Copyright, 2001, NCmVoyeur
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"I think we've already been down this street,' Rosa said, holding gently onto Mike's arm.
Mike looked down the narrow cobblestone lane, another of the slow rivulets of humanity that coursed through Old San Juan. Beyond, the street curved down toward the darkness of the evening and the cool Atlantic waters.
They had been window-shopping, slowly walking off the dinner which they had finished more than an hour earlier. A very filling array of simple, but delicious islands specialties that the menu term
comida criolla
. Rosa had been distracting him from his plate by slipping off her shoe and running her foot up his leg. Until Mike decided to one-up her by holding up a piece of papaya from his salad plate and slowly licking off the juice. Rosa's embarrassment was enough to keep her foot in check the remainder of the meal.
"No, I don't think so. We haven't backtracked since we got the flowers."
Mike looked down at the small bouquet Rosa held in her hands. Had it been only two days since she carried her bouquet up the aisle? he thought. The distance in space and frame of mind made it seem a world ago. He thought of how he felt, watching her slowly walk to meet him at the altar. All eyes in the church transfixed on her. His, no less. Rosa was flawless, glowing beneath the white lace and satin, a perfect symbol of her virginal splendor. A rare thing, he knew. And a hard decision for them to keep. But he was proud of her. And himself.
The months of seemingly endless preparations had taken its toll on both of them. But that preoccupation had one advantage, he thought to himself: it occasionally took his mind off dwelling too much on the wedding night! But the ceremony was beautiful, despite his jitters. And the reception! He'd never danced and talked so much in one day. Mike wasn't much of a talker. But having everyone who mattered to them in one room made him rise to the occasion. Though he joked to Rosa at one point that if he chattered much more, his tongue might not show up for work during foreplay that night. He was apparently more pleased with his wit that she, her elbow giving his ribs and a firm, albeit playful reminder to behave.
Rosa held three flowers gracefully in her hand as they walked through the old city. Mike had purchased them from a little old lady who called to him to buy some for '
la SeΓ±orita.
' He stopped and picked some out. Pink. In Spanish the color was called rosa. Only fitting for her. They were a native species whose name Mike didn't quite pick up in the vendor's heavily-accented English.
It was fun for Mike to be in a place where English was not the native tongue, to be in somewhat foreign territory. Quite a new experience for him. But he knew for Rosa this trip to Puerto Rico was a bit of a homecoming. Her family on her mother's side was originally from the island, though most of her close relatives had lived in New York for some time. Mike always sensed a desire on Rosa's part to hold to that heritage, and spending their honeymoon here was a way for both of them to connect with that part of her.
Mike had to smile to himself how inauspiciously their honeymoon began. His joke about fatigue taking over had proved mildly prophetic. They stayed till nearly the end of the reception, neither of them wanting to be the first to suggest leaving their family and friends. But once they left, the weeks of mounting stress, the alcohol, the dancing--all came crashing down on them at once. They arrived at their hotel room that night with more a sense of relief than anticipation. Once in bed, they eyed each other, part with anticipation, part with exhaustion. They reached for each other, but the kisses--which normally were spontaneous and motivating--were fighting against a tide of exhaustion. Mike was almost ashamed when Rosa reached down and he wasn't at his normal full-gun salute. "You know, this might be a lot more memorable if we wait till we're not half asleep,' she conceded. Mike had heard that wasn't all that uncommon. He stroked her light brown hair while he pondered the situation, then looked to see Rosa's eyes closed and her body lying motionless beside him. He whispered "I love you," then quickly joined her in slumber.