Unsuitable Obsession - Part One

by Trisha Fuentes

  “Will you stop saying that?” Amber scolded. “Say magnificent if that’s what you’re really saying.”

  “For sure,” Molly simply let out.

  Sheila Thomas, Amber’s mother, entered the bridal suite at that moment. Compared to the girls, Sheila was about half a person shorter than her daughters! She was a striking petite with processed treated blonde hair piled high on top of her delicate head. Dressed in her shiniest glitter, Sheila outshined her daughters by far in her over-indulgence.

  Sheila halted and took in Amber’s loveliness. “Oh baby, you look breathtaking. Now don’t be nervous, are you nervous?”

  “No, why should I be?” Amber expressed.

  “I don’t know I always seem to get nervous on my wedding days...” Sheila laughed. Amber and Molly both laugh too. The three girls laugh so hard they start to howl.

  Sheila Thomas was married six times, yes six times! Amber was only three when Sam Fitzgerald broke Sheila’s heart and asked for a divorce. Sheila soon searched for the next husband, someone she didn’t love, but a man, her supporter, who could provide for her and the girls. Take care of them all. Never mind about love. Who said anything about love? It was an act Sheila was willing to do for herself and her children. Sleep with a man she was only fond of just so that he could pay the bills and keep a roof over their heads. What a grateful gesture Amber often thought. What an enormous act to follow! Sheila had been some woman. Amber could never do that—or was she doing that now?

  But Amber loved her Mom, loved her mother for making such an unselfish decision over and over just so that she and Molly could have clean clothes, a house in an excellent school area, breakfast, lunch and dinner, a dog and cat, bikes, toys, and eventually cars for both of them. What an astonishing considerate achievement her mother had unfolded, and the girls treated their mother with respect. Respect foremost and always. Sheila had been their mother and their father actually. In between Father Figures, Sheila had to be the disciplinarian, the chauffeur, the coach, the nursemaid, the cook, the maid, Mother Theresa all rolled into one. Chores had to be enforced and restrictions had to be followed, she was a frightful powerhouse when Amber was growing up; diminutive Sheila, her amazing mother. In another’s eyes, what her mother did and the reasons behind why she married so many times would raise an eyebrow or two, but Amber never really saw it that way. She loved her mother for all the emotional sacrifices she must have endured, and always wished she could tell her how eternally grateful she was and always would be. But how do you express that?

  And talk about Father Figures! Amber was growing up with all these men. And which one would she latch onto as her Father Figure? The quiet sheet metal worker, the angry cop, the doting hospital administrator, the shy attorney, or the arrogant bartender? And in what of those Father Figures would she find in her own husband? A combination of all of them? Or should she bet on finding someone more like her own father—the absent Sam Fitzgerald?

  What Amber needed in a husband was someone to treat her right, someone who would be there for her and always there like a comforting blanket that would fulfill the need of the cold moment. Like the warm sun, the twinkling stars, the white moon. That was basically why she felt so at ease with Victor in the first place, he took care of her and he gave her the attention that she craved. He was a devoted Father Figure, taking care of her and her emotional needs.

  * * * * *

  The bridal party was all ready; four bridesmaids, four groomsmen, each on their respectable sides of entering. Amber was at the end of the girls waiting for her father to walk her down the aisle. Waiting, waiting, she was always in anticipation of her father! She wasn’t a bit nervous though, she was calm, collected and anxious even. She was about to walk through the church doors and into a remarkable family; a household she always wanted and wanted to get the show on the road.

  Amber and the bridesmaids were standing just outside the entrance to the church when the girls began to giggle and hollered “you’re in the wrong place mister” and “what the heck are you doing?” To her surprise, Eduardo appeared out of nowhere and walked past the procession, admiring all the girls in their long flowing gowns.

  “You all look terrific, fantastic, you’re gonna ‘cause a commotion for sure, not a dry eye in the place,” Eduardo said, parading himself down the line towards Amber. The girls all laughed silly and whispered enthusiastic exchanges amongst themselves. When he reached Amber at the end of the line, he stopped cold.

