The Bougainvilleas' House

By Angelic Aldo

I've had the privilege of being friends with the author of this touching book, for many years.
I also know her family and social background very well. And I can assure that she has been a very brave and courageous woman.
She was principal in a Montessori Kinder garden and Elementary school. That's where I first met her.
I have had the opportunity of helping her with two of the books she has written, and I have found them most tender. I just hope God can give me the pleasure of continuing being friends with this wonderful lady.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 16, 2008
• ISBN: 9781462835751

Angelic Aldo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR BY Julia Gutiérrez Peñaloza To my dear friend Angelic Aldo: I’ve had the privilege of being friends with the author of this touching book, for many years. I also know her family and social background very well. And I can assure that she has been a very brave and courageous woman. She was principal in a Montessori Kinder garden and Elementary school. That’s where I first met her. I have had the opportunity of helping her with two of the books she has written, and I have found them most tender. I just hope God can give me the pleasure of continuing being friends with this wonderful lady. ABOUT THE AUTHOR BY Helen Hough Angelic Aldo, my friend and almost sister, is a loving, caring, kind person who gives of her all to anyone who needs help, advice, consolation and a shoulder to cry on. We met some 25 years ago and have been the best of friends ever since. She is sensitive to other needs and is always there to help with whatever she can. She never lets a friend forget that they have a friend in her. She is a very savvy lady with a heart of gold. ABOUT THE AUTHOR BY Mary Lou Buck. Her novel is her belief and one in which she is convinced that expressed love lost can be found years later with nothing lost in between. She is convinced that her novels help enlarge her vision and have helped her discover that words have the power to heal. She has learned to let go of the past and look forward to her future.

Book preview

Chapter One

Standing at the porch of her beautiful country house, Marie was watching the wonderful clouds and enjoying the warm sun, the house was in the middle of a garden with many beautiful trees, with bougainvilleas flowers everywhere, and a small fountain near the door of the house.

She walked in the garden to go to the gazebo where a comfortable chair was waiting for her. She sat, closed her eyes and began to dream, to remember all those memories that had made her happy for many years; it was like living those wonderful moments again. Moments that were full of life, of happiness and also of sadness, but all these memories had left her life with a great feeling of love.

However she constantly remembers the most sentimental the most beautiful memories in her life.

When she was young, thousands of years ago, she was dreaming of having a beautiful big house like this and now this house was hers. She glanced around the garden, where there were so many beautiful flowers; she could smell their perfume. The house has Italian furniture and draperies decorated mostly in white and blue, the colors she likes best.

The entire place is peaceful; everyone who enters can feel the peace and love all over the place. The walls are surrounded with pictures of her memories, the present, the past, but she doesn’t have all the pictures that she would like to have. She knows that the most beautiful pictures of her life are in her heart and in her mind.

She closes her eyes and sweet thoughts come up from the past:

Years ago, Marie worked in a renowned architect company, situated in a beautiful building with an incredible view of Central Park. The office housed about 25 people. It had big windows through which Marie had a splendid view of the Park and she could see people jogging. She loved working at this place.

She lived far from the office and the traffic was always heavy, she left home early to take the bus and dream all the way to the office. Many of the same people rode the bus; they became friends as they saw each other every day, at times they chatted during the whole ride, but other days Marie dreamed all the way to work. She loved the silence, enjoying her own thoughts.

She loved to dream of the things she would do with her life. She was very young at that time.

Before she worked in that office she worked in the stocks and bonds department of a big bank where she had the opportunity to meet many important people. That is where she had met the owners of the Architect’s Company and one of the directors of the Corporation invited her to work for them. She accepted, as the salary was considerably more than she was earning at the bank.

The environment at her new office was pleasant; every one seemed friendly. She was appointed executive assistant to both owners, she was in charge of the main office including the personal matters of the owners. She was equal to the task being very reliable and dependable.

Throughout the day most of the employees were administrative personnel, because the entire groups of architects were at construction sites. Almost all of them arrived at the office in the afternoon, and then the office became alive, full of activity, sounds and noises. Everyone had tasks that needed to be done immediately.

They usually came in hungry and the secretaries went around asking what they wanted to eat, Chinese? Pizza?" and would order from the nearest restaurant.

The office receptionist was a young lady. She received visitors when they arrived. There were several architects meeting rooms and rooms where customers and suppliers were received. Conference rooms were reserved for important people, there was another large room for the Accounting Department, and Marie had a small office located behind the reception and near the owner’s private office.

One day … . she would never forget that day! She couldn’t because that day was the most wonderful day of her entire life; the day when she felt the magic of love, true love.

She was alone in one of the private rooms, with an old lady who would come by and sell the employees beautiful, comfortable shoes. Marie was trying on a pair of pink shoes, when suddenly; she heard a strong voice behind her: I like those pink shoes and they look very nice on your beautiful feet.

Her head turned toward the door, she was surprised when her eyes saw him … . A tall, thin, handsome man was standing at the entrance of the private room; elegantly dressed and with beautiful blue eyes, the color of the sky.

