Chapter Ten: The Manoso Hotel, South Miami Beach
The large patio overlooking the sand & surf at the back of the hotel was ready for all our wedding guests. Chairs set up on either side of the aisle leading from the glass doors of the hotel to the, well it isn't an altar, since this wasn't a church, it was more like an archway... anyway, the ceremony will be under an archway covered in tiny blue and white flowers, as the sun rises in the morning sky. If I was better at being a bride, I would know what the flowers were called but, yeah, I have no idea and don't really care either. Yeah, I am rambling. I am marrying Ricardo Carlos Manoso first thing in the morning.
All of my friends and family thought it was madness to marry at dawn. I am not known to be an early morning person and the sunrise would be at 7:30 am and yet it would be perfect. Because this was me and Carlos. We were getting married. Holy Cow.
And yes, I did send a quick text message to Joe, so he would hear the news from me first. It was only right. Carlos told me Joe had a few rough nights and that Lester was keeping an eye on him. Joe sent back congratulations to me and Ranger, which he didn't have to do but it was nice.
I stayed in Grandma's suite on my last night as a single lady and no- we set nothing on fire, and no, the police were not involved. Doesn't even sound like us! Everyone jammed in the suite and told their version of when they knew I loved Carlos and he loved me. I bawled like a baby when Julie told me she knew better when I said I was Ranger's "friend" and just helping him out. She said my love for him was written all over my face and she knew she would be safe with me. Connie talked about "The Wizard" transforming me into a bounty hunter, and Lula and Sally asked who wasn't in love with Batman and we all laughed. Val and Mom told stories about him protecting me, always, with Mary Lou saying she knew it was love when he jumped in the river after me, cause only a man in love could act so crazy. Everyone cleared out at Midnight- Grandma's orders as Matron of Honor- she was taking her role seriously.
We got up crazy early and my hair was done and perfect just as Julie and my nieces arrived. They exclaimed about how good I looked and we took a bunch of candid photos. My bridal party! Julie gave me aquamarine earrings, my nieces gave me new clip-on flowers for my sandals, Grandma loaned me her pearls and my sister Valerie gave me a bangle bracelet she had since her 21st birthday so Old, New, Borrowed and Blue were covered. After I stopped crying over the beautiful gifts from my girls, I applied light make-up and I was ready. And it was only 7:00 am.
We walked downstairs and found our families were already seated traditionally, with a Bride Side and a Groom side. The Plum side was joined by Julie's family as well as Mary Lou, Lula, Gabriela, Diesel, Sally and Connie while Robert and Amanda joined the Manoso side. The RangeMan employees lined the perimeter.
My three flower girls, Mary Alice, Angie and Lisa were first down the aisle. They did such a good job sprinkling flower petals along my path. Then Julie walked down, my only bridesmaid- so grown up from the little girl I first met. Then Grandma kissed my cheek, whispered "I love you" in my ear and strolled down the aisle with her head held high and her eyes glistening in a frosted blue satin dress with a swirly skirt made for dancing. I had made her so happy. My hands were shaking as my dad took them in his.
"Nervous, Pumpkin?" My dad touched his forehead to mine. "Because standing out there is a man who truly loves you." I really love my dad.
"I am ready." He hooked his arm thru mine and we walked toward Carlos, whose smile warmed my soul. Tank was serving as the Best Man and both stood by the pastor in custom tailored tuxedos that were clearly not rentals.
What happens after your wildest dream comes true?
When it came to the vows, we decided to write our own and this was one moment I was really glad the guy went first.
Carlos took up my hands in his and spoke as if only to me, yet his voice carried to all present. "Babe- I have lived in darkness and you have been my light. I want… I need you to be my wife. The woman I sleep beside, the mother of my children, my soulmate. I want to wake up every morning to your smile. Stephanie, when we first met, I offered to be your Henry Higgins… and just like Professor Higgins, I fell in love my Eliza Doolittle. I promise to do all in my power for as long as I live to keep you safe and to love and honor you. I promise you my fidelity. You know I am a man of few words. I won't always say what I am thinking and I won't always have the words to tell you how I feel, but trust that you will always own my heart. Siempre y para siempre.
Always and forever. I swallowed hard in an attempt to steady my voice that had gone wobbly with love. There was a dampness in my eyes. God, how I love this man! I looked into his eyes, pools of melted chocolate, and I spoke the words that filled my heart.
"You are so many things to me. My mentor, my teacher, my friend, the love of my life, the father of our children. I am safe with you. You protect and guide me to be a better version of myself. You helped me find my faith in myself; you have always been proud of me. Carlos, you are my Batman, my Wizard and I love you. You center me, you support my dreams and have always been positive about my potential. I promise you my faithful heart, my friendship and love, to always believe the best of you, to trust and love you all the days of my life. It fills my heart with joy that "Someday" is today, and that forever starts right now."
When I placed my grandfather's ring on Carlos's finger, I noted the bruising on his knuckles and raised my eyebrows. Carlos just smiled as his ring settled on his hand. The Bachelor party must have been something.
Then Carlos kissed the bride and the bride kissed him back… Not sure when the giggling started, or penetrated our bubble more likely, but finally we heard Julie. "Dad, so embarrassing…" And all our friends and family laughed and cheered as my sweet husband dropped me back in a dip and kissed me all over again.
The wedding brunch features French pastries from Atelier Monnier South Beach and we all know how much I love cake. Dancing followed and as Carlos and I danced to "Lovesong" by The Cure, he sang the words into my ear. He will always love me… Right back at you Batman! I waltzed with my dad and watched as Carlos first danced with his abuela and then his mom. They were two women who loved him fiercely. Not so different from me. I would make an effort in the next few days to mend things if possible. I owed it to Carlos to try. After my dad, I danced with Albert, Tank and Robert, then Diesel took a turn. The exaggerated turns and dips and twirls had me laughing out loud. I was having such a good time. So different from my last wedding.
It was a good time had by all.
After a glorious wedding night, which I would share in exquisite detail if it wouldn't make everyone green with jealousy, we were back at the hotel by noon the next day as my family and friends prepared to leave for the airport in RangeMan Shuttles. Albert, my parents and the children all loaded into the first and we waved them off. Then I faced my friends, swallowing hard to keep from crying.
"Have a wonderful time on your honeymoon- we will see you when you get back to Trenton." Connie hugged me.
"Don't do anything we wouldn't do." Sally Sweet smiled as he ducked to get the back seat.
Lula shook her head. "That don't eliminate much!". She gave a hug to Tank, Ranger and me and joined Sally in the back seat.
Val and Mary Lou hugged me together. "You look so happy," Val whispered. "Enjoy your time together."
I smiled and waved and wished them a good flight. They all though we were going on a Caribbean honeymoon. And I would stay in Miami and work on my tan to ensure nobody thought otherwise. Because our honeymoon would have to wait.
The mission was a go.
At 0600 the next day, Ranger and his men, all in tactical gear, boarded a small plane to go rescue Julius, the oldest Manoso. And time as I knew it stood still.