Caballeros

Wedded Bliss (Edited)

Joaquin

Jules goes into the church to change Trin's diaper for me while I wait for Cecilia and Octavio to come back. I get lost in my thoughts and get teary eyed thinking that I may lose Trin. I hear footsteps approaching; I look up and see Octavio staring at me.

"You ok, bro?" He asks.

"Just thinking; thanks for asking Octavio," I say.

"Please call me Guerro," He says looking at his feet.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah I am. The better man won, just be good to her."

"Man, I'm sorry I had no idea that you cared for her like that. I will treat her like a queen. Again, I'm really sorry.

"Naw it's good; I am a good friend but I suck as a boyfriend. I'm a total prick," he laughs.

"Here are the rings," Cecilia says. She hands them to me. One gold and one black and plastic in texture.

"Two rings?"

"Yeah the regular wedding band and the black one is silicone for when you are riding the bull." She says with smile."

"Great idea; how much do I owe ya'll?"

"Nope, nothing I got the gold band and Guerro got the Black one," she says.

"Thanks Guerro and Cecilia; it means a lot to me that ya'll did this for me."

"Stop calling me Cecilia you're family now, call me Gooch."

"Okay, where did that nickname come from anyways?" I laugh.

"You really don't want to know," she laughs.

"Yeah, no you don't." Guerro laughs. It makes me chuckle.

"Hurt her and I will kill you; ya hear?" the Gooch says trying to keep a stern face but her smile betrays her.

"Yes, ma'am," I smile at her.

They walk into the church and I take a few minutes in the bathroom. I clean up my tear stained face and run my fingers through my unruly hair. I think about how much I love her touching my hair and my pants get a little tight. I take a deep breath because I can't go into the church with a boner.

I finally get my shit together and walk into the sanctuary. I look around and see everyone; by everyone I mean the people that matter the most to us are there. I walk over to Pastor John and shake his hand.

"What no cowboy hat?" He laughs.

"No sir, not for this important day." I smile at him.

"I asked the photographer to stay to capture ya'll's wedding."

"Thank you so much Pastor John," I say.

"Do you have anyone to stand with you?" he asks. I look at the guys and they nod.

One by one; Noel, Felipe and Guerro stand at my side. The Gooch stands on the opposite side with Sabrina. Juliana's Abuela comes and hugs me; she is crying. It chokes me up seeing her crying; she has treated me like her own since I can remember and I will be forever grateful to her. Tears escape my eyes as she begins to speak.

"Treat each other well; love each other even when you don't want to." She says wiping my tears.

"Si Senora, I will. Thank you for everything. I truly love ya'll."

"We love you too Mijo," she smiles.

"Ready?" Pastor John asks.

"Let's do this." I say.

The double doors open and she is walked in by her dad. He is holding Trinity in his arms as he walks his only child down the aisle. Seeing her takes my breath away; even though I just saw her I know she will always do this to me. I begin to cry happy tears and she is crying as well. They finally reach me at the front of the altar. I mouth the words 'I love you so much' and she beams at me.

"Who gives this woman in Holy Matrimony to this man?"

"I do," Hector says through tears. He hugs Jules and then me. "I always knew that it was you that she would marry." He whispers to me.

"I always hoped that she would come back to me. Thank you Don Hector." I say taking Trin into my arms.

I turn my attention to my beautiful soon to be wife I hold her hand. Looking into her eyes does something magical to me. We both begin to get emotional again as we look at each other. Trin looks between the both of us.

"No cry, dada, mama," she says in baby babble.

"It's ok my love," I say kissing her head.

"We are gathered today to witness the union in marriage of Joaquin Antonio Ortega and Juliana Maria Munoz. If anyone objects to their union please speak up," he says. Thank god it's quiet. "Please say these vows." he hands us each a paper.

"Can I just say my own? I ask.

"Of course you can." Pastor John says with a kind smile.

"Juliana, nine years ago you left Laredo and my heart was broken. When I saw you again my heart was restored. When I see you with Trinity my heart soars, I love you so much. I can't wait to spend forever with you by my side. Through good and bad I will be there for you my sweet Darlin' I loved than and I love so much more now," I say through tears. She takes a deep breath and begins to speak.

"As kids we would tell each other of our dreams and what we wanted. You told me once that you wanted to marry me. In my heart, I always knew that it was going to be you. When I moved away, I thought that dream had faded away. Until the fateful day you popped back into my life. We had a bump in the road but we got through it. I love you with all my heart and soul; when I see you with Trinity, I know that that God intended for me to marry you. When I was little, my Abuela would make me pray for my future husband and one of the things I prayed for was for them to be like my Daddy and it hit me like a ton of brick when I saw you with your baby girl. God put you in my life again and I am so grateful. I love you Mi Gordo."

"Joaquin, do you take Juliana for your wedded wife?" Pastor John asks.

"You bet I do," I say.

"Juliana, do you take Joaquin as your husband?"

"I do, I do, I do," she says.

"Okay Joaquin, you may kiss your bride," he says with a huge smile. I hand over Trin to Noel quickly.

I grab the back of my wife's neck as I dip her down and kiss her passionately. Her hands go into my hair and I deepen the kiss. Everyone cheers and hollers for us; it feels unreal. I stop kissing her and stand her up right.

"I'm honored to introduce ya'll to Mr. and Mrs. Joaquin Ortega." Pastor John yells out.

I take her hand and kiss it gently; I grab up Trinity and kiss her too. My whole world is complete; with Jules by my side we can conquer anything. My heart is so full and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her.

Now to win a rodeo...at least I hope!

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