Chapter 4 - At Last
Suggested listening: "At Last" by Etta James
"Babe, I think this is the spot right here."
"Are you sure, Quinn?" I ask my wife.
"Remember, we got married under this tree. We carved our initials, right here," she says, taking my hand to feel the indentations. I feel it and smile at her. Exactly 25 years ago, Lisa married us under this tree. Our best friends were our witnesses and we exchanged simple vows. I can honestly say that I love her more today than I did that day.
"What are you smiling at, Dr. Lopez?"
"Can't I smile with having a reason, Dr. Fabray?"
Quinn smiles back at me, before pulling me towards her, her lips meeting mine. This feeling never gets old, my wife's lips on mine. I return her kiss, swiping my tongue across her bottom lip. She opens her mouth and our tongues meet. We continue to kiss for a couple of moments, before I wrap her in my arms.
"We are all set for tomorrow, right, baby?" She asks me.
"Yes, we are, hon. We are taking the 10 am ferry from Wood's Hole. Check-in at Brady's Southwest Bed & Breakfast at 2 pm. Meeting the minister at sunset."
We wanted our renewal of vows to just be us. Holden and Harper were 8 years old and in 3rd grade. My mom had flown in to stay with them for a couple of days. They were so remarkable. Holden was in love with soccer, just like is idol, Noah Pierceberry. He and Tristan were best friends. His favorite subjects were art and history. Harper was a piano prodigy, ever since she started lessons at age 4. She excelled in every subject, but really loved science. I guess our kids were going to be just like us. She also played soccer, with her best friend, Charlotte. That was what we did most Saturday mornings in the fall. We would join Tina, Mike, Sam, Mercedes, Brittany, Rachel, Marley, and Arty on the pitch, as they say. I never played soccer as a child, but I learned, after watching Noah and Burt play. I was happy that my children were active and loved to play sports. In the spring, Holden was in Little League while Harper played softball. They both were in beginning ballet with Brittany, but they weren't as interested in it as sports, which was fine with us. They were both growing up so fast that we could barely keep up with them. They went to the same school as our friends' kids, Lycee Francais, so they were fluent in French. I think after Brittany and Rachel sent Barby there, we all followed suit. Quinn became fluent in French, after spending her Junior spring semester in France. I was fluent in French and Spanish.
"I wonder if the kids are driving Mama Judy crazy?" I say, looking at my watch.
"I told my mom that we would call to say good night at 7pm. I am sure they are on their best behavior. Knowing her, she spoiling them rotten. I hope she isn't letting them eat junk or stay up late."
"Shh, Quinn. It's okay for her to spoil her grandchildren. Besides, it is a Friday. They don't have school the next day."
"But they have Little League and softball tomorrow morning, San."
"Yes, they do and Mike will be picking up Harper and Rachel will be picking up Holden, which will give your mom a break. We'll be home by Sunday evening. I think she can survive until then."
She looks up at the tree. It is springtime in Boston and the leaves are starting to show. It was a time of renewal. I couldn't believe that 25 years had past since we were here. I hold on her tighter, kissing her chin, making her laugh.
"A chin kiss, really, babe? You are just too cute for words," she says as she bops my nose.
She takes the folded blanket on top of the picnic basket and spreads it out. It was a wonderful Friday afternoon around lunchtime. We sat down under our tree and I began to pull out favorites from the basket.
"Remember when we had a picnic lunch in France, Quinnie? Well, I am trying to recreate that one."
I laid out a cheeseboard with double cream Brie, grapes, strawberries, a French baguette, and Nicoise salad. I take out 2 plastic cups and uncork the small battle of champagne. I look around, knowing we shouldn't have alcohol out in the open but I was feeling bold. No one was around as, after all it was a workday. I hand Quinn her cup and I raise mine, saying "To 25 years, my love. Here's to 25 more," as I tap my cup with hers. We eat a long lunch, lounging and talking about things that are not our children. It was one of the things we learned was essential in our relationship. While our children were huge components in our lives, we were still a couple, and each our own person. Maintaining our own identities within the balance of our marriage was essential to its' success.
"I wish you could come with me to San Francisco when I present my paper at the grand conference," I tell her.
"Well, I have midterms to administer next week, otherwise I would be there. You are going to meet up with your goddaughter, right? I bet she will be happy to see her Ninang San."
"Of course, I'll be seeing Barby. She has a spring showcase. You know I never miss any of her performances. Both her and JJ will be in it. They are really serious. I wouldn't be surprised if her pops the question after she graduates from Stanford in 5 years, maybe even sooner."
"You don't think that is too early, for them to be engaged?" Quinn asks.
"Well, they have known each other since they were both in diapers. They made it through her year apart on tour. They love each other. I mean look at us, we were engaged for a second and married the same day at 25. People thought we were impulsive, but we both knew it was because we wanted that level commitment. We were ready to be married. I am sure should would like to get married before she starts medical school."
"Another doctor in the family, huh? Maybe I could persuade her to become a doctor like me, instead of a doctor like you!"