Marie thought: Oh my God! What a handsome man! What a beautiful smile. Who is he? She wondered? But he was staring at her so intensely; that she felt as if an electric shock had gone through her body. He didn’t stop looking directly into her eyes. Marie noticed that he was trembling and so was she. Marie almost without taking a breath asked him:

Can I help you? No one is here at this hour. Do you have an appointment? Are you looking for somebody?

He smiled and asked her for Mr. Smith, one of the owners. He is not here at the moment. she answered Never mind, I can wait he said. But he won’t be here until this afternoon she replied,

I have plenty of time, I am from out of town and I don’t have any other place to go. As for me, just watching you all day is a pleasure.

Marie was extremely nervous and the trembling wouldn’t stop. So she told him: "Let me call Mr. Smith and ask exactly what time he is going to come to the office. Please, may I have your name?

Yes, my name is James Parker.

She left the private room and went to her office and called Mr. Smith. She realized that she had forgotten her shoes where Mr. Parker was waiting. She called the architect and as soon as he heard the visitor’s name, he said: Tell him that I am on my way to see him. And please Marie takes him to the conference room and makes him comfortable.

She went back to the private room and told him that Mr. Smith would be with him momentarily. Marie saw that he had her shoes in his hands, she blushed. He saw her and with a sweet smile offered to help put her shoes on. The old lady had left, and now Marie was alone with him in the office.

He didn’t stop looking at her, his smile seemed fixed. Marie’s heart was jumping out of control; but she needed to take him to the conference room, so she motioned for him to follow her and they walked there together. He was smiling all the time, showing his beautiful teeth like pearls.

He walked close to Marie; she opened the door and he followed her into the conference room.

She asked him if he wanted a cup of coffee or a soda. He answered I only want you. She looked at him somewhat embarrassed and speechless. She walked outside the conference room feeling butterflies in her stomach, as she walked toward her office and closed the door.

Marie thought: Oh my God! I don’t know what to think about this man. I don’t know why I am feeling like this.

The architect didn’t take long to arrive at the office to see Mr. Parker. They spent about 30 minutes talking. Mr. Smith called Marie into the office and gave her some brochures which Mr.

Parker had given him. She left the conference room and waited in her office. When she saw they had finished their meeting, she ran to the accountant’s office, because she didn’t want him to see her, if he did he would see that she was still trembling.

Before he opened the door to leave, he glanced into the reception hall, looking for her. He really didn’t know where her office was, and didn’t know that she was hiding in the accounting office.

Marie was wondering: What happened to me? I have never felt like this before. I smelled a sweet perfume in the air and I heard wonderful music in my ears when he was looking at me, She knew that she would spend the rest of the day thinking about this strange, wonderful man.

Mr. Smith called Marie to his office and gave her more brochures about special decorations and raw material for buildings. He gave her no information about him? Who was he? She didn’t know who he was, but it was obvious that he was an important man and she also found out that he lived south, far away from New York.

Marie couldn’t forget him, all day his eyes and the way he looked at her stayed in her mind. Remembering how he looked at her gave her a pleasant sensation.

She would like to spend all day thinking about him, but she had a lot of work to do and after a while she began concentrating on her work and forgot about the wonderful man, it was possible that she would never see him again.

Like all young girls, Marie had several boyfriends, but never before had she felt this marvelous feeling. This was a new feeling, like a magic love. Marie usually left the office at 7.00 P.M. and walked one block to catch the bus that would take her home.

That day she was walking with Christine, her friend, who also worked in the same office. They went down the stairs, walked through the hall that led out of the building. Marie had her head bent down looking in her purse for change for the bus fare.

When she raised her head she saw him. Her heart began to jump: What is he doing here? She thought. He had changed his clothes, now he was wearing blue jeans with a white shirt; he looked younger in those clothes. When he saw her, he smiled, and Marie was aware that she could hardly breathe.

She forgot Christine, her friend, and walked directly toward him. She really didn’t know what he was doing there; she was following the light of those blue eyes that seemed to be calling her. And she walked toward those eyes, as if magnets were attracting her.

When she was near him, he took her hand pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips. It was so natural for him to do that. Marie thought that she had loved him for ages. She could again smell the fresh perfume and hear the sweet music in the air. Where do they come from? Marie didn’t know. Cristine, her friend was astonished.

He put his arm around her shoulders and they both walked outside. They walked by the Park toward the parking lot, where his vehicle was parked. Both were walking speechless, he smiled and looked into her eyes. Marie stared at his too.

Once he saw his truck, a white pick up, he paid the parking fee. They walked to the truck and he opened the door, held her in his arms and put her inside the truck. Why are you doing this? she asked. He answered: Because from the moment I saw you I knew that you were mine. Yes, she thought, And I am yours and that was the truth. Since the very first moment Marie saw him, she knew she belonged to him. But she was wondering if he too belonged to her.

Marie would you like to have dinner with me? he asked.

