Yessenia nervously touches up her makeup in the rearview mirror. As nervous as she is, she is also excited. As she waits in the parking lot of the hotel, a mild waves of panic ensue her.
"Why can't I get this hair to cooperate?!"
"My arms are too flabby - I really need to hit the gym again."
"Does my makeup really look ok?"
So many thoughts flood her mind. But she takes a chance and steps out the car door. "He will just have to accept what I look like. It is what it is."
She walks into the lobby of the hotel and begins to look around. A gentleman puts his phone down conspicuously and smiles a giant smile. Showing visible restraint, Rogelio half-runs to her out of exuberance and joy, then warmly embraces her followed by a kiss on the cheek.
In an instant, all of her apprehensions and self-doubts dissolve. "Senator..." he says with an air of flirtatious charm. She immediately chuckles and half-strikes him on the arm, caught completely off guard.
"You are absolutely stunning, Yessenia. I cannot believe I have the luck of a lottery ticket holder right now. I am overwhelmed with words trying to describe your beauty as I stare at you right now."
She shies away, bashfully thanking him. Rogelio continues and doubles down. "Look at how humble and grateful you are even with that compliment." He pauses, taking time to drink her in with his eyes as if she were a delicious four course meal. "My God." He faces her, then takes both of her hands into his. He looks deep into her eyes for a moment, then kisses her right hand. "Your highness, let's get going. We have a day of adventure with each other."
As she squints and plants her feet, he starts chuckling. "Oh Yessenia, not like that! I'm so sorry... That's not what I meant at all." They both have quite a laugh and her nerves settle.
"No sweetheart. I have a dinner reservation for us, and then another relaxing treat afterwards. I want to serenade you tonight and treat you like the princess that you are. That is all."
Smiling, they interlock arms and head for the car. As Rogelio opens the door for her, she bends over and kisses him on the cheek. An unmovable grin permeates his face. Half-chuckling, he says, "Sweetheart, feel encouraged to do that as often as you wish."
And so she gives him another kiss. Somehow he makes room to add more smile to his already joyous face.
The drive goes smoothly. At red lights, he steals kisses from her, which go unrejected. He finds a local station and sings to you songs from Cafe Tacuba, Porter, Panteon Roccoco, and so on. "I know it's not Molotov, but this is the best I can find." She chuckles and waves it off.
They arrive at a nondescript place with no sign. Curious, she asks, "What do they have here?"
"You'll see," he says.
As they walk in, she discovers that this isn't a restaurant, but a kitchen. Confused, she looks over at him, but they are interrupted by a pleasant & plump host with a Central American accent.
"Welcome both of you! I'm happy to be your instructor today. Yessenia, Rogelio tells me that you like Mexican food. I thought I would teach you a spin off on how to make traditional Guatemalan fajitas with Topado soup."
Yessenia's mouth drops open in absolute surprise. Rogelio flashes her a grin that would rival a fox.
The couple washes their hands and they get to work. Maria teaches them a traditional marinade for the chicken using herbs and spices found locally. Rogelio gets to work on the Topado soup - a mixture of seafood, coconut milk, and plantains.
The smell in the room as the cooking continues makes her mouth water in anticipation. As the food takes a moment to sear and simmer, Yessenia takes a moment to give him another kiss. "This was absolutely wonderful. You are a man full of talents."
"Precious, I am actually at best a mediocre cook," he laughs. "But I am 'very' resourceful. And I can learn."
"Either way, I am impressed. You are so thoughtful."
The meal is finished cooking, and the couple dines until they are both stuffed. They share all sorts of stories, memories, a glass of wine or two, ambitions, dreams, a sad time or two. He holds her hand, they bump knees, feet wander... They kiss. And it feels... right.
The couple helps clean up the kitchen despite Maria's insistence not to. Then arm in arm, they head out.
"We can still make it. We have plenty of time," Rogelio says.
"What do you mean?"
"Our next part of the evening."
The drive includes more talking, more holding hands, more kisses at red lights. She gets a clue where they are headed when water is visible on the horizon.
"We're going to the ocean, aren't we?" she asks.
He taps her leg gently. "Two chairs in the back. Just us, the beach of Puerto Vallerta, and that sunset, senator," he teases.
She chortles and clasps his right hand with both of hers. "You're amazing" she says.
"I know," he laughs.
"You're also a brat sometimes," she says, shoving her shoulder into him. They both chuckle.
The view and the walk to the edge of the pier empties her vocabulary of what the word "beautiful" means. The warm, squishy sand between her bare toes. The persistent, calming sound of the waves crashing ashore. The sun starting to have the thought of retiring for the evening, but holding on for just a bit longer for the two of them to enjoy. The colors in the sky thwart the efforts of any painter in history.
Rogelio sets up the chairs, and they both plop in them without saying a word. If hands could talk though, they would say it all as her hand finds his as if it were a long lost lover separated by time and distance. This moment in time freezes almost as picturesque as an Etsy postcard.
Rogelio looks over at Yessenia and sighs a happy sigh. She smiles and returns it as if it were a contagious yawn. Their thoughts meld together in one comical, yet romantic moment as they both blurt out "Thank you!" simultaneously. Someone says "Jinx!" faster than the other, but it doesn't matter who won. They both laugh as lovers do at the thought of connecting so deeply.
The sun sets. And it completes the evening for both of them.
...
Well... at least she thought...
As the sun set and they were about to leave, Rogelio helps Yessenia up from her chair. But in doing so, she stumbled forward and lost her balance. And in a split second, Rogelio decided to push her back in her chair to keep her dry.
