Chapter Text
The place smelled familiar. She felt with her arm to the left, but was met with an empty half side of the bed.
Opening her eyes, she sat up and looked around; there was something strange. Her clothes from yesterday were draped on a chair, but she saw no sign of Maritza's things; plus, an old fashioned pair of shoes was laying next to the wardrobe. She frowned, uncomprehendingly.
The handle of the bathroom door started moving.
"Hey Mari –" But a fully-clad Gloria in slippers emerged from it.
"Good morning nena," she greeted.
Flaca stood stunned for a second, then everything emerged clear for her, from the haze of the previous night.
"Gloria, right..." she started. "And the others?"
"They went back to their hotel, but you were already asleep."
"Oh... OK." She looked around for her phone, and grabbed it from the bedside table. "And Maritza?"
"Chill mami, she stayed with Aleida in our room at the Flamingo," Gloria explained and sat down by her feet.
"Oh," Flaca frowned. No messages on her phone. "Alright. I guess..."
Gloria stared at her. "Marisol, you know me right."
She turned guilty. "Yes of course, sorry, I didn't mean..."
"That dumbass te quiere, and even with Aleida no tienes por qué preocuparte," she reassured.
"Yeah, I know," Flaca gave a small smile.
"Mh," Gloria studied her. "I don't think you really know, but whatever. Now move, we gotta meet them up for breakfast."
"We do?" she lit up.
“Yeah,” she squeezed her calf through the sheet and stood up. “So hurry, I’m hungry!”
“You missing Aleida too much mh?” Flaca smiled.
“Ah por Dios!” Gloria rolled her eyes. “We all got our crosses to bear.”
**********
Meanwhile, a couple of miles to the north…
Maritza had been awake for quite some time now. Sleeping long, or almost at all, had not been easy, so after tossing and turning and making herself antsy she was happier to simply get up and walk around the hotel. Her daughter and mother’s voices on the phone had helped a bit. Still, she did not feel tired, she was too hyped up; only restless.
A text from Gloria made her head stop spinning. “Finally!” she exclaimed.
“You gotta get a grip bitch, or I won’t get to the end of this day alive,” Aleida lamented.
“Yeah, tienes que calmarte. Todo va a salir bien, ya verás,” Blanca said with a serious expression.
She sighed deeply. “I hope so. God why did y’all let me do this! I don’t know what I was thinking, what if -”
“Yo Ramos, shut up! Flacaca is dumb, but not this dumb,” Aleida gestured at her significantly.
“Yes, you gotta have faith,“ Blanca smiled reassuringly, while cradling her little sleeping Diablito.
“OK, fine. So you ready to go?” she asked the older woman.
“Yeah, I’ll be out. Move your ass!” Aleida said while leaving the room.
“Blanca, I’ll text you later right?” Maritza enquired.
Her friend stood up and gave her a half hug, balancing the baby on the other arm. “It’s all good, don’t you worry. I’m happy for you,” she squeezed her hand and grinned. ”Sois adorables.”
Maritza’s cheeks colored. “Gracias. And you are.”
She caressed the baby’s hair softly. “Till later. Wish me luck.”
“No la necesitas,” Blanca shook her head, but complied all the same. “Suerte chica.”
**********
It was another gorgeous day outside, the sun was shining and all different sorts of tourists and partygoers were enjoying the city in their own ways.
The four women were having a late breakfast at a café in a northern area, the younger ones chatting about the previous night and the other two about them, and what the day would bring.
Flaca was in the middle of her croissant time - she subscribed to Boo's rule of the magical sweet & savoury combination by having some fries and now the chocolate treat, to appease her sweet tooth or five - when her Jewish and wannabe Jewish friends passed by.
They stopped to greet them briefly on their way to some Shabbat thing with the celebrity rabbi, and it was another Twilight Zone moment when Cindy put her hands on her shoulders and told her to have the happiest morning and that she deserved it all with misty eyes, and Cat almost sobbing hugged her tight and could just produce something resembling a "Flaca… I'm so glad!" before hiding her face in her hands and being dragged away by the other girl.
Flaca turned to her table, disconcerted.
She saw that Maritza had an intense unreadable look, and was following them with her eyes.
"Fuck those Hebrews got issues, I've said it time and again," Aleida loudly remarked, munching on her eggs. "Getting all worked up over some old man with sidelocks and a fucking cappah or something."
Gloria simply shook her head at this, but for an instant Flaca thought she had caught the older woman gazing at her with a strange expression.
It was just a flash though, and she had immediately gone back to reprimanding Aleida's words and drinking her coffee, so who could say really.
