Page 24 of Under His Sheets
“If you don’t mind, Papa,” Felip said. “I do have one more bit of the dramatic.”
His tone was enough to startle his father, who sloshed a bit of wine onto the table. Alonso was there with a towel to clean up the mess and check on his father.
“Ves amb compte, germà,” Alonso said, giving a warning to his brother.
“Si us plau, Papa. It’s only that Cecilia and I want to ask your blessing to have our nuptials here at the winery in June.”
The room fell silent for the briefest of moments before everyone erupted in cheers. Mr. Segura pounded on Felip’s back and kissed him on the lips, squeezing his face, then shoved him toward Mrs. Segura, who was crying and laughing. Mr. Segura squeezed Cecilia tight as she wiped tears from her eyes. Happy tears.
More wine was spilled as hugs went around. I sat back and waited until Cecilia was free to give her a hug. I didn’t want to intrude on what was obviously a big moment for Felip’s family.
But then Felip pulled me up and hugged me, then passed me over to Cecilia, who held me tight, her body trembling.
“Congratulations,” I whispered to her.
“Thanks.” She pulled back and grinned. “I knew they’d be happy, but I wasn’t expecting all this!”
Mr. Segura picked up his guitar and began to play a beautiful flamenco tune, and he sang in that kind of throaty, husky voice that I had always been fascinated by. The next thing I knew, Felip had a guitar and the two played and sang together, while Mateu and Tomás clapped along with their mother.
I looked around for Alonso and spotted him through the dining room to the kitchen. He was doing the dishes. I wanted to get up and help him but I was riveted by the music being made before me. I was sure I could be forgiven as the musician insideme was in heaven, so honored to be a part of such an important family moment.
But then nature called.
Which gave me a perfect opportunity to find Alonso and demand some answers.
Only, I got distracted going to the bathroom, transfixed by the many family pictures lining the walls of the hallway of the old house. I finally found what I needed, did my business, and took a look at myself as I washed my hands. I’d left my hair down tonight, which I normally didn’t do, but the unpredictable brown and reddish-blond streaked waves were actually quite calm today, and it had reached a length finally where it would remain behind my shoulders when I ate or did some other activity where I needed it out of the way.
My cheeks were rosy from all the wine and my eyelids were heavy. I looked thoroughly sauced, and while I felt safe and in control of my faculties, I realized that everyone had been drinking, including Felip and Cecilia, and we were quite far from Castelldefels. Did Cabify or Uber even come out this far?
I heard a tap on the door, and I realized I’d been gone for some time and I still wanted to give Alonso a piece of my mind, drunk or not. Only, when I flung the door open and found Alonso’s concerned expression, I lost my fight a little. Until he opened his mouth.
“Were you sick?”
For some reason that made me quite indignant.
“I was not, thank you. I’m not that messy of a drunk.”
“You certainly wouldn’t be the first of us or our guests to be sick in that bathroom after a night like tonight.”
The lift at the corner of his lips had once enticed me, but right now I was…sassy, apparently.
“Why are you lurking out here in the hallway?”
He backed up to give me space to leave the bathroom if I chose, but I wanted answers. Whys. I wanted themnow. Dammit.
“I know you have questions. I appreciate you not asking in front of my family.”
“But you’re still not going to tell me.”
He sighed, glanced toward the living room where the guitars had gone quiet, but there was still a lot of happily boisterous discussion. Alonso held his hand out to me. “Come. Let’s go for a walk.”
I stared at his hand for a moment, which was foolish, because I knew I’d take it and follow him wherever he led me, whether it was good for me or not. I wanted answers more than security.
His grip was warm and firm as he led me farther down the hallway away from the family room. We went through a sort of mudroom and out onto a back step, where the hillside was bathed in moonlight.
“It’s very beautiful here,” I said, needing to acknowledge that fact. I’d been so nervous and overwhelmed when we arrived that I hadn’t had the words, but the drive up had been breathtaking.
“To me it is the most beautiful place on Earth,” he said, and I melted at his words. He didn’t let go of my hand once we took the path leading into the vineyard and away from the house.
