This is a big day. A huge day.
Seriously, it's like the day no one thought would ever come.
Marcela and George's wedding!
Ever since she accepted his
marriage proposal last December, Marcela's family has been sort
of nuts. The wedding has been like all they talk about. Her
mother and sisters have planned the entire thing. Marcela
refused to make a "big deal" about it. She's pretty much gone
on with her life like normal and left everything to them.
The only thing she requested was
NOT to have a bridal shower. So her mother didn't have a
shower. She just invited their closest family members and
friends . . . and neighbors, and coworkers to a bridal
get-together. She kept it under one hundred women. Not bad I
thought. Marcela was ticked.
Since Marcela hardly ever talks
about the wedding when she's away from her family, I was
surprised when she brought it up to me a few months ago when we
were shoe shopping. She asked me to be part of the bridal party
along with her two sisters. I shrugged and said, "I guess.
Whatever." But I had to walk away – I picked up a sandal and
pretended to check it out. I had this strange tightness in my
throat. I'm not a wimp and I don't get overly emotional, but I
know this wedding is important. So for Marcela to ask me to
stand up there along with her sisters that she loves more than
anyone other than her parents and George . . . well, I know
she's letting me know how much she cares. And I've never been
part of anything important in my life, so I guess I was sort of
touched.
So last night, I slept over at
Marta and Juan's house (Marcela's parents). Marcela was a
nervous wreck. Man, I've never seen anyone that stressed out in
my life. She went from crying one second, to tearing through
the house looking for some important earring or eyeliner or
whatever, to smiling and being on top of the world with
excitement.
We tried to keep her busy talking
about stuff. Katie talked about this new condom she and Gilbert
had tried out. Marcela was smiling and listening with interest
until she realized I was too. Then she waved her hands all over
the place and told me to stick my fingers in my ears.
Yeah right.
"Don't you want to me to know about condoms so I'll use them
when I have sex?" I asked her.
"Not only do I not want you to know about condoms. I don't want
you to know about sex."
"Too late."
She gave me a sad look that said she realized that. "Don't give
me anything else to stress out about tonight, Lupe, okay?"
I nodded, because she really did need a break
tonight. So I went to the kitchen for a soda while Katie
finished her perverted tale. I didn't really want to hear it
anyway. Katie is a sexaholic if you ask me.
Sometime after midnight we all decided to turn in. Though Marta
stayed downstairs with Marcela, holding her hand and telling her
not to worry. It was sweet, but it made me sort of sad.
Katie noticed me staring back at
them and asked me if I was okay. I guess I must have had a
weird look on my face.
"I don't have what you guys have
with your mom," I said before I could stop myself or even
realize that I was thinking that. I shrugged. "Must be nice."
Katie is my least favorite
Alvarez, but last night I decided she was okay. She put an arm
around me and said, "You have it now, Lupe." Since the Alvarez
family seems to have taken me in as much as Marcela has, I guess
that's true. I feel as if this weight I've been carrying
throughout my entire childhood is a little less heavy.
We went to bed then, leaving
Marcela alone with her mother.
This morning all of Marcela's
jitters magically disappeared. She couldn't wait to see
George. She was like a kid at Christmas time wanting to open
her presents.
As I watched her sisters put the
finishing touches on her make up, she glanced over and winked.
She was beautiful. I mean it. I've never seen a girl look as
great as Marcela. Not on TV, not in magazines, not anywhere.
Maybe because I actually know her, and I see her inner beauty
too. That probably sounds dorky, but that has to be the reason
she looks as great as she does to me.
"Thanks for being here today,
Lupe," she said.
"Sure," I said, feeling way out
of place in this dress, with my hair all made up and my face
painted as if I were a movie star (one of Marcela's studio
friends is a make-up artist and she did all our make up).
A little while later, everything
seemed to go in fast-forward and it was time to walk down the
aisle. Being one of the bridesmaids I got a very similar view
of Marcela walking up the aisle as George did. And he looked as
mesmerized as I was. I'll never forget this as long as I live.
I felt like I was in a movie. The church was full of not only
family, but also Hollywood studio executives that they both
worked with, voice actors, a few name movie stars, and hip hop
singers.
Juan paused in front of George.
But before releasing Marcela, he kissed her on both cheeks, and
reminded her that she would always be his first precious baby
and that he would still be there for her if she ever needed
him. Even with tears in his eyes, he was able to face George
and shoot him a warning look. "I'm trusting you," he said.
George nodded and then smiled at
Marcela as he offered her his hand (not at all bothered by
Juan's possessiveness). She took her place beside George, in
front of the priest.
I heard George whisper a ‘thanks
for marrying me' before they both settled into the service.
The priest walked them through
their vows. The rituals of the ceremony seemed drawn out to me,
but beautiful just the same.
When he finally gave them
permission to kiss, they did so immediately. Then at the end
Marcela screamed out to the audience, "I'm married!" Everyone
laughed and clapped. Then George picked her up and carried her
out of the church, like he had his prize and he wasn't letting
it go. I rolled my eyes at Katie and Anna. Anna smiled and
patted my back, encouraging me to follow them out.
The reception was awesome too,
but nothing compared to the wedding. That's what I really
loved. The reception was like every other reception you've ever
seen or been to. Dancing, drinking, stupid toasts. Marcela was
in her element. She completely let loose. She didn't even nag
me about drinking. Latinos aren't as hung up on teenagers
drinking as Americanos are anyway. My dad used to tell me that
in most of Latin America there was no such thing as a legal
drinking age. It wasn't a big deal. And tonight no one bugged
me.
George barely left Marcela's
side. Though he did dance with me and tried to embarrass me by
telling me I was the second most beautiful woman there tonight.
"Just don't tell Marcela's grandmother I said that, okay?" he
joked.
He was so happy.
"I'm glad Marcela married you," I
said. "Aside from her father, you're one of the few nice men I
know."
He pulled me close and hugged me
as we danced. Them he did something really surprising. He
kissed the top of my head.
At the end of the night, they
both left in a stretch limo, and though I was thrilled for them,
I felt this unusual emptiness inside.
I'm not sure how or when I let
Marcela and her family worm their way into my heart, but they
have. I didn't even think I had a heart for the longest time.
I didn't love anyone, didn't think I could. But I was wrong.
I do have a heart and I'm
learning that it's okay to open it up and let some special
people in. It feels really great!