Why couldn't she have normal friends, she thought.
After eating they had split up again with a vague promise to reconvene later.
In a rare and rather puzzling display of affection Gloria had hugged her, called her mija and kissed her forehead.
Then she had squeezed Maritza's hand and nodded at her.
Aleida's goodbye had been much more reassuringly in character: she bumped against her shoulder and told her "Flacaca, don't be stupid or I'mma kill you."
"About time!" Flaca exclaimed when she was alone with her girlfriend. "What's with everyone today," she looked at her.
"They must have drunk too much yesterday, y'know at their age it got consequences."
"Darn don't let me do that when I'm sixty a'right?" Flaca pleaded.
Maritza's lips parted in a bright toothy smile. "OK Flac," she replied.
“It wasn’t that anyway, Gloria had almost nothing last night,” Flaca went on.
“Oh who cares, they’re just weird,” Maritza dismissed the matter easily. "Let's go for a walk mh?" she proposed after a second.
"Okay babe," her giant agreed.
Standing up, they ventured back on the streets.
Restaurants, hotels, bars, shops, casinos, all sorts of places and people, so many people of all kinds passed them by as they were walking on, wandering aimlessly. They even came across a wedding chapel, and hey it was one of the famous ones! where Salma Hayek and Johnny Depp and other celebs had married, which was great but a bit too busy, and a couple of newlyweds with questionable fashion taste in a cabriolet with a serenading Elvis, which made Flaca laugh.
Now this street they had just ended up on seemed more quiet, a little out of the hustle and bustle and still nice.
They were holding hands and swinging them back and forth, enjoying the views and sounds and smells and the feel of the sun on them and of the other by their side.
“Ooh this is… wow,” Flaca exclaimed pointing at the little building.
Inadvertently they had stepped onto a lawn which led to a tiny wooden church; it had some pews on the right and some on the left, and a small altar on one end - but it had no walls, just a few pillars to hold up the roof, and so it was neither closed nor open, but rather one with the outdoor space.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
Maritza smiled and gave a small nod.
“This place is perfect,” Flaca added, still in awe.
For a few moments they stood in silent contemplation. It felt very peaceful around them, what with the green and trees and bushes and this; there were even a couple of birds chirping somewhere over their heads, it sounded like they were conversing, chirp from one branch, chirp - chirp came back from another.
The air was pleasantly warm and smelled rich and floral in the secluded garden in the middle of the city.
"Flaca," she felt a tugging at her hand.
Turning, she saw that Maritza was getting down on her knees, there on the grass, with her skirt and all. Her eyes widened, jaw slacked.
"Marisol Flaca Gonzales," she began, looking up at her with a nervous small smile and eyes that were hopeful and scared at the same time.
"You have been my best friend for years now, and then you became my love. You put some sense into me and you care and you're great with Juliana. You get me and - you're sweet and beautiful and everything I didn't know I needed. We make a pretty good team and," they were both pretty teary-eyed by now, "and I want this to continue, like, forever if it is OK with you..." Maritza breathed deeply and searched in her bag, taking out a little dark box and opening it to reveal a knot design ring with a petite diamond in the middle. "Will you marry me, Flaca?"
...
Flaca seemed unable to utter a single syllable.
She blinked once, twice. Shook her head, wetting her lips and opening her mouth: nothing came out.
She tightened her hold on Maritza’s hand and pulled her upward, just barely managing not to make her trip due to the darn skirt; caressing her cheek she nodded repeatedly, still speechless but smiling.
Maritza’s dimples perked up in response. “Yeah?” she murmured tentatively.
Flaca nodded again. “Yeah.” And again. "Yes." Maritza chuckled. Fumbling, she finally managed to put the ring on Flaca's finger. "Yes!" She was lifted up and turned round and round. "YES!" They both fell ass-first on the grass and laughed.
"My God girl, you're crazy for real."
Maritza smirked. "Yes… crazy for youu."
They giggled. "OMG that was cheesy."
"I know right." Maritza admitted. "But you already said yes."
Flaca shook her head. Her eyes fell on the little chapel to their right. "I would marry you today if I could."
Her unofficial fiancée kissed her lightly.
"What's stopping you?" she asked.
Flaca came back at her with a longer kiss, and things were just about to get heated right there on the lawn when a series of loud hoinks startled them.
"Yo mamis," Aleida's voice boomed and her face appeared at the window of one of two big cars that had just parked near the place with a screech. "Tone it down for the kids! Plus it's not tra-di-tion," she spelled.
They scrambled to their feet, and stared incredulous as people started emerging from the vehicles.
