Hot & Enchanting (De La Cruz Saga) (21 page)

“Si primo, we got married in Vegas last night at three in the morning to be exact,” states Ricky with felicidad.

You can see his felicidad,
thinks Jose Enrique.
Jessy is coming out, oh boy I don’t know how they’ll take this news.

“Jacki, where were you?” asks Jessy approaching the carro. Looking at Jacki and how close Ricky holds her.
Jacki and Ricky look immensely feliz, but still, she can’t just go around sleeping with los chicos, she knows better
, muses Jessy.

Before Jessy can ask any more questions, Jose Enrique says. “Mi amor, Ricky and Jacki eloped to Vegas. They got married last night,” announces Jose Enrique. He looks at his bella novia for any reaction.
Maybe I can get some idea on how sus padres will take it. Si, I can see anger, confusion and finally feliz, whew, what a relief,
thinks Jose Enrique.

“I don’t know what to say. Jacki is this something you wanted to do?” asks Jessy. “I’m a little confused. Have you guys been seeing each other? What’s up?” 

“We need to get the facts straight before we enter that casa and inform their padres of the marriage. Look I know you two were not going out, so don’t go there with us. I strongly recommend that you do say that you were going out without anybody’s knowledge. You get it?” asks Jose Enrique with a raised eyebrow.

“Si baby, I think we should, mis padres will be real upset with the truth,” says Jacki looking at Ricky.  She lends in closer and whispers. “Baby, we can’t tell anyone about our love making all of these weeks. Nobody knows that we have been seeing each other. It will be upsetting for mis padres.”

Ricky nods in agreement and turns to look at Jose Enrique and Jessy clenching his jaws.
Damn it all to hell. We have to hide that we have been seeing each other for weeks. Damn!

“Okay, it sounds like a plan. I need all the help we can get. We did have a lovely wedding in Vegas, didn’t we muñeca?” says Ricky. “But we’re going to make plans to marry quickly by the church ceremony.” 

“Si Jessy we had a lovely wedding. Ricky bought me a beautiful wedding gown that I’ll be wearing to our church ceremony. Look at my wedding rings, aren’t they hermosísimos? Ricky and I chose them. It has been wonderful.” says Jacki beaming at Jessy.

Jacki is glowing. Jessy and Jose Enrique can see that both of them are ecstatic.

Wow! Who would have known that this would have happen, nobody, not in a million years
, reflects Jose Enrique with amusement?

“Jessy, I hope you help us with our padres. I’m not a little niña anymore. I knew full well what I was doing. I wanted to marry Ricky, I love him? That’s just the way it is,” states Jacki looking at Jessy and Jose Enrique.

Ricky isn’t letting her go. I can see that,
thinks Jessy. “Okay Jacki, even if you did get married in Vegas, you know that our padres want the church ceremony and will not allow you to live with him until then. You two know how our customs work. So I suggest you two get used to the idea of not living together until the church ceremony takes place,” says Jessy nodding. “You know how old school are padres are.”

“Yeah, I agree with Jessy. You better get used to that idea Ricky, you’re not taking her home with you, got it?” says Jose Enrique looking at Ricky’s frustration.

Ricky looks real frustrated.
No way, she’s mia, only mia for eternity. I want her always at my side. I need her,
thinks Ricky with anger.

He looks real miserable,
thinks Jose Enrique feeling that it’s just punishment grinning with amusement.

“That’s not funny primo,” growls Ricky looking at his primo with frustration and controlled anger, clenching his jaw. You can see his jaw muscle twitch from the pressure.

“I don’t make the rules, her padres will, you’ll see,” replies Jose Enrique taking Jessy’s mano, walking towards la casa with a huge grin.

Jessy is trying not to laugh.
I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be not being able to love each other at will
, she ponders.

Following slowly is Ricky and Jacki. “Mi muñeca, we will need to make arrangements with the priest to marry us quickly. I can’t live
without you at my side for long,” says Ricky, pulling Jacki into his arms with lots of urgency, kissing her before they enter la casa.

“Mama, papa, I found Jacki,” announces Jessy, grinning. “Come here Jose Enrique have a seat.”

Ricky and Jacki walk into
la casa very, very slowly. They’re trying to avoid the inevitable.
I’ll not let her go. She’s mia, only mia. She’s my esposa,
thinks Ricky with anger
.
I feel like a teenager going to get in trouble. We’re adults. What’s up with this? Oh yeah, it’s the Mexican traditions
. 

Ricky keeps Jacki at his side, firmly holds her to his side with his arm around her small waist. Entering the living room, Ricky and Jacki stop in the center of the room.
I can see that her padres are confused. They don’t have any idea of what’s going on,
thinks Ricky.

“Señor Cortez, Señora Cortez, nice to meet you, I’m Ricardo Emmanuel De La Cruz.
I’m Jacqueline’s esposo. I know it comes as a surprise. Jacki and I got married last night in Las Vegas. We plan to marry right away by the church ceremony,” says Ricky looking at the Jacki’s padres with all sincerity.

Jacki’s mama turns pale, looks at her esposo.
Señor
Cortez is red with rage.

Señor Cortez looks at Jacki. “Is there a reason that this boda has transpired like this? Are you pregnant?” asks Jacki’s papa with restraint rage. Jacki’s papa stands up, walks over to look at Jacki.