  Amber held onto her bouquet uneasy now for Eduardo’s glare took her very breath away. For a limited moment, Amber felt unstable about her decision to marry Victor. Having that man directly in front of her, giving her the most amazing arousing response jumbled her commitment.

  Eduardo slowly brought his eyes away from her distracting wedding dress. Amber’s unexpected close attention had rendered him speechless. It took every inch of will power he possessed not to draw her over his shoulder and kidnap her. He allowed too much time pass. He wanted to give those lustful feelings some time to pacify. To his astonishment—they didn’t subside—they only grew! Good God, what was happening to him? He purposely stayed away from his mother’s house while the family prepared for the wedding. He passed the California State BAR, threw his mind into law, sending out resumes and going out on interviews. He even purposely avoided going to the rehearsals! Even though he had woken up restless from dreaming about her for the past several months, it tortured him inside to know what he’d be doing to his little brother.

  Eduardo stood back, held his hand over his heart and mouthed out the word “wow.”

  He really shouldn’t be affecting her heart so much the way that he did, but Eduardo couldn’t have expressed anything more special to Amber at that moment. He really was quite amazing, her new brother-in-law and Amber beamed.

  Eduardo gazed down at the floor, clearly doubted his decision and stepped away. The bridesmaids all looked into his direction and examined Eduardo as he sauntered back into the church.

  The events of the day were almost perfect and everything went according to plan. Sam did show up on time to walk her down the aisle, and she was finally going to have that wonderful wedding a little girl always dreamt about. With gorgeous bouquets of flowers, candles lit eternally and a church filled with family and friends, it was ideal. It was mostly the Sanchez Family and their kin, but she didn’t mind, she was becoming one of them; that cherished group, with such rich heritage, and when she saw Victor, and he saw her, tears formed in both of their eyes. In fact, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place just like Eduardo predicted. Everything was unspoiled, absolutely beautiful, when something happened that Amber didn’t anticipate during the middle of the ceremony; faultless Eduardo forgot her ring?

  Amber noticed Eduardo fidgeting in the corner of her eye, she couldn’t help but see him directly behind Victor; he was his Best Man and was tilting back and forth like he had to use the restroom. Then, when the minister pronounced, “If there was anyone who felt that these two should not be married” she actually saw him close his eyes? Like painfully close them! Was she imagining it? She was still reasoning how her brother-in-law was acting when she heard the minister proclaim through her study: “Do you have the rings?”

  Amber took Victor’s ring from Molly (her Maid-Of-Honor) and then turned around to find Eduardo whispering to Victor. Eduardo forgot the ring, her ring. Wonderful. Great. Thanks Eduardo for ruining my perfect wedding!

  Eduardo removed himself from the line of groomsmen and rushed to one of the back rooms of the church. Five minutes later, he rushed back with the ring in his hand. “It’s here,” he stated, brushing a chestnut wave back into place.

  Amber sighed with relief; Victor smiled, in fact, the whole congregation beamed. What relaxation and then they were married, a simple kiss finalized her entrance and she was finally a Sanchez. After eleven months of courtship, five months of being engaged, she was finally married into a big amazing family.

  The reception was nearly a bl
ur. They rented out an American Legion banquet hall and the facility was filled to capacity. She’d never seen so many people in one place nor introduced to so many relatives, more so than on Eduardo’s welcome home barbeque. And there were (and she’s not kidding) around five hundred guests in attendance. Could they really afford this wedding? No fretting, Victor kept reassuring her, his parents were paying for everything and that made Amber more relaxed. There were homemade appetizers—Mexican food, of course—and an endless amount of alcohol. Booze everywhere and in everyone’s hands. Children freely occupied the dance floor, his or her chance of grabbing everyone’s attention. It was cute, fun, then the respected elderly entered the dance floor and the room was hushed as they twirled around and did the samba to cheers and whistles galore.

  The cake, the food, was absolutely impeccable. Sam stayed for the whole event, and Amber was grateful for it. Amber hadn’t seen her father in over a year and he didn’t disappoint her in her time of triumph. Amber loved all the attention the guests gave to her that evening and she felt like royalty, receiving glowing compliments of how lovely she looked. She felt extra special that night and floated on air, until…

  “Amber...walk me over to your brother-in-law,” Molly expressed, grabbing her sister. “I don’t want to make a fool of myself going up to him alone.”

