Inéz arrives right on time to help me get coffee and tea ready for the parents. We make sure the kids have food and drinks too. They are the ones that it’s all about.
The door bell rings and my heart jumps. I open the door and guide the parents with their little girl to the day care.
The room is slowly filling up with kids and their parents. Most of them already know each other and the new ones introduce themselves. I try to entertain the kids and the parents at the same time.
I feel like a slob when I see all the beautifully dressed parents. I look down at my jeans and sweater. There is a unidentifiable stain on my knee and my sweater is old and washed too much. I should have thought this through.
I rub my head. Well, it’s too late now.
I wish the rain would stop so I could let the kids play outside. The room is too small for all these people.
Ben walks in. “Everything okay in here?” He asks me. “It would have been better if the weather would be good enough to go outside.” I mutter. “I don’t know what I would have done if Inéz couldn’t have been here.” I say
Inéz looks at me and gives me a wink.
She moves through the crowds as if she’s a little fairy and speaks to everyone. The kids and the parents love her from the first moment.
The older kids are following Inéz wherever she goes and the babies are quiet the moment she picks them up.
I introduce Ben to the parents. He stays for a short while, but after twenty minutes he comes up to me and gives me a quick kiss on my cheek. “I am off to walk Theo. I’ll be back later. Good luck.”
I smile back at him and sit down on the floor to play with the toddlers.
The parents and kids are slowly leaving. The day was a big success and I can’t wait for the actual day to start.
One of the dads offered to build a tree house in one of the olive trees for the oldest kids to play in. And I agree without hesitation.
Inéz and I clean the room. “Well, that was a great success.” I smile. “I owe it all to you.” I tell Inéz. “No, you don’t. I’m just being me.” She blushes. “And everyone likes you.” I smile. “Did you see Rico? That little five year old boy?” I ask. “What about him?” She asks.
“He kept looking at you with big eyes. I think someone has a crush on you.” I laugh. Inéz sticks out her tongue and cleans the table.
“I am looking forward to next Monday.” She says.
We are only 6 days away from the opening date.
And I am already getting nervous.
“Do you wanna stay for dinner?” I ask Inéz. She refuses. “No, I need to clean my house too and get everything ready before Rodrigo comes home.” She says quickly. Rodrigo is Inéz’ husband. I haven’t met him yet. But I have the feeling I won’t like him.
Inéz takes off and I head back to the house. Theo is sleeping on the couch, but Ben is nowhere to be seen.
“Ben?” I shout.
“Upstairs.” He shouts back.
I walk up the stairs. Ben is busy in the big room next to our bedroom. “Watcha doing?” I ask.
“Getting this room done, so I have room for my instruments.” He says. “Aren’t you supposed to finish the garden first?” I ask.
“Yeah, but the weather is bad and I was bored. So I started here.” He grins.
“Why black?” I ask, pointing at the can of black paint. “Because it will look sophisticated.” Ben laughs. “All the walls?” I ask. Ben shakes his head. “No, only one. And I want fluorescent tubes on that wall.”
I shake my head. “Really? Ben?” I giggle. “How very fifties of you.”
Ben glares at me. “Are you making fun of me Ms. van der Beek?”
“Yes.” I reply with a smile. “You know, ‘Ms. van der Beek’ sounds so weird now that I’ve been practicing ‘Mrs. Graupner’ in my head for weeks now.” I grin.
“Well, that can be arranged.” Ben laughs. “Let’s get married tomorrow.” He continues.
“No dude. If we get married, we’ll do it right. With a big party and all.” I say. “And preferably in summer or fall.” I continue.
“Is it summer yet?” Ben asks. I smile. “Would October be too soon?” I ask. “October? That’s seven months from now. I think that might work.” Ben says and walks up to me. “So we’re getting married in October?” He asks. I nod.
“That sounds like a good idea to me.” I reply with a blush. Ben lifts me up and twirls me around.
“Why do you want to get married in October?” Ben asks. I shrug. “I don’t know. It’s a good month. The weather will be nice, but not too hot and I’ve got a thing for olive trees. The air will be filled with the smell of olive trees that just got harvested.” I say.
“I like the way you are thinking.” Ben says. “Do you need some help with your room?” I ask to change subject. The wedding details will be for later care.
“You want to help me paint the black wall?” Ben asks. “Sure.” I grab a brush and dip it in the black paint.
The wall is turning into a big black hole and I am not sure if I like it. But it’s Bens’ room. So he has to spend his time in it. Not me.
The wall is finished and I take a step backwards to look at it.
“And? Do you like it?” Ben asks. I frown. “I am not sure about it yet. It’s too dark.” I reply honestly.
“It will look much better with the fluorescent lights on it. That will brighten the whole wall.” He assures me. I have to wait for that then.
My arms feel sore and I put the brush down. “I think I will go take a shower.” I say. “Or do you want me to do more?” I ask. “No honey, just take a shower. I will clean up and start dinner.”
I am going to marry a dream guy.
I kiss his cheek. “Okay love, thank you.”
I turn on the faucets and wait till the water is the right temperature. I step in and wash the black paint and the stress off of me.
Stress for next Monday. Stress for the wedding.
I can’t believe I am going to be Mrs. Graupner in 7 months. The name I used to scribble down in my notebook when I loved the band. The name I always said when people asked me if I loved someone.
And now I am going to be Mrs. Graupner. Fate really works in mysterious ways.
“Did you drown?” I hear Ben shout from downstairs. I giggle. “No, not yet.” I turn of the faucets, step out of the shower and wrap a towel around me. I dry my hair just a little and walk downstairs with only the towel wrapped around me. It barely covers my body.
“Dinner is almost ready.” Ben says when I walk in. I walk into the kitchen and gasp.
“David.” I blush and turn around to run back upstairs.
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