"Quinn, I think our son will turn out to be a professor like you. Probably even in Art History, as those are his 2 favorite subjects. When he finds out that he can combine both his loves, he will be so excited."
"Yeah, I guess Harper will be a doctor like you, to go into the family tradition."
"I hope so, Quinn. I know it would make her grandparents and her mother very happy and proud. But I don't want to push her into it. She could do whatever she wants. I don't want to lie and say that I don't want her to be a doctor, like me. But she is so smart, she could be anything, really. As long as my babies are both happy, that is all I could ever ask for."
I lean over and kiss my wife. She turns it deeper, until we are both out of breath. Quinn whispers in my ear, "Let's pack up. I want to make love to you." The prospect of sex still made me move fast. I get up and extend my hand towards her. She takes it and I pull her up from the ground. I take her hand in mine, as we walk away from our tree of love.
Once we return to our hotel room at the Four Seasons in Boston, we make love all afternoon long. We shower together and go to dinner at our favorite hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant in the North End. We walk over to Mike's Pastry for coffee and cannolis. We stroll over to Faneuil Hall. Our anniversary couldn't be more perfect. I look at my wife with wonder. I don't know how 25 years have passed by so quickly. Here we were, at age 50, and being with her, I still feel like a newlywed. We were still so much in love, just like were back then. I take her hand, lifting it up to mine lips, to place a gentle kiss. Quinn looks at me with those hazel eyes, full of love. I pull her towards the Government Center T stop, knowing my intention of making love to her all night long.
The next day, at sunset, we renew our vows at Lighthouse Beach in Edgartown. I was happy it was just us, as much as I wanted our children there. This was something we were doing for us. We had prepared vows to each other and, as always, Quinn insisted she go first.
"Santana, I have always loved you, even if there were times when it seems I didn't. I think that I knew it during the summer before freshman year at McKinley. You came over every day that summer, to work out with me. After our run over to your house, your mom would fix us a healthy lunch and we would then swim in your pool. We never ran out of anything to say. We had a goal of being ready for Cheerios tryouts the 3rd week in August. We already knew Coach Sylvester because my sister, Janie, was on the squad. I lost 15 lbs that summer, thanks to you. It was you that nursed me after I got my nose job. My braces were removed a week before our tryouts. I was this brand new person. The only people who knew me as Lucy Caboosey were you, Tina, and Britt. I was leaving her in the past. It was this summer that I knew you loved me. I felt it and I loved you too, I just didn't know how to say it. Now, I know how to say it and will tell you a million times over that I love you San. These 25 years have been the best of my life. It hasn't always been easy but together, we have made it through. I promise to love you more today than yesterday. You will always have my heart, Santana, forevermore."
I cry, hearing her say that to me. "Jeez, Quinn, how am I supposed to follow that," I tease.
Taking a moment to breathe, I begin. "Quinn, my love, I am reminded of a day soon after we were married. We had a disagreement over my socks, meaning I left them lying around, as usual, and you were tired of picking them up. I was aways a tad bit messy, compared to you. You ended up shutting yourself in the bedroom in anger. I left and came back with a bunch of Calla Lillies, your favorite. I knocked on our bedroom door, hiding behind the flowers, apologizing to you. From that day forward, I always put my socks in the hamper. The reason I bring this up is that, no matter what, we find a way back to each other. Through every misunderstanding and triumph, we are always there for each other. I love you, Lucy Q. Loving you is the easy part; the best part. I promise to love you more today, than yesterday. You will always have my heart, Quinn, forevermore."
We exchange anniversary bands and seal our union with a kiss.
"May I have this dance, Mrs. Lopez?" I ask, extending my hand towards her."
"But of course, Mrs. Fabray. But there is no music."
I pull her into my arms and start to dance as I begin to sing our song.
At last
my love has come along
my lonely days are over
and life is like a song
At last
the skies above are blue
my heart was wrapped up
in clovers
the night I looked at you
I found a dream
that I could speak to
A dream that I
can call my own
I found a thrill
to rest my cheek to
A thrill
that I have never known
Oh, you smile
you smile
and then
the spell was cast
And here we are
in heaven
For you are mine
at last
I look into her eyes, hazel meeting my brown, and see tears brimming in your eyes. A lone tear escapes from my eye and she thumbs it away.
"God, how I love you, Santana," she says, before kissing me again.
"Quinn, I love you with all that I am."
We continue dancing on the beach, singing to each songs from past. We finally end with our duet, Take My Breath Away, and remember our Senior Prom.
"I was so worried about you, being in that wheelchair. You surprised me when you reached up for the microphone stand, pulling yourself up. I supported you through that song, Quinnie. I have always supported you. I have always loved you."
"Yes, you have San, and I love you too."
You dip me one last time before taking my hand. We stroll along the shore into a future as bright as the crescent moon high in the night sky. I know that the journey behind us has been full of twists and turns. I know that my path was always meant to cross yours. That day back in 3rd day, I knew you were special. Together, we are something special. As I look ahead, seeing our future outstretched before us, I smile with anticipation. If the next 25 years with her are as amazing as the last 25, then I am one lucky girl.
The End
