together, which I should have taken as a good sign of his intentions, but I refused. I wasn’t ready to face this yet. Out of ideas, I kept appearing endless trays of foods, using them as excuse to overfill my van leaving just the driving seat available. Of course I felt obligated to wear the black and green cocktail dress Sam had picked for me but I didn’t complain. This has been a great choice.
I was about to start unloading my van behind the church but there was nothing out there. Not even the buffet tables. The air was hot and humid. My biggest fear was to see such amazing cake ruined and melted for the heat.
Bees buzzed around and occasional butterflies whispered things close to my ears. Their words were those omens of bad luck. Sad news smudging the forthcoming bliss with sorrow.
Flies were everywhere. The worst of plagues if we consider an outdoor wedding. I closed my van as fast as I opened it. If I got the whispers right, Dariel -the bride- was crying hiding close. A minute or so later I found her. Sitting in a fallen log, Dariel cried over her wedding dress. I shouldn’t have felt compassion for her but I felt so much empathy lately. I tried to deny the sensation, scolding myself for such weakness. A person like me, planning to kill them all merciless, couldn’t be able to be compassionate.
“Dariel?” -I called, unsuccessfully trying not to scare her. -“Is everything okay?”
“How you found me?” -She asked, rubbing her already red nose.
“Lets just say that a bird told me.” -A sympathetic smile accompanied the words.
“We couldn’t pay for the decoration.” -She confessed while bursting in a cry. -“I feel so bad. We thought we could make it ourselves but nobody came to help.”
“And you solve it all hiding here to cry when your own wedding is in less than half hour. That’s not clever of you.” -I grunted displeased.
“I don’t know what to do. All the years I’ve spent learning how to be a proper wife, and I’ve learned nothing of value.” -She confessed sadly.
“I suspect this people have been misinformed for a few generations. Real wives are meant to be multifunctional beings with the capacity to develop new abilities, not just raising kids.”
Dariel looked at me like if we were meeting for the first time. A blindfold had fallen from her eyes.
“You must be right. That’s why I admire you on secret. The only independent woman in town. You should teach us everything. With your walking problem, you should be the weakest but we are so wrong. You’re the strongest.”
Her words made me feel a mix of emotions. Never someone had admired me ever. Never someone had admitted admiration. Now I truly felt evil. I deserved bad.
“What you suggest, Morgan?” -Dariel asked with a new glow. It wasn’t so hard to know what the right thing to do was, but even so I questioned myself a few times before taking a decision.
“It might be possible that I have a few things for a quick and cute deco.” -Dariel’s face brightened with the idea. -“But I doubt to have too many Arabian stuff, though I have a few things from around the world. But that’s up to you. That’s all I have. A ‘Love Worldwide’ decoration.”
“How much would that cost?” -She asked terrified, thinking on owing more money.
I smiled inconspicuously.
“Nah. It’s okay. Lets just call it a gift or a favor.” -I assured, pulling Dariel and fixing the back of her dress with my Maghik. She hugged me quickly, wetting my neck with her tears.
I drove five minutes and came back. Van full and loaded on the roof too. That’s the nice thing about Maghik. Things come and go and I need nothing else. No storage place to hide huge amounts of things, no helpers or super strength to tie tables to my van’s roof. When I was about to start pulling the tables I couldn’t stop thinking on what would be of this people without me. Somehow, they needed me more than what I needed them.
In many ways, this people are vulnerable and depend too much on me. I felt pity and sadness for them. They knew nothing better than the old ways. Just eight days had passed by since I met Sam, but my expectations and my values had been bombarded almost to succumb and I couldn’t recognize the girl I was just a week ago. Who was really me? The evil witch planning to kill with crazy ideas of vengeance? Or the witch capable to let it all go and teach this people how things are really done?
Money had never been a matter of concern. With Maghik I can create almost everything. It's like a full time job crafting. I don’t need this people’s money and yet here I am. Cooking for them, baking for them.
No. I’m doing this for me. For the sanity of my soul and the peace of my heart. Because I love what I do. No matter the tiredness, the humiliations, the detractors. I’m doing what I love and I should be grateful for it.
One thing I have in conscience is to never overcharge for my job. I can charge for what I do or for what I know. That would be cruel as a lawyer charging a free pass from jail price to someone who just needs an affidavit.
“Need help, pretty lady?” -I was startled by a man in his mid thirties standing close to me.