Apart from Aleida there were also Gloria, Daya and Bennett with Armaria, and Maria with Yadriel and little Pepa. Blanca had a huge smile on her face and Diablo was holding their baby in his arms, also looking quite content. Cindy and Cat were of the party too. But the big guns were taken out last, as Theresa Gonzales, her son Marco and tía Mariana got out, and Maritza's mother and sister followed closely afterwards with Juliana between them.
The two girls looked at each other.
"Mari…" Flaca said. "What's this?"
Maritza opened her mouth to talk but a cyclone prevented her from even trying.
"Mami! Flaca!" Juliana had run towards them and was now hugging their legs.
"Hey bebe," they smiled brightly and squeezed her gently.
"I didn't see you in so long, it was like, TWO days," she emphasized.
That made them smile, but when they lifted their eyes from their daughter to look at each other both noticed all their friends and family around; they'd given them a little breathing space to greet Juliana but were just a few meters away, chatting quietly and waiting.
Maritza shook her head. Fucking Aleida, she thought.
"Yo bi… biscuits, so it went well mh?" Aleida herself got near and put her arms around their shoulders; she bumped hips with one girl and winked at the other, nodding at the ring. "You said yes right Flaca?"
Flaca was gaping. Maritza was pale.
"Yeah, everybody listen up, Flaritza is engaged now!" she announced. "Well done potheads."
She patted their backs and let the stage free for someone else.
Their mothers approached them next.
"Mom…" Flaca was so amazed and confused at all that was happening that she didn't know what to say.
"Marisol," Theresa took her hands and held them in her own. "Estoy tan agradecida, te se ve tan feliz con la chica esta," she eyed Maritza and took one of her hands as well, then joining all their three together with a moved smile.
Then Maria Ramos reached her co-mother-in-law to be and they exchanged an understanding glance.
"Gracias por hacerla estar bien," she told Flaca and squeezed her arm. "Te quiero mija, be happy," she hugged her daughter.
Then it was all a whirlwind of congrats and well wishes, hugs and kisses from their relatives and friends, and some light mocking from their siblings.
In the midst of it all, when there was finally a lull, Maritza had cornered Aleida and then Flaca had cornered Maritza and everyone had gotten their explanation.
What had happened was that Maritza had been planning this weekend for quite some time, and once when she was confiding in Blanca about it the older Diaz had, unbeknownst to them, overheard everything. Blanca had already offered her friend to come as an emotional life vest, and then Aleida being Aleida she just couldn't mind her own business and do nothing, so she had blabbered her mouth about it right and left and organized this whole party for them. Flores hadn't managed to stop her, so she had resigned herself to helping her out, together with Gloria.
"Here goes our romantic intimate getaway," murmured Maritza.
"It's for support, you ungrateful bitches," the older woman spat out. They looked guilty.
"Yo Ramos, you gotta make more of an effort for the occasion," Aleida went on critically. "Go change!"
"Hey!" Maritza protested, looking down at her blouse-and-skirt mise. She thought it was quite cute, but her skirt had in fact got all wrinkled and displayed some stains after their close encounter with the grass.
"You too beanstalk," Aleida went on. Flaca's jeans shorts and band T-shirt didn't fare much better.
It was clear they were, for once, the worst dressed in the group; seeing it, they looked at each other and nodded seriously: this was unacceptable.
"Venid chicas, os acompaño," Blanca interjected. "Me too!" said Cat. They picked up Juliana, got on one of the cars and went back to their hotel.
Maritza was worried the time she had booked the chapel and lawn would run out, but her friend had thought about it as well; she, Gloria and the others had really outdone themselves.
When they got back, out of the car and nearer the little church where their guests were gathered, they were left speechless.
There were some flowers on the pews and near the altar, not excessive but tasteful bunches of delicate anemones and tender cornflowers, dahlias for commitment, fragrant freesias for friendship, hopeful irises and lovely peonies – mainly in white, but with some blues and light pinks and oranges interspersed here and there.
An Elvis in white suit was sitting on the altar, playing his guitar and singing.
Armaria and Pepa were moving awkwardly to the music, as were Daya and Bennett. The others of the party were either chatting or drinking from plastic cups.
"Here," said Gloria, handing two actual glasses to the wide eyed couple. "We were waiting for you to toast." She produced some champagne from the little stash of bottles on one of the pews.
"Attention everyone!" Aleida shouted. " Finish up your beers, we having the classy stuff now!"
Yadriel and Diablo went around filling everyone's cups with the sparkling liquid, and when they finished Cindy called up "Yo girls, you gotta say something now! We earned ourselves a nice speech."
Flaca and Maritza looked at each other.
