Kissed Read online

  Rosa turned to look at herself in the full-length mirror. The gown fit like it was made for her.

  “See, what did I tell you?” Pepper asked. “I have a great eye after working all those retail jobs. I knew it was the right size.”

  “How in the world does it fit that well?” Lisa asked.

  “A Christmas miracle,” Ria said as her hands came together as if in prayer.

  “Do you like it, Mama Soto?” Lisa asked.

  Rosa stared at herself in the mirror. She looked like a movie star—like Pepper or Lisa on the red carpet.

  “She loves it,” Pepper said. “Look at her.”

  Lisa frowned. “As long as it’s what you want. This isn’t Pepper’s day.”

  “Jealousy makes you mean, Lisa Perry,” Pepper said. “You just wish you’d found the dress.”

  “Girls, stop arguing,” Ria said. “She likes the dress, don’t you, Rosa?”

  “I can’t stop looking at myself, so I guess that means yes,” Rosa said.

  Jubie had not stopped bouncing. “You look like the queen, Mama Soto.”

  “A beautiful queen,” Lisa said.

  “What about Ria?” Pepper asked. “Do you have anything to wear?”

  “I have the dress I wore to Lisa and Rafael’s wedding,” Ria said. “It’s dark blue and long.”

  “I remember,” Lisa said. “It’ll definitely work. Can you put it on?”

  “Yes, yes. I’ll be right back,” Ria said.

  The moment Ria was out the door, Pepper started barking orders. “Mama Soto, sit down. Lisa will touch up your makeup while I fasten the veil and tiara. We don’t have much time.”

  Rosa sat primly on the hardback chair in front of the mirror. For the next few minutes, the girls bustled around, fetching brushes and powders and lipsticks, until she was deemed perfect. Ria returned and the girls did a quick makeover on her as well. They left Ria’s chin-length salt-and-pepper hair alone but brightened her makeup.

  “Can I have blush and lipstick?” Jubie asked.

  “You, my love, don’t need any,” Rosa said. “You already have the bloom of youth.”

  “I’m like a flower,” Jubie said, beaming.

  “That’s right,” Rosa said.

  They all stood next to Rosa as she took one more look at herself in the mirror. With the veil and tiara, she truly looked like a bride. In the dim light, she appeared younger too. This was good when you were a fifty-eight-year-old bride.

  “I love this,” Rosa said, trying not to cry. “It’s a dream come true.”

  Little Jubie was perfect in her white angel costume. Ria was smashing with her tall, slender figure in the fitted blue gown. For a moment, she panicked. What was Dominic wearing? A suit. That’s right. A dark blue suit and red tie. His proposal suit. They would match just fine.

  As they walked out to the living room to head to the park, there was a knock on the door. Jubie ran ahead and yanked it open. Warren Perry stood there, holding three red bouquets of blood-red roses with green satin ribbons wrapped around the stems.

  “Hi, ladies,” he said, ducking his chin. “I’ve been instructed by Rafael to give you these.”

  “Flowers?” Rosa asked. “How did he manage that?”

  “He said something about Clayton the flower guy,” Warren said. “You know how it is around here.”

  They all laughed as he handed them each a bouquet. Cliffside Bay was a place where miracles happened, including fresh flowers for an impromptu wedding. And a stolen wedding dress.

  Rafael appeared behind Warren. He’d changed into a suit and tie. Her chest swelled with pride at the sight of him. Her son—so handsome and strong.

  On the other hand, his mouth dropped open when he saw her. “Mama, where did you get a dress?”

  Lisa rolled her eyes. “Pepper just happened to have it lying around after stealing it from a movie set.”

  Rafael chuckled. “That’s our Pepper. Good girl.”

  “Don’t encourage her,” Lisa said.

  Pepper smiled triumphantly. “I’m quite proud of myself.”

  “I’ll hear the story later, but for now, we have to go,” Rafael said. “The whole town’s gathered in the park and getting drunker with every passing minute on Dog’s Brewery beer. Maggie and the pastor are there waiting for us.”

  Pepper led the way, with Jubie and Lisa right behind her.

  “May I escort you?” Warren asked Ria.

  Ria blushed and nodded. “If you’d like.”

  Warren took her arm and tucked it against his side. “You’re looking even lovelier than usual tonight.”

  Rafael put his hand on Rosa’s shoulder. “Wait a minute, Mama. I just want a moment alone with you.”

