“I love that you wanted to learn how to make our time together good for me.You put your mouth on me,” Alita said.“It was very enjoyable.”
“Considering the first time I got you there, you were still wearing your panties, so, yeah, you can shut up,” he told her, laughing.
“Micah, we're going to be okay,” she told him, trying to pull herself up off the bed.Her back and thighs could feel the beginning of a soreness that more than likely wouldn’t soon leave.“Let's prepare to land.”
The landing went smoothly, and a car awaited them on the tarmac to take them to the little three-bedroom home Yuñior had built in Aruba in Oranjestad.The property was within walking distance of the beach and his brother enjoyed taking his children to play at the water’s edge.Yuñior also had a Jeep in the garage they could use while they were there.At the doorway, Micah carried Alita over the threshold and checked his watch.
On the floor near the door was a basket with a blanket.He grabbed it encouraging his bride to hurry.She didn't know what the hurry was or why, but she followed him down the path to the beach where he spread out the blanket on fine, white, powdery sand.Snacks, wine, and cheeses came from the basket and a small music player.
He said nothing as she took a seat.Her eyes looked out over the clear blue waters and noticed the sun beginning its descent to end the day.Tears formed as she recalled telling him this is what she wanted to do one day: sit on a beach in Aruba, with a glass of wine, her favorite cheese and her mother’s cocadas, and watch the sunset.
He mulled over his father’s words, who once described him as a conundrum wrapped in a dark cloth of complexities.In the past four years, he'd learned he wasn't broken but simply wired differently and deserving to be loved not only for who he was, but how he was.Micah Delgado, now a married man at 18 heading to Uni in the next two weeks, he had an amazing flat, contracts to work on, and a life to live that required him to think outside of the box.
“Alita, I told my father a few months prior, I am not a man with a traditional mind, and those young women are not prepared to live a life with me as their man, husband, and father to their children.I see you as my partner, my equal, and now my love,” he said.“I am eager to begin our new journey in life together.”
“Our journey in life together started four years ago at the kitchen table at your grandmother's home,” she said.“Now, we begin a fresh chapter.I am excited too, because now, I get to tell you every day how much I love you.”
“And I get to kiss you often and say how beautiful you are to me,” he said.“I love you, Alita, and we will have a good life.”
“Yes, we will, and just to let you know, I have on me my guns and my knives,” she said.“Before I was protecting my boss.Now, I'm protecting my man.”
His eyebrow arched at the new label, “Your man?”
“My man, Micah Delgado,” she said, leaning in for a kiss.“My man.”
“Your man is happy as hell, and if I had the emotional wheelhouse to say something clever here, I would.”
“Simply say what is on your mind and in your heart.”
“Shit, I feel lucky as hell.I feel like I won the lottery and I get to be happy with the woman I chose.I chose.I love that,” he said, offering a smile.
An unusual moment happened next.His cell phone rang.Micah looked down at the phone, uncertain of who was calling, knowing it was his wedding day.He took the call, saying little but offering a grunt.Alita watched his face as he listened to the rapid Spanish in the line.He showed no emotion as he listened.
“Good enough,” he said ending the call.
“Everything okay?”
“That was cousin Ignacio, Tio Pablo de la Marta’s grandson,” Micah said.“He was recently matched with one of the Role Bolsonaro’s nieces in Brazil.You met them at Tio Carlos’ wedding.The match came after the ceremony.They are attending Uni in Bogotá as well.”
Alita was interested to know, “Meaning what exactly?”
“They wanted to know if we were interested in having dinner with them next week and maybe playing games over at their place,” Micah said.
“Like, getting together with friends...to play cards, and have dinner?”
“Yeah, since he’s my cousin, he is relatively safe to hang out with, even though Tio Pablo is insane,” Micah said, looking at her.“I am not drinking any Guaro, just to let you know.”
“There is so much to unpack, as your father says.Technically, Igancio’s kids are going to be cousins with his already cousin Carlos’ kids.It’s almost incestuous.”She burst into laughter.“Our first get-together as husband and wife.Interesting.”
“To say the least,” he said, placing his arm around her shoulder and pulling her close.“Tio Pablo’s parents are second or third cousins, which could perhaps explain the man being undiagnosed and insane.Papa broke the marriage rules within the same country's norm for the cartel.Abuela accepted Diadra because she brought fresh blood to the family.Perhaps it is why my father readily agreed to us as well.Either way, we have another couple to spend time with when we are free.”
Alita saw a bigger picture and an opening to add an element to their life at a pace that would not overwhelm Micah, but give him something to look forward to.Casually she threw it out there and waited for him to think it over.“Maybe, during our first academic break, we can ask them to come with us to the Falklands to take pictures of penguins.You could ask your Abuela to use the yacht to sail from Ushuaia?”
“If she’s speaking to me,” he mumbled.
“You didn’t marry that girl and tie her family line to Martín Rossi,” Alita said.“That act alone will get you points with her, but we have time.”
“Perhaps,” he said.“As my wife, per cartel rules, you must also wear my ink.It must be scheduled as soon as we return to begin the process.”
