Rio Grande Wedding Part 24

grandpa face was the mind of a marketing genius.

He hugged Molly enthusiastically and nearly did the same to Alejandro, but Molly saw the faint but pointed s.h.i.+ft of body language as Alejandro straightened stiffly and held out his hand.

"So you're the one stirring up so much talk in town," Jonah said, looking over his gla.s.ses. "The wild one who stole Molly's heart."

Tongue in cheek, Alejandro said, "Yeah, that's me, the desperado."

Molly grinned at him. Over Jonah's head, he winked. "So you folks want to get married, eh? You know when?"

"As soon as possible," Molly said.

"I'm open." Jonah patted his belly, like a Santa Claus of the wedding ceremony. "How's now?"

"You will marry us?" Alejandro said, and Molly heard the surprise.

"Well, I certainly have the power." Jonah winked. "I'm an ordained minister, son.

Believe it or not. Divine Science, which my mother said was no real church at all, but I showed her." He chuckled. "What do you say?"

A leap of antic.i.p.ation and terror made Molly's hands start to tremble suddenly, and she looked at Alejandro with alarm. "What do you think?"

No doubt seeing her sudden worry, he moved close and gave her a slow, very s.e.xy smile.

"The sooner the better, no?" He took her hand, and as if he had eyes for no one in the world but Molly Sheffield, a very ordinary-looking nurse from the wilds ofNew Mexico, he kissed her hand. "Now is good," he said to Jonah.

The old man grinned. "Man, I do so love to see folks in love. Let me grab my tools and I'll be right back.Katje , why don't you have Vivian make us up a snack to celebrate with after?"

Katje, too, was beaming. "That's a great idea. Do you mind?"

Molly smiled. "Not at all."

Alejandro loved standing in the courtyard, with the sun on them, and the sharp scent of geraniums in the air. He liked the shy blush on Molly's face asKatje cut some late roses from a protected bush, red and yellow blossoms that smelled of oranges. He bent to smell them in her hand, and lifted his head with what he hoped was an encouraging smile.

Again he glimpsed her worry, and he understood it. This was a binding. Even if they did not do it for love, the words would be spoken and they would have to look into each other's eyes as they said them. It was a little frightening to imagine.

When Jonah returned, he wore vestments, purple and gold over a long white robe. His feet were still enclosed in rope sandals, like a monk.

To make these kind people believe in their love, Alejandro imagined that his parents were here, that he was confessing love and commitment to a woman who would stand by him, a woman he would not mind growing old with. Thinking of her land, he imagined it was a dowry, while his hands and knowledge and back were the gifts he brought to trade.

To make the land live. He took her small white hand in his and closed his other hand over it, and listened carefully as Jonah said the sacred words, words that had been said in almost the same way in so many languages for so many centuries.

He could not say why he did it. But when Jonah prompted him to repeat the phrases of commitment, he said them first in English,then said them again in Spanish. In some odd way, it touched Molly. He saw her eyes take that quicksilver glow, and she gazed at him soberly.

Then disaster.

"We brought no rings," Alejandro said, aggrieved. Without missing a beat, Jonah glanced at his wife, and Alejandro saw her nod. Jonah slipped a heavy silver and turquoise ring, set around with stones, from his index finger and gave it to Molly.

WhenKatje would have taken a ring from the may on her own fingers, Molly stopped her.

She took the wedding ring from her right hand and put it in Jonah's palm. "Use this one."

Stricken, Alejandro looked at her fiercely, trying to tell her with his eyes that such a sacrifice was not necessary. She only looked up at him, and gave him a sweet, suresmile .

He gripped her fingers tightly and took the ring from Jonah. He said the words, "With this ring, I thee wed." He lifted the simple gold band to his lips and kissed it, looking into Molly's eyes,then slipped it on her finger.

A single silver tear spilled on her cheek, and when Jonah said, "You may kiss the bride," Alejandro put his hands lightly on her slim shoulders, and pressed his mouth to that tiny creek of sorrow. He tasted salt and imagined that somehow the essence of her was contained in it, and entered him through his mouth.

Then he raised his head. "I am," he said sincerely, "the luckiest man in the world."

The housekeeper managed a lovely spread in less than twenty minutes, and carried it out to the patio, where the light grew deeper and more golden as afternoon reached for evening.Katje poured the wine into gla.s.ses, but Alejandro stopped her from pouring it into his. "No, thank you," he said, smiling.

"Not even a little?"

He shook his head, lifting his shoulders apologetically.

"D'youtake the oath, man?" Jonah asked. "I got four friends in AA right now."

He gave Molly a bewildered look. "Alcoholics Anonymous," she explained.

"Oh." He smiled. "No, no. I have never liked it ... um, the spinning? Even a little makes me uncomfortable."

Molly wondered if he minded that she drank some, and hesitated, thinking she ought to put down the gla.s.s. Then she realized she didn't have to change anything about herself for him. He wasn't really her husband.

And if he were?

Sipping the wine, which was excellent, she listened to the light, cheerful conversation around her and thought about that. About changing for someone else. Had she changed for Tim?

"Molly, would you like some of these pears?"Katje asked. "We're experimenting withBosc varieties."

Molly accepted the offering. Together with the wine, the tastes were like two notes of harmonizing music. "Yes, those are wonderful. Especially with the wine."

From her right, Alejandro suddenly leaned close. "May I taste?"

"Sure." She reached for another slice of pear, but he laughed, the sound low and wicked.

"No,querida . Like this," he said, and kissed her.

It was a bold kiss, the hungry kiss of a bridegroom. Molly had to give him credit for superior talent in the timing and acting departments, because she was as nonplussed as a new bride by the richness of that luscious mouth, and before she could think coherently enough to stop herself, had opened her mouth in invitation.

One he took. His tongue swirled in, wicked and probing, then quickly retreated, and he was raising his head, those long-lashed eyes dancing as he tasted her taste on his lips. "Mmm. Very nice."

Molly blushed to the roots of her hair, and looked away, trying desperately to recover her equilibrium. Jonah laughed happily, andKatje slapped his arm. But then she took Molly's hand and one of Alejandro's. "We see many couples. But not very many have that light about them the way you two do." She tightened her fingers. "May G.o.d bless your union with all things," she said poetically. "And let yours be an example of those who

wish to love all their lives."

Molly looked at Alejandro, feeling guilt at the seriousness of the blessing. This was not what they had planned, not at all. In his eyes, she saw the same disturbance, and he gave her a subtle nod.

Soon, they would take their leave and end this mockery.

Chapter 9.

They were subdued on the way back to Molly's house, and without speaking, moved to different parts of the house to give each other time to absorb this new status between them.