For the Good of the Family

For the Good of the Family Part 1

Lucia stared at her reflection in the mirror. She was a vision of perfect bridal beauty. Her hair pulled back into intricate braids that ended in a cascade of curls. The tocado of flowers de migajon that had been especially designed for her dug into the nape of her neck. But she was okay with the pain. She was thankful for it even, it helped numb the turmoil in the pit of her stomach.

The cathedral veil her mother had insisted she wear stretched for what seemed like miles with the edges trimmed in hand sewn lace. Her mother's hand had touched every single detail of this wedding, from the floral arrangements to the undergarments Lucia was wearing. It was the wedding of the year. It was her wedding. And yet Lucia hadn't been able to look at the reception hall no matter how much the servants had insisted she take a peek. "It's straight out of a fairytale," they had told her, their eyes shining with excitement.

Her sister Christina stood to her far left watching her tentatively. She walked over, placing her hand on her shoulder and gave it an encouraging squeeze. Only Christina understood what she was going through. Only she knew the pain and sadness that she hid behind her smile. It wasn't too long ago that their father had forced her into marriage as well. "For the good of the family," he had sternly told them shortly after announcing Lucia's engagement over dinner. "I will not let you two ruin the legacy that I've worked so hard to create."

Tears were threatening to fall and Lucia felt her despair grow as she continued to take in the details of her reflection. The too cheery smile plastered on her face was unmoving even as a single tear rolled down the side of her face. Christina hurried over and carefully dabbed at it.

"Try to keep it together Luz," she had said as she looked around, hoping that no one else had noticed. They were surrounded by not only bridesmaids, but their grandmother and her two aunts as well. The only one missing was their mother.

"I'm trying," Lucia said, her lip quivering through her smile "I just...I thought he would come see me one last time."

Christina looked at her curiously, "You thought he would come take you away."

Lucia stared at her sister sadly through the reflection of the mirror, "I thought he would at least admit that he loved me," she said quietly.

"And what good would that do you Lucia," Christina angrily readjusted Lucia's tocado and inadvertently caused it to dig in harder into her neck.

Lucia said nothing even as the pain caused her to wince, finally breaking that smile she had glued to her face since she had woken that morning.

"Lucia, wipe those tears away," her mother had come back and was now fussing over her like a bee on its beehive. The worry lines on her face more prominent than ever.

"They're tears of happiness mamá," she whispered adjusting her smile once again.

"Don't patronize me," she snapped, adjusting the veil again and again. "Your father is just outside talking to the priest."

Lucia felt a wave of nausea and desperation come crashing down on her. It took all it had in her to hold in her tears. She met her tia Ofelia's eyes, who smiled at her sadly.

"Are you listening Lucia?," her mother whirled her around and gripped her shoulder tightly with one hand and her chin with the other. Lucia kept her eyes on her tia Ofelia even as she felt a stab of pain on her shoulder.

Ofelia made her way to them and gently touched her sisters shoulder, "María, everyone is watching you, cálmate por favor..."

María made quick assessment of the room through the reflection of the mirror. The room had fallen silent. The bridesmaids were curiously observing the exchange and shifting uncomfortably.

Ofelia looked to her other sister to diffuse the tension. Victoria smiled and stepped forward, "Perhaps we should give them a minute to themselves. Maria has been beside herself these days!" She exclaimed with a smile, "She's probably ready to start crying! Her baby is leaving the nest after all, isn't that right María...?"

Maria's eyes crinkled as she beamed at her daughter and made a show of turning Lucia's face to kiss her cheek and whispered, "Behave Lucia," she kissed the other cheek, "don't make me tell your father I saw you sneak off after dinner last night."

The room exploded in applause and laughs. One by one they all shuffled out except for Doña Teresa who walked over carefully and stopped right next to María. "Keep your daughter in line María," she said sternly, "don't make me regret letting you marry my son."

Lucia had kept very still until her mother had finally let go of her. Her shoulder and chin throbbed from the pain her mother's hands had inflicted. She watched her mother stare at her grandmother, defiance shining in María's eyes, and thanked her lucky stars when her father burst in smiling.

"Are you ready Lucia..." Ricardo stopped mid-sentence upon seeing them and exclaimed, "Mamá? María? What are you two still doing here! The priest is outside waiting for you two to take your places." He ushered them out, "Let me have a minute alone with Lucia."

Lucia felt the same wave of nausea crash down on her once again. She forced herself to turn and look at her reflection one last time. She noticed the imprint her mother's hand had left on her chin and smiled at her father, "I'm almost ready papi." Her father's reflection stared back at her sadly. He didn't have words of comfort for her. He only wanted her to face reality. That was the reason he had been so cold with her when he announced her engagement.

"Lucia...even if you were to run out right now, he wouldn't run off with you. Sebastian has pledged his life to someone else. I know you went to see him last night and I heard what was said."

Lucia let out a small gasp, she had been unaware that her father had seen her sneak off after dinner, let alone followed her.

"There is nothing that gets by me mija," he tenderly touched her cheek. "I've known Sebastian his whole life and once he's made up his made up his mind...he will not change it Lucia. Not for you or anyone." Ricardo took his daughter's hand gently and looped it through his arm. They walked through the church halls and out to the aisle where her groom awaited. "This is what is best for not just you, but the whole family. We're all counting on you."

"I know that papi," Lucia looked at her father and closed her eyes as he kissed her forehead, "for the good of the family." Lucia smiled as tears shone in her eyes. Tears that people assumed were of happiness.

One foot in front of the other she thought as she slowly walked down the aisle.

Up ahead Sebastian was standing next to her future husband and she felt another wave of nausea hit her like a hurricane. For the few minutes it took her to walk down the aisle she let herself imagine it was Sebastian she was walking towards.

Sebastian smiled at the bride and groom before looking out to the crowd and began the ceremony, "Dearly beloved we are gathered here today..." Lucia smiled and let her mind wander as her husband to be wiped the tears that were now falling freely.