King Solomon's Journey (The Dominguez Adventures) (39 page)

            She sighed and laughed at herself. Turning, she caught a side view of herself in the mirror saying, “At least my butt is still okay, and that is saying something.” She gave herself a pat on the rear, and laughed.

            She stepped out to see if Antonio was ready to help her wiggle and struggle into the components of her dress. There he sat, in the chair next to the window, entranced. She noticed he had his pants on meaning he must have found Aaron’s Blessing. Walking over in front of him, she lowered to her knees and tilted her head up to see him.

            “Amanda.”

            “Shhh, you don’t have to say anything. I know how you feel about it.”

            She was remarkable.

            She drew back. Things had to lighten up before they got out of control.

            She picked up her dress and held it up. “You better help me get my zipped in this thing.”

            “Right, I have to dress you...I tend to enjoy undressing you more.”

            Antonio helped her with the daunting task. The body suit was skintight. It went on first. The dress, by design, went over her top. Antonio acted the role of the chambermaid. He put her shoes on her, and rose to kiss her lips. Amanda felt her ears to make sure she wore her earrings. Antonio placed the Cognac Diamond around her neck.

            She noticed the photos Antonio had purchased the night before from the roaming photographer.

            “These are our first photos together, Antonio.”

            “I know. I like them.”

            “Yeah, I do too.”

            He put his jacket on as he admired her. She was splendid in the dress. It didn’t take a miracle dress. It was all perfect today.

            “I’m glad my brothers are all married. Otherwise, I might have to kick some ass to keep you.”

            “You are trying to flatter me.”

            “Is it working?”

            “Like a charm.”

            Distracted by her, he almost forgot the pistol. He turned to get it, and noticed she followed behind him.

            “Let me do this. I told you, given the choice some things are more desirable to have shot off than others.” He laughed.

            She situated, attached, and hid the pistol to the back area of his side.

            “You see, I am the only one, outside of you, that should be feeling back there enough to know it’s there.”

             “It is almost time to go.” She handed him the little box, “Rosie’s gift.”

            He concealed it in the inner pocket of his jacket. The hotel phone rang.

            “Well, it's show-time, the drivers here.”

Chapter 44

"To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour."

William Blake

            It was an exquisite country club, Amanda observed as the driver let them out of the limousine. Antonio released his services, and arranged for a different service to return them to the hotel for security purposes.

            Antonio kept his word. Strange, they must have had some unwritten understanding between them. Neither spoke a word of fear, panic, or his Pop, not one word.

            Amanda accepted Antonio’s arm after they stepped out of the limo, and placed her hand in his. They approached the entrance to the Country Club. The long line reached outside the building.

            He surveyed the line, and then shot her a look of shock. In return, he received a contorted smile. After a significant wait, they finally reached the doorman.

            “I need your invitation, Sir?”

            Antonio grinned. “I don’t have one.”

            “Well sir, we’re not allowed to let anyone in without an invitation.”

            Antonio told him in a civil, yet commanding tone. “Quietly, and I mean quietly, go in and get José Dominguez, the father of the young woman being honored with this Quince. Ask him to come out here to approve a guest’s entry.”

            “Yes sir.”

            They stepped aside. The gigantic door guard returned shortly, José trailed him. Guests stopped him to say hello. After making his rounds through the crowd, José stepped out.

            Stunned to be face to face with his brother, he stared as if he’d seen a ghost. Amanda released Antonio.

            Time stopped for what seemed an eternity to Amanda, who unconsciously held her breath until she began to feel dizzy. The brothers embraced.           

            The men stood locked together, tears streamed down their stoic faces for several more moments. Eventually, they stepped back and composed themselves.

            José soon became somewhat aware of his surroundings. Before she could prepare, José locked Amanda into an embrace.

            “I know you are Amanda. You brought my brother back to his family.”

            “I could not accept credit for your brother’s return, but thank you. I am flattered.” She told him.

            “Antonio, thank God.”

            Antonio clutched his brother’s arm and confided, “José, I’m nervous.”

            “It will be fine, I promise, Rosie will feel so special. The whole family will be elated and relieved. All of us are here, together, and happy again.”

            “Are you ready, Antonio?”

            Antonio reached for Amanda. He wanted her near.

            “I’m ready, José,” he proclaimed.

            José walked awkwardly, in an attempt to keep his brother camouflaged. They wanted Rosie to be the first to see him. Amanda caught a glimpse of the young woman. Her name fit. A fresh rose, she was captivatingly beautiful. She beamed with spunk, and personality. Adorned in a traditional Quinceanera gown of dark Sapphire blue, trimmed in gold, she stood holding center court among her family and friends. The hint of the true beauty she would become was there just beneath the surface of the excited teenager.    

            Rosie was distracted and looking in the opposite direction as they approached. As she finished a greeting, Amanda released Antonio’s hand with a smile that encouraged him.

            “Go see your beautiful Rosie.”

            He smiled back at her, and then took Rosie's hand in his, as she still looked the other way. Rosie turned to acknowledge the touch.

            The sweet girl gasped and cried out, “Uncle Antonio… you came for me!”

            He picked her up and spun around with her, the multiple layers of her gown swirled out and inside the elaborate dress was the memory of a tiny toddler who loved it when her tall Uncle Antonio swung her up to the sky.

            “I came for my beautiful Rosie.” He continued to swing her around. The entire family’s attention turned to them. The shock and disbelief was unmistakable.

            Amanda glanced down the line and noticed a man stepping out of line, and into the open. It had to be ‘Pop.’ Nearby, one of Antonio’s brothers had to hold up his mother. Amanda began to feel the emotion overcome her. Again, Antonio reached out for her.