  Amber held back, “Oh Mol, he’s not your type.”

  “He’s a babe, that’s my type,” Molly giggled, pulling her sister towards him again.

  Amber’s heart began to beat faster. She didn’t want to talk to her brother-in-law right then and there and was still upset at him for blemishing her perfect wedding day—disturbed by him period. “Oh Mol, I don’t want to talk to him right now.”

  “Oh com’on, please, I’d do it for you,” Molly complained, pulling her sister’s arm practically out of its socket.

  “Wait—wait, don’t rush me. Let me pick up my dress for crying out loud,” Amber pleaded, feeling her shoes beginning to yank at the extensive fabric.

  Amber had been the one to coordinate the eveningwear for the nuptials. Victor, bless his heart, wanted nothing to do with such intricate decisions as picking out bridesmaid dresses or groomsmen tuxedos. Amber (who was never into dressing up herself) had the girls wear long taffeta blushing pink gowns, with matching shoes and a corsage of the pinkest roses on their wrists, while the boys wore baby blue jackets, matching polyester slacks with frosted patent leather shoes. Cobalt and rose, Amber wanted immediately, the vision of country flowers across a meadow, how romantic. And hell, it was the 80’s…

  Although the wedding party looked either too gaunt in their skirts or bulging at the waistline in their tuxedos, Eduardo had been “Tony Manero” come to life and wore his like a clone to John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Holding up the wall, his jacket was removed exposing only his vest; his legs, casually crossed out in front of him watched the girls approach as they progressively reached his locale. He stopped sipping his Budweiser for the moment and first glared at Amber.

  Oh and Amber couldn’t believe it! On all the days, he made her blush, cheeks so hot; she swore that everyone could see the redness on her face. “Eduardo,” she managed to get out, “Since you didn’t come to the rehearsals, I wanted to introduce my older sister Molly, Molly this is my brother-in-law, Eduardo Sanchez.”

  Eduardo greeted Molly and shook her hand and held it. “We’ve met already.”

  “When?” Molly asked breathless, staring into his green eyes.

  “Before the ceremony, remember?” Eduardo pronounced, toying with her.

  “I-I,” Molly retorted, trying to recall last speaking with him.

  “You know, when I told you how nice you looked.”

  Molly’s round eyes caught Amber by surprise. “Oh stop it,” she regrouped, slapping Eduardo playfully on the shoulder. “That comment was for all the girls, not just for me.”

  Amber rolled her eyes at that obvious display of flirtation.

  Eduardo gave Molly one of his penetrating smiles. The one he reserved for his female prospects. That half-smirk tossed in with a quick lift of the jaw that always seemed to make the girls fancy him.

  Amber and Molly noted it—the enticement worked. Molly unquestionably wanted him while Amber was uncertain; she was downright enthralled by him. No, it wasn’t all of a sudden; it was something she’s always felt, but ran away from. She was intensely fascinated by him and couldn’t understand why. Amber lifted up her dress and strolled away. She just got married to his brother for crissakes! What the hell was she doing being fascinated-drawn-enchanted by that man?

  “Amber,” Eduardo called her back.

  Amber quickly turned around. “What?” She asked, dropping her dress to the floor. She noticed her sister still in awe of him and he ignored Molly—she was acting like a stupid little schoolgirl twirling her hair.

  He paced away from Molly for the moment and concentrated on Amber. “I want to apologize for misplacing the ring during the ceremony,” Eduardo quietly mouthed. What the hell was he feeling now? His heart was beginning to pound—felt his throat close up. Good God, he forgot what he was going to say next?

  “It’s over, let’s just forget about it,” Amber managed to assert.

  “My brother has good taste,” Eduardo expressed, disgusted with himself for presenting that double-edge entendre. He elevated the beer bottle up to his mouth, took a long sip. Good God he could use another beer.

  Now why does he make drinking look so erotic as well? Amber’s expression goes clean. “What?”

  Good God Eduardo get it under control! He quickly noted her questionable manner and related, “Your ring.”

