They pulled the sheet up to their necks and made love again in the approaching dawn.
* * *
The aroma of brewed coffee filled Justine’s nostrils as she watched it percolate on the stove. She had awakened with the sun to get a nice breakfast prepared. Darrius was usually the cook but he was still asleep, still tired from the quick trip to San Francisco on the red-eye, the powwow and, oh yes, making love until four that morning.
Justine had watched him until he fell asleep in her arms, hardly believing he was the one in her life as opposed to someone she would have to learn to love. She loved Darrius from the moment she had laid eyes on him that fateful Monday in early August—she just didn’t want to admit to falling for someone again.
She sat at her kitchen table facing a large picture window, waiting for the coffee to finish brewing and the bacon to turn crisp. San Francisco had delivered another beautiful, lazy Sunday. The sun cast reflections against her engagement ring, and she stared at it in awe. She had never seen such a beautiful ring. She studied the delicate inlay pattern, the huge chunk of turquoise with rubies surrounding it, and she didn’t quite know if it was, indeed, the loveliest ring on the planet, or if it was the idea of Darrius giving it to her that made it so priceless to her. Nonetheless, she would wear it forever.
Darrius crept up behind her and began massaging her shoulders. He bent to kiss her cheeks and neck, and she rose to him. Now face to face, the lovers kissed good morning and held one another. Darrius broke the kiss. “I took a quick shower to rid my body of the candied paint you hadn’t kissed off.”
“You were a delicious meal last night, Darrius Red Sky.”
“Indeed! Hey, do you know this is the first day of our life together.”
“I tend not to agree. I think the first day of our life together began with the first words you spoke to me.”
“Which were?”
“You said, ‘Ma’am, is there anything I can show you?’ And you’ve been showing me ever since, probably in ways you hadn’t planned on.”
“Oh, I planned on it, all right!”
“And you don’t regret it?”
“My stock response: I’m still here, aren’t I? And the ring looks incredible on you, darling.”
Justine hugged him around his bare hips. “I just can’t wait to become Mrs. Darrius Red Sky.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Me, too, Justine. Me, too!”
* * *
Darrius and Justine became husband and wife on January first in an outdoor celebration in Shiprock, New Mexico. They married in traditional Hopi wedding attire, consisting of a large woven belt, white robes with red and white strips of fabric at the top and bottom, buckskin leggings and moccasins, and their hair was bound in colorful, rainbow string.
As Justine looked into Darrius’s handsome face, she still couldn’t believe he was the one she was marrying. She always thought it would be Horton Johansen, of all names and people. He was a Swedish boy who lived across from her as a child and had a perpetual crush on her since sixth grade. He still tried to keep in touch with Justine—useless efforts on his part. However, destiny had put the man before her into her life, and for that she was grateful.
To bless them into a lasting love affair were her parents, siblings and best friend, Fara. Darrius’s family and friends were scattered about the campgrounds as well. The ceremony was set to native drums conducted by Derrick and other tribe members.
Both Darrius and Justine held their totems in hand and awaited the rings. They could hardly keep their eyes off one another, anticipating the start of their enchanting new life together. In the audience, Justine saw Fara smiling at her and giving her a thumbs-up. She then returned to the loving smile of her new husband, knowing he was her best achievement, and the love she had for him was timeless, limitless.
27
MANY MOONS
Three years later
Justine gazed through the large kitchen window that faced the reddish-brown peaks of the outskirts of Gallup. That was her ritual every morning: to rise before everyone else, capture a few secluded moments of peace and admire the miraculous landscape.
She had taken many a picture of the red cliffs all over New Mexico before, but the mornings were always so special, so quiet—hers. The mountains looked surreal, enchanting, and she always saw something different each time she looked at them. It calmed her even more than Darrius’s unyielding love had.
Now a full-time photographer with New Mexico Magazine, she could set her hours, plan her photography sessions, work with children at the orphanages and continue to bring the beauty of New Mexico and surrounding states to the rest of the world. It was her dream job, and she was living her dream life. She looked around the spacious kitchen with its hints of western and Italian modern tiles and designs, and smiled. She remembered the first time she saw the house, but at the time, it was simply Darrius’s house. It had nothing but Native American flavor. Now it was decorated in a mix of African face masks, her Italian kitchen tile and the Native American culture. Now it was an expression of both of them—and their family.
The new day brought with it a kind of serenity, and she was enjoying it while she could because she knew shortly there would be the sound of little feet everywhere and a hungry man about to rush off to check on the new tea plant he and his family were opening. The plant would bring many jobs to the many impoverished Native Americans in the area, which was one of the main reasons he and Derrick had decided to expand the family business. Darrius was the overseer and part-time manager. Though he still owned his jewelry stores, being involved with providing jobs appealed to him.
Justine smiled and drank the rest of her Good Morning Medicine tea. She loved her life and wouldn’t trade it for anything, though juggling a career and a household could be hectic at times. Minutes later, she heard gentle laughter coming from the deck on the side of the house. She knew that warm, giddy laugh, and couldn’t wait to see the source.
Justine looked out her back patio and saw a breathtaking sunrise and mountain backdrop. The air was crisp and fresh, but what truly caught her attention was Darrius teaching their two-year old son, Honovi, the traditional dance so he could follow in his dad’s footsteps. The little dark-haired second joy of her life was named after his uncle, who had died shortly after birth many years ago due to weak lungs. Her son was a strong baby, however, and looked just like his father, but was darker in complexion and with deeply set eyes.
She smiled as she watched them dance without a clue of being watched. “You two are up awfully early today.”
Honovi smiled upon seeing his mother, and twisted in his father’s clutches until released. He ran directly into her outstretched arms, and the two cooed together until Darrius entered, wanting a piece of the action.
Justine quickly put the wiggling child back on the grass and gave her husband a warm good morning hug. She quickly kissed his warm lips, and then briefly parted. “Hungry? I can make you something before you go off to conquer the world.”
He nuzzled her nose against his. “The only thing I’m hungry for is a little more bed action with my first lady. Possible before I head off?”
“And what do we do with our little miracle playing in the grass? He’s not exactly the patient type who will let Mom and Dad have a little alone time. Am I right?”
“Yes, you are, but he did sleep long enough to let us do this.” He ran his hand over her growing stomach.
Seeing joy spread across Darrius’s face, she asked, “So, what do you think he wants, a sister or a brother?”
“At this age, I don’t think he cares.”
“Then what about you, papa? Boy or girl?”
“I don’t care either, so long as my first lady comes through with flying colors.”
