More than a Dream

Preparing for the Wedding

The rest of the month went by, and now it was December 20th. With the kids having gone back to school, the art classes were now held on Saturdays. During this art class, the kids were doing Christmas paintings, and they were having a lot of fun. There were paintings of Christmas trees, presents, snowmen, snowflakes, and everything. There were also very beautiful paintings having to do with Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Guillermo even showed them what Colombians did during Christmas.

"Everyone is doing great," Doretha smiled.

Suddenly, Elena came in and said, "Doretha, someone is here to see you."

"Coming," Doretha said. "I'll be right back."

"Go ahead," Guillermo smiled.

Doretha went to see who it was, and at the edge of the staff area was a delivery man holding something that was covered with a white cloth. "You rang?" she asked.

"Yes, I've got flowers sent to you from Crown Flora," the delivery man said.

"Well, thank...thank...thank...," Doretha tried to say. But then she let out a sneeze.

"Bless you," the delivery man said.

"Thank you," Doretha sniffled. She lifted the cloth to find a huge bouquet of blanket flowers, and she let out another sneeze, which blew a little card out of the bouquet. She picked up the card to find that it was from Guillermo, who came out to see her.

"You're okay, Dorie?" Guillermo asked. "I heard you sneezing."

"Guillermo, I appreciate this, but you know I'm allergic to blank...blanket...," Doretha started to say. Then she sneezed again. "...blanket flowers."

"¿Perdón?" Guillermo blanched.

"Didn't you just send me these?" Doretha asked. She handed Guillermo the little card, and he was surprised to see his name on it.

"I didn't order these," Guillermo frowned. "I've never even heard of Crown Flora, much less seen it."

"It's all the way in Calico City," the delivery man said.

"Who could've sent me flowers from Crown Flora under your name?" Doretha asked. But then she took a good look at the handwriting on the card. "Chotu! I should've known. I know this handwriting anywhere." Then she sneezed again.

A nearby employee came and said, "I'm supposed to go on my lunch break now. I'll take these flowers, so they don't bother you anymore."

"Thanks," Doretha sniffled. "Well, that was just weird."

"You should take some medicine," Guillermo told her.

"Gracias, querido," Doretha sniffled.

While Doretha went to take some allergy medicine, Guillermo retreated to the art class.

"Is Miss Dorie okay?" a student asked.

"She'll be fine—she just experienced a little prank," Guillermo said.

The delivery man left the store, and he was furious because this wasn't just any man. This was Chotu in disguise—he dressed up as a delivery man from Crown Flora and had the flowers delivered to Doretha under Guillermo's name to make it look like Guillermo didn't care about her allergy, but she was just plain too smart to fall for that little prank. He removed his wig and fake moustache, dismayed at what happened.

"Well, that prank sure didn't work," Chotu fretted. "There's gotta be something else."

It was now December 27th. Elena, Doretha, Daniela, Isabela, and Julieta all had the day off from work, so they could go dress-shopping at the Orchid Bridal Shop. Daniela and Isabela went for a sky-blue strapless dress with white gloves that only reached their wrists. Doretha was looking at many different dresses. She tried a few on, but they didn't seem right. She continued to look when she saw Amber by her side.