Filming Without You

Family, The Best Medicine

"Shall we go downstairs and tell them?"

"Yes, we shall! Here, let me carry you."

He holds my legs and very slowly lifts me bridal style. I bring my arms around his neck and nuzzle my nose against it.

"Maqui, you're playing with fire." - He warns me as he makes his way down the stairs.

I give him an innocent look. – "I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Sure" – He whispers against my ear causing goosebumps.

Once he reached the last step, he cleared his throat to catch our family's attention. I took in the view in front of me. My mom was in the rocker chair feeding Dulcie her bottle while talking to Santi about how to change diapers. My dad and Jim were sitting on the dinner table talking about soccer. Anto, Jess, and Liesa were around Millie checking her honeymoon pictures from her iPad. Jenny and Mario were on the other side of the table having some cocktails deep in conversation. Samina was in the kitchen with Roberto making some cookies for Jess', Liesa's and Anto's children who were playing in the backyard. Jamie's house wasn't a mansion but was big enough to accommodate this family reunion.

Santi was the first one to notice our presence.

"Maqui! How are you feeling, princess?" - I smile to the nickname, whenever I would get hurt, as a child, he would call me that and be very tender while making my booboos go away.

Jamie puts me down gently on the armchair close to my mom who smiles sweetly at me.

"I've been better. But I'm so happy to be here with you."

Jamie takes Dulcie from my mom who comes to give me a kiss on the forehead.

"Would you like some hot cocoa?"

"Si mami." (Yes, mommy)

She nods and makes her way to the kitchen. My dad and Jim bring their chairs closer and Mario and Jenny come sit on the floor by my armchair.

"You guys are too kind to stay here with us."

"You kidding? We're your family, you know? You need us, so we're here for you. We love you." – Jenny squeezes my knee and Mario winks at me. These two, are really my friends, my family.

My mom comes back from the kitchen with my hot cocoa followed by Samina who is carrying a tray full of cookies and tea and Roberto who is carrying the coffee, cups and saucers. I smile at him after he winks at me while putting the tray down. I knew he was sending me the message that he had made that coffee for me, the Brazilian style. I let him exchange the hot cocoa for my coffee and watch while everybody starts serving themselves. Funny how you could tell who was English and who was Latin by their choice of beverage, while Jamie's family chooses the tea, my family sticks to the coffee.

Jamie looks at me and nods to the side as if asking if I was ready to tell them our news. I nodded so Jamie stood up and took Dulcie to her room. Nobody had notice our exchange so I started breathing in and out trying to calm down my anxiety, were they going to like the idea of a fast wedding? Will they travel with us? I didn't want to impose into their agendas, after all, they had stopped everything to come see me after the accident, I couldn't ask them to do the same again.

Jamie came back and sat at the arm rest of my seat and gave me a kiss to reassure me. Which worked immediately.

"Hum, guys? Can I have your attention, please?"

Everybody stopped and took a seat around us.

"So, before the accident I was planning to ask Jamie if we could organize our wedding as fast as possible."

"Why? Are you pregnant?"

I roll my eyes at Santi.

"No, silly! I just think it's time and we don't want a big wedding, we just want all of you, on a beach, to help us celebrate our love."

My mom let out a shaky breath and I knew she was about to cry. Jamie came to the rescue and added.

"You guys are all we need for our wedding. We couldn't celebrate our love without you, and what better than celebrating it somewhere in an island just for all of us, can you imagine?"

Everyone started to talk at the same time, trying to give us some ideas. Jenny spoke up – "When I married Ben, I had the help of one of the best wedding planners here in London."

Samina immediately asked her.

"Do you mean Lady Elizabeth Anson planned your wedding?"

"The very one" – Jenny smiled proudly, but before they could carry on I stopped them on their tracks. "I think we want something simpler. We were thinking of just travelling all together somewhere in the Caribbean or Hawaii and have a beach wedding, nothing big." 

Jenny nodded understanding what I was trying to convey. She knew me and knew my style was very different from hers. Then my dad spoke, - "You know if you get married in Hawaii, you won't be able to surf, don't you?" I laugh and shake my head. – "I know daddy!" Jamie wiggled his eyebrows like saying "Told you so!" I roll my eyes and watch my family engaged again in another discussion, which island to go to, and my heart filled with so much love that some tears escaped me.

Jamie squeezed my hand and brought it to his lips.

"I love you. We all do."

"I know, and I love all of you twice as much."

*** Hello my darlings! Wow! This chapter had been written in record time!!!! Four hours!!!! I was truly inspired! Thank you for sticking with me! I have some news: I'VE STARTED COLLEGE!!! Yes! I've decided to go for my third graduation and study something that's always been my passion, teaching. Although it's taking some of my time, my husband has giving me a new computer which is helping me write faster. So, expect some updates soon! Don't forget to leave your comments and votes! Any ideas for islands to hold Jamie and Maca's wedding?? Xoxo-Z."***