The Colonel's Daughter (24 page)

Inside the Miami Beach house, the clarity from every storm resistant window brought a view of the ocean. Javi, who had been busy installing a security system, tested the cameras at the front gate. “Hey Sam, come over here and stand in front of this camera while I check the monitor.”

Samantha, standing nearby holding a potato chip canister, replied with a mouth full of crumbs, “Ok.”

Javi sprinted over to the monitor and called out over the intercom, “Hey there, can you hear me?”

“Yeah, I can hear you.” Samantha smiled at the camera holding up a potato chip. “Did you know that you have to smile to eat a whole Pringle?” She turned the potato chip arch facing up and smiled while stuffing it in her mouth. “See.”

Standing at the granite island in the kitchen, Jasmine poured espresso into a porcelain teacup while Abby peeled an orange cutting it into wedges. The open windows let in a salty afternoon breeze and a peaceful hum from the ocean.

“Thanks for agreeing to be my Maid of Honor, Abby.” Jasmine sipped her black coffee. “I know it hasn’t been easy being there for me through all these crazy appointments with the florist and the baker.” Jasmine’s eyes widened. “And not to mention helping me pick out a dress.” Jasmine brought a hand to Abby’s shoulder. “I feel like I’ve really gotten to know you. You’re one of the most dependable people I’ve ever met.”

“Isn’t that what sisters are supposed to do? Besides you’ve been there for me…with all the OBGYN visits.” Abby caressed her belly and looked out the window into the ocean.

Jasmine turned to the same window and examined a large boat with sightseeing tourists. “Javi spoke to dad this morning. Dad’s flying in early for the wedding.”

Turning her back to the tourist vessel, Abby raised an eyebrow voicing a resentment not necessarily meant for the General but an overall displeasure at being left alone for the sake of duty. “The General’s actually letting him have some time off?”

“I overheard them talking about retirement, the both of them.”

“My father is retiring? Now that’s a miracle.”

“And Javi mentioned a possible retirement also.”

“That really is great news, Jasmine.”

On the kitchen counter, Abby’s cell phone buzzed.

“Tell Dallas I say hello.” Jasmine winked and walked away sipping her coffee.

Abby picked it up without saying a word. Dallas’s voice came on the line, “We finally got the satellite phone fixed.” His voice sounded low. “It is kind of late here though. I’m a little tired.” He stretched. “It was a pretty uneventful day. I thought about you.”

“You thought about me? Good or bad?”

“Always good baby girl.”

“I can’t imagine your day being uneventful, Dallas.”

He laughed, “Well ok…” stammering as if he needed to confess, “I…uh…almost punched an officer. I actually had to stop myself from pummeling him.”

“Oh my goodness, Dallas, what happened?”

“I was trying to defend this newbie that kept getting picked on for being a bookworm scholar, just another day at the office.” He sighed.

“You know that letter you left under my pillow was so beautiful, so romantic. Where did you learn to write like that? Sounds like you might be a bit of a scholar yourself.”

“You inspired those words, Abby. They came from my heart.” He paused. “So uh…when are you gonna send me a picture of that belly?”

“Soon, I promise. Oh, Dallas, I wish you could be here for the wedding. It’s going to be so beautiful.”

“Please don’t do this, Abby. You know I’d be there if I could. Can we talk about something else?”

“Ok.”

He was silent suppressing a bitter taste left from his two debutant sisters who sent him party invitations in their care packages. Nothing angered Dallas more than his sisters’ clear lack of sense in their endeavor to inform him of how popular he still was in society and somehow that was supposed to make him feel loved.
They’re obviously not concerned about my feelings, knowing I can’t be there to attend
, he thought. After one particular wedding invitation, his own mother’s second marriage, he fired off an angry email informing them that he had burned the entire package. “Look Abby, I’m gonna try to do everything I can to get the time off and be there for Javi on his big day like he’s always been there for me but you know I’d mostly be doing it to see you. I can’t make any promises though.”

