Page 53 of Now and Forever

“Gutes neues Jahr!”say Norbert and Simona, who hug me.

I can’t help myself and kiss them. We laugh when I make them say it in Spanish:“Feliz año nuevo!”

The couple’s having fun repeating my words, laughing happily. Norbert and Simona shake Eric’s hand, and they all wish each other a happy New Year. Flyn sticks firmly to his uncle’s side. I squat down to be at his height, and he lets me kiss him on the cheek.

“Happy New Year, handsome. I hope the year will be marvelous and spectacular.”

The boy returns my kiss and, to my surprise, grins. Norbert picks him up as Eric hugs me.

“Happy New Year, love. Thank you for making this night so special for all of us.”

16

The next couple of days pass, and being with Eric is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. He loves me; he spoils me; and he takes care of everything I need. Flyn is another story. He competes with me in everything while I try to make him see I’m not an adversary. If I make a potato tortilla, he doesn’t like it. If I dance and sing, he looks at me with disdain. If I watch something on TV, he complains. He can’t stand me, and he doesn’t pretend otherwise. That makes me more frantic every day.

I talk to my family members in Jerez, and they’re all well. That comforts me. My sister tells me how drained she is from her pregnancy and all the battles she’s waging with my niece. It amuses me. I imagine Luz overexcited, waiting for the Three Kings. My Luz is wonderful!

One morning when I go down to the kitchen, I catch Simona watching television. She’s so focused on what she’s viewing that she doesn’t hear me. When I come near, I see she’s anguished, frightened.

“My God, are you all right?”

She wipes her eyes with a napkin.

“I’m watchingEmerald Madness, miss.”

Taken aback, I glance at the TV and see it’s a soap opera. I chuckle; so does Simona.

“I think you’d like it too, Miss Judith. Do they watch this soap opera in Spain?”

“I don’t think so, but I’m not a fan of soap operas.”

“I’m not really either, but it’s caused quite a sensation here in Germany. Everyone watchesEmerald Madness.”

I’m on the verge of laughter.

“It’s about a character named Esmeralda Mendoza. She’s a beautiful young woman who works as a servant for the Halcones de San Juan. But everything gets complicated when the prodigal son, Carlos Alfonso Halcones de San Juan, returns from the United States and falls in love with Esmeralda Mendoza. She secretly loves Luis Alfredo Quiñones, Mr. Halcones de San Juan’s bastard son, and, oh God, everything becomes such an ordeal ...”

That’s quite a story. My sister would love it. Eventually, and without knowing why, I sit with her, and suddenly I’m deeply enmeshed in the plot.

Marta, Eric’s sister, comes for me on January 2. I told her I needed to do some holiday shopping, and she’s offered to go with me. Delighted to see me enjoying myself, Eric gives me a kiss on the lips when I go. “Have a good time, love.”

It’s unbelievably frigid outside. It’s two degrees below zero at eleven thirty in the morning, but I’m happy to have Marta and her fun stories as company. We go to Munich’s central plaza and Marienplatz, a majestic square surrounded by very impressive buildings. There’s a huge and spectacular street fair here for me to do my shopping.

“Do you see that balcony?” asks Marta, and I nod. “That’s city hall, and every afternoon they play live music there.”

All of a sudden, a very colorful stand with an abundance of Christmas trees draws my attention. They come in red, blue, white, and green and in different sizes. They’re mostly decorated with photos, notes with wishes inside, macaroons, and CDs. I love this!

“What do you think your brother would do if I put up one of these trees in his living room?”

Marta lights a cigarette and laughs.

“He’d be horrified.”

“Why?”

I accept a cigarette from her as she looks over the colorful artificial trees.

“Because these trees are too modern for him, but, mostly, because I’ve never seen him put up a tree at his house.”

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