by Anne Stone
“I want to share some exciting news.”
Neither Angelina nor Gabriella knew what she was going to say. This was the first time they’d been with any of their colleagues since summer began. None of them even knew she’d been dating Alejandro except for Mary.
“Many of you know the story of Angelina’s sister, Colleen. You also know that Gabriella and Angelina went to college together.” There were only two new teachers in the school, so everyone else knew their background. “But what you don’t know is Angelina and Gabriella’s brother became engaged over the summer. They plan to marry the middle of April.”
Cheers rang out. Angelina sat with a huge smile on her face. Gabriella reached over and squeezed her hand.
“She and Alejandro have been dating for quite some time. Since they’d been through such an ordeal with her sister’s liver transplant and then her illness, they wanted to keep it low key. I wanted to start the year off with this fantastic news. Last fall was full of sadness for their families, but now this year they have a lot to celebrate. I wanted to share with Angelina our best wishes. And on that note…”
The secretary wheeled out a cake. Angelina was shocked. She couldn’t believe that Mary had gone to all of this trouble for her. “Let’s celebrate the start to a new and successful year along with Angelina’s engagement.”
Angelina was surrounded by her fellow teachers. She was overwhelmed by their happiness for her and Alejandro. It took her a minute to catch her breath. When they asked where her ring was, she reached inside her shirt and pulled out her engagement ring. When she’d hurt her finger, she’d placed it on a chain around her neck so it would be with her until her finger improved.
“Oh my, look at that,” said one of the teachers. “That is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen…”
She shared how he’d proposed the day after school ended for the summer break. Another teacher shouted, “Gabriella, what do you think?”
“Well, they kept it a secret from us for almost a month. Alejandro had a Fourth of July party and that’s when they told us. I’m just so excited to have her as my sister. It’s something I’ve wanted for a long time.”
Mary started to cut the cake when Alejandro walked in the room. “Ahh… and here’s the lucky groom-to-be.”
Everyone turned at once. Alejandro stood at the back of the room in total shock. Mary had called him earlier in the day and asked that he come by school. She’d wanted to discuss a matter with him and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Thankfully, he had a light day and was able to work the late afternoon meeting into his day.
“What do we have here?”
“A celebration to honor you and Angelina.”
“Huh?”
“On your engagement, silly.”
“Oh,” he said as he neared Angelina and placed a kiss on her cheek. “This is quite a surprise. You didn’t have to do this for us.”
“I wanted to kick the year off on a good note and thought, what better way than to announce your engagement and have a little celebration?”
“Well, thank you,” he said.
The teachers stood around for a few minutes discussing their wedding plans. After helping clean up, Alejandro walked Angelina to her classroom. “That was a nice surprise.”
“It certainly was. I had no idea she was going to do that. I was going to announce our engagement in a few weeks.”
He reached for her hand and looked at her swollen finger. “How’s the finger?” he asked as he inspected it.
She shrugged her shoulders.
“Looks a little better, but it’s still swollen.”
“Yeah.”
“I wish you could wear your ring.”
“I am.” He didn’t know that she wore it around her neck. She pulled the necklace out and showed him. “It’s next to my heart where I can feel your presence.”
She turned and hugged him tightly. “Do you have to go back to the hospital?”
“Nah, I’m done for the day.”
“Come on, let’s go celebrate.”
“What are we celebrating?”
“The start of a new school year, us, and anything else we can think of.”
He placed his arm around her neck and pulled her close as she reached for her purse. They walked from her classroom and right into Mary.
“I was just coming to see you.”
“You were?”
“Yes, what are you doing right now?”
“We’re headed out to have a drink. Want to join us?”
“Sure. How about I meet you at the pub around the corner?”
“Great idea.”
Mary skirted down the hallway ahead of them as Alejandro turned to Angelina. Smiling, he said, “Sorry about that.”
“Not a problem. I like her. She’s a great boss and really seems to like me for some reason. Maybe that’s because of my handsome fiancé.”
Mary joined them for a quick drink. “I just want to tell you how happy I am for the two of you. You’re an absolutely perfect couple.”
They smiled at one another.
“So what are your plans? I’m sure you’re going to have plenty of children.”
They looked at each other. He smiled at Angelina and placed his arm across her shoulders. “In time,” he replied. “We have so much to do over the next few months.” Changing the subject, he asked if she was planning another Career Day. Internally, he breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted today to be a happy one for them and didn’t want to have to face the reality of her situation.
For the most part, Mary’s question concerning children didn’t seem to faze Angelina in the least. He hoped that she was beginning to face her situation without as much sadness. He wanted her to get past it.
