“You are beautiful.” Her mother tucked a stray hair behind the mantilla draped on the high peineta perched on Alicia’s head.
Inspired by the wedding of Raúl’s brother, Jorge, she’d opted for the more traditional wedding dress of her people. There would be no hiding what she was—a Hispanic-American—ever in her life.
“Are you sure?” her mother asked for probably the fifteenth time. “You are still so young.”
“Yes, mother, I am sure.” She was more in love than she’d been when she accepted Raúl’s proposal. Their trip to Mexico to meet Raúl’s family had drawn them closer together and helped him get past his fear of being able to get back into the United States with no problem. He’d spent the intervening months doing whatever it took to prove to her he would be a good husband and father to Luis.
A good father to all their children. She touched her belly. They’d gotten the results a few days ago. Soon, they’d announce the news, but for today, they wanted everyone’s attention on the wedding.
Weddings.
“How are you and Elizabeth doing?” she asked.
“We’re good. We made our peace a while ago for the sake of our daughters. Just as you will do what you need to do for your children.” She touched Alicia’s stomach. “All of your children.”
“You know?”
“It’s hard not to know when you and Raúl walk around with foolish grins on your faces, and when you touch your stomach and smile every fifteen minutes.”
She’d been that obvious.
“Will anyone else know?”
“Elizabeth asked me about it. Sarah’s too involved in her own craziness to worry too much about yours.”
“Is she pregnant, too?”
“Her mother and I think so.”
Great. Two pregnant brides walking down the aisle. Together.
Too absurd.
She started to giggle. Then the giggle turned to a laugh before becoming perilously close to tears.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Serena said. “No crying now. All your makeup will run. Of course, now I’m positive you’re pregnant.”
“What?”
“Hormones. Emotions.” Her mother dabbed at her eyes, then took her by her shoulders. “I’m so proud of you, sweetie. You’ve done so much this year—high grades for your classes, still managing all the finances, and Luis is thriving. If you’re sure about Raúl, then I am, too. He’s a good man.”
Yes, he was. And in a little over an hour, he’d be her husband.
Her breath caught.
“Good thing we bought the waterproof mascara.”
“Sí.” She smiled at her mother. Their closeness had grown over the last five months. By opening herself to Raúl’s love, she’d been able to revive her childhood affection for her mother. Understanding her courage had helped the healing. It must have taken guts for her mother to approach Elizabeth about a job for her husband’s love child.
That’s who she’d come to believe she was. Her father had loved her as much as he’d loved Sarah. Her parents had made mistakes, but they were human.
Just like her.
“Ready?” her mother asked.
“Yes.”
Sarah was waiting in the hallway below, Elizabeth by her side. After months of discussion, they’d decided on an April double wedding. Colors had been easy—lavender and yellow to echo the season of forgiveness and love. While Alicia’s dress evoked old Mexico, Sarah’s gown showed a decidedly Italian influence, courtesy of the time her mother spent in the country with her husband.
“Can you feel him?” Sarah whispered.
“Who?”
“Our father.”
Then she sensed it. Nothing definable, but a sweetening of the air around her, carrying a spice she remembered from her childhood. She didn’t believe in ghosts, but still ...
“Yes.”
“So do I,” Elizabeth said.
“Sí.” Her mother reached her hand to Elizabeth. “Let us say a prayer for our daughters.”
“Let’s all say a prayer.” Sarah reached to Alicia, and soon the circle was joined.
“Father in heaven,” her mother began, “please watch over our daughters as they are joined today with their husbands. Bring them happiness, joy, and health for them and their families.”
“And bless Joe’s spirit, that he may find the peace we have found together,” Elizabeth added.
“Bless our father, and our mothers, our future husbands, and our marriages,” Sarah added.
“And our children, now and in the future.” Alicia looked pointedly at Sarah’s waist.
Sarah blushed.
“Amen.” The women chorused.
• • •
Sarah’s daughter, Hannah, toddled down the aisle first, clutching the basket full of petals. Mandy, as their mutual maid of honor, tried to help her toss the flowers on the ground, but the little girl would have none of it. When she reached the front of the outdoor chapel, she sat on the ground and began to transfer the petals, one by one, to the ground around her.
A murmur of laughter came from the attendees.
Hunter and Raúl stood on either side of the priest, but Alicia’s gaze focused on the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. He was her rock and protector, and she had become his solace when times were tough, and joy when things went well.
Sarah preceded her down the aisle, but she didn’t mind. “Age before beauty,” she’d kidded. Her heart was full. She stole glances at her friends and family. For once, Luis was silent in Abuela’s lap, his eyes wide while he watched her. Annie’s John and Mandy’s James sat together. Elizabeth and her mother slipped next to Marcos in the front row.
Even Annie’s son, David, was there, a slim girl with corkscrew hair next to him.
Once she and Sarah stood next to Hunter and Raúl, soft guitar chords filled the air. Annie’s voice soared over the sounds of finches and doves, singing out the opening lines of Paul Stookey’s Wedding Song.
As the melody went on, she looked at Raúl, glad of his presence beside her. They would be good, just like Sarah and Hunter. Their children would play together, just like real cousins.
Love’s spirit could overcome every adversity.
She repeated the familiar words that bound her with Raúl, and he to her.
“Alicia, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity ...”
As soon as he finished, she slipped his ring onto his finger. “... In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Mandy’s catering company had laid out a spread for the guests, and Alicia found herself catching up with conversations with old and new friends. She’d put a few morsels on her plate and had little time to eat it before another person grabbed her attention.
“Come with me,” Raúl said, taking her by the hand and leading her down the path that went to the ocean overlook.
“We had our first fight here,” she said.
“Don’t remind me.”
“It won’t be our last.”
“Probably not.” He pulled her toward him. “But we’ll survive them. Just like that ocean—we’ll go on forever.”
“I love you, Raúl.”
“I love you, Mrs. Mendez.”
She lifted her face to his, and he placed his lips over hers. They kissed for a long while, the only sounds the brush of the ocean waves on distant cliffs, and a single seagull overhead.