Page 52 of Now and Forever

“Don’t laugh, sweetheart,” says Eric. “It’s a tradition! Every single channel broadcasts it year after year on New Year’s Eve. What’s most curious of all is that it’s a skit in English, although some channels do include German subtitles.”

“What’s it about?”

Eric puts his arms around me as the skit begins.

“Sophie is celebrating her ninetieth birthday with James, her butler, and several friends who are no longer there because they’ve died. The funny part is how the butler pretends to be each of the friends for Sophie.”

He stops talking because he’s laughing at the TV. As they watch the video, I’m surprised at all of them. They’re having so much fun that even Flyn drops his usual furrowed brow to laugh openly at the butler’s antics on the screen.

When the skit’s over, Simona goes to the kitchen and comes back with five little glasses of grapes. I’m quite surprised.

“Remember that my mother is Spanish,” says Eric. “We’ve never been without grapes on a New Year’s Eve here.”

Really moved, dazed, and happy because of these simple grapes, I yelp when Eric turns to the international channel and we see the Puerta del Sol in Madrid.

Oh, my Spain!

There are fifteen minutes left of the year, and to see my dear Madrid really moves me. My tears seem to surprise Flyn.

“Don’t cry, love,” Eric whispers in my ear.

I contain my tears and smile. “I have to go to the bathroom for just a sec.” I leave as quickly as I can.

I close the bathroom door and sob. But these are strange tears. I’m happy because my family is fine. I’m happy because Eric is by my side. But these tears still insist on falling.

I cry for a few minutes until I finally manage to control the flow. I wash my face and then hear a knock on the bathroom door.

“Are you OK?” says a worried Eric when I come out of the bathroom.

“Yes,” I say in a thin voice. “It’s just that it’s the first time I’ve been away from my family on such a special night.”

Back in Spain, Epiphany is almost as big as Christmas. And because it commemorates the visit of the Three Kings to Jesus, that’s when we exchange presents. It’s probably the biggest family holiday of the year.

I know he can see in my eyes what’s happening, and he hugs me.

“I’m sorry, love. I’m sorry that, because you’re with me, you might not be having the best time.”

His words comfort me. I kiss him on the lips.

“Don’t be sorry, honey. It’s been a really magical time for me.”

He’s not very convinced by what I say, and he gives me an unsettling look. When he’s about to say something, I quickly kiss him instead.

“C’mon ... let’s go. Flyn, Simona, and Norbert are waiting for us in the living room.”

When the clock at the Puerta del Sol begins to chime, I explain that this is the countdown. And I encourage them to eat a grape with each chime. Flyn and Eric have done this before, but Norbert and Simona haven’t, and I can’t help but laugh at their expressions.

Grape by grape, I’m bringing in the reinforcements.

One. Two. Three. Papá, Raquel, Luz, and my brother-in-law are fine.

Four. Five. Six. I’m happy.

Seven. Eight. Nine. What else can I ask for?

Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Happy 2013!

On the last toll of the bell, Eric’s going to hug me, but Flyn comes between us. I wink at him. This is normal. The boy wants to be first.

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