*****
Thanksgiving was upon them and Angelina’s class was scheduled to return to the Indian Reservation for the mock Thanksgiving celebration. The evening prior to the field trip, she went over to Alejandro’s. She knew he was home working on a presentation that he was scheduled to give the following week at an out-of-state conference. She was anxious. She needed him to calm her nerves, to make her see that everything was alright. They’d been over and over her situation. She’d listen to him, see the light of day, and forget about it. Then, she’d have periods of sadness and fall right back into its trap. She needed him tonight more than ever.
On the way to his house, she saw a young family taking a walk. The father was pulling two children in a red flyer wagon while the mother carried a smaller child papoose like. Seeing that particular scene threw her over the edge. She felt like a knife had coursed right through her heart. It took her breath away. She needed Alejandro.
She pulled into his driveway and swiped at the remaining tears on her face. She had to get control of herself. She didn’t want to upset him. He needed to complete his presentation, but she also needed him, too. She sat in her car for a few more minutes composing herself, then walked to his front door and rang the bell.
It took him a few moments for him to answer. He was surprised to see her and looked at her questioningly. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
She rushed into his arms and broke into tears.
“Honey, come here. Are you okay?” He led her towards the kitchen. He couldn’t comprehend what was wrong with her. He’d talked to her earlier in the day and she seemed fine. She was completing preparations for the field trip and… That’s it, he thought—the field trip. He sat her at the kitchen table and retrieved a cold glass of water for her. Sitting down, he reached for her hand. Clasping it, he said, “It’s the field trip, isn’t it?”
She couldn’t look at him. She just nodded her head.
Too many memories, he thought. “I understand.”
She looked up at him. “I was on my way over here and I was doing okay until I saw… I saw the cutest family on a walk. Mother, father, and three smaller children. The father was pulling the older two in a wagon and the mother carried the youngest. My heart ached after witnessing that
…”
“Angelina, we can have that. It just might not be our ‘own.’ If it makes you feel better, we can start exploring adoption right away. Right after we get married. If that will help you get through this, I am all for it.”
“It’s just… I need to get over it on my own, but I can’t seem to quite clear the final hurdle. I think I’m there and then something throws me back two paces. Alejandro, I think I need to tell my mom. Maybe that’s why I can’t cross the finish line. My secret keeps holding me back from getting on with my life. What do you think?”
“That’s a possibility. Maybe you’d feel free if you told her.”
“I think so. It’s just that I have to find the right time. With the holidays and everything…”
“As long as you’ve decided to tell her, you’ll find the right time. In your heart, you’ll know when it’s best.”
She smiled at him.
“Do you want me there with you? You know I want to support you. I want her to know that you haven’t been alone on this journey. We’re in this together and I want her to know that we’ll have children. Someway, somehow.”
“Alejandro, you’re my lifeline. Without you, I’d have no direction. I’d be going from one day to the next without purpose. You give me that purpose. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
He held her for a time and then said, “Better?”
She nodded. “You always make me feel better. That’s why I sought you out tonight. I just hope I didn’t ruin your creative genius for the evening.”
“Why would you say that?”
“You were working on your presentation, weren’t you?”
“I’m pretty much done with it, just finishing my graphics.”
“That’s good. I didn’t want to burden you again with my life.”
“Your life is my life. Nothing is too big or too small for me. That’s what I’m here for, and pretty soon I’ll be your husband. I want to share everything with you. The good and the bad, the ups and the downs… Everything. Don’t you ever think that you’re bothering me. I love you way too much to put anything between us. I want you to feel comfortable that you can share anything with me. Got it?”
“Got it.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t go on the field trip?”
“No. I have to face my demons. I feel a lot better just seeing you and talking to you. I’ll be fine.”
“You know I’m just a phone call away. I should be at home most of tomorrow working on my presentation. Call me if you need me. Please, no heroics.”
She nodded in agreement. It was getting late and she needed to get home. She had to rise earlier than normal the next day. She wanted to make sure that her emotions were in check before she boarded the school bus for the Reservation.
She slept fairly well after having her meltdown the evening before. She was almost to school when her phone rang. “Hi,” she said.
“Better?”
“Yes. Much.”
“I just wanted to call and check on you. You’re sure you can make it through the day?”
“I’ll do my best, and if I have any problems I’ll call you. I promise. You always help me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’ll be fine.”
“You know how much I love you.”
“I know. I’ve gotta go. I’m just pulling into school. I love you.”
Alejandro got off the phone and immediately called his sister. He wanted to make sure she understood Angelina’s shakiness for the day.
“I know. I’ve been worried about her all week. I know she has a lot of memories from that day. Collapsing and all…”
He started to say more, but realized that his sister had no idea what came out of that horrific time. “Just keep an eye on her for me.”
“Sure. I’ll call you if I need to.”
“Thanks, Gabby. You’re the best sister anyone could have.” He hung up. He’d worry about Angelina the entire day.
Angelina boarded the bus with Gabriella right behind her. Gabriella placed a hand on her shoulder as they climbed the stairs. “You okay?”
“Yeah.”
