by Amy Reece
“Ally?” he asked as he saw me peek out the door. “What’s wrong, babe? Come out of the bathroom.”
“Okay.” I swallowed and made myself walk out and stand in front of my husband. “Surprise.”
“Holy Mother of God.”
“Do you like it? I kind of feel ridiculous.”
“Why on earth would you feel ridiculous?” He pulled me to him, turning me around to get a fuller view. “You look hot! Wow. I love it. I feel like I just won the lottery.”
“Really? I was worried,” I admitted softly.
He smiled, seeming to understand that I was having a small confidence crisis. “Ally Ruiz, you are the most beautiful woman in the entire world to me. And I absolutely love this. But please don’t feel like you have to wear sexy stuff just to make me happy. Wear it if you want, but only if you like it and it makes you feel good, okay?”
“Yeah. You’re pretty awesome, you know that?”
“What? I wasn’t paying attention because I’m completely distracted by the sex goddess in front of me.” We both laughed. He pulled me into his arms and we were done talking for quite a while.
Hours later I lay drowsing against his chest. “So, you’re glad I kidnapped you tonight?”
“Definitely. We needed to get away for a little while. Ally.” He turned to look at me. “How are you doing with all this? Is having Megan too much? Am I taking advantage of you?”
“Oh, Jack, no. Megan belongs with us. She is the easiest kid to have around. Too easy, sometimes. And you are not taking advantage of me. I am so happy. I love being married to you. Hey, we haven’t even had a fight yet.”
“Hmm, that’s right. Maybe I should do something stupid so you can get mad at me. I’ve heard make-up sex is pretty great.”
“Well, not right now, okay? I’ve got other plans for you.” I began kissing his neck, letting my hands wander to all sorts of fun places.
“Are you trying to kill me, querida?” he asked with a groan.
I leaned back. “Well, we can’t have that. Maybe I should stop.”
He laughed and pulled me back. “No, don’t stop. At least I’ll die happy.”
I had the vision/nightmare again that night. I jerked awake at the same point I did last time, when I was frantically searching for something, but managed to keep from screaming. If I was going to have to endure this thing repeatedly, as appeared likely, I could at least spare Jack the midnight drama. He worked too hard every day to skimp on his sleep. I lay as still as I could, trying to get my breathing back under control and wondering what I could possibly be searching for.
He rolled over and put his arm around me, pulling me into the cocoon of his body. “It’s okay, babe. I’ve got you. I’m here,” he mumbled sleepily against my hair.
I smiled and relaxed into his arms. He took care of me, even in his sleep.
Chapter Seven
“All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.”
—Sophocles, Antigone
Mina and Rémy arrived on Monday; Tara, Megan, and I spent the entire day helping them unpack and get moved in. Jack and Mat came over as soon as they got home from work and between all of us we got them set up fairly well. They would need to shop for more furniture soon, but they had a place to sleep, at least. Finally, around 8:00 p.m., we ordered pizza and sat around, exhausted, while we ate and caught up.
“Tell us about the wedding,” Tara suggested. “Was it wonderful?”
“Well, it was certainly big,” Rémy said.
Mina gave him dirty look. “It was beautiful,” she said. “Kate outdid herself. I have some pictures on my phone but the rest are still packed somewhere.” She passed the phone around. She wore a gorgeous lace dress and smiled up at Rémy, who wore a tuxedo.
“You guys are gorgeous,” I said. “It looks like it was a great party.”
“It was. I wish you all could have been there. Do you have pictures from yours, Ally? And what about from Jack’s graduation?” Mina asked.
I happily complied, sharing the photos from my own cellphone. We decided it was time to walk back across the street when we noticed Megan was asleep on the floor, her half-eaten piece of pizza still in her hand.
“Come on, munchkin,” Jack scooped her up in his strong arms. “Let’s get you to bed.” She barely stirred as we worked together to wipe her face and tuck her in bed. “Your turn, querida.” He scooped me up and carried me to our room, where he placed me on the bed. “You must be exhausted from helping Rémy and Mina all day. Would you like me to draw you a bath or give you a massage?”
