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After Father John greeted the guests and said some opening words, a city official whom Carlos knew, related the legend of the Love Tree. The smartly dressed woman explained.
“According to folklore, a man and a woman loved each other dearly. To express their devotion, they planted two trees at the same time. The woman planted a palm tree, sturdy and able to withstand violent storms. The man planted an oak tree, representing strength and protection. Sadly, he passed away soon after and his heartbroken lover followed. But the two trees grew together, the palm tree growing from the heart of the oak. This illustrates the couple’s everlasting love and that of those who kiss under the love tree. Forever, they are one.”
Father John added a Biblical perspective.
“In the Bible we read this is true of marriage. From Genesis 2:24, ‘Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.’ And from St. Mark: 10:8, ‘and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.’”[7]
Liz and Carlos had opted for traditional wedding vows and after Father John prayed a blessing on their marriage, they were recited. The priest began.
“Do you, Carlos, take this woman to be your wife, to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?”
“I will,” he promised, the emotion brimming in his eyes.
“Do you Elizabeth take this man to be your husband, to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”
“I will,” Liz blurted through tears of joy.
From their hearts, they repeated after Father John.
“I, Carlos, take you Elizabeth to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part.”
“I, Elizabeth, take you Carlos to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part.”
Next came the ring exchange and the momentous words, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Embracing, the couple shared a warm but restrained kiss.
“My wife,” Carlos whispered. “I love you.”
“My husband,” Liz whispered in turn. “I love you too.”
Husband, wife—it was as if the words were meant to be.
Following the ceremony guests proceeded to the reception, while the wedding party and family members paused for pictures. Some were taken under the Love Tree and others on the porch of the quaint cottage. Barbara Martin was included and nurse Terri waited to take her charge to the reception. Her face moist from weeping, the elder woman kissed the couple and wished them well. She also kissed Jack and Rosa, reminding them, “You’re next!”
Once in their car, Liz and Carlos took a moment to ponder the magnitude of it all.
“Mrs. Carlos Martin,” he said with a look of wonder.
Liz drank-in those words. “I love the sound of that.”
He kissed her and they were on their way.
Jack had taken his place at the restaurant door, when Liz and Carlos arrived for the reception.
“This is where I took you and Rosa the day we met,” Carlos said. “Over there is the table where we sat. I was attracted to you right away.”
Guests were already seated in an adjoining hall, decorated with Valentine hearts, red and white balloons and roses. Ushering the couple in, Jack addressed the group.
“May I have your attention please. For the first time, I have the honor of introducing Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Martin.”
Guests applauded as the couple was led to the head table to be seated with Jack and Rosa, Carlos’ mother and nurse Terri.
Servers distributed champagne and Jack tapped a glass with a spoon. “I’d like to propose a toast to the groom, my brother Carlos and to Liz, the bride of his dreams. I wish them a lifetime of happiness.”
The clinking of glasses echoed through the hall.
A choice of salad or soup was followed by a delicious main course, which guests had arranged in advance. Soft background music from a band Carlos had hired, accompanied the food.
Liz took her time, savoring the fresh flounder with crab imperial that she and Carlos had chosen. But for Liz, there was something far more nourishing than food, something she had never known with Steve—the security of loving and being loved in return.
She looked around the hall, spotting Father John and the Rev. Taylor seated together and enjoying a laugh. Like other guests, they came to offer their congratulations.
“It has been a pleasure meeting this brother in Christ,” the Rev. Taylor said of the priest.
Father John smiled in agreement.
Patty introduced her boyfriend, Brian, and Officer Green introduced his girlfriend, Crystal.
“You two have been through a lot to be together,” the officer said. “We wish you the best.”
Fern and Harold Costello extended their congratulations, as did a few of Carlos’ business associates, some of whom he spoke with in Spanish.
Soon a tiered wedding cake decorated with frosted, red roses was served with coffee or whatever drinks guests might request. Carlos and Liz served each other a forkful with a kiss.
When everyone had their fill of cake, the band began to play a medley of love songs. Carlos and Liz stepped out for the opening dance. Others soon joined them: Jack and Rosa, Liz’s sons and their wives, Raúl and Stella, Laura and Christopher, Officer Green and Crystal, Patty and Brian, even Fern and Harold. The little ones danced playfully nearby.
When the music turned fast, Carlos told Liz it would be best if he sat down.
“Darlin’, I hope you don’t mind, but I don’t want to hurt my bum leg and be in pain on our wedding night.”
Liz felt his warm breath. “For us both, I want this to be a night of love and pleasure.”
