“I thought today we might attend the Christmas service at church and then enjoy Christmas dinner with the Smiths.They were delighted to receive our invitation.”Peter knew that Mrs.Smith had stopped by on a number of occasions, but Ana had been unwell and unable to receive her.He hoped the two women could make a sort of friendship.They would have a great deal to talk about, considering Ana’s devout faith.
“Would it be appropriate that we dine with the priest?”Ana’s brows lifted in obvious confusion.
“Of course, dear.Mr.Smith is our friend.And he is a vicar, not a priest.It is a tad bit different compared to your Catholic church.He is perfectly welcome to dine with us if he wishes to.After all, he can make house calls and minister to his vicarage.”
“Then that sounds very nice.Me parece perfecto.”
“Splendid.”
Ana stood near enough to him that he could hear her quickened breathing and see her round eyes boring into him expectantly.Her lips curved in a smile, but there was an undeniable sadness in her gaze.
“I wish you didn’t have to leave.It isel día dela Navidad, after all.”
“I know, but I promise I will return as quickly as possible.But today I don’t want to talk about London or leaving.I simply want to enjoy our first Christmas together.And to start our day off properly, I have a small gift for you.”
He finally held out the gift that he had been holding behind his back with one hand.Ana’s head cocked, and her mouth gaped in surprise as the sadness was banished from her eyes.She motioned to herself.“Para mí?”
“Claro!Obvio!” Peter said teasingly, as if poking fun at the situation would slow the rapid beating of his heart.He pressed the gift into her grasp, his own nervous hands sweating enough to leave several marks on the silk packaging.
“You wish that I open it now?”Ana asked, her smile widening.
“Please do.”
Ana walked back to her desk and sat in her chair.Peter joined her, standing at just the right angle where he would be able to see her expression at the precise moment when she realized what he had given her.She slowly, carefully pulled at the two ends of the green ribbon, and the fabric tumbled open.Inside lay a long length of twisted, white satin cord, threaded through with small pearlescent beads and tied at the ends with bits of embroidered lace.At the bottom of the package, a handful of coins clinked together, shining brightly against the backdrop of the pure fabric.
“Qué es eso?” Ana asked, her eyes bright with excitement and wonder as she fingered the cord.Then she held up the coins with one hand, reaching for Peter’s hand with the other.“Are they some pin moneys?”she asked, laughing.
He joined in her laughter.“Well, they could be, but I hope they’ll have much more significance than that.I gather you’re familiar with the Spanish wedding tradition ofarras?”
Ana fingered the coins, looking at them more closely as shock was written across her face.“Sí, of course.Ay, but these arereales!”
“Indeed.Spanish coins.And there are thirteen of them, to be precise.It is my understanding that the coins represent Jesus and His twelve apostles and bring promise of wellness and happiness in our marriage.”
“Es verdad.That is true.And my accepting therealesalso represents my trust in you.”
“And my willingness to provide for you financially.Although my future standing with the army is uncertain, Ana, I promise that I will always provide for you.We will have a prosperous life.”
Ana’s bottom lip trembled, and her dark eyes lightened with tears.“And Pedro, I promise that I will trust you, and I will care for our house and our family.”Her hand strayed to her midsection.“We will have a lifetan feliztogether.Muchísimas graciasfor honoring the traditions of my country and family.This is the mostpreciosogift you could ever bring for me.”
“There is something more in your Christmas present, if you care to look.”
Ana returned to the package, pulling out the length of cord with quiet reverence.Peter’s legs trembled with nervousness.Would she think the gift too intimate?Or entirely unfestive?
“We did not have the opportunity to honor this Spanish tradition on our wedding day, as it was a bit of a rushed affair, but I wished for us to have the opportunity, as I understand thelazois a ritual of great importance.I only hope I can explain all this without making a fool of myself—or the traditions—entirely.”
“Sí,” Ana murmured as her eyes filled with tears.Peter froze for a moment, fear seizing him, but her growing smile revealed them to be happy tears.
“Gracias, Pedro.This thing was the most thoughtful and considerate that anyone ever do for me in my life,” she laughed.“And for you, this ismuy romántico.My stiffPedro.Un romántico.”
“You deserve it all, my dear.And I would have included these traditions in our original wedding day had I...”Been of an emotionally sound mind.Been prepared for a wedding that I could not have possibly anticipated...“Had I made more careful plans.”He cleared his throat and continued.“Now, although I have been married to you once before, I’m not entirely certain how this all is supposed to work.Traditionally, I believe we would be kneeling, but I wager it’s all right if we stand here.”Peter moved to the middle of the room.“So, if you will come stand beside me, please.”
Ana stepped close to him, their shoulders pressing and their hands interlacing.
“Now, I believe I should wrap this about our shoulders,” Peter said as he extended his arm above her head, weaving the cord about her.
“Sí, in the shape of anocho, eight,” Ana said, reaching up her hand to help Peter in intertwining thelazoaround them, crossing at their shoulders.
“We have no pastor here, but I suppose it will have to do.”He blew out a breath, hoping to calm his nerves, but the trembling in his knees was incessant.“Ana, I promise you before God that I will protect you and care for you forever, just as this cord wraps around us in a continual motion.”
