Stephanie POV (November 2012)

"I can't believe that Lester is getting married today. I never thought that he'd get married."

"I always knew he would, once he met the right woman. The moment that we reconnected with Sydney, I knew it was only a matter of time."

"I guess you're right, Babe, but I'm still shocked."

I walk over to my husband, adjusting the bow tie on his tux. We are in Miami for the week, for Lester's wedding celebration. Sydney and Lester moved to Miami a week after Carlos' birthday, enrolling Layla in Julie's old school. We were scheduled to return back here in October, but when Ram got called out on a mission, we decided to stay along with Bobby. Ram should be back around the holidays, so we'll wait until February, the halfway point in the school year. Julie misses Layla but knows she'll soon be back with her bestie. After my mother's death, Grandma Mazur informed Valerie and I that she was moving to Miami to live with Abuela Rosa. We were all surprised. But Grandma told me how she and Rosa talk regularly, that both women are lonely, and that Rosa offered her a room in her house. I am happy that she is with Abuela because I always worry about both of them. At least now, I know they have each other and aren't alone. Grandma has toned down her crazy. Don't get me wrong, she still tries to grab the guys' packages whenever possible, but she is much more reserved. She even dates men and talks about her exploits, but she wears more appropriate clothes. We have seen a side of Abuela that we didn't know existed until now. Recently, Abuela started dating a man, and they have been spending a lot of time together. Both women are happy, so that makes the rest of us happy.

Sydney had asked me to be her matron of honor, and I accepted. Carlos is Lester's best man. I am wearing a black wrap maternity dress to attempt to make my bump look smaller. When I had to start wearing maternity clothes at three months, I was concerned. When I went to the doctor for my second sonogram, I was shocked. I was carrying twins. They are fraternal, and one was hiding during the first sonogram. So, at five months, I look as though I'm seven months.

Lester and Sydney are getting married in a restaurant owned by one of Abuela Rosa's friends. The whole family is invited, both sides, along with a bunch of the Miami and Trenton Merry Men. Valerie and Victor were also invited, but Val's doctor doesn't want her flying. My nieces have adapted to Boston. Angie was resistant to call Victor 'Dad', but after living together for the last few months and seeing how he treats her mother, she has started to call him Dad.

We are still trying to wrap our heads around the antics of my father. I was shocked to discover that he has so much money. I mean, he never spent money on the house, my mother, or my sister and I. We always thought that we were barely getting by. Carlos researched by father, and discovered that he won the Georgia state lottery about a year before he met Tina. When he was there visiting some buddies, he bought a ticket, never thinking he'd win. He never told my mother, and somehow managed to keep it a secret from everyone. That money was invested over the years and mostly used to hide his extramarital affairs. Lester discovered information about a young girl, Patricia, who my father was involved with as a one night stand. We discovered that she died as a result of my father getting her drunk. Patricia's case was cold file, one that the Detective in charge kept revisiting. Hector managed to serendipitously send some critical evidence to Detective Wohlstetter, who brought charges against my father. They are now filing extradition papers to return him to the states from Italy.

Now that we're finally ready, Carlos and I get in our white Cayenne to drive to the restaurant. Ella left about half an hour ago with Julie and CJ. I'm looking forward to a night without work, where Carlos and I can enjoy each other's company and dance the night away. Once we are at the restaurant, we head to the room where Les and Sydney are. They decided to take pictures before the wedding, much to Abuela's chagrin. We pose for several together with the happy couple. Then, Lester asks the photographer to take a few of Carlos and I, as pregnancy photos.

"Les, I don't want to take pictures. I look like a cow."

"Hermana, you are beautiful. You and Carlos deserve to have some pictures of you carrying those babies. Please, it means a lot to me. You don't have any formal pictures of the two of you. I mean, your wedding pictures are in uniform."

"Babe, I'd like to have some photographs of us, as a family, please."

"Fine."

The photographer has Carlos stand behind me, his hands on my bump, and mine on top of his. We do several others of the same variation. Finally, the photographer seems to be finished with us. As I turn to drink some water, I feel a kick from one of the babies.

"Babe, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just felt a kick."

"Where?"

