Page 49 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“Agneta, let me introduce my friends. This is Eric and his wife, Judith; Andrés and his wife, Frida; and Dexter and his girlfriend, Graciela.”

Uh-oh.

I can’t help but laugh.

But before Dexter can say anything, Graciela looks up at the handsome Björn and says, “I’m not his girlfriend. I’m just his personal assistant.”

Björn looks at Dexter, surprised, and then at Graciela and responds in Spanish so Agneta won’t understand him. “Well then, I think you and I will have a date later.”

I crack up. Björn never misses an opportunity.

“I’d be delighted,” says Graciela with a poise that surprises us all. You go, girl.

I can’t look at Dexter!

Poor man!

But in the end, I can’t help it. I see him squaring his jaw as he pushes his hair back from his face. He doesn’t say a word and takes another sip of his beer. I feel a little sorry for him.

After the introductions, we all sit and chat. Björn’s father brings us all kinds of delicious things to eat. I try to explain what everything is to Graciela.

I’m so hungry!

“Do you know who she is?” Frida whispers.

“Who?” Then I see she means Björn’s date.

“She works at CNN here in Germany. She’s a TV anchor.”

“Well,” I whisper back, now intrigued.

“This is delicious!” says Graciela, who, like me, loves to eat. She’s trying one of the meatballs.

They’re to die for. I serve her a Brezn.

“Try this savory pastry,” I say. “Dip it in that sauce, and you’ll see.”

“These are spectacular,” says Frida as she picks one up.

All three of us dip our pastries and take a bite, and our dramatic expressions say it all. Delicious!

The men chat while we eat until I suddenly realize Agneta is not joining us.

“You don’t eat?”

She shakes her head and wrinkles her nose. “Too much fat for me.”

“Well then, more for us!” Graciela says in Spanish, and I have to stop myself from laughing. I think the beers are getting to her.

“But you must eat something,” says Frida.

“I’ve ordered a radish and cheese salad,” says Agneta.

“That’s all you’re going to have?”

She lifts her chin.

“Everything you’re eating is in your mouth for one second but six months on your hips. I can’t do that to my audience.”

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