  Amber remained intently looking at him. Who does he think he is flirting with me on this day? What an asshole! God, he’s so conceited! He can have every fricken’ girl here if he wanted too, including my sister, but he still thinks he can get the bride? Yah, right!

  Molly stood back and watched her sister with her new brother-in-law and couldn’t help but notice the tension between the two. She thought it was extremely odd how both their bodies seem to gravitate back and forth towards one another while they spoke and it was strange. But she would never admit to that, she had too much pride in her own appearance to think that Eduardo would be interested in her little sister. “It is a nice ring Amber,” she chimed in joining the circle.

  Amber broke away from Eduardo’s gaze for a moment and tried to focus on her sister. “Yah Victor wanted diamonds, but I said no,” she cackled. “What girl doesn’t want diamonds?”

  Molly laughed along with her and Amber’s smile collapsed within settling on her brother-in-law’s face. His expression was grave. Good Lord, what’s wrong with this guy? Amber noticed he looked pissed off now…What the hell was wrong with him?!

  Eduardo drank the last swig of his beer and focused on his mother approaching wanting to dance. Good God, thank you for the rescue!

  “Eduardo—mehiò, come dance with your Mama,” Rosalba asked, grabbing his arm.

  Amber was suddenly left with a perplexing question. She didn’t quite know what the doubt was, but she felt something went terribly wrong. She looked at her sister and Molly seemed to notice it as well. Amber’s eyes filled with water instantly.

  “Amber?”

  Amber hiked up her dress and ran away from her sister at that moment, down the hallway and towards the ladies room. She was cornered by one of Victor’s Aunts, Tiá Lorena.

  “Oh mehiá, you look absolutely beautiful, like a princess! Victor must be so proud! Rosalba and Fabrizio couldn’t be happier!”

  Amber stared at Tiá Lorena for a moment. With her lavender polyester chiffon dress, high heels and Jackie O hair-do, she was a sight. “Thank you,” she managed to say. But Amber was still in a daze.

  “I’m gonna go find that husband of yours, swing him around on the dance floor for awhile, do you mind?” Tiá Lorena asked jovial.

  Amber smiled, spun back into consciousness. “Mind? Will you? I’ve been
dancing with him all night; my feet are beginning to hurt,” she laughed, jiggling her feet around in her shoes.

  Tiá Lorena kissed Amber’s cheek and off she went. Amber watched her as she melted in through the crowd of other dancers. On the horizon, she spotted Eduardo gyrating to the dance beat. He was dancing with Molly, hugging her near and moving her around skillfully. Her older sister was a big flirt, a little too accommodating sometimes, but Amber knew Molly would make a good match for her brother-in-law. They had a lot in common. Molly used to be a song leader, she was very popular; Eduardo and Molly were used to grabbing all the attention. But the more she watched them dance, the more Amber became covetous. The panorama made her freeze, envious for some reason. She was resentful…why? He’s nothing, nobody, just my new brother-in-law. I hope he gets together with my sister; they’d make a good pair. They would…Really...Then they could get married, we could do things together, all four of us. That would be fun…It would be wonderful, great…Fantastic…yep…the four of us…together… the four of us…Dammit! Then why does that make me so God damn jealous?

  Four

  Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear?

  Anniversaries can be wonderful and romantic, but when you’re practical and handy like The Family, Rosalba and Fabrizio decided that for their 26th wedding anniversary they’d like their immediate family to go away, for the brothers to get together and spend some quality time.

  Fabrizio loved to fish and suggested Cachuma Lake in the Redwood Mountains just above Santa Barbara, California. Several hundred campsites quietly located within forest territory, Cachuma Lake was surrounded by captivating mountains, blue skies, and fresh air and encompassed campgrounds that accommodated recreational vehicles and boats. The grounds even had barbecue pits and picnic tables. Amber loved all the amenities too: hot showers, general store, coin laundry, swimming pool and miniature golf area. It was a wide-open territory full of activity. The Family chose a cliff side campsite overlooking the lake; it was magnificent there with a serene ridge and plush forest setting as its backdrop, it was the perfect spot for The Family among woodpeckers galore.