They sat together on the bus. It was a relatively long ride to the Reservation. Abruptly, Angelina spoke. “I had a little meltdown on your brother’s shoulder last night.”
“You did? What happened?” Gabriella didn’t want her to know that she’d talked to Alejandro earlier that morning.
Angelina proceeded to tell her the story, of course leaving out the parts surrounding having children. “Just a lot of memories came crashing back at me. I felt sorry for him because I interrupted his work.”
“I’m sure he didn’t care. He’d do anything for you. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yeah. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened in my life. I don’t know what I’d do without him.” She smiled at her future sister-in-law. “You know I love you, too.”
“I know you do, and I can’t wait until I can call you my sister.”
The remainder of the day went off without a hitch. Angelina was involved in all aspects of the field trip. She participated in the scavenger hunt that led the students all around the Reservation looking for various artifacts that they’d studied in class. She pointed out the numerous headdresses and the intricate beadwork that several of the craftsmen were working on. She was also able to enjoy the tribal dance that she missed the previous year. She didn’t let the memories consume her.
Gabriella knew Angelina experienced flashbacks to when she collapsed, but she made it through the day without incident. Angelina thoroughly enjoyed her day and she couldn’t wait to return the following year.
Alejandro spent his day with his phone by his side. He worried that Angelina would need him. By the time the clock reached two, he realized she’d probably made it through the day. He felt that if she shared her medical condition with her family, she’d be able to deal with her situation much better. She’d have him, along with their families, to lean on when she was having a difficult time.
Alejandro had worked off-and-on on his presentation for most of the day when he decided to take a drive. Before he knew it, he’d pulled into St. Margaret’s parking lot. He wasn’t sure if they’d returned from the field trip, so he decided to remain in his car until the final bell.
He’d been there only a few minutes when the bus pulled into the parking lot. He saw her sitting next to the window towards the back of the bus. He thought she looked okay.
Just as the students were ready to disembark, she saw him. A huge smile broke out across her face. She turned to the person sitting next to her then waved.
He stood beside his car while he waited for her to exit the bus. He decided he’d walk her in, visit with Mary until the day ended, and then talk with her. He had an idea that he wanted to share with her. He walked over to the bus and waited for her to disembark—she was one of the last to exit. He reached for her hand and helped her down the last step.
“This is sure a surprise,” she said and smiled up at him. She leaned up and gave him a peck on the cheek.
Alejandro placed his hand along her back and walked with her towards the building. “I’m going to have a word with Mary. I’ll see you after the bell.”
She looked over her shoulder and smiled back at him. She mouthed a “thank you,” then turned as one of her students began talking to her.
Alejandro surprised Mary.
“To what do I owe the honor of this visit, Doctor?”
“Just thought I’d stop by and say hi, that’s all.”
“Really now?”
“Actually, I had an ulterior motive… Are you ready for the holidays?”
Mary commented on her family’s traditions for Thanksgiving.
“I can’t believe its next week. Time sure flies by.”
“It certainly does. Before you know it, the wedding will be here.”
Alejandro nodded, “I know. I can’t believe it.”
“So, what are your plans? Is Angelina going to keep te
aching?”
“As far as I know, she’s planning to. The children mean too much to her to stop doing what she loves. From what I’ve seen, she’s a fabulous teacher.”
“Yes, she is. I would hate to lose her. She inspires us all.” With that, the bell rang. Alejandro wished her a good holiday and headed towards Angelina’s classroom. He waited until all of the students left and then entered.
“Hey, there,” he said. She was at the back of the room rummaging through her closet.
“Hi,” she said and continued her efforts.
“Need help?”
“Nope. Just found what I was looking for.”
He sat at her desk and watched the enthusiasm on her face when she pulled a huge display from the closet. She was preparing to change out her bulletin board for the month of December.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“I was worried about you all day. Since I was home, I decided to come by and make sure you were okay. And I have a proposition for you.”
“I’m fine. Better than I thought I’d be.” She approached him, “So, what’s this proposition about?” He stood while she put her bulletin board materials aside and gathered her purse. “Why don’t you tell me at home? I think I’ve had enough today and just want to go home.”
“That’s fine. Come on, I’ll follow you.”
“I want to go to your house.”
“I’ll follow you home so you can drop off your car, then we can pick up something for dinner.”
She nodded at him as she locked her classroom. Mary waved goodbye as they left the building. He followed her home and they went inside to have a brief conversation with her mother. Then, they headed to the grocery store.
As they drove back to his house, he could tell the day was beginning to take its toll on her—she was developing dark shadows under her eyes. He reached for her hand and clasped it. No words were necessary.
By the time they reached his house, it was nearing six. They elected to eat first. Alejandro fixed dinner while she watched. He knew she’d had a rough couple of days and wanted her to relax. “Sit there. This is my treat. I’m fixing dinner. No arguing.”