“I understand. I didn’t mean to sound like I wasn’t being considerate of what you’re doing out there. I’m very proud of you and my dad. It’s selfish of me to want you here all to myself. You’re a great leader, Dallas. I respect you so much. This country needs you and your soldiers need you. I just gotta learn to share my man, for a little while at least.”

He sniffled, “I…uh…gotta go now baby girl. One of my guys just walked by, my Sergeant. You’re gonna make me break into tears and they’ll never let me hear the end of it.”

* * * * *

The old Spanish Monastery gleamed in the midday sun. Winter in Miami Beach hit a cool 69 degrees Fahrenheit. Soothing sounds of 1950s jazz trumpets played on a stereo in the dressing room. Jasmine stood in front of a large full length mirror wearing an off the shoulder silk faille wedding gown.

Abby fluffed Jasmine’s floor length ivory tulle veil. “Something borrowed something blue…how does that saying go?”

Jasmine’s mother fixed her granddaughter’s faux diamond and pearl tiara. “Well Abigail, I think it goes something like—” She brought a finger to her chin. “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, something Blue, and a Penny—”

“For your Shoe.” Samantha interjected.

“And how do you know that?” Chelsea looked at her granddaughter with a raised eyebrow.

“Because it rhymes like one two, buckle my shoe.” The little girl brought a hand to her hip.

Abby crossed her arms. “Really? For your shoe? Okay…um…does anyone have a penny?”

Jasmine’s mother grabbed the box of boutonnieres. “Well, let’s see. You have your grandmother’s Saint Anthony pin. That’s something old. Your dress is new.”

Jasmine lifted her gown above the knee and smiled. “My garter has a blue trim.”

Abby handed Jasmine her bouquet of six long-stemmed calla lilies tied with organza ribbon. “So all you need is something borrowed?”

“Oh, yes. That’s my job.” Chelsea ran for her purse. “I got it right here. You can borrow my diamond earrings.”

Jasmine gave her a hug. “Thanks mom.”

Samantha gently tugged at Jasmine’s dress. “Momma, can you see what I have inside this basket?”

“It’s filled with rose petals.” Chelsea sifted through the petals, “And what is this young lady?” She pulled out a baseball hidden underneath.

“It’s my ball. Momma, please let me carry it. You can’t even tell it’s in there.”

“Why can’t this child carry a baby doll or a teddy bear?” Chelsea turned to Jasmine with a puckered brow.

“Leave her alone, mom. She’s fine.”

“No,” Chelsea bent down and looked into her granddaughter eyes. “You are a young lady, Samantha. You look like a princess. Princesses don’t carry baseballs around.”

The old woman took the baseball and stuffed it in her purse.

Abby picked up the box of boutonnieres. “I’m gonna go take this over to the men. Want to come with me, Sam?”

The little girl nodded and picked up her flower girl basket.

Abby and Samantha walked hand in hand past large stone archways in the exterior corridor of the old monastery.

“Abby, this dress is itchy.” Samantha came to a standstill then fidgeted with her dress.

“Yeah, mine’s kinda itchy too. Although I think it’s only my belly that itches.” Abby wore a pink chiffon strapless ruche bodice dress with an a-line skirt and empire waist for her growing belly.

“Hey there, lovely ladies.” Javi walked down the ancient corridor wearing his Old Guard dress uniform and black bow tie—the equivalent of a civilian tuxedo. The medals on his uniform flickered as rays of sunlight pierced through the corridor.

Samantha ran to him. “Javi, Grandma took my baseball.”

“No kidding. Why did she do that?”

“Because she says I have to be a princess today. But I think princesses can still play baseball. And besides, I was hiding it in the basket under the rose petals.”

“Come here,” he pointed to the bottom of the stone arch, which was about three feet high and sat down. He helped lift her onto the stone and sat her beside him. “Grandma’s just trying to help your mom have a beautiful wedding. She means well. She really does.”

