Amazon Adventures
Chapter Nineteen: Wedding Bells
It was another ordinary day in Rio de Janeiro. Within the Centro de Conservaçāo Ambiental, Tulio entered the forest room, making his daily inspection of their "guests", Nigel and Gabi.
"Good morning, you two lovebirds." Tulio chuckled as he saw that Gabi was clinging tightly to Nigel. "Still inseparable, I see?"
"Come any closer, and I'll separate your head from your neck." Nigel growled.
"Ooh, you're so bad, Nigey!" Gabi giggled.
"You're not the only happy couple here, you know." Tulio smiled. "Today's the anniversary of mine and Linda's wedding. What a wonderful time that was. I remember the day I proposed like it was yesterday..."
Three years ago...
Tulio entered the treatment room. Linda was standing by the main table, checking some patient records. Tulio took a deep breath, patting the square-shaped bulge in the pocket of his lab coat, then walked over to Linda.
"Morning, Tulio." She smiled.
"Good morning, Linda." Tulio said nervously.
"Is something wrong?" Linda asked. "Are we still on for dinner tonight? Our reservation wasn't cancelled, or anything?"
"Of course not." Tulio shook his head. "Linda, I have a question. One I've been wanting to ask you for so long now..."
"What sort of question?" Linda asked, already suspecting the answer."
"Linda, meeting you has changed my life." Tulio declared. "You've given me someone to love besides birds."
"Oh, Tulio." Linda smiled.
"My question is this..." Tulio pulled out a velvet box from out of his lab coat, opening it to reveal a ring with three small diamonds embedded in it. "Linda Gunderson, will you marry me?"
"Tulio, I... I..." Linda choked. "Of course I will!"
Tulio's assistants cheered as Tulio placed the engagement ring on his new fiancé's finger.
"Sorry it's not much." He said sheepishly. "But it's the best I could get on an ornithologist's salary."
"I love it." Linda smiled, kissing him.
"Way to go, Tulio!" Fernando smiled.
"Thanks, Fernando." Tulio grinned.
Linda wasted no time in showing off her to Blu when he and Jewel arrived for their regular check-up.
"Isn't it wonderful, Blu?" She showed him the ring.
Blu cawed in agreement.
"I hope I can count on you and Jewel to attend the wedding." Linda smiled. "It just won't be the same without you."
Blu turned to Jewel, who nodded. Marriage existed in the animal kingdom, but it was far less formal. A big ceremony wasn't required, just the husband and wife's promise to love each other was sufficient. Jewel had heard of the human method from Blu, and considered it a little over-the-top. However, she knew how important Linda was to Blu, and wouldn't want him to miss out. Glad to see his wife was on board, Blu cawed once more.
"Great." Linda beamed. "I knew I could count on you."
The engagement didn't last too long; Linda and Tulio were both eager to seal the deal. In a matter of months, they had completed all the preparations for their wedding.
The night before the big day, Linda was feeling a little nervous. Luckily, her mother, Leslie, who had come down to Rio for the wedding, was on hand to offer support.
"Just try to relax, honey." Leslie urged.
"I'm trying." Linda admitted. "But tomorrow's a pretty big step. It'll be like a whole new beginning for me and Tulio, and I'm worried about not being able to be a good wife. Is this how you felt when you married dad?"
"A little." Leslie smiled. "But trust me, that feeling will pass. You'll be a wonderful wife, I just know it."
"Thanks, mom." Linda beamed, hugging her. "I'm so glad you're here."
"Me too." Leslie grinned.
Meanwhile, Linda's father, Manny, was having a talk with Tulio.
"So, you finally popped the question, huh?" He declared. "Good to know you finally stepped up."
"Thank you, Mr Gunderson... I think." Tulio declared.
"I'll admit, I wasn't exactly crazy about the idea of my daughter moving halfway the world for some guy she just met." Manny revealed. "But I can tell you make Linda happy, and that's what matters. As long as you keep making her happy, you're okay in my book."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that, sir." Tulio smiled. "Making Linda happy is my top priority."