“Thanks. Of course.” -I answered walking away. This guy kept unloading my van and I started moving the low tables to under a few trees. The groom came -a nod of gratitude was sent my way- and helped as well. Soon I was surrounded by half a dozen men, Sam included. Fifteen minutes later, all tables were arranged. -“Thank you guys. You’re a nice team.”
I applauded them and they laughed and high-fived each other.
“I’ll consider hiring you so send your curriculums, please. Now go get yourselves ready. The wedding will begin in no time.”
Here I was, all in charge again. In charge and without payment. I must love what I do. Quickly I placed the tablecloths to all the tables while Sam placed the colorful pillows on the floor. I asked him to leave but he just refused.
“It's better if I help you. I don’t want us to miss the ceremony.” -He said.
“It's not a big deal. You can go ahead.” -I said trying to take away the importance of the ceremony. Confessing my fears was a no go. Yet, I couldn’t move pass it. What if I melt when I walk in? The thought brought a sudden nausea to my whole body and my skin prickled like cactus. Melt? That sounded like idiocy invented by losers but yet I feared hard.
“Are you kidding? I want to be there with you. This dress and this gorgeous lady both need to be shown.” -He confessed too close to my face. His minty breath gave me chills and my cheeks turned the color of red wine. -“I mean I want to attend the ceremony with you. Why you do this? You know what I mean. Stop making me nervous!”
I don’t know why but Sam has the ability to make me laugh despite how nervous I could be. After a few seconds of breathing like for a yoga session, I agreed.
“Fine, but I need to finish this alone. To make it all perfect I need time and space. The… aura disappears if I’m not focus enough.” -I lied.
“Like magic?” -He asked but his question was a teasing element. Cautious, I twisted my lips.
“Yeah, like a magic trick!”
When I approached the front façade of the simple chapel, the entourage was ready to march. I was like welded to the ground, anchored by invisible demons. Just one step into holy grounds and I can puff into thin air. Vanish. Explode. Or simply fade away.
“Ready to go?” -Sam asked extending his arm at me.
“I’m not sure I want to do this.” -I confessed.
“Is it because of the company?” -He asked evidently offended.
“No. Never.” -I hurried to say. -“The company is great! Is just that I have self-esteem problems.”
One of his smiles and soon I was believing whatever he would say. Especially now that Connie had appeared and called his name with flirting tunes.
“You shouldn’t feel this way. But if this helps, hold on to me and I’ll keep you safe.”
“Really?” -Incredulous I wanted to trust and accept the unavoidable.
“Forever.” -Sam whis
pered with a reassuring smile.
People danced happily but I chose to remain sitting in my comfy cushion in the floor. Sam was beside me, chewing white grapes and sipping a virgin mimosa.
“Looks like you have another admirer.” -Sam mussed in my ear. I looked at him to let him know he was delusional. Inclusive, I rolled my eyes at him. -“Oh, incredulous yet? I’ll prove it to you.”
I wasn’t incredulous but overwhelmed and somehow excited that I hadn’t melted when I walked through the chapel. It had been a nice experience. Peaceful and needed. When I blinked back to reality, Sam had stood up and was walking away. I melted this time. Not so discretely I watched him moving with confidence to where the old ladies were congregated. He was a neat man. So handsome wearing a black jacket, black trousers, black shoes. A white tee made him look terrific and sleek. Sam looked like a model from a magazine, an actor, a super star. Soon it wasn’t so hard to understand why was I falling so bad for him. I was melting and he was the heat source.
Taking advantage of the solitude of the moment I stood up and walked to the buffet tables. My mind needed another incentive to stop harassing Sam with needy gaze. This feeling was becoming too obvious to me, and for strange that it was, it felt too damn good. The biggest concern was to hide it from the rest of the world.
Perhaps some food would heal my tearing soul. The impenetrable fortress that my spirit was, was now turning into a mountain built of leaves and ashes. My determination, the hopes I had, the ideas and revenges carefully planned in my mind, were turning into crumbs of an old, dry cake.
Fresh strawberry over one crêpe alongside some pieces of ham and cheese, and I was ready to return no my table. Another eye to the table and I surrendered to fill the rest of the plate with pastries and cream puffs. Responsibility taken, I know this is a very recurrent bad habit, but I’m not willing to avoid it. I’m not feeling guilt either. I smiled and thought I should hug myself for the nice Maghik refreshing spell I created under the buffet pergola.
