February 14th, 2010= (2 months since Engagement)
We had just gotten engaged two months before and we were still adjusting to the idea of being engaged. I kept trying to drop Gerard hints that it would be sweet if he surprised me at school with flowers, balloons or a stuffed animal. Instead I just got a text message at 8:00 at night saying “Happy V Day Rae.” That was it. He went out to dinner with Bryce that night. I was a little hurt; I thought he would have at least gotten me a Valentine’s Day card. I had gotten him a card and mug with chocolates. I remember tearing up the card and throwing it away. I gave him the mug afterwards. I’ve never been a fan of Valentine’s Day, and not having the chance to spend it with him hurt me.
Looking back at that year, I remembering having to adjust a bit to the “pretend-life” and “real-life”. I kept getting caught up in the “pretend-life” where he romantically loved me. Relationships are never easy, and our relationship seemed very rocky since we got engaged. Last year I accidently let it slip how hurt I was that he didn’t seem interest in our first Valentine’s. He admitted that he had forgotten to get me something and was too embarrassed to admit it. “I preferred to ignore it, than admit that I hadn’t gotten you anything. You have always been thoughtful and good with details. I knew that you had gotten me something. By the time I remembered, everything was sold out. I wasn’t used to thinking about getting romantic details for you.”
February 14th, 2011= (2 Months since Wedding)
Our first Valentine’s as a married couple. We spent it in a family way, by inviting our parents out for dinner. We invited Gerry’s brothers to come along, but they were off doing their own thing. So it ended up just being his parents and my parents. We took them out to a fancy restaurant and talked for long hours. Considering that we were still newlyweds our parents wanted to know how we were adjusting to our new life and how we were enjoying our home. It was one of the best Valentine’s Day ever because it wasn’t overly romantic or cliché. We simply spent the romantic day with the family members we loved most. (Bryce was absent this Valentine’s because he was busy at work. The guys celebrated that Friday 18th, a late Valentine’s Day.)
I bought Gerard a leather wallet and placed it inside his nightstand drawer along with some Hershey chocolate kisses. I placed a note that said “There are plenty of more kisses from where these came from.” He almost fell of the bed laughing at my corny phrase.
He bought me a nice card and a medium size Teddy-bear. He called it ThunderBear. He knows that Thunder makes me very nervous, so he told me that whenever I feel unsafe that I should hug the bear. I love that bear to this day and it sits on my bed.
February 14th, 2012= 2nd Valentine’s Day as Husband and Wife
Gerry and I both had to get up early today. I knew things would be hectic at school with the Valentine’s Day Fair so I wanted to get there early. Gerard had to set up the “Red and White” fashion show at a small studio that would start in the afternoon.
The night before I bought heart shaped cookies and Valentine’s Day decorated pastries. We don’t normally eat such sweet things in the morning, but I figured that we needed the sugar high in the morning. Gerard thought I was being ridiculous decorating for Valentine’s and buying commercial things. The neighbors seemed to enjoy the Heart-shaped decorations I placed on the windows and the plastic Cupid figurine sitting on the back window of my car.
“The neighbors think you are insane…” He would tell me at night when I turned on the pink and red lights around the front door.
“They know I am a teacher who enjoys being creative.”
So this morning we had a festive breakfast. I hadn’t considered that the red coloring on the pastries would stain our tongues or lips. It was cute to see Gerry walk out of the door with red lips. I told him that if someone asked, to just tell them his wife gave him lots of kisses before he walked out the door. (LOL).
I planned his romantic gift a month ago when I got online and ordered a beautiful fruit arrangement from EdibleArrangements.com. I wanted to get something my husband would enjoy. I asked them to send it to his work at noon on Valentine’s. I hoped they would deliver it on time.
When I got to school I was greeted with a lot of cute notes and chocolates from my students. After recess at 12:00, I made sure the students behaved during the fair. I saw Alex standing next to the cupcake stand and decided to see if he needed any help selling the treats.
“Hello Mrs. Valdespino, Happy Valentine’s Day!” He greeted me as I walked up. “Can I interest you into buying a cupcake?”
“No thank you! I think I’ve had too many sweets already!” I looked at the red, pink and while cupcakes with little messages on each one. “They look delicious!”
“Oh, too bad, I had a special one saved here for you.”
“Really? What kind is it?”
“Vanilla with chocolate filling. Look…” he showed me the cupcake. “It has a message on it: U R Sweet”.
“Oh, alright.” I handed him the money and bought the cupcake.
A student walked up to Alex and said “Professor, tell us a poem!” Then she turned to me and asked if I knew any romantic poems. I replied that I couldn’t think of any at the moment. She continued to insist that Alex think of a poem.
“I don’t know how to start…” he began and turned to me.
I smiled and said “Start with the typical—Roses are red, Violets are Blue…”
“Roses are red, Violets are blue, This day I used to dread, Until I met you” He answered, staring straight into my eyes. I looked at him, surprised by his poem. My wedding ring suddenly itched on my finger. I smiled politely and pretended that someone was calling me at the other end of the fair.
My cel-phone suddenly rang.
“Hello?”
“Hello darling! Happy V Day!” Gerry’s voice echoed on the other end of the line.
“Darling…hi.”
“I just got a delicious fruit arraignment delivered to my office. It doesn’t say who it is from. There is just a little blank note with a red kiss mark on it. I already called the mistress…” he joked. “So it must be from you! Thanks!”
He commented how he liked my thoughtfulness and his co-workers joked about how I was spoiling him. We agreed to go meet at the house before going out to dinner. While we spoke Alex walked up to me. I hung up with Gerry. Alex put his hands up in a motion to stop me from walking away.
“I… I didn’t mean to offend you with the poem.”
“I’m married.” I replied like robot. “Happily married.”
“I know, I am sorry… I don’t know what came over me.” He looked at me before continuing. “I don’t mean to intrude or imply anything…”
I stopped him before he continued. “Alex, it doesn’t mean anything. We are friends, you are a romantic and poet, and you just got carried away with all the celebration…”
“Corazon, I am attracted to you. This day didn’t have anything to do with it…”
I suddenly felt an uncomfortable tightness in my gut when he called me a loving name, Corazon, (heart). I didn’t like this familiarity he seemed to want to have with me. I thought Alex was cute, but he was also my co-worker and this felt wrong. It felt too sudden and it wasn’t right.
“Don’t ever call me that.” I said. “I don’t know where this is coming from, but I suggest you stop it. That name is something only my husband can call me.”
I heard the bell ring, allowing the students to return to their classrooms and then head home. I walked back to the teacher’s office and picked up my purse. I wanted to get home as soon as possible. It felt awkward begin at school.
Before I went home I drove to my parent’s house to see them. They were going to go to the movies later, so I didn’t stay too long. Once I got home I continued with the laundry and did a little dusting around the house. I found a wrapped present in the guest bedroom. It was from Gerry. I opened it and found a beautiful black beaded purse with a silver necklace.
I’ve decided to wear both tonight. I don’t think we’ll go anywhere very fancy, but I want to look nice.
I’ll write later.
Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!!
Till tomorrow!!
Love
Desiare Valdespino
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