“Papa, I’m not pregnant. I love Ricardo. I wanted to marry him. Why is that so wrong? I’m not una niña any more. I’m a grown mujer. We will be married soon in the church ceremony, as quickly as the priest will allow it. We had a real boda. My esposo bought me a wedding gown that I’ll also wear for our church ceremony.  It’s not a game to us. I’m sorry if I hurt you and my mama,” says Jacki. “My esposo is a grand hombre. I’m muy feliz with my decision. My only regret is hurting you and my mama.”

Señor
Cortez stands in front of his little niña, realizes that what she said is true.
She is a grown mujer. She’s not pregnant, well not yet
. 

My niña Jacqueline looks radiant with felicidad. I know that she’s shy. I now realize how much she loves this hombre. If it’s her felicidad, it will also be mine.  But I will not allow her to live with him until the church ceremony takes place, period.

I also know that her esposo is a good hombre. I know that he is a De La Cruz, a good respectable familia. My Jessy is marrying his primo,
considers Señor
Cortez, turning to look at his new son in law. 

Well he looks like he’s very possessive of Jacki. This is good, a very good sign. He’s claiming her as his, even in front of her padre.  He’s an educated young man. He also looks like he cares for my niña
.

“Ricardo, I expect that you will take care of my niña. I’ll acknowledge this marriage. But I will not allow her to live with you until the church ceremony has taken place, period. I only want what is best for mis niñas. I’ll not allow any further blemishes to my niña. You will marry her in church ceremony, the sooner the better,”
stresses Señor
Cortez with firmness.

He looks at Ricky firmly in the eyes.
I can see he is todo
un
hombre. He understands fully well his errors in his relationship with my niña. He’ll rectify it as soon as possible. I can also see he has not let her go no matter what I said or did. Good, very good. This marriage will work out,
ponders Señor
Cortez with gusto.

“
Señor
Cortez, I have every intention of expediting the marriage by the church ceremony. I’m just as anxious as you to have Jacqueline, mi esposa, at my side. I want to be married in the church ceremony,” says Ricky looking into
Señor
Cortez eyes with complete manly confidence. Todo
un
hombre.

“Ricardo, I will be meeting with Jose Enrique’s padres this evening. I will also like for your padres to be present. I would like to meet los padres of los hombres that my precious niñas are marrying,” requests
Señor
Cortez firmly making his request.

“
Señor
Cortez, it is my intentions to bring mis padres to ask for Jacki’s mano. I’m extremely pleased that it will take place today. I will go to talk to mis padres immediately. I will like to take Jacki so she can
meet mis padres. I hope that will be okay?” asks Ricky looking at
Señor
Cortez standing tall and proud.

“I know that it is the right thing to do, Jacki needs to meet your padres considering the circumstances,” replies
Señor
Cortez nodding in agreement.

Jacki pulls away from Ricky, rushes to hug her papa, mama, and then Jessy with tears in sus ojos.

Ricky looks at his primo with lots of relief on his
cara
.
I better hustle and get the church ceremony scheduled and taken care of. The sooner, the better, and the happier I’ll be with my bella muñeca en mi cama,
contemplates Ricky
.

Jose Enrique grins wickedly, with a twinkle in his eyes.
I know what drove my primo to marriage. Just one sweet taste, that’s all it takes. I should know. It is pure heaven,
reasons Jose Enrique grinning.

Jessy walks over to Jose Enrique’s side. “Mi vida, I think that you should contact your padres and advise them of what has transpired. We need to adjust the time for our padres to meet. I don’t know if going out to dinner will be a good idea. I feel that the issues are a little strong. I’m supposed to go to the bridal store to select my wedding gown. Hmm, maybe I should get my wedding gown in Vegas since it is so simple,” says Jessy grinning gazing at Jose Enrique.

“Okay mi amor, I’ll call you later. Let me know if you don’t fine a dress at the bridal store. We can drive to Vegas and get you one. Okay,” replies Jose Enrique nodding.

“Jacki, well you’re going to be busy today. I don’t think that you’ll be going to the bridal store for the maids dress selection today. Do you want me to order the size I think will fit? We can always take the dress in,” asks Jessy.

Jacki turns from showing her padres her wedding rings and looks at Ricky. “Si Jessy, just order the size you know will fit,” agrees Jacki smiling.

Jacki walks over to su esposo with a huge feliz smile, reaches up on her toes, and pulls him down for a hot beso in front of su familia.

Oh yeah
, thinks Ricky,
she’s mia, only mia pulling her in closer enveloping her in his
brazos
. It’s just a beso, they can’t say a thing. But I still have to control myself, better stop the beso now.

Ricky pulls back, smiling at his esposa. “Mi reina, are you ready to meet mis padres?” he asks with todo his amor en sus ojos.

“Si Baby, I’m ready. Don’t you think you should bring in my gown and my bag? I don’t want anything to happen to my gown,” says Jacki smiling. “Baby, don’t forget the video and photos. We can show them to la familia later this evening.”

Jose Enrique is observing Ricky. I
know mi primo real well, and I can see that he’s in love with Jacki without even knowing it
.
‘Mi reina’ that says it all. Why else will he rush to marry her if not because he’s anxious to keep her
, ponders Jose Enrique with amusement.

Señor
Cortez is also observing the exchange
. I can see that Ricardo loves my niña. Mi niña loves Ricardo. I’m finally satisfied. My niña will have a good feliz marriage
, he contemplates with gusto.

“Okay, that’s a good idea. I’ll be right back. Primo, can you please help me?” asks Ricky walking out to go get the luggage from the carro.

“Primo, that’s quite an achievement you did in less than twenty-four hours. I’m impressed. You met a bella chica, you married her, and all this before anybody knew she was missing,” says Jose Enrique smiling, shaking his head with amazement.