  “Yes, my love?”

  “Mama, I wanted to say how proud I am to be your son. All the sacrifices you made so I could have a good life—you’re my hero. You deserve everything that’s happening to you. I love you and I’m sorry I’m a guy and don’t say it enough.”

  She placed one hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes. From the first moment she held him and looked into his old soul, she’d never been the same. “None of those years felt like sacrifice. They felt like love. For you, the well was never empty. You filled me up, gave me purpose and strength. Don’t ever think I have any regrets. Being your mama is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  “I’m glad it was you,” Rafael said as his eyes welled.

  “God knows what he’s doing.”

  “Amen. Now, are you ready to get married?”

  She drew in a deep breath and walked into the hallway. Her son closed and locked the door behind them. Together, they walked toward the park. Toward her future.

  5

  Jubie

  * * *

  Today had to be the best day ever. Not only did Jubie get to sing a solo and watch a proposal—now she was walking down an aisle carrying a bouquet as a flower girl in a wedding. She’d been to a lot of weddings. It seemed like someone in this town was always getting married. Still, this one was special. One, it was in the park. Two, it was totally unexpected. Three, Aunt Maggie was singing and playing her guitar as Jubie walked between the crowds of people.

  She smiled at her parents as she passed by. Sebastian screamed her name and waved. His face was red and sticky from a candy cane. Jubie put her finger against her lips to shush him but of course it didn’t work. He shouted, “Me do it. Me do it.”

  Mama, looking stern, said something in Sebastian’s ear. He stuck his bottom lip out but finally stopped all his fussing. Jubie continued down the aisle until she reached Ria. Pastor Jim smiled at her and she smiled back at him, feeling very special. Dominic fiddled with his tie and looked a little like Sebastian had that one time he had the stomach flu. She hoped Dominic wouldn’t throw up like her brother had, especially in front of all these people.

  Jubie forgot all about that when Maggie strummed the first notes of a song. The crowd gasped when Mama Soto and Rafael came into view.

  Rafael was so tall and handsome. No wonder Jubie had had a crush on him a few years ago when she was still a kid. Mama Soto looked small next to him but she didn’t look sick or afraid. Instead, she beamed at Dominic as they made their way down the aisle. Jubie glanced up at Dominic. The color had returned to his face and he was smiling right back at Mama Soto. Disaster averted.

  When they reached them, Rafael stopped and kissed his mother’s cheek. His face was all crumply like he was trying not to cry. This was a happy day. Grown-ups were weird sometimes.

  Pastor Jim said a bunch of stuff about community and supporting the couple in marriage. Jubie tried not to fidget, but this guy was as boring at a wedding as he was in church.

  “Would either of you like to say something to the other?” Pastor Jim asked.

  Dominic and Mama Soto shook their heads like a dog trying to shake off water.

  Pastor Jim chuckled. “All right then. Dominic Perry, do you take Rosa Soto to be your lawfully wedded wife?�
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  “I do.”

  “Rosa Soto, do you take Dominic Perry to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

  “I do.”

  Pastor Jim directed his gaze at the crowd. “Dominic has asked that the choir join us singing a song that has special meaning to the couple.”

  Jubie turned to see all her friends from the choir approaching from behind the podium, carrying candles. Miss Bonnie, the choir teacher, nodded at Jubie to join them.

  “We’re going to sing ‘O Holy Night’ one more time,” she whispered to Jubie.

  Jubie handed her flowers to Ria and joined her friends. Miss Bonnie raised her hand and they began to sing.

  When Jubie’s solo came, she smiled over at Mama Soto and sang with all her heart. When she was done, the rest of the choir joined her in the last verse of the song. As they sang, Jubie looked out to the crowd and spotted her parents. Sebastian had fallen asleep on Dad’s shoulder. Dad was looking up at the sky, like he expected to see someone appear. Her gaze went to Mama next. They locked eyes. Mama’s were all shiny with tears. She blew Jubie a kiss.

  The last of the notes seemed to float into the night sky. A hush came over the crowd. And then, the church bells rang out, loud and clear, one after the other. Twelve in all. Midnight. Christmas was here.

