we might be falling in love - patricio o' ward

special moments

December 17, 2022

Pato and Astraea lounged on the porch of the family’s beachside villa in Monterrey, the sun beginning its slow descent towards the horizon. The past two weeks had been a whirlwind of activity: beach days, family gatherings, and more street races than they could count. Today, however, was their last full day in Mexico before heading to Puerto Rico to surprise Astraea’s family.

Pato's sister, Elba, was seated next to them, her phone propped up with Marisol and Renzo on a group FaceTime call. They were brainstorming how to pull off the perfect surprise for Astraea's parents.

Elba grinned. "Alright, so we need a plan that’s going to blow their minds. Any ideas?"

Marisol’s face lit up on the screen. “How about a beach party? Your parents love the beach, Astraea.”

Renzo chimed in, “And we can tell them it’s just a small get-together with friends. They won’t suspect a thing when you guys show up.”

Astraea smiled, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "I love it! We can have a bonfire, some music, and food. They’ll never see it coming."

Pato leaned in, adding, "We could set up a scavenger hunt leading them to the beach. Each clue can be a memory from when they visited us in Mexico or something significant from our childhoods."

Elba nodded, clearly enthused by the idea. "That sounds perfect. Marisol, Renzo, can you help set it up on your end?"

"Absolutely," Marisol replied. "I’ll handle the decorations and music. Renzo can take care of the food and drinks."

Renzo gave a thumbs up. "You got it. We’ll make sure everything’s set by the time you guys arrive. What about the clues for the scavenger hunt?"

Astraea thought for a moment. "How about the first clue being something about the first time our families met? It was at that old café by the beach, right?"

Pato nodded. "Yeah, that’s perfect. The second clue could lead them to the spot where we used to play as kids, with the old swing set."

Elba clapped her hands. "And the final clue can lead them to the bonfire site on the beach where we’ll be waiting. It’ll be epic!"

Pato laughed, “You guys are amazing. This is going to be the best surprise ever.”

Marisol giggled. “I can’t wait to see their faces. We’re going to blow their minds!”

Renzo added, “I’ll make sure to capture the whole thing on video. This is going to be one for the books.”

Astraea looked at Pato, her excitement palpable. “I can’t believe we’re doing this. It’s going to be so much fun.”

Pato squeezed her hand. “It’s going to be perfect. Just like our time here in Mexico.”

Elba leaned back, satisfied with their plan. “Alright, we’ve got a solid plan. Let’s make it happen!”

As the call ended, Pato and Astraea exchanged a look, their hearts full. They knew this would be a memorable moment, not just for them, but for their families as well. The excitement of the upcoming surprise in Puerto Rico was the perfect way to cap off their incredible time in Mexico.

Now that all those plans were ironed out and taken care of courtesy of Mari and Renzo, Elba wanted to treat Astraea to shopping, which didn't shock Pato in the slightest.

Pato reluctantly handed over his credit card to Astraea, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Get whatever you want," he said, pulling her into a quick kiss before Elba could whisk her away.