A/N: In changing the first chapter, it became necessary to adjust the rest of the story as well to fit the changes. Chapter 2 has been adjusted to accommodate the changes, but overall it still remains the same.
Chapter 2: La Reina Rosa1969:
"Mama!" Katey smiled as she heard the footsteps of her daughter followed shortly by the image of her in the bathroom mirror, standing in the doorway looking at her mother expectantly. Upon first glance, one would think that Maria took after her mother more because they share the same blond hair, and the same smile. However Maria's personality was inherited most definitely from her father. Although she did indeed have Katey's stubbornness and independence, she shared her father's love of music and his sense of responsibility.
"Ready for school already, mija?"
"Yes, Mama, and the bus is going to be here any minute."
"Okay, sweetie, I'm almost done getting ready. Why don't you go wait by the door and we'll walk down to your stop as soon as I'm done here, okay?" Maria reluctantly nodded her head and went to wait. It always took her mother so long to get ready in the mornings, and she did not want to miss her bus.
Katey glanced at the clock as she finally finished with her hair. It really was getting late. Maria's bus would be here any minute, and she still had to come back and open the dance studio. She had a class in a few minutes.
"Okay Maria, grab your book bag honey, let's go." Katey ushered her daughter out of their small, two bedroom apartment above Katey's dance studio, called La Reina Rosa in memory of her time in Cuba, and down a couple of blocks to Maria's bus stop just as the bus was pulling up. Maria's bus stop just happened to be in front of an old diner that they like to frequent, called Ruthie's. Ruthie, the owner, is a friend of theirs and watches over Maria in the afternoons until Katey can arrive to get her.
"Bye sweetie! Have a good day at school! And remember, I'll meet you here after school. Please wait for me this time!" She waved goodbye as she watched the loaded school bus pull out in to the busy Miami morning traffic. They had been living in Miami for almost ten years now, coming down here so that Katey could study dance at the University of Miami. She worried, at first, how Maria would take growing up so far away from the rest of her family, but Maria appears to love it down here. Katey has noticed over the years that Maria quickly became rather fluent, even more so perhaps than Katey herself. It's as if she is taking every opportunity to learn more about her father's culture. Maybe it's her way of getting to know Javier better.
"Good morning, Ms. Miller." Katey was brought out of her reverie by a young, familiar voice. She turned around to find a tall brunette with sparkling green eyes looking back at her.
"Good morning, Julie. And for the last time, please call me Katey."
"Sorry Ms...um, Katey." Katey smiled at her to let her know it was okay as she led Julie in to the studio to wait for the rest of her class to arrive. The early morning class, which begins at eight, is usually not a very full class for two reasons. A) it's really early for most kids, and b) it's Latin Ballroom dancing. Katey has learned over the years that the fullest classes will always be her Afro-Cuban classes; kids seem to find those more fun and interesting.
"How about we warm up while we wait for the others, okay?"