  Jubie thought of her real mother up in heaven. She hoped she could hear Jubie singing from all the way up there. I miss you, Mom. But I’m doing good. I have Dad and Mama and pesky little Sebastian, and they all love me to the moon and back. I have a bunch of aunts and uncles who come to hear me sing at church and invite me to parties. I have this whole town. And it’s the very best place of all to live. Merry Christmas, Mom. Say hi to Jesus.

  After the last bell, Pastor Jim hesitated before saying, softly, “I now pronounce you man and wife. May God bless us all.”

  The crowd cheered.

  Then, Mama Soto and Dominic kissed. Jubie felt all warm and soupy inside.

  She waited with the rest of the choir until Ria motioned for her to come back to her side. The bride and groom went first, then the rest of them filed down the aisle.

  Jubie yawned, happy but tired. The idea of her bed sounded pretty great after all the excitement. Mama came toward her, smiling wide, her pretty blond hair tucked under a cap.

  “Mama, I’m sleepy,” Jubie said.

  Mama hugged her tight. She gave the best hugs. “Let’s go home before Santa gets here.”

  They walked together down the street to where Dad was tucking Sebbie into his car seat. Jubie settled in the back seat and leaned her head back to look at all the lights as they drove down Hugh Shaw Drive and then up the hill to their house.

  I have a whole town.

  Jubie opened her eyes Christmas morning to sunlight and the faint scent of cinnamon coffee cake. She threw back her covers and bounded down the stairs.

  She came to a dead halt at the bottom of the stairs. A piano! Right there in her very own living room sat a piano with a big red bow stuck to the top. It was an upright, not a baby grand like Maggie’s, but it fit into the corner of the living room perfectly. Mama had moved the bookshelf and had replaced it with the black, shiny piano.

  Dad and Mama came out of the kitchen, both with mugs of coffee. Sebastian spotted Jubie and yelled, “Sister up, sister up.”

  “Santa brought a piano,” Jubie said as she blinked to make sure it was true. “A real piano.”

  “I don’t know how he fit that thing on his sled,” Mama said.

  “It’s magic,” Dad said. “Santa can do it all.”

  She gazed up at her father and mother. Not Santa, you.

  She’d keep that to herself for now. There was plenty of time in years to come to let them know that she knew exactly who Santa was.

  “I love it,” Jubie said. “I hope Santa can see how thankful I am.”

  “He sees everything,” Dad said. “Naughty and nice.”

  The orange and white cat let out a yelp and fled past them, heading for the stairs, followed by Sebastian.

  “Speaking of naughty,” Mama said as she scooped up her brother. “Sebastian, you know you’re not supposed to chase kitty.”

  “Not me.” Sebastian shook his head and stuck his thumb in his mouth.

  “I can’t believe it but you’re going on the naughty step on Christmas,” Mama said.

  Big, fat tears spilled from Sebbie’s eyes. “No naughty step.”

  “You’re not allowed to chase the cat,” Dad said. “You know that.”

  “Or squeeze him so hard.” Mama placed him gently on the bottom step, where he spent at least two minutes every day.

  Sebastian nodded as more fat tears slid down his chubby cheeks. “Love kitty.”

  “I’ll play you a song while you sit there,” Jubie said. Her little brother couldn’t help his naughtiness.

  She opened the piano and squealed with delight at the white keys all lined up like a row of perfect teeth.

  Sebastian, resigned to his fate, settled into his spot on the step and yelled, “Song, Sissie, song.”

  “He’s going to rub a dent into that stair,” Mama said under hr breath as she returned to the piano.

  Dad picked up a book of Christmas music from the table. “I got this for today. Can you play ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’?”

  “I can try,” Jubie said.

  Dad turned the pages until he found the right one, then set it on the piano for her. Jubie plucked the first notes, reading the music like Maggie had taught her. From his naughty step, Sebastian sang “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” off-key.

  She giggled. Little brothers were a pain, but she loved hers anyway.

  With her fingers hovering just above the keys, she exchanged smiles with her dad and then her mom. The house was cozy and warm. Soon, they would have a delicious breakfast and open all the wrapped packages under the tree. She’d made a Christmas ornament at school using a photograph her teacher had taken and some dry macaroni. Mama and Dad loved photos of her. She couldn’t wait to see their faces when they opened it. For Sebbie, she’d used her allowance to buy him a firetruck. He’d go wild for that truck and probably smash it into the wall and get in trouble. She let out a happy sigh and went back to learning the song.

  I have a family. I have a whole town.

  * * *

  The End