I can’t. My parents are waiting for me to have dinner, she said. He looks disappointed. Where do you live? Far from here she answered. Well allow me to take you home, I would like to know where you live and I’d like to meet your parents. He was so confident, so sure of himself. Marie could only direct him to her house.

He began to drive and she was amazed that she felt no fear of him, for the first time in her entire life she was with a total stranger and felt no fear. My father is going to kill me she was thinking it never occurred to her that this man might perhaps want to rape her. She felt safe and happy with him. When he was driving, she was looking at him. He was very handsome; she loved his blue eyes, his nice body, and his beautiful, sweet smile.

Why are you staring at me? he asked. Marie blushed and answered: Because you are the most handsome man I have ever met, He smiled.

Marie as you know my name is James Parker and I love you. She turned her face to look at him, with big eyes, and said: How can you love me, you have only seen me once? No Marie, you’re wrong, I met you many years ago, maybe just the idea of you, but I have had you in my heart forever.

Mr. Parker you are very nice, but you are … he didn’t let her finish, he stopped the car, turned and kissed her Could you tell me Marie that you don’t know me. Could you tell me that you don’t feel what I am feeling for you?

She couldn’t speak, she didn’t know what to say, but it was true, all that he said was true. She felt that she had been in love with him forever, and that was a strange feeling. Then he kissed her again, and this time she returned his kiss.

They started to move again. She couldn’t speak; she still didn’t know what to say. The rest of the way they both remained silent. She gave him directions to her home as he was not familiar with the city. Her directions were specific and she named each of the streets.

Whenever he could, he looked at her, his smile was fixed. When they arrived at her house, they remained in the car, looking at one another. Marie felt that she was blushing again, and he laughed. Suddenly he told her: I am in love with you. I’ve been picturing you or the likeness of you in my mind for years. But you don’t know me, she replied. We have only seen each other for a moment this morning, I know he said, but I could feel you in my heart and I feel certain that you felt me in your heart too.

Look at you Marie, you are trembling as I am, she thought he is right, it is true, she was feeling the same. James glanced at the house and told Marie: Your house is beautiful it has so many flowers. What are they? I have a collection of bougainvilleas. So your house is the house of the bougainvilleas, Yes it is, Marie said.

He told her that he lived in the South, very far away and that he spent almost two days on the road to get there. He didn’t take a plane, because he made several stops, visiting clients along the way.

Do you drive alone? she asked him, No I usually have a driver with me, because it is very tiresome to drive this distance alone.

Tomorrow I have to return home, but I am going to be here again in 15 days. Wait for me. Don’t go away. She smiled and told him: "Well I’m usually here all the time.

Her father was watching the white pick up through the window. What is she doing in that car? he wondered, Who is with her? James saw her father through the window, and he got out of the truck. Her father opened the door and James said hello and introduced himself, and told him that he would return in 15 days, and asked permission to take her to dinner at that time.

Marie was speechless, she was afraid of what her father was going to say. Maybe, he would just ask him: Who are you? What are you doing here with Marie? Get away from her. But to her surprise he was very kind and agreeable. Marie usually feared her father very much, because he was a hard and uncompromising man.

Marie couldn’t speak, James walked toward her and said: Good bye my love! kissed her hand and left. She couldn’t even move, as she watched him leave. She prayed to God, and asked him to let her see James again.

When she got in the house her father said nothing. She was afraid to tell him that she really didn’t know who he was, but he didn’t ask anything. That was weird, because he always wanted to know all about her friends.

She was grateful that they had dinner and no one asked about the mysterious man. She thanked God because she did not know what to tell her parents.

The next morning, Sam Gray, one of the architects at the office, who had been inviting her to go out with him and never accepted his invitation, came up to her and said,: I saw you yesterday with a man, who is he? I don’t know she replied. You don’t know and you were kissing him? Several of us saw you. I was not kissing him, she answered, He was kissing me, So he asked again: Who is he? She could only say: Believe me, I don’t know. And please stop asking me about him, you can ask Mr. Smith because he knows who he is.

She felt uncomfortable with all these questions, and she didn’t want to speak with anyone about Mr. James Parker, because she really didn’t know what could she say. But she was as happy as a hummingbird in a bunch of flowers, thinking of his kisses. She was scared too because she really didn’t know if he would come back again. If he didn’t come back it would be like dream in a soap bubble, and the magic would come to an end.

At the office none of the employees asked her anything about him. Christine, her friend, wanted to know, What is going on with this guy? Marie only smiled, Please tell me! Christine insisted, Who is that handsome man who arrived at the office and kissed you, She only smiled again and said: I don’t know, Where did you go last night? What did you do? Marie told Christine: He took me home, and met my parents. He said he was in love with me, Christine laughed and said: This story is like a movie. How can he tell you that he loves you? You don’t even know who he is? You are right it’s like a movie, a beautiful, wonderful movie, and I can tell you that I am going to make a film, a beautiful film with him and me; it will be of our life together.

Chapter Two

Fifteen … long days have passed. Marie constantly thinks of the stranger. "What, am I going