Caray, Caray!

Ale and Rafa have finally managed to get off the phone with their respective significant others and it’s time to go back to the partay!!! Before they head back, Ale wants to know if Rafa thinks she’s very drunk. (It’s not like Rafa’s the best judge considering he’s downed almost as many tequilas as she has.) He assures her, no. “You’re very fun. I love seeing you this way.” Ale gives him a smile as wide and as bright as a ray of sunshine in reward for his sweet comment.

She asks him not to leave her alone, and he assures her that he will care for her and she’ll be safe with him. They return back to the fiesta arm in arm, just in time for the bouquet toss. It sails past all the eager single young ladies (and there are a LOT at this wedding), and lands at the feet and cane of Ale. Cheeseman’s wife hands Ale the bouquet and declares that Ale will get married soon, and the priest asks Ale and Rafa when they are getting married. Ale laughs and starts to protest, but gets drawn back into the party, and Rafa incoherently babbles at the priest (I am sure he still thinks they are a couple).

It’s time to get the party started again! Ale gets reacquainted with her friend the waiter Joachim and gets a fresh drink. She then gets cozy with the DJ and tries to request that oh so popular party song, “El Venado/Venao” (the Gancho gang recently danced to this at Xime’s megaparty, and I used to dance to this every night at clubs in Ecuador 14 years ago). Unfortunately, although she can remember the tune, Ale thinks the name of the song is El Pescado. Rafa soon sets her and the DJ straight, the popular dance tune is cranked up, and Ale lets out the universal cheer of party-goers everywhere, “Woooooooh!” She hits the dance floor, starts swinging her hair (which is now completely loose), gyrating her hips, waving the bouquet around with one hand, and using that cane in a way that was never intended or imagined by the good folks who produce them to make the lives of the elderly and infirm easier. Rafa is trying his best to keep up. Although he has the voice of an angel, his dancing style can only be appreciated by those as drunk, or more drunk, than he is. But no one at this fiesta seems to notice and he and Ale are a hit in the middle of the dance floor.

They are interrupted by Susana calling Ale to warn her about Beltran, who is desperate for them to sell that truck and is waiting for their return to Autos Siglo. Although Susana is shocked that Ale is drunk, she hears the glee in Ale’s voice and asks her if she is happy. It is obvious that Ale is indeed happy, and Susana, great friend that she is, tells Ale not to worry and that she will take care of Beltran. She checks to make sure that at least Rafa is not drunk (Ale doesn’t really fess up the truth) and that Ale will have a safe way to get home. The ex-amigas sign off by telling the other that they love them. Awww!

Ale heads back to the party and the dance floor. “Woooooooooh!” Her stripper cane moves are a treat to watch, but she starts to fade fast and the thought of Beltran waiting for them to make the sale starts to sink in. She and Rafa sit down and think about how they’re going to get back to D.F. Just then, Cheeseman comes to the rescue. He’s managed to find a couple of non-drunk guys that work for him and his compadres who will drive Ale, Rafa and the truck safely back to D.F. (Wow! These folks are worth their weight in gold.) Ale is truly touched, but Rafa is not surprised they would do something like this for her. “They’re fascinated/enchanted by you. They like you.” Ale flashes Rafa another one of those million dollar smiles, but it looks like the effects of both the tequilas and her pain meds have begun to wear off, and she grabs her neck in obvious pain. Rafa sits her down and hugs her close as she asks him again not to leave her. They begin to slooooooowly fall asleep…..then their eyes fly open at the first strings of the mariachi violins.

“Joaquin!!!!!” It’s time for another drink! Ale knocks back her tequila, before Rafa’s even had a chance to take a sip of his, and lets out a long and impressive trill to accompany the mariachi. Rafa looks at her adoringly.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, Marco calls Ale’s house and asks her aunt if Ale’s home yet. He then basically tattles on her and tells Aunt Rosario that Ale has been drinking. Rosario is shocked, shocked! She tells Marco she will inform him when Ale returns. Marco decides to come over and wait up with Rosario for their wild child to return home. She will have some explaining to do.

Back to the fun…Rafa’s on stage again singing a beautiful, slow ranchera. “Dime mi amor, que puedo hacer…” The ladies are getting swoony and the couples are looking moony. Everyone loves the song and loves Rafa. He is in his element, he is master of the stage. He gears up to sing a second verse, and suddenly, we hear another voice from stage right. A beautiful woman’s voice joining his for a lovers’ duet. It’s Ale!!!!! Wow!

Ale and Rafa come together center stage, all the while singing and smiling at each other. The crowd goes wild, but Ale and Rafa only have eyes for each other. They end the song tête-à-tête, mariachi hats touching, and it looks like they are going to kiss….but, they don’t. The room erupts into applause and all the single ladies rush the stage to mob Rafa. He escapes between their legs, much to Ale’s amusement. Later, they bask in the afterglow of their triumph on stage and Rafa comments that he never would have thought she liked rancheras. She informs him that there are lots of things he doesn’t know about her.

Cheeseman, his wife and daughter come over to bid Rafa and Ale farewell and to see that they are safely in the hands of the sober drivers they have provided for them. The bride gives Ale her bouquet, as the toss bouquet Ale got did not survive her enthusiastic dancing. Ale is so touched by this gesture that she breaks down on Cheeseman’s shoulder in tears, making him cry as well. They assure Ale and Rafa that they should consider this their home and invite them to a party for their nephew the next week.

Ale comments that she is cold as they later wait outside for the car that will take them back to D.F., Rafa hugs her close, drapes his jacket over her and gently rubs her shoulders. They don’t seem too fazed or bothered by the fact that the car driving them back to D.F. is the bridal car, still decked out with huge white bows and ribbons. Ale promptly falls asleep on Rafa’s shoulder. He is tempted to kiss her, but resists. Later, he is holding her close and looking at her as she sleeps, she opens her eyes, they stare long and deep into each others’ eyes, she raises her head from his shoulder slowly, their lips almost brush, they look at each other, then…Ale falls asleep with her head resting again on Rafa’s shoulder. And I have butterflies in my stomach. Whew!

They arrive safe and sound at Ale’s house and Marco is waiting outside for her. He’s none too pleased to see them pull up in a car for novios, or to see Rafa gently helping Ale out of the car and hand her the bouquet and a single rose, which she puts behind her ear. And he’s definitely not pleased to see the tender looks they exchange as they bid each other farewell. He scolds her all the way into her house and into her bedroom. Nothing can knock her off Cloud 9 though, and she ignores Marco and sings a little of the Adventurero song to herself as she undresses (to reveal some VERY sexy black lingerie) and puts herself to bed. Your loss Marco.

A similar scene is playing out at Rafa’s house as he is met at the door by a screeching Vicky. He ignores her scolding and whining, kisses his mom, bids her and his sister goodnight, and doesn’t even notice Vicky’s presence as he strips down to his boxers and flops onto his bed. He and Ale both begin to have sweet dreams- memories of the day and of that almost kiss.

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