Abby walked past the archway and turned around. “I have to go deliver these little flower things, err…boutonnieres. Can Sam stay with you?”

“Sure.” He gave the little girl his gorgeous crooked smile. “But listen, Abby, no boutonnieres on any of my uniformed men.”

* * * * *

The Catholic Monastery bells chimed announcing the top of the hour. Abby searched frantically through Jasmine’s purse for some lip-gloss thinking,
Ugh. Why would she have me come up here for lip-gloss as the photographer is taking the pictures?
It must be in here somewhere
.

A cell phone buzzed and buzzed inside a nearby purse. Abby realized it was hers and jumped to pick it up.

“Dallas?”

“Hey baby. I’ve been trying to call you.”

“This Maid of Honor thing has me going crazy. I’ve been nonstop all day.”

“Do you have a minute?” Dallas spoke in a low voice.

Abby sighed. “I wish I could stop time right now and just sit here talking to you. I miss you so much.”

“I miss you more.”

“Oh Dallas, just hearing your voice made my day.” She suddenly put a hand to her belly. “Oh my goodness, I think I just felt the baby kick.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah, I really did. There it goes again.” She laughed and softly tapped her belly.

“Let me see…” His voice echoed behind her.

“What?” She turned around.

He stood at the doorway in his dress uniform adorned with medals in perfect posture. A saber securely hung from his narrow waist. She dropped the phone and ran to him. He immediately placed his hand over her belly and felt the baby’s movements. After the baby settled down in her womb, he remembered his plan. He pulled out a ring from his pocket.

Abby’s glossy lips widened showing all her teeth. She watched him get on one knee.

“Will you marry me today?”

“Yes, I will marry you. But today?”

“Yeah, today.” He slipped the three-carat oval center stone diamond ring on her finger.

“Does my sister know?”

“Of course they know. I can’t just crash the Captain’s wedding. I told Javi that I wanted to propose to you and Jasmine took the phone from him all giggly.” He imitated Jasmine’s voice. “I’m gonna talk to the priest. It’ll be perfect. Giggle, giggle.”

Abby wiped a joyful tear and gave him a slow lingering kiss.

They walked hand in hand down the stone corridor and into the courtyard. Javi and Jasmine stood in front of an ancient well as the backdrop to their photographs and while the photographer snapped photos, Jasmine turned and waved. Abby walked over and gave her sister a hug, then puffed her veil.

“Let me see that ring? Do you like it?” She grabbed Abby’s hand then whispered, “I helped him pick it out.”

“I love it. Thank you.” Abby gave her ring a glance then looked at Jasmine. “The other day when you and I talked about how amazing it would be to get married at the same time did you already know about this?”

Jasmine’s eyes widened as she nodded. “Yes.”

“I don’t want to take the spot light from you, Jasmine. It’s your day.”

“Nonsense, it’s our day.”

“Then it would be an honor to share it with you, sister.” Abby grabbed Jasmine’s hand.

“There’s a white dress waiting for you in one of the dressing rooms.” Jasmine smiled. “I bought the one you liked.”

“Really?” Abby hugged her once more unintentionally crushing her veil. “Oops. Thank you Jasmine.” She moved her lips without a sound, “I love you.”

She glided down the corridor and bumped into the old priest. Father Charles was six foot three and wore a Franciscan habit, which consisted of a long brown robe and a brown hood that hung behind his head and a knotted rope around the waist.

“Hello, you must be Abigail.”

“Yes Father. I’m glad I ran into you. Um…” She stammered. “I was hoping you could hear my confession before the wedding.”

“Of Course my child, let’s take a walk.”

“Well, Father as you can see.” She pointed to her womb and made no eye contact. “I kinda got pregnant before getting married.”

“I can see that my child.” He crossed his arms and brought a hand to his beard.

“I love Dallas so much, Father.”

They stopped in front on a cypress wood crucifix, which hung from the balustrade of a narrow staircase.

Father Charles stroked his bearded chin. “My child, no sin is greater than the mercy of God.”