Shortly after Carlos and Liz sat back down to sip more champagne, Carlos’ mother told nurse Terri she felt exhausted and wanted to leave after she used the rest room. Not wanting to disturb the newlyweds, Terri intercepted Jack and Rosa who were on their way to get a drink. Terri had some concerns about his mother’s medications, so she discussed them with Jack after Barbara Martin went to the restroom. Rosa offered to go with her, but the elder declined.
“Thank you dear. I’ll be fine.”
Standing nearby, while Jack spoke with Terri, Rosa took a mental vacation, letting her eyes scan the hall and wedding guests. She saw her son, Raúl, dancing with Stella, who moved with the grace of doe that she would watch bounding through fields by her New York home. Then there was Steph, so swollen with pregnancy she could barely move at all.
Close by, little Ashley playfully danced with Patty’s younger daughter, Zoe. Opposite Rosa, an amused Patty looked on, and after Brian excused himself to answer his phone, she continued to do so. She and Rosa smiled at Zoe, trying to teach Ashley dance steps. Her efforts were futile because the tot insisted on hopping, jumping and twirling. Finally, a frustrated Zoe took Ashley’s hands in her own. The two swayed to the music and skipped in a circle.
As Rosa watched the girls, it again struck her how much Zoe resembled Carlos.
What is it? The eyes, the nose, maybe the mouth? Am I imagining things?
Comparing their features, Rosa kept looking back and forth. Deep in thought and with her brow furrowed, she became momentarily oblivious to where she was. She tapped her chin, staring and nodding.
It’s the profile! she finally decided. Zoe has a feminine version of Carlos’ profile. How could anyone not have noticed?
Catching herself staring, Rosa looked away, straight into Patty’s alarmed face. Their eyes locked; Rosa’s wide with surprise and Patty’s pleading.
Rosa could almost read her thoughts. You know my secret. Please keep it a secret. Zoe doesn’t know. Neither does Carlos. It’s for the best.
Just then, Brian returned and Patty redirected her attention to him, as if nothing had transpired between herself and Rosa. Jack also came over.
“Mama’s leaving and she’s saying goodbye to Liz and Carlos. They’ll be leaving too and their horse and carriage is on its way, so we need to give them their wedding gift. I’ll get Liz’s sons and their wives. Since it’s from all of us, we’ll present it together.”
Rosa said a warm goodbye to a heavy-eyed Barbara Martin. It took Jack a while to round everyone up because Steph had taken Ashley to clean a spill from her dress. Finally, the three couples congregated around Liz and Carlos.
As the best man, Jack presented the newlyweds with an envelope. “We all pitched-in for this.”
Everyone watched in anticipation as Liz and Carlos opened the envelope and lifted a card from it. Delight spread over their faces.
“Thank you,” Liz exclaimed rising to hug them all. “What a wonderful and thoughtful gift.”
Carlos hugged everyone too. “Wow! Our wedding night in St. Augustine’s finest hotel.”
“That’s not all,” Jack proclaimed with a smile. “Your carriage awaits.”
By this time, word had gotten around that the newlyweds would be leaving and guests went outside to see them off. Jack and Rosa ushered the couple outside, toward the horse-drawn carriage, beyond the gathering of friendly faces. The couple dashed through a shower of birdseed that guests were tossing.
The coachman helped Liz into the carriage, after which Carlos hopped up beside her.
Rosa called to Liz. “I packed a bag for you and Jack packed one for Carlos. We brought them to the hotel. Your car is there too.”
“Don’t worry about the pets,” Jack added. “We’ll take care of them.”
Amid shouts of well wishes, the couple waved and the coachman tugged at the reins.
He began with a slow and romantic tour of the town, first along Matanzas Bay, past the regal Castillo De San Marcos, its towers like points of a crown, silhouetted against the evening sky.
The carriage continued to St. Augustine’s historic district, where distant strains of a saxophone accompanied the rhythmic clip-clop of the horse’s hooves. Streetlights were starting to burn, as was the couple’s ardor. On the cool night, they held each other close—kissing, touching, whispering words of love and devotion. As a jewel set in evening’s golden glow, the hotel with its fountain, palm trees and grand entrance came into view. The couple entered a palatial lobby, which Carlos said reminded him of castles in Spain.
When they opened the door to their room, Liz gazed in wonder at lavish furnishings, including an inviting four-poster bed with a canopy. Champagne on ice with crystal glasses awaited the couple.
She basked in her surroundings. “I’ve always admired places like this from afar, but I never got to stay in one. I feel like a queen.”
She continued to the window and looked out at the twinkling city lights. “What a spectacular view of the grounds and St. Augustine’s ornate, Mediterranean buildings.”
Carlos was at her side, pressing himself to her. “Mrs. Martin,” he whispered, kissing her neck. “Let’s admire the view later.”