I was able to set up a tour to take us to La Romana, and I showed her all the places I used to visit as a kid. Nikki’s jaw was on the floor the entire time we were at Altos de Chavón. I had to actually throw her over my shoulder when it was time to leave.
We lived in what Nikki called a “love bubble.” Now that the cat’s out of the bag, we’ve spent countless hours exchanging I love yous and making love.
I really have to thank Amelia for sending us down here. Not only did it alter my relationship with Nikki in the best way, but it allowed me to heal my relationship with my country. After I broke up with my ex, I stayed away and never visited. I was plagued by the memories of the years I spent here visiting the woman who’d sent my life into a tailspin.
But now I’ve replaced the bad with the good. My memories are filled with afternoons spent eating what Maria’s cooked up, dancing bachata with Nikki, and making love under the stars.
This is now the place where Nikki and I fell in love… for real this time. It is a place that holds my past and has given me the person who will be my future.
Today is the last full day of our vacation, so we’ve decided to take it easy and just lounge by the pool.
Nikki sighs, then rolls onto her side, facing me on the cabana bed. “I’m gonna miss this place.” She starts tracing the tattoos that run down my forearm.
“Me too. We’ll be back. To the Dominican Republic. Just not this resort.” I chuckle at the idea of us ever returning to this place after imagining how much it must cost per night. Plus, I’m not a fan of the owner.
“Pinky promise?” Nikki lifts her hand with an outstretched pinky finger. I cock my eyebrow, and she giggles. “Hey, you did it for Ariel/Moana/Cinderella the other day, and I want in on the pinky promises too!”
I link my pinky with hers and smile. “I pinky promise that we’ll be back.”
Her eyes glimmer with joy, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt luckier in my life.
Just as I’m about to pull her in for a kiss, the pinky-promise Disney princess herself runs up to our cabana. “You guys are pinky promising! Does that mean you told her?” Ariel/Moana—geez, we really need to learn her actual name—asks.
“Hey there, cutie! No, he actually hasn’t told me. And I’m dying to know. What secret did he tell you that night?” Nikki asks eagerly.
The memory of what I whispered into the little girl’s ear comes flashing in, and before I can suppress it, I bark out a laugh that will be hard to reel in.
“Can I tell her? Pretty, pretty please?”
I nod my permission through my fit of laughter as Nikki eyes me, confused by my reaction.
The little girl steps into our cabana and proudly says, “When I asked if he was your boyfriend, he told me his secret. He said that one day, he was going to make you his princess, and that one day, he would tell you himself.”
Nikki’s face slowly turns crimson red. The innocence of what this child has said, compared to our pillow princess sexcapade, is surely flashing through her mind. She covers her face with her hands. “Oh my. That’s, um. Very, uh, nice of…”
“Don’t worry, Moana. I’ve already made her my princess.” I grin.
Nikki slaps my arm and widens her eyes.
“Yay! She’s your princess!” the little girl cheers. “But I’m not Moana anymore. I’m going home today, so I’m just me now.” She smiles.
Nikki collects herself enough to ask, “What’s your name? We must know who you really are.”
“My name is—”
“Anna, it’s time to go, mija!” a man yells.
Anna.
My mother’s name. My guardian angel.
I hear Nikki’s intake of breath. I tip my head up and send my mother a silent thank-you. I’m not one to believe in signs, but I’ll happily take this one. Imagining her meddling from heaven with Nikki and me this whole time. When I look back at Nikki, her eyes shine with unshed tears, and I know she’s thinking the same thing.
“Anna, leave these nice people alone. They’re trying to enjoy their vacation. Sorry about my daughter. She loves chatting people up everywhere we go,” her father says.
Wait, hold up.
“Mateo Martinez?You’reAnna’s dad?” I ask, stunned.