Then Flaca squeezed her hand, and with a deep breath began.
"Everyone, thank you for being here. I'm still kinda shook that y'all knew what my girl was up to before me," she side-eyed Maritza, "but regardless, it's wonderful having you here; we love you and it's great to share this with you." She thought about it, gave a small smile and lowered her gaze for a sec. "This day was already pretty perfect," awws and aahs could be heard, "and you made it even more so. Thank you."
Maritza was looking at her dreamily. She shook her head and played her role.
"Yeah, what she said. And you people, this is not how I expected the weekend to go – I mean except for the yes part of course –" Flaca scoffed, "but seriously, this is amazing." She put her hand on her heart. "Thank you."
The two girls smiled at each other and their beloved ones.
"Hey girls, where's that kiss from before?" Daya asked loudly. Aleida put an arm around her shoulder, proud. "Yo, that's right!"
Maritza smirked, Flaca sighed dramatically, but they performed for them as requested.
The afternoon air was sweet and that little oasis just right for their simple, happy celebration; they still had the place for another hour, and Elvis was back to earning his fee.
"You remember you're marrying me and not him, mh?" Maritza teased.
It was notorious who her fiancée's celebrity crush was, even had she not been watching him play with such a rapt look on her face.
"Darn I gave my word, didn't I," Flaca laughed. "Still, y'know... I can think of a thing or two with you in that suit..." she mused.
"That can be arranged," Maritza agreed, and brought her down by her necklace.
"It's so beautiful here," Flaca said, and got a nod in response. "When I saw all those flowers and Elvis, really, for a moment I thought like, God she can't have organized our wedding or something right? I mean last night was basically like a bachelorette party."
"Yo, don't talk bullshit Gonzales!" the 'she' in question jumped in from who knows where, and made them split apart. "A Vegas wedding is for basic bitches." Aleida paused. "Plus at the marriage license bureau they wanted the brides to signs papers, those motherfuckers."
...Oh well that explained it.
**********
As their allotted time was up, they moved to the Paris Village for their engagement late lunch/early dinner.
Later on some people left, some stayed together; their goal the Venetian Resort, where part of the group and Flaritza and Juliana enjoyed a gondola ride at sundown.
It was now nearing ten.
The remaining family and friends said their goodnights and left the fiancées to the rest of their evening, not sparing them a last jab in Aleida's case; most of them would get back with the same flight on the following afternoon anyway.
After leaving Juliana in the older Ramos' care again they were finally alone. The excitement of the day started to seep through their bodies, leaving them pleasantly drained but, at the same time, with the soul on fire.
They ascended the Eiffel Tower replica and stood on the viewing deck above the city in contentment, leaning on the railings, glued at the hips.
The whole day had been so much more than what Maritza had expected; yet this was the best moment of it all.
Flaca was just beginning to get down from a high; this weekend had started off extraordinarily enough, and had only gotten more and more like a postmodern fairy tale. Today... Her chest tightened. She turned to look at her lover.
Within a few seconds Maritza felt observed, and looked back. "What?" she enquired.
Flaca grasped her hand.
"Maritza, you're incredible," she regarded her with warm eyes, and took out a blue velvet box of her own with a ring in it, a small rose-cut diamond. Maritza looked at her astonished. "I've been carrying this around for some time now and never got the guts to take the first step," she confessed. "Maritza Ramos. Since day one you've been on my mind. You're smart, sexy, and funny, and the best best-friend like companion ever. You're the love of my life and I still can't believe I'm yours. Thank you for having me in your life, and Juliana's. I will try my best to make you happy every day" she gave a coy smile, and slipped the ring on her fiancée's finger.
"You already do," Maritza whispered and held her gaze, equally starry-eyed. "C'mere tonta," she led her to her mouth.
**********
Their room was waiting for them, and they made good use of it.
Afterwards, they lay on the bed sharing small caresses and kisses.
"Today was dope," Flaca said.
"It was," Maritza confirmed, playing with her fingers. "I had a swingin' time."
"... OMG I can't believe you just quoted Viva Las Vegas!"
They laughed.
"Chiquita. That place you found... it's like a dream come true."
Maritza hummed, nuzzling her neck.
"Y'know, it almost makes one wonder..."
"Mh?"
"Our family and friends are mostly here already."
"...yeah?" she paused and lifted her eyes.
"And, well, this is the easiest place in the world for this kind of things," Flaca went on.
"Oh. Right -" Maritza was starting to see the light. She stared at Flaca fixedly: what was that glint, could she possibly mean... did she really...
"...So Mari, d'you know what time the Marriage License Bureau opens anyway?"
THE END