“How can I possibly choose? What are my chances of getting both?” I teased.
“Better than average, I’d say. Don’t move while I get that bath started.”
I nearly fell asleep while he disappeared to get the bath going. He pulled me to my feet, led me to the bathroom, and undressed me before helping me into the tub. “Are you joining me?” I asked hopefully.
“Tempting, but no. Tonight I am treating my beautiful wife to a bath and a massage with no strings attached.”
“Jack, I never think of our love life like that!” I objected.
He leaned over to kiss me. “I know, babe. But I know you’ve worked hard all day and you’re exhausted. Tonight is about you. Let me do this.” I nodded and he poured me a glass of wine to drink while I soaked. What a totally amazing man! After my bath and a relaxing massage, we curled up together in bed and drank another glass of wine apiece.
“I’m going to miss you so much, Jack.” He was leaving the day after the wedding for his obligatory two-week summer army training.
“I hate that I have to go. The timing sucks, I know. I’m sorry, Ally. You’ll have to get Meg started at school and begin your student teaching while I’m gone.”
“We’ll be fine. Don’t worry about us. I’m just not ready to let you go, to be separated again.” I set my wine down and curled up tightly against his side.
He sighed. “Yeah, me neither.”
I barely heard him as I was falling asleep.
***
“So, where are you taking Mat? Will there be strippers involved?” It was the night before the wedding and we had bachelor and bachelorette party responsibilities. Megan was staying with Trina and Manny.
Jack paused his shaving and laughed, meeting my eyes in the bathroom mirror. “Jesus, Ally! Strippers? No, hon. We’re going to a sports bar to eat wings and watch a game. Strippers!” He laughed again and resumed shaving.
“Which sports bar?” What was wrong with me? I couldn’t let it go.
“Probably Ojos Locos. Why?”
“That sleazy bar where the waitresses are half naked? I don’t think so! You need to pick someplace else!” I crossed my arms and leaned against the cabinet.
He finished shaving and rinsed his razor. He crossed his arms and stared back at me. I could tell he was trying not to smile.
“You had better wipe that stupid smirk off your face, mister! I’m serious!”
He uncrossed his arms and put his hands on his hips. “Oh, yeah? You get to tell me what to do now?”
“I’m your wife!” I yelled like a jealous, psycho fishwife.
“Yeah, but you’re not my keeper, Ally.” He walked into the bedroom and got dressed silently while I remained stewing in the bathroom.
This was the first time since we got married that we were headed out for an evening away from each other and I was having issues apparently. I followed him to the front door. “Are you really going to take him to that bar?”
He stopped and ran his hands through his still-wet hair. “Yeah, I am. You have nothing to worry about. I love you, even when you’re being ridiculous.” He bent down to kiss me before he left.
To my shame, I didn’t kiss him back.
***
“What the hell is wrong with you tonight?” Tara demanded as she stopped by our table between dances. “You’re all depresse
d! You need to come out here and dance and have fun!” She tried to pull me out of my seat.
“I’m sorry.” I was ruining the night for everyone. “Jack and I had a fight earlier. I was awful,” I admitted.
“What did you fight about?” She plopped on the stool next to me. “Come on, Ally. Spill!”
I told her how I had thrown a fit about him taking Mat to Ojos Locos and demanded to know if they were going to see strippers.
“But we go there all the time. What’s going on? Why are you suddenly so jealous? It’s not like you, Ally.”
“I know! What is my problem? I didn’t even kiss him goodbye! What if he gets in a wreck on the way home? What if I never see him again?” I started hyperventilating.
“Mina!” Tara yelled at her across the dance floor.
“What’s up?” Mina, flushed from dancing, trotted up to the table. They had both been enjoying themselves all evening while I moped and pouted at the table.
