It's Always Been You

Chapter 26

The night had darkened. Family and friends piled into the backyard and the music played loudly. Marco and Cristina entered with a round of applause.

"They look so happy," Ariana said with a sigh.

Liliana gave her a tight side hug. "They look great. This place looks great. We did a good job."

Ariana laughed. "We did."

"Let's welcome our bride and groom and let's get this party started!"

Marco pulled Cristina onto the dance floor he and his cousins made and twirled her around. After a few minutes of the dance floor to themselves, Oscar asked his youngest daughter to join him to dance, and soon enough other guests piled onto the dance floor as well.

Ariana danced with her father and then her mother. She danced with Daniela and Santiago. Jonathan pulled her to dance for a few songs. She danced with Harper and she even danced with Ben's mom, Valerie, who cried about how beautiful the ceremony was.

Dinner was set out on tables, allowing the guests to fill up. As they sat down to eat, the cake was set out. Cristina and Marco took the first bite.

Guests sat down to eat and waited for their slices of cake.

But, Jonathan and Ariana stood off to the side of the bridal party table, both holding a microphone and a sheet of paper.

She brought the microphone to her lips. "We're doing this a little different tonight. So, we don't drone on and on, your bridesmaids and groomsmen have put together a few words for both of you," Ariana spoke to Cristina and Marco, her voice echoing over the yard.

She cleared her throat. "Cristina and Marco, thank you for allowing us to share this special day with you. Your marriage today is a commitment to a promise you two made long ago. A promise to love, honor, and stay true to yourselves and to each other. You share your love with all of us, through encouraging words and warm hugs, and through your children. We couldn't have asked for better friends, and I couldn't have asked for a better sister, and now a brother," Ariana added. "We love you so much and look forward to the days ahead in which you continue to show us a love with no constrictions, a love that makes you free as much as it makes you feel safe."

Marco wrapped an arm around Cristina, pulling her close and kissing her on the cheek.

Jonathan held up the microphone. "That was beautiful." He knocked into Ariana's shoulder. He cleared his throat.

Ben straightened in his seat.

"Cristina and Marco," he smiled brightly, "we had an inkling of where your story was going, how your journey's in this world crisscrossed and then ran together. Your friendship and then your love, stir our very selves to be better people, to reach out to the people in our lives and appreciate them for who they are, and support them, not with bars or a cage, but with a foundation from which they can launch from. Congratulations on this happy day."

He set the paper down, "and if I can say one more thing," he added as people began to applause. "A few weeks ago, I asked Marco if this is what he envisioned all those years ago when he first set eyes on Cristina in homeroom sophomore year and he said, 'no, it's better than I could've ever imagined. And Jonathan,' and listen, he had the silliest grin," Jonathan laughed, and the guests joined in too.

He continued, "'Jonathan, I knew it was going to be her. It was always her." He smiled at the newlyweds. "So, here's to always."

The guests clapped and cheered.

Cristina shot out of her seat and enveloped her sister in a hug. "That was amazing. I love you so much!" She pressed a kiss onto her sister's cheek. "I couldn't have done this without you. Thank you, for everything."