I place my hand on my right side, where I felt the kick. Carlos puts his hand there when the baby gives another good whack. Carlos kneels and begins talking to the baby in Spanish. "Hello, my little one. Be nice to Mommy tonight. She wants to dance with Papa. Don't bother her too much." Then he leans in, kissing my side where the kick was.

"That's the best photograph I got all day." I looked at the photographer, not aware that he was watching us. "Do you want to see?"

Carlos and I both walked over and looked at the view screen on his digital camera. I felt the tears form in my eyes because the scene was so tender. "Thank you for catching that moment," I tell him.

"It's no problem. It is my job, after all."

"Come, dears, it's time to start," Ella says. Ella, along with her Miami counterpart Maggie, planned the wedding together. Carlos gives me a quick kiss then walks with Lester to his spot at the altar. I grab my bouquet as Julie and Layla come over to us. Sydney and Lester were only going to have Layla be the flower girl, but Layla refused unless Julie was one with her. Layla said since Lester often stayed with us, that he was like a second daddy to Julie, and should be part of the wedding too. I know Lester was happy to have Julie involved. I think he wanted her all along. I know there was concern that the other cousins would be offended, but everyone knows how close we are to Lester.

Julie and Layla are wearing lilac-colored tea-length dresses with a full skirt, finished with white socks with a lace ruffle and patent leather white shoes. Sydney decided that she wanted their hair half up and half down, making them look so adorable. The two girls walk out in front of me, down the aisle. Once they get to the altar, it is my cue to walk. As I follow, my eyes find Carlos standing next to Lester, and I feel as though I'm traveling back in time to our wedding day. When I reach the front, I have to remind myself that Lester is the one getting married. I stand, turning just in time to see Sydney appear on her father's arm. She looks beautiful, wearing a mermaid style white wedding gown with some lace at the bodice with beautiful applique at the bottom. She has a small train with a tiara on her head. Her hair is up in a French twist. I glance at Lester and know that he has found his happiness with Sydney by his side. Her father is also smiling, content with handing his daughter over to Lester.

I spoke with her parents this past week and discovered that they never liked Dickie nor his family. He pulled Sydney away from her family, slowly, over the years. When they first married, they would see Sydney every other month. Soon, after Layla was born, it became every three months, twice a year, until they were lucky to visit Sydney once a year. She would call them whenever she could, but she could never speak to them when he was around. They were concerned for her safety but couldn't do anything about her relationship. The fact that Lester moved back to Miami ultimately made up for him knocking her up then leaving.

The ceremony is short and lovely. When it is time for Sydney and Lester to exchange their vows, Carlos and I lock eyes, not paying attention to the bride and groom, but each other. When Sydney is asked to say, "I do," I give a slight nod to Carlos, and he does the same when Lester responds, reaffirming our commitment to each other. When the ceremony is finished, and Lester kisses Sydney, this time, it's Carlos who has to wolf-whistle to break them up.

After everyone has a chance to congratulate the happy couple, it's time to start the party. Lester got a well known Cuban band from Miami, who is waiting to introduce us as we stand in the back of the room.

"Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the reception honoring the new Mr. and Mrs. Santos, Lester, and Sydney." Everyone starts applauding and wolf-whistling. "First, I'd like to introduce the two cutest flower girls I've ever seen, the happy couple's daughter Layla and their niece Julie."

Julie and Layla walk out, holding each other's hands, swaying their bodies to the beat. Everyone claps loudly for them.

"Next up, we have the best man and matron of honor, Carlos and Stephanie." We walk into the room with broad smiles on our faces. When we get to the center of the dance floor, Carlos spins me before pulling me against him, where he gives me a panty-ruining kiss. I can't help but blush, which only makes Carlos smirk, "Babe, really?"

"Wow, if that wasn't caliente. Now, for the two people, we're all waiting to welcome, the bride and groom, Lester and Sydney Santos."

Everyone is on their feet, clapping and whistling. When Lester gets to the middle of the dance floor, he copies Carlos, only dipping Sydney before kissing her. The silverware is hitting the glasses, meaning that everyone approves of their display and wants more. When Lester guides Sydney standing again, I can tell she's a little dazed. I know that feeling well. Lester looked over at the band, which started to play "Everything" by Michael Bublé, which is the perfect first dance for them. Once that song is over, the Latin beats begin, and the whole family is on the dance floors.