“Ally’s in full freak-out mode. She and Jack had a fight,” Tara explained.
Mina didn’t waste any time; she reached for my wrist and put her other hand on my cheek, forcing me to meet her gaze. I felt her invade my mind as all my barriers dropped. Then I felt a calming influence flow through my thoughts as my breathing slowed to normal.
“How did you do that, Mina?” I asked in awe.
“I’ve been practicing. Oh, Ally. If you only knew how Jack feels about you. There is no reason in the world to be jealous.” She pulled me close for a hug. “I think you’re mainly upset about him leaving the day after tomorrow.”
“I’m an idiot. I need to call him.”
“Why don’t you just text him? You can talk to him later. It’s my bachelorette party and I want to enjoy it with my two best friends!” Tara exclaimed.
“Okay. Give me a minute.” They both nodded and went back to the dance floor.
Me: I’m so so sorry. I’m a crazy person. Forgive me?
Jack: Of course. Always. Luv u. Talk to u later ok?
Me: Ok.
For the rest of the evening, I focused on making sure Tara’s bachelorette party was fun. We went to several clubs and danced until we were exhausted. We ended the evening at the Frontier Restaurant across from the university and ate enormous cinnamon rolls swimming in butter sauce and drank coffee.
“After tomorrow, we’ll all be married women,” I observed.
“It’s hard to believe, huh?” Tara said. “I never even wanted to go out with Mat. Now I can’t imagine my life without him.”
“I know what you mean,” I agreed. “I hope I still fit into my dress after pigging out on this.” I popped the last decadent bite in my mouth.
“Yeah, I’ll probably need to barf it all up when I get home,” Tara mused.
Jack was already home when I arrived. I literally threw myself in his arms and kissed him like I should have before he left, tasting beer and spicy wings. He wasn’t much of a drinker, always limiting himself to one of anything because of his past. His mother had been killed by a drunk driver, his dad had turned into an alcoholic, and Jack himself had self-medicated with alcohol and drugs when he was much younger. “I’m so sorry I acted like a crazy, jealous bitch! I should never have tried to tell you what to do.”
“It’s okay, babe. I should have talked to you instead of reacting. And I shouldn’t have laughed at you. I’m sorry too.” He kissed me deeply, letting his warm tongue invade my mouth and tease my senses. “Hey, we’ve had our first fight. Good job on getting that out of the way, querida.”
I laughed with him and then pulled him back for more kisses.
“Ally.” He pulled away and held my face in his hands. “You don’t have any reason to be jealous. I am only interested in you, I swear.”
“I don’t think I was really jealous, Jack. I’m just letting the two-week separation get to me, I guess. I’m so sorry.” I told him what Mina had done to calm me down, amazed again at how her powers were developing.
“All right, enough apologizing. Let’s put it behind us. Megan’s not here and I have never had the opportunity to make love to my gorgeous wife in the middle of the living room. Or in the kitchen. I have extremely fond memories of almost making love to you once in your grandmother’s kitchen and tonight I can make that particular fantasy come true.”
“Well, it’s pretty late, so if we’re going to do all that we had better get busy.”
***
“Ally, can I have my hair up too? Please?” Megan asked quietly. We were in the bride’s room at the church waiting for Tara to arrive. She was late, of course.
I looked at Megan’s long, shining black curls and wondered if I could manage a credible up-do for her. She so rarely asked for anything, so I wanted to try. “Sure, Meg. Sit down here and let me see what I can do.” I brushed and braided her hair before coiling it tightly on top of her head and securing it with at least a dozen bobby pins. I shellacked it with multiple coats of hair spray and then stepped back to see what she thought. Her eyes met mine in the mirror as a lovely smile lit up her face. I caught a glimpse of the beautiful young woman she would become in a few short years and nearly gasped in awe. I don’t know why it surprised me, given how good-looking her brother was. “You look gorgeous!”
