Page 60 of The Virgin's Dance
Donna had been using that phrase a lot in the last 48 hours since arriving in the little Spanish seaside town where José had grown up.
She was now sitting out on the balcony in José’s family’s villa, her swollen leg bandaged and raised up on a chair.
They both looked out to the crystal clear sea below them, sitting in silence for a few minutes.
“Are you angry I didn’t tell you about the engagement?” he asked, finally breaking the quiet.
“No, why would I be angry about that?” Donna shook her head furiously, her chic red hair bobbing up and down on her freckled forehead.
“Donna, you were … if I hadn’t met you in America, I don’t think I would have gotten through college. You were my best mate, my language coach, my life raft, and my favorite study buddy.”
Donna flinched. “Your language coach and study buddy?”
“Of course! Well … and my best friend. And I want you to be part of this now. I didn’t want to get married without you.”
“That’s very sweet.” The sardonic twang to her tone went unnoticed by the foreign ear.
José continued on with his speech about their friendship, his long limbs moving in elegant, dramatic lines, as if he were on a stage. It was hard to stay mad at someone who looked so ridiculous and yet so passionate.
She remembered meeting him their first year of college. She remembered how he had approached her first, that cheeky grin on his handsome face, totally oblivious to the looks he was getting from the other female students as he gave all his attention to her, the shy, four-eyed nerd with carrot red hair. She remembered the shock and gratitude she’d felt at his friendliness, the way he had made her feel easy from the very first day.
Shaking her head, she finally clued back into what he was saying. “… So you see, we only have six weeks to arrange everything.”
“Hang on. You’re saying that you’re getting married this summer? That soon?” Her hands squeezed the sides of the deck chair.
“Well, it’s not so soon. We were childhood sweethearts; our families have known each other for generations. Maria wouldn’t say it’s soon at all. She’s been waiting for me to propose for years,” he said with a chuckle.
Donna swallowed hard, taking in the new information. Three years in America and he had never had a girlfriend—now she knew why. He’d flirted a lot, his thick Spanish accent melting the heart of every girl he encountered, but not with any real intent. Donna had childishly believed it’d had something to do with her, that their feelings for each other had stopped him from making any real moves on anyone else.
“There are so many preparations, so much to do, and, what I’m trying to say is …” And at this point, unaware of the cruelty of the gesture, clearly having been oblivious to Donna’s feelings all these years, he got down on both knees and held both her hands tightly. She inhaled sharply, having no idea what to expect. But she wouldn’t have been able to guess in a million years the words that came out of his mouth.
“I want you to be my best man.”
Chapter 3
A few days later Donna found herself alone in the villa. It was a large house, big enough for José’s large family—his parents and grandparents, his three sisters, and their big white fluffy dog, Barney, who spent most of his time snoozing in front of the air conditioner to get away from the hot Spanish climate.
Today it was just Donna and Barney in the house. The family had gone to one of many extended family barbecues on the beach, but she’d opted to stay home. Feeling overwhelmed by having already met so many new people, on top of still being jet-lagged, she’d been glad for the excuse to be left to her own devices for the day.
Walking barefoot along the white sand, Donna felt her phone buzz from inside her pocket.
She looked down at the caller ID and screwed up her nose. She let it ring a couple more times before reluctantly answering.
“Hi Mom.”
“Honey, I haven’t heard from you since you got off the plane,” her mother reprimanded.
“I texted you when I landed.”
“Yes, but I thought you’d call. Anyway, how are you? How is Spain?”
“Spain is good. It’s sunny here and beautiful. I’ve already been swimming twice.”
“In the sea?” she asked, sounding excited for her daughter and maybe a bit envious.
“In the sea.”
“Oh wow, and how is José? So pleased to see you, I’m sure! Have you told him how you feel yet?”
