AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Iam so excited aboutthis,” I said to the three widows walking behind me toward the rafting kiosk in the parking lot. “When I wrote the wish initially, I was thinking like river rafting in Wisconsin or something, but doing it in Mexico through the jungle is even better!”
“Well, while we’re already here, why not?” Marge moved up behind me.
“It gave us two extra days at the resort with the swim-up bar, so no complaints from me,” Alice added.
They were right. When we’d discussed my wish and where to do it, instead of flying back to the states and finding a place to go, we’d researched and found a rafting expedition right here in Mexico. I’d booked our tickets, and we’d spent the last two days floating around the pool and marinating in margaritas. Though I’d enjoyed the relaxing days with my best friends, I was ready to get out on this next leg of our adventure.
Our last leg.
Only three days left of our whirlwind widow’s trip.
And in five days, I’d be married.
The excitement of seeing Tom again nearly overwhelmed me, but I kept reminding myself that I needed to keep my mind here with my widows instead of at home with him. In five days, we’d have our wedding, and I’d get to enjoy Tom day in and day out again. My widows, however, would each head back to their new lives, and it would likely be months until I’d see them again. That thought filled me with deep, profound sadness, but I pushed it aside to focus on the joy we’d have together these next few days.
Especially today with my wish coming true.
“Hola!” The man behind the kiosk said. “Cómo puedo ayudarte?”
“Hi.” I smiled, waving as I approached the small wooden shack. “I’m Sylvie, and I have a reservation for four.”
He repeated my name, and then his face lit up as he nodded. “Si, si. Sylvie.”
He turned and started asking questions in Spanish, but I shook my head and answered with the phrase I’d uttered so often in Mexico. I felt guilty, like an entitled American, every time I said it. At least that’s what Marge said since we’d made no attempt to learn the local language ... unlike her. “No hablo Espanol. Habla usted Inglés?”
He held up his fingers, making a sign for small. “Un poquito.”
“Outta the way, outta the way. I’ll handle this.” Marge pushed past, giving me the side eye like she always did when I expected everyone in Mexico to speak English. “I speak the best Spanish. I’ll talk to him.”
“I think we’ve established your Spanish sucks, Marge.” Alice crossed her arms, peering out from her oversized black sunglasses as she lowered her chin.
“I’ve been studying the past few nights. Brushing up, you know? I’ve got this. Don’t worry.”
“I’m worried,” Alice deadpanned.
“Oh, I’m sure she’ll do fine,” Doris said. “Go ahead, dear. Find out what he wants.”
Marge started spewing in Spanish, and the small, older man smiled and nodded along. When he pulled out a flyer with five pictures of rapids on them, he pointed to them while he spoke.