            “Rosie, this is Amanda.”

            Rosie squealed like a girl at a concert, and then loudly asked; "You have a wife now?”

            “No, I am hoping though, Rosie. Maybe, you wouldn’t mind putting in a good word for me?”

            Rosie nodded with an excited smile.

            “Rosie, I am happy to meet you. You are every bit as beautiful as your uncle told me.”

            Antonio brought out the box and handed it to his niece.

            “My special girl deserves a special gift. Amanda designed it for you, our gift to you on your Quince day.”

            “Uncle Antonio, it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

            She called out to her mother. “Mama, look what Uncle Antonio brought me.”

            José’s wife accepted the cue to step over and greet her brother-in-law. Tears streaked her gorgeous face, a clear sign of her overwhelming emotions as she embraced him.

            “Welcome home, Antonio.” Carmen told him, then approached Amanda and hugged her too, with a warm and grateful touch. “Thank you.”

            Amanda smiled in return, “Thank you for allowing me to come this special day.”

            Carmen’s smile carried her back to her daughter.

            Antonio approached his mother. So overwhelmed by his presence, the older woman was physically unstable. Amanda noticed Antonio, unlike the others, most resembled his mom.

            The woman cried out. “My son…  My Antonio...”

            Amanda could understand other words, but the woman’s emotions had her speaking both Spanish and English.

             “Mama, I’ve missed you so much.” Antonio said as he embraced his mother. The harder the woman cried, the more Spanish she spoke.

            “Mama, you look beautiful.”

            She gave her son a playful slap.

            “Mama, this is Amanda.” The woman made eye contact with Amanda, and then looked back at her son.

            “Antonio, she’s beautiful.”

            Antonio smiled and kissed his mother. “Like you, Mama.” His mother hugged him repeatedly. She whispered something into his ear. He nodded, and responded in Spanish.

            His mother opened her arms wide to Amanda, and then embraced her. The woman planted her palms against Amanda’s cheeks and nodded. For moments she stood, just nodding as Amanda grew perplexed by all the touching.

            Antonio lured Amanda away from his mother, intent on having her nearby as he greeted his father. Antonio’s father had not returned to join the others since Antonio’s embrace with Rosie.

            The man had turned his back towards them. The tension was so intense, Amanda prayed to keep from passing out.

            Antonio let go of her hand, and slowly approached his father’s back. With a deep breath, he spoke to his father from behind. Amanda glanced back. The family watched in the distance.

            “Pop . . .  Pop, I’ve missed you.”

            Amanda watched his father trembling.

            Antonio continued, “Pop, I love you.”

            His father’s hands gripped the banister’s railing. Antonio put his right hand on his father’s right hand. They stayed, frozen, for several moments. As the tension released, Antonio placed his left hand on his father’s shoulder.

            Amanda noticed José now stood next to her. She knew he expressed caution about his father’s emotion.

            Antonio waited a moment.

            Amanda took deep breaths. José noticed her anxiety and with a grin, squeezed her hand to assure her. This was the right thing, and everything was fine.

            Antonio trembled. Tears painted his love down his face. “I need you…I need you to be my Pop again.”

            As his knees weakened, Maurice turned to look at his son. A face he had not seen in over a decade outside of photographs. Before him was an image of a haggard face, ripped by emotion, but it was the love he saw in eyes so like his wife's that finally freed him from the paralysis of shock Antonio's entrance had brought about.

            He had not turned from Antonio in anger, he had turned to hide the depth of his relief and to say a silent prayer of thanksgiving. He straightened his back, and yanked the man who was still his boy into his arms, and wept like Abraham with relief on holding his son close and safe once more.

            Everyone cried. His father started saying words, of which, only some were audible.

            “My son…  My little boy…” It was the purest display of emotion Amanda had ever witnessed. The old man cried out.

            “My Antonio…My soul has returned to me….”

            Amanda felt light-headed. She did not want to faint from emotional overload mixed with hypoglycemia. Damn, she should have eaten some yogurt.

            Everyone waited with complete respect for the situation. Their energy possessed a unanimous neutral position, not a single member of the family blamed Antonio, or their father. They were so overwhelmed and relieved the family was finally complete that nothing mattered.

            This played as much on Amanda’s heart, as it did Antonio and his father.

            “Pop…Pop, I want you to meet the woman who showed me it was okay to come home to you.”

            His father placed his hands on his son’s shoulders.

            “Amanda.” Antonio stared at the man, his Pop. At that moment, he knew his Pop had always been there for him, blinded, he couldn’t see it before.

            His father clutched his son’s arm.” Take me to your Amanda, son.”

            Amanda strolled over, slowly to face his Pop, who quickly took her into his hugging arms. This was a man’s pain, she felt run through her own body from such a great distance. Somehow, she knew his father understood, and he was grateful.

            During their embrace, he whispered.

            “How will I ever repay you?”

            As he kissed her cheek, tears again flowed down his face. Antonio didn’t want Rosie’s party interrupted any longer.

            “Pop, let me take you into Rosie’s celebration.”

            His father nodded, as everyone followed them inside for the party.

            Inside, it was a Sapphire Fantasy. The decorations were a deep sapphire blue with touches of gold. Exquisite, they spared nothing. Few weddings were this splendid. Amanda was admiring the splendor, when she felt Antonio tug on her hand.

            “Antonio, what are you doing?”

            He smiled. “Come with me.”

            “You can’t leave.”

            “We’re not leaving.”

            Down the hallway, he pulled her into a nook. His hold trapped her.

            “Amanda, I don’t know what to say to you. Thank you.”

            “Antonio this was already yours, I couldn’t give it to you."