Page 45 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

Now I’m really smiling, and I hug my father back. While still in his arms, I look over his shoulder at Eric, who is saying goodbye to my sister. I never imagined a man like him would take such good care of me. But there he is, my somber German who managed to make me fall in love with him.

After I let go of my father, I turn to hug my sister.

“You haven’t left yet, and I already miss you so much,” she says.

“Oh, my sister,” I say, laughing, “I love you so much! Be nice to Juan Alberto. And, though you want to be fresh and modern, try to think through things before doing them, OK?”

My crazy sister whispers in my ear, “He asked me to go with him to Madrid.”

“Seriously?” I ask.

Raquel nods.

“When?”

“In three weeks. He’s going to Barcelona tomorrow, and I promised to go with him when he gets back. Listen, deep down, I know it’s good for me, and I’ll be able to pick up some of Luz’s things. Anyway, don’t worry, I’m not going to sleep with him. I’m not that desperate! I told Papá about the trip last night, and he thought it sounded good. He also said he likes Juan Alberto. That he seems like a good man.”

That makes me laugh. My father and his good men.

It’s the same thing he told me about Eric when he met him. It’s like certain men have a special code that we women don’t know, but he sees in Juan Alberto the seriousness he saw in Eric.

“Listen, Raquel, are you sure about what you’re doing?”

She looks over at Juan Alberto and the rest of the group.

“No, Cuchu, but I need to do something crazy. I’ve never been spontaneous, and I like the idea of doing something different with this man. What we have will only last while he’s in Spain but—”

“Raquel, you’re going to suffer when he leaves. I know you!”

My sister nods with a seriousness that surprises me.

“I know, Cuchu...but I want to enjoy myself while he’s here. I’m well aware of my situation and that I have two girls, so there aren’t a lot of crazy things I can do in my life. That’s why I’m determined to enjoy those two days!”

I smile, but I feel bad that she thinks like this. She’s too young to think she won’t have big emotions yet in her life.

“Girls, I hate to interrupt your moment, but the pilot says we need to go,” says Eric as he puts his hands on my waist.

As my sister says goodbye to Eric, Juan Alberto comes over to say goodbye to me.

“I know; don’t worry,” he says. “I’ll take care of her and make sure everyone’s OK. I already told Eric, but I wanted to thank you as well for letting me stay at Sweetheart Villa.”

I can’t reproach him about anything.

I playfully smack him on the chest with my hand.

“You already know, dude, how I get when I don’t like something, you know what I mean?” I say, warning him.

Raquel’s little roll in the hay grins and gives me a pair of kisses. When I pull away from him, I hug my father and my sister, I kiss Luz, who’s sniffling because Flyn is leaving—can you believe it?—and then babble something at little Lucía.

“Just remember, sweetheart, that I want more grandchildren,” says my father, “and if it’s a boy, even better!”

“I’d rather have a little girl,” says my husband.

I have nothing to say.

I’m sure my face says it all.

They both grin, and I roll my eyes as I scratch my neck. Men!

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