Diary of a Country Girl

Chapter Four:

Dear diary,

I was so happy when Consuela popped in and surprised Tre. I had been so worried that he had figured out our plans. It's been over a year since he had seen his parents and I know how much he loves them both. I love his smile so much and I just knew seeing them would put the biggest one on his face. He's my big sexy teddy bear.

And if I'm honest I had been dying to meet Consuela in person. We have so much in common and we had a lot to talk about. She's been helping me bone up on my Spanish. I took classes in high school but never really got to use it. As I become more fluent we tell each other funny stories about Delmond and Tre and it gets to be our little secret. Not that we would ever say anything mean about them. It's a wonderful way to bond with my mother-in-law and feel like a part of the family.

I felt really awkward about Tre and I's marriage and the way it happened without meeting his parents first. Consuela and Delmond have been very forgiving and gracious about it. Reading between the lines, I suspect their marriage had begun under equally unorthodox circumstances. I'm trying very hard to gloss over the fact that my parents still haven't met Tre either. Not yet anyway.

Del Sol Valley and Cuidad Enamorada are just a short distance apart. Getting through Customs at the border takes longer than the trip itself. Tre's parents made the drive down to meet us, spend the night, and then show us around the following day before heading home. It's obvious where Tre gets his charm from. Tre and Delmond are so much alike. Both of them are warm, charming, and funny. Watching his parents it's easy to see where he learned to be such a wonderfully supportive partner and lover. He had a great example to follow. 

There are mercados every other block it seems. And street vendors on every corner with the most delicious food you can imagine. I just needed to walk past one and I could feel myself gaining another five pounds. The ranch chores will melt those pounds off in no time. It was worth every calorie.

Before Tre's parents left to go home we stopped to see where Consuela grew up. It was very touching to see her face light up to see it all again.

Even the little taco stand that occupied the corner of their home and where her family made their living was still there. There was a new family living there now. Her family had moved on and are living in a rural village many miles away now.

We found a seat nearby and listened to her share stories of growing up here. It reminded me so much of growing up in Chestnut Ridge. It wasn't about the locations. It was the little things that formed such lasting memories that took me back. 

For the second time in as many months I find myself with alone Tre in a very romantic city. First Tartosa and now Cuidad Enamorada.

The vibes are the same and yet they're different. Romance is everywhere in both cities. It's what they're famous for. Tartosa is fairytale romance and dreams of true and abiding love. It's finding your soulmate and building a life together in the most beautiful place you can imagine. Cuidad Enamorada is a steamy bodice-ripper romance novel come to life. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

With two days left before we caught our flight back home Tre and I lost ourselves in this fantastic city. Consuela had pointed out a spot just down the street from her childhood home called "The Wall of Love." She said before we left Tre and I had to come here by ourselves and leave our declarations of love on the wall. She said she would be very sad if we didn't send her a picture of us in front of the wall. 

Tre and I explored a cute little Spanish mission not far from our rental. It was beautifully decorated for some lucky couple's wedding and I really wanted to renew my vows right then with Tre. We will someday, but I want our parents to be there when we do. We still went through the motions though, even if it was only make believe.

 We'll be on our way back to the ranch soon. Both trips have been a wonderful distraction when they were needed most, but we have a ranch business to run. I've thoroughly enjoyed Tartosa and Cuidad Enamorada. I will always cherish the time Tre and I have spent together on these romantic getaways and the memories we made. I miss my quiet life in Chestnut Ridge though. I miss my girl Piccolo. I miss Peanut, Nashville, and Spirit. We have so much work ahead of us when springtime comes again but I can't wait to get down to it. Tre and I made one vow that was real. Someday when we're too old to run the ranch and we hand it off to our kids, the kids we hope to have, we're going to come back to Cuidad Enamorada. We're going to share a kiss at the fountain in the Plaza Mariposa just like we did to end our trip. Who knows, may be when that day finally comes we may just decide to stay forever. The only thing I know for sure is I'm the luckiest woman in the world.