LA MENTIRA

Te necesito, no hay más que hablar (I need you, there is nothing more to be said)

¿Que harán mis manos si jamás te vuelvo a tocar? (What would my hands do if I don't touch you again?)

Sin ti las horas duran más que la eternidad (With out you an hour last for eternity)

Fue solo un mal sueño (It was all a bad dream)

Tan solo me importa que hoy estés junto a mi (All I care about is that now you're by my side)

Rompe el silencio y sella mis labios con un beso sin fin (break the silence and seal my lips with a never ending kiss)

Esta vez prométeme (This time promise me)

Que jamás te voy a perder. (That I won't lose you ever again)

Chapter Seven.

I married Susannah a bright, sunny summer day.

The sky was of a clear, iridescent blue, the sea breeze cool and fresh, and the sun warm shinning down on us. It was a beautiful day. Besides that, I don't remember much else, but what I do remember… god, what I remember are the happiest memories of my life: The vision of Susannah walking towards me in that white dress, her clear, soft voice as she said "I do." and that breathtaking kiss we shared when Father Dominic said "You might kiss the bride," I kissed my bride, alright.

My wife, my Susannah.

Querida.

I also remember that when I pressed my lips to her skin, she tasted so sweet; I remember the scent of her hair when I buried my face into it right before falling asleep that first night together; and how I felt when I woke up and she was in my arms.

I felt happy.

And just thinking about it makes me happy all over again.

Susannah and I have been married for five years.

Our wedding had everything that a wedding should have… according to Abuela anyway…

Someone angry: Susannah's mother, who came to the wedding but only because Mr. Ackerman made her saying she would regret not being there for her daughter for the rest of her life if she didn't go. Five years later I still am one of her least favorite persons but we tolerate each other for Susannah. Querida and Mrs. Ackerman made peaces when our first kid was getting born and Susannah told me she wanted her mommy – she also said she hated me and that she would never sleep with me again, later she said she didn't mean it – I sent for her mother and she came and they talked… I guess the two of them re-bounded over motherhood or something… a women thing, I suppose.

Mrs. Ackerman loves both Susannah and my children so I can't really be angry with her.

Back to the wedding… There was someone crying too, several people actually; among them Abuela – who said she never thought to live enough to see me getting married – and my three older sisters. Tess was being comforted by her husband – I think she was only using it as an excuse to cuddle up with her husband; Delia and Margarita –who had been mad at me for getting engaged while they were away, but soon forgave me when they meet Susannah – were crying too, but they always cry at weddings. Mapi and Julia were very happy and kept laughing at Margarita and Delia.

Drinks were all around. And there was a problem, of course, because according to Abuela there is always a fight at weddings.

Slater showed up.

And I saw myself in the necessity of breaking his nose. Not that I minded much. It was very… pleasant to hear the crack noise that the bone and cartilage made when my fist crashed his nose. There was blood all over his face.

I took it like my very personal wedding present from the Paul

The Slaters also gave us a set of Iced Tea spoons, I didn't even know they had special spoons for Iced Tea- I personally don't even like Iced Tea. I know, why did we invite that bastardo's family? Well, Mrs. Slater is Mrs. Ackerman best friend

And Susannah gets along with Jack Slater –she told me she used to baby-sit him when her mother held the bridge games at her house and Mrs. Slater brought him over.

Frankly – since they met - my sister Mapi seems to get along with Jack Slater, too. And that's not the end of it; last month Jack asked me if he could visit my sister. I nearly had a heart attack, and before I knew it, Susannah said it was ok and now they go around – Mapi and Jack – holding hands when they think I'm not watching.

But I always watch.

Susannah says I'm an overprotective brother and that Mapi is fourteen now and it's natural she starts to notice boys. Again, when she dropped that bit of information, I nearly had a heart attack.

Anyway…

Susannah and I have been very happy these years. Little over a year after we married, Querida gave birth to our first son: James. And just six months ago she gave birth to Lily, our baby girl – again under the treat of never sleeping with me again and the hate proclamation but, again, she wasn't serious. And I'm glad for that, because she is – even after giving birth to two kids – the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

I won't lie to you. It's not all sugar and honey. Susannah and I have our little problems-not that we yell at each other and throw things and swear to never again speak to the other, but you know all marriages have problems - but after each fight our love grows stronger.

And managing the Ranch it's not fun and games, it wasn't before –when I threw myself to work trying to forget Susannah – and it isn't now that I have a wife and kids I want to spend every minute of my life with and I know I can't because the Ranch doesn't take care of itself.

I never expected a reward out of managing the ranch and providing for my family, it was just something I had to do. Yet so, if I had expected a reward I would have found it in my son's laughter when I pick him up and play with him, in my sisters' smiling faces when ever I see them –even if that includes allowing Mapi to hang with Jack. In my daughter when she focus her green eyes – so much like her mother's – on me and giggles, her little hand squeezing one of my fingers.

And in Susannah's warm embrace and sweet kisses when I come home after a long day of work.

That's all I really need.

End of Chapter Seven.

End of LA MENTIRA.

Notes:

What's left to say?

The Idea of Paul showing up at the wedding was Libs' – Thanks, it got me out of a tight spot :D. The names of the kids were chosen because I was hearing Coyote Ugly's soundtrack and in one song they mention Jesse James, and I thought in Jesse and then James ended up being his son name; and I always associate James to Lily cuz I'm a Harry Potter fan and I'm crazy.

And when you reach this point, it should be the end.

Thanks for reading!!!!

Icie, Tory, Smiley-Freak, Jesse's babe, happydrummergal, Ellen, SweetestReject, StarWolf 616, johnnydepp88, jerseygrl, UnangelicHalo, Delilah Wigglesworth, mecookiemonster, AmethystHannah, RayHaisa, Havana Luna, reesespeices88, JEsSiE927, Person, Ahhh, n33dz tw0 3zcp3, b2okworm1, GATORCHICK007, KristinMilly, Roomate153, znadias24, Her and Me, DancinSweethart, Sarah, MisterProngs. StarryDreamer89, Anonymous, Lauren, Taryn, lindsay.

Hope I got everyone. You guys rock!!!!!!

Thanks to to the girls at MCBC.

Ok, I'll leave before I cry…

PEACE, LOVE, FRUIT AND JESSE!!!

Much love,

Alex. (a k a Clavie a k a AurynFaith a k a Whatnot)

P. S. The song at the beginning it's called Te necesito.