“Thanks, Ally.” She smiled and then turned to hug me tightly. She was an affectionate, but reserved child; she actually reminded me of Mina in a lot of ways. Jack and I both worried that she was growing up without a mother or a real father. We were trying to fulfill both roles, but we knew our youth handicapped us in some ways. I certainly didn’t feel equipped for motherhood at age 20, but what could we do?
“Sorry I’m late!” Tara breezed in, looking stunning, holding an iced caramel macchiato.
“Seriously, Tara? You have twenty minutes until you’re supposed to be walking down that aisle and you figured you had time to stop at Starbucks? Your wedding Nazi has been in here six times demanding to know where you are!” As I finished scolding her, Mina reappeared with the flustered wedding coordinator in tow. “She’s here.” I gestured to the late bride.
“Would you all relax?” Tara said as she took a sip of her coffee. “There’s plenty of time. All I have to do is slip into the dress. My hair and makeup are done.” She started shedding clothes as she finished. Her mother and grandmother came in just as she was stepping into the dress I held for her. Megan held back a giggle as her grandmother’s eyes bugged out at the tiny thong and strapless bra Tara was wearing under her wedding gown. She sat down on the stool in front of the mirror while I helped her fasten the comb with the veil attached in her upswept blonde tresses. I got a little teary-eyed as I gazed at my best friend on her wedding day.
“Oh, no you don’t!” she exclaimed and grabbed a tissue to dab at her eyes. “I just spent $200 for this makeup and hair. Knock it off!” She handed me a tissue as well, then hugged me. “Come on. I need to go marry Mat.”
Less than five minutes later I was walking up the aisle toward a nervous-looking Mat. Jack, his best man, stood next to him, looking incredibly gorgeous in his grey tuxedo and tails. His vest and tie matched the bridesmaids’ dresses perfectly. He watched me, smiling, until I reached the front of the church. I winked at him and turned to take my place. The minister motioned for the congregation to stand as the back doors of the church were opened to reveal Tara and her father. The music changed to the traditional wedding march and they started up the aisle. I glanced over at Mat and had to bite my lip at the expression on his face: pure, unadulterated love. It was clear to everyone in the church that Mat felt like the luckiest man in the world today. They exchanged vows they had written themselves before the minister told Mat he could kiss his bride. They grinned at each other before he pulled her into his arms for their first kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Mateo Jimenez. I wiped away yet another tear and looked up to see Jack smiling at me. I love you, he mouthed. Mat and Tara reluctantly pulled away from each other and walked back down the aisle and out of the church. I walked forward
to meet Jack. He tucked my arm under his and patted my hand.
“You okay, babe?”
“Yeah. I’m happy, that’s all.”
We collected Megan and drove ten minutes north to the Sandia Casino Resort, on the Sandia Indian Reservation, just outside Albuquerque. The members of the wedding party and the family were required to pose for approximately a thousand photographs on the gorgeous resort grounds, with the majestic Sandia Mountains in the background. Tara’s wedding album was sure to be stunning. After a delicious buffet dinner, I danced with my husband and then my new cousin-in-law at the reception, while Jack danced with Tara. I sat out while he danced with his little sister and got a lump in my throat watching them. We would make it work, I vowed silently. We would somehow be the parents Megan needed us to be. Jack returned to sit beside me while Megan danced with Mat.
“We’re all old married folks now,” he said as he put his arm around the back of my chair.
“Yeah. I wonder how long it’ll be until one of us pops out a kid,” I mused.
“Please say it won’t be us anytime soon,” he begged. I had to smile at the utter panic evident on his face.
“I have no plans to get pregnant in the near future, don’t worry. I kinda think we’ve got our hands full with Megan right now.”
“Whew! I am not ready for a baby.”
“Me neither, hon.” I leaned into him. “I would really like to graduate from college and start my career before we even think about having more kids.”
We stayed until nearly the bitter end, through the cake, bouquet toss—which Megan caught—the garter fling, which Jack and Mat’s young cousin, Javier, caught, and all the toasts.
