translation
thoughts
Healing Old Wounds
"Katie!"
Katie Miller groaned softly and rolled over; pulling her pillow over her head, she tried to ignore the pounding on her door.
"Open up this instant Katie Miller!" Irritation was evident in the familiar Cuban voice, "Katie!"
Katie threw her pillow at the door and mumbled something along the lines of, "bathroom… clothes… door open… coming!"
When Katie finally opened the door a flash of blue rushed by and flopped down on the bed.
"Marianna Havana Isabella Teresa Garcia! You, my dear, could wake the dead!" Katie stuck one hip out and rested her hand on it, "You know better than to come pounding on my door this early in the morning!"
"But Katie!" Marianna whined, "I had something important to tell you!"
Katie huffed but smiled, "Well, what is it then?"
Marianna paused dramatically, "I… won the competition!"
"You mean in Gymnastics? You won? Congratulations!" Katie through her arms around her best friend, "I'm so happy for you!"
"Not as happy as you're going to be," Marianna grinned, "Ramon! Come here love, say hello to your aunt Maria!"
A little brown head popped out from behind the door, "Buenos días tía Maria. Buenos días Mami. ¿Baile hoy?" Hello Aunt Maria. Hello Mommy. Dancing today?>
"In English Ramon, love, so Mommy can understand too," Katie grinned at Marianna, "Way to go Maria, now he knows more Spanish than me!"
Marianna smiled smugly, "I know, that was the plan, right Ramon?"
"Sí," Ramon's smile was cheeky from behind his blanket, "¿Mami no entiende?" Yes. Mommy no understand?
"All right little man, you're more and more like your Papá everyday," Katie smiled at him, "Now in English? Someone?"
"He asked if we'd be dancing today," Marianna winked, "then he asked if you didn't understand."
She shot a grin at Ramon, "Mami no entiende, usted tiene que hablar en inglés más amor." Mommy doesn't understand, you should speak in English more love> She glanced up at Katie who had one eyebrow raised, "I said you don't understand and that he should speak in English more."
"That's right you little monster, now go brush your teeth and get dressed or there will be no dancing today!" Katie swatted her son playfully on the bottom as he ran giggling from the room.
"It's all for Javier, you know that right?" Marianna said softly, "Es todo para Javier…" It's all for Javier…
"I know… I wish there was something I could do but…" Katie shook her head sadly, "I don't have the money to travel to Cuba and ever since we moved I haven't been able to contact Javier, he doesn't even know his son exists!"
Her shoulders shook and her eyes burned but she held back the tears as she always did, for Ramon.
Marianna smiled softly and hugged her friend, "I know Javier, Katie. And if he knew about Ramon he'd be here already."
"Really? You think?" Katie looked up through damp lashes.
"Yes Katie, I do," Marianna smiled softly, "He was always a very responsible boy."
"Wait, wait!" Katie shook her head, "You knew him as a boy?"
"I grew up with the Suarez's Katie," Marianna smiled softly, "in fact you stole my parent's title the last time you were there."
"You're they're daughter? But… all this time I had no idea! No wonder you dance so well!"
"Katie, love, you've only known me a few months its natural you not know everything yet."
"Well I intend to now!"
Marianna laughed, "Yes I knew him all my life but it's been a good 8 years since last I saw any of them, we didn't part on the best of terms either…"
"What do you mean?"
Marianna shook her head, "Never-mind there are more important things to think about right now!"
"More important than Javier? I doubt it," Katie sighed dramatically, "But go ahead, try."
Marianna smiled, "I have the solution to all your problems Señora…" She got so excited she lapsed once again into Spanish but the flash of plane tickets got her point across, "Tengo tres entradas del avión a Cuba!" I've got three plane tickets to Cuba!
All Katie heard was Cuba and all she saw where the three tickets but it was enough; she burst into tears, "Oh god Maria!"
Marianna hugged her sobbing friend, "Hey, its ok Katie, everything will be ok now."
"But… Maria… where did you get the money for this?" Katie backed up staring at the tickets in disbelief. Ramon had returned clutching his teddy bear and wondering what was happening. He was only two and he spoke more Spanish than English but he was learning enough to keep up in most conversations. This conversation, however, went right over his head, "Mami?"
"Hush Ramon love, its ok. Maria?"
"Well the prize money for the competition…" Marianna began.
"Maria! I know how long you've been saving up!" Katie shook her head, "You've wanted to go back to Cuba and help your family since you graduated from high school!"
Marianna sighed sadly and a tear worked its way down her cheek, "I don't have anyone to help in Cuba any more but you and Javier. My mother and father passed away a few months ago, I only just got the letter this week. My Aunt in Michigan has brought my sister from Cuba but I want to go home and sort through what is left of their belongings and if I can help you and Javi then so much the better."
"Oh god Maria I'm sorry."
"Oh Katie its ok, it would be so wonderful to see you happy, I mean truly happy," Maria hugged her friend gently, "And my mother would want her successor to dance in La Rosa Negra again."
Katie threw her arms around Marianna and squeezed, "Thank you! Oh god thank you!"
"Hey, you owe me though," Marianna teased forcing a smile and wiping away a tear, "If I weren't taking you I'd take my hot surfing instructor. It's because of my devotion to you and your little Diablo that I am not married yet!"
Katie winked, "I'm sure we'll find you a husband, after all its Cuba, and when you dance as beautifully as you do its impossible to be lonely, especially if you're a princess of La Rosa Negra."
"We all know it is you who is truly the queen of dance, the real queen of La Rosa Negra."
Katie blushed, "At one time I was but it's been so long…"
"Only three years love, not too long."
"Perhaps… Perhaps not…"
"We'll find you your king Katie," Maria whispered as her friend carried Ramon out the door, "And perhaps I'll find some peace."