Five hours later, after the guests have started to leave, I kick off my shoes, slipping on a pair of flip flops.

"I can't remember the last time we danced so much. I know I'm going to be paying for it tomorrow." I tell Carlos as I sit down. He pulls a chair up slightly in front of me before lifting both my legs onto his lap. He starts to massage my poor, aching feet.

"Why didn't you put on these sooner? You didn't need to stay in your heels all night."

"I don't like dancing in flip flops or flats. I like being in heels; they make me feel sexier. Oh, God, that feels so good." I say as I lean my head back and close my eyes.

"I know that feeling well, mi hija. Ric used to give me those fabulous foot massages back in the day." Juliana states.

"Who do you think taught your son?"

"Papa."

"Stephanie, how are you feeling? You were up there dancing all night. I hope you didn't stress yourself too much." Juliana asks, concerned.

"No, I'm fine. Bobby has me on the treadmill every day. I'm practicing yoga and tai chi. It's keeping me limber and able to move. Since he knew today was Lester's wedding, he modified my program for this week so that I wouldn't overexert myself."

"Did you teach your sons this, Ricardo?"

"Juliana, I always told Carlos and Javier that their girlfriend's or wife's comfort and happiness are most important. If that meant helping around the house, chasing after kids, changing diapers, or giving a well-deserved massage, their lives would be more fulfilled with a content woman."

"Papa, I can assure you that Carlos learned that lesson well."

"Are you sure you're okay keeping Layla this week? Why don't you let me take the girls tonight? You can get them tomorrow, or I'll drop them off. You need to rest tomorrow, mi hija."

"Thank you, Mama, but I don't want to put you out."

"Please, Stephanie, that's nonsense. Why don't you and Carlos take our hotel room tonight and we'll stay at your house with the girls and CJ. Sleep in tomorrow, call room service, and rest. You won't have much downtime until you go home next week. You know Thursday will be crazy, especially since you are hosting us for Thanksgiving this year."

"Thank you, Mama. We'll take you up on that offer." Carlos replies.

"But I don't have a change of clothes."

"Babe."

I should know better by now. Carlos is always prepared. "Fine. Thank you, Mama and Papa. We appreciate it."

Isabella walks over with Julie and Layla. "These two munchkins are getting tired."

"Girls, Abuela and Abuelo will be going home with you tonight. We'll be back tomorrow afternoon. Is that okay with you, girls?"

"Yes, Mommy. That's fine. Bye, Mommy. I love you. Bye, Papi, I love you too."

"Buenas noches, Princesa, dulce sueños."

"Good night, Layla. Did you see Mommy and Daddy before they left?"

"Yes, Aunt Steph. I did. Abuela, can we go home now?"

"Of course."

Carlos helps me to stand as I grab my clutch. We walk with his parents to the valet, waiting for the cars to come around. Carlos hands the keys to the Cayenne to his father, since that car has the booster seats for the girls installed as we take the keys to the Lexus sedan they have here.

We are settled in the usual silence as we drive to the hotel when Carlos asks me a question. "Babe, do you regret not having a traditional wedding ceremony?"

"Yes and no. I would have liked to have your family there, to have gotten married in a church with a priest, but with our situation the way it was, our wedding was perfect for us. It never really matters how we got married, just that we did. What about you?"

"I do regret it a little. I would have loved to see you wearing a white dress, having our family there to support us. I know our second ceremony was like that, but it is not what I truly envisioned for us. I did want that church wedding."

"So, we can have that."

"How, Babe?"

"We can renew our vows in church. It can be the wedding we always wanted."

"Do you want to do that?"

"Yes, but not now. In eighteen months, we'll be married for ten years. Why don't we do it for our tenth anniversary and then take that honeymoon that we never had?"

"Okay. That's what we're going to do. Can I plan our honeymoon?"

"Of course."

We pull up to the valet of our hotel for the night and go up to the room. Though a part of me wants to make love to Carlos, I'm way too tired. I get undressed, slipping on a nightgown before falling into bed. Carlos joins me, and I'm sleeping before I even feel his arms come around my body.