Wedding Blues
Celia and Gael are facing obstacles with their plans.
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Gael’s been holding a fever for over 24 hours.
I had to leave his room to find a nurse, since the call button was not working. I wound up rushing to the other side of the hallway before I found a nurse. My voice grew more panicked as I insisted that his fever was a warning sign.
It turned out that there was an infection in the incision, and fluid was draining out of it. I was sent out of his room so that, once again, he was in the hands of the medics.
My breathing grew more shallow, which caught the attention of a different nurse. She guided me to a chair and coached me in slowing my breaths. As my mind cleared, I thought of Tino’s dream.
I silently pleaded for Martin and Catalina’s help.
It’s a miracle that Gael survived the ruptured brain aneurysm, including the infection. But God decided to go above and beyond and let him survive without permanent side effects.
For the rest of that week, he wouldn’t shut up about having a catheter sent through his groin. He says it was the most traumatizing experience of his life, but he brings it up so often that you’d think he was actually proud of it.
Before Gael’s aneurysm, a good bit of our wedding was planned. Both of our parents paid for their own weddings, so we expected the same. Luckily, our connections were vital in saving the cost and making progress.
We scheduled our wedding mass at Tino’s church, and he would officiate it, obviously. Gael’s band often played at La Florida country club, so we got a generous discount on their venue. Gael booked a DJ he knew, who offered his time as a wedding gift. One of my bridesmaids' fiancé was a chef for a catering company, so food was taken care of. My wedding dress came from a bridal boutique owned by my mother’s nail lady’s sister. It was tailored and delivered to me while Gael was hospitalized.
In my biased opinion, there is no better deal than the Latino Deal.
But after Gael was released from the hospital, things went sideways. And for once, he was not the victim.
La Florida had a major sewage issue, so it had to close off a section of their grounds for repair, which included our venue.
DJ Refi was arrested for a second DUI, so he was no longer available.
The catering company let go of a fifth of their staff - including my bridesmaid’s fiancé.
On top of all of this, Hurricane Ernesto developed into a category one in the Atlantic and was set to make landfall in Miami in three days. More specifically, on our wedding day.
I was not okay.
The days before a hurricane make landfall always bring out the best kind of weather. The skies are clear, the temperature drops to the upper 70s, and less humidity makes the Miami air literally breathable.
Rather than enjoying the weather, I was playing dominoes on Tino's patio. My right leg has not stopped bouncing since I’ve taken a seat. A cafecito would normally calm me, but this time it unlocked every terrible thought I tried to hold back.
What if Ernesto turns into another Andrew when he makes landfall?
What if Patri gets Covid and can’t stand by me as my maid of honor?
What if Guadalupe is actually double booked for a wedding, and I have to fight a bridezilla?
“I promise you, Maria is excellent at ensuring no scheduling conflict. Your wedding mass is safe.”
I knocked on the table before realizing that I had a double seven I could have played.
“At least I have a dress and a church.” I replied with a hint of irony in my voice.
“And that is crucial. Remember, Celia, the sacrament is more important than the party.”
I’ve heard Tino say this to couples before, but there was something a little more pressing in his tone that I chose to ignore. I released a long sigh as he played his tile.
“Do you think the curse is behind it all?” I ask.
“Not with Ernesto. We are still in hurricane season, after all. But the rest…perhaps. At least its wrath is off of Gael’s shoulders.”
I should be grateful for that. Instead, I foresaw a serious talk with him over dinner tonight. It was his idea to cook for me at his apartment. But after all that we’ve been through, I figured it was only fair to give him one more chance to bail.
I’m not a great host for parties or even game nights, and that’s due to my apartment being a literal bachelor pad. But after I left the hospital, our plans were falling apart and so was Celia. She needed a night where she was taken care of.
Before she arrived, I shoved my dirty laundry in a closet, ran a vacuum through the floors, and spot cleaned the dining table. I went with the tried and true spaghetti and meatballs with a bottle of red wine my mom helped me pick out. For dessert, I picked up a tiramisu from a little Italian market on Coconut Grove.
Stephen Sanchez’ Caught in a Blue was softly croning through Alexa when Celia arrived. I turned off the oven just in time to let the meatballs cool, and the boiling water was slowly cooking the pasta. I took two glasses of wine to her, kissed her, and gave her a glass.
I watched her take a sip of her glass and let the drink coat her mouth. Her dark eyes revealed a hint of pleasure.
“What do you think of the wine?” I asked.
“It’s super good! There’s a smooth, berry taste to it.”
I took a sip from my own glass and playfully smacked my lips. She has a taste for wines, which I figure is due to her family’s preferred drink being wine (after a cafecito).
“Yeah, I can taste the berry. Now, go ahead and unwind on the couch. Let Stephen serenade you while I watch over the pasta.”
She laughed politely and obliged to my request. The water was calmly bubbling as the pasta sank into the pot (I learned the hard way to never break pasta).
“How was your time with Tino?” I asked from the kitchen.
“It was fine. I was so distracted that I let him win at dominoes.”
Well, that’s surprising.
“Were you distracted over the wedding?”
“Yeah…” She trailed. I waited for her next thought to follow her pause.
“Tino thinks that the curse is meddling with our wedding.”
“Well, at least I’m not on the receiving end this time.” I said with a playful smile. Stephen’s Something About Her started when Celia approached my side.
“Gael, do you still want to marry me?”
Her expression almost seemed professional. She wanted me to answer without her influence. I smiled confidently.
“I do. I know I’m supposed to say that at the Mass, but I haven’t changed my mind.”
A terrible thought percolated.
“Are you changing your mind, Celia?”
She took a breath in, and for a moment I thought she was going to say yes. Instead, she shook her head firmly.
“I’m not. I just wish that all these problems would get fixed. I want there to be smooth sailing for once.”
I turned off the stove and took the pot to the colander resting over the sink. I replied over the cascading pasta water.
“You know, I don’t think we need the curse to throw problems at us. Life is going to hand out plenty of those. But I think the curse taught us to be persistent and choose each other over our fears.”
She snorted and smiled warmly at me.
“You’re so stubbornly optimistic.”
I finished plating our dinner and handed her her bowl.
“And that’s why you love me, yeah?”
Celia kissed me in affirmation and made her way to my tiny dining room table. She pensively watched me fill her wine glass and take my seat across from here.
“Let’s pray before we eat. And specifically, let’s ask for their help.”
This was related to Tino’s dream.
“I’ll lead us.” I offered while taking her hands.
Hermano, I am so sorry for what I’ve done.
I chose to live in your shadow, and that in turn led me to temptations. My sins wreaked havoc on my soul, and it bled into your life.
I know that you lived a happy life on Earth. But I cannot help but believe that you could have lived a blissful life if I had tempered my emotions.
If you are with her now, please go to them.
They need you both.
Is this the first time we’ve had celia and gael’s pov??? Gaaaah the heartbreaking proximity to a wedding, everything going wrong at once. Its kickin’ em while they are down! But Gael is bein a rock, this is stressful and heartwarming somehow at the same time. Well done!!