"Glad to hear it." Manny slapped Tulio on the back.
"I'm glad you're glad." Tulio cringed, trying to ignore the stinging sensation on his back.
The next morning, Tulio rushed to the chapel where the wedding was being held. Most of his colleagues from the aviary were in attendance, as were some friends of Linda's from Moose Lake.
Fernando had agreed to be Tulio's best man. He stood at the altar, trying to ignore the itchiness of his new, overly-starched suit. Blu and Jewel were perched on one of the front pews. Blu wore a tiny black bow on his neck, while Jewel had a white flower placed between her head feathers, both courtesy of Fernando.
Linda arrived soon after, arm-in-arm with Manny, who was of course set to give her away. Tulio's jaw dropped. Linda looked absolutely beautiful in her pure white dress, a string of pearls adorning her neck.
As the organist began playing, Linda and Manny walked down the aisle. Once they reached the altar, Manny stepped away, allowing Linda to join Tulio. The two shared an excited smile as the ceremony went underway.
"Do you, Tulio Monteiro, take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife?" The minister asked.
"I do." Tulio grinned.
"And do you, Linda Gunderson, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?" The minister prompted.
"I do." Linda nodded.
Fernando stepped forward, bringing forth the wedding rings on a velvet cushion. Tulio and Linda took the rings and placed them on each others' fingers.
"I now pronounce you man and wife." The minister declared. "You may kiss the bride."
Tulio and Linda embraced in a loving kiss. The crowd cheered, with Blu and Jewel cawing with joy.
During the reception, Blu and Jewel joined them for a photo; Blu perched on Linda's arm, while Jewel perched on Tulio's, and the newlyweds brought their arms close together, so the Spix's macaws could stand side by side.
After the reception, Linda flung her bouquet into the air. Her friends from Moose Lake (along with Tulio's female colleagues) scrambled madly for it. The couple barely noticed, as they headed toward the cab that would take them to their honeymoon destination. Blu and Jewel flew over, landing on their shoulders.
"Thanks for coming, Blu." Linda smiled, stroking Blu's head. "I couldn't imagine this day without you."
"You too, Jewel." Tulio added. "It's pretty much because of you that we're even here today."
Jewel cawed proudly.
"See you soon." Linda smiled.
"Take care of each other." Tulio grinned.
Fernando joined them.
"Have fun, guys." He smiled. "I'll hold down the fort while you're gone."
"We know you will." Linda kissed him on the cheek.
"No doubts here." Tulio chuckled.
Blu and Jewel disembarked from the humans' shoulders as they entered their taxi. Tulio and Linda waved to their guests as they drove away to their honeymoon destination.
The Present...
"And that's the story." Tulio finished. "We had a wonderful honeymoon, and returned to work, side by side. Not long after, we adopted Fernando, and became one big, happy family."
"Oh, what a beautiful story." Gabi sniffed. "I may cry."
"I may vomit." Nigel sneered.
Fernando then entered the room, carrying a tray of food.
"Hey, Tulio." He smiled. "We were just talking about you."
"Let me guess... Linda's trying to figure out what my anniversary gift is?" Tulio smirked.
"Got it in one." Fernando nodded. "She's still pretty smug about figuring out last year's gift."
"She'll never guess." Tulio boasted. "Not this year."
"We'll see." Fernando shrugged. "Right now, I've got food for the lovebirds. You about done here?"
"Just about." Tulio nodded, as he made his way out of the room. "And now I've got a surprise to spring..."
"Good luck." Fernando smiled.
As Fernando gave Nigel and Gabi their food, Gabi was still swooning.
"I hope we'll remember our big day as fondly some day." She nuzzled against Nigel.
"Not if I have anything to say about it." Nigel grimaced.
"Oh, you!" Gabi giggled, nuzzling closer. "Such a rascal!"
"When will my torment end?" Nigel groaned.
To Be Continued...
(Rio 2 and all associated characters are the property of Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox.)