Page 71 of Under His Sheets
“No one has seen nor heard from him. La policía has no record of him. Our family attorney has not heard from him and no one can find any information with the courts. I phoned his commanding officer and he claims they are not at liberty to disclose any information.” He pulled at his hair. “I’m ready to go to Madrid and force someone to give me answers. He can’t just disappear. Not in this day and age.”
Cecilia went to him and put an arm around his waist. “Come on, let’s go for a walk, okay?”
He nodded and she waved to me. “We’ll be back shortly,” she said. It was good for them to go. Felip was ready to explode.
“So you and my cousin, huh?” Fermín asked. “I wondered why I’d seen his ancient car parked nearby. No one else drives those cars around here.” Fermín laughed, but it was a tired sound, and there wasn’t much humor behind it.
“I’m sorry about all of this, Fermín. I’d understand if you wanted me to move out.”
“Nonsense,” he said, coming to sit at the table with me. “You are with my cousin. And you are Cecilia’s friend. You are family. We Seguras stick together.” He patted my knee and sat back with a frown. “You know those fools tried to recruit me for their cause.”
“Really? Ambròs Vidal?”
He nodded with a grunt. “They were trying to get as many business people in the area to join in, donate money toward the cause. I prefer to stay out of politics such as this. I’m not happy with Madrid either, but we have businesses to run, and tourismis extremely important to this area. If people see this as a place of unrest, they won’t want to come here.
“You know, besides this complex and one closer to la platja, I own two hotels here in Castelldefels. I started with one, using the money I received from the winery—my father splits his share between his sons—and I have scraped together every penny to buy more properties. I wish my taxes went more toward the people and businesses here, but I understand how things work. I just want to continue hosting people from all over the world who come to visit our beautiful country. Vidal is a menace. I am proud my cousin was trying to stop him.”
I smiled. “He wanted everyone to be safe.”
He sniffed. “He always does. He installs security at all of my properties, the winery, he is a good man. Doesn’t ask for anything in return. I am happy he found someone. I hope when he is found and this is all over, you will continue to make him happy.”
“That’s all I want.”
My friends couldn’t take care of me forever. After a week of babying, I called Josette and Sasha and told them to go home to France as they’d planned, to spend the rest of the holidays with their families. They came over and stocked my kitchen full of food before they left and made me promise to call them if anything happened.
But there was another call I needed to make.
Mom picked up after the first ring.
“Randall! Honey, how are you? I’ve been hoping you would call soon.”
Guilt crashed over me but I needed to get through this. I thought about Alonso’s words. It was time to apologize.
“I wanted to wish you all happy holidays.”
“Thank you. Where are you? You sound funny.”
I swallowed. “I’m in Spain, just outside of Barcelona. I’m working here now. I, uh, the band broke up, and so now I’m teaching music at an international school.”
She was quiet for a few beats, and I heard my sister’s voice.
“Your sister’s listening, and you need to say hello to your brothers—wait,the band broke up?What are you doing in Spain?”
They spoke over each other, and then I heard them calling for my brothers. They put me on speakerphone, and I told them an abbreviated tale of robbery, romance, and the re-creation of Randall Sutter, leaving out the part about terrorists and the fact that I’d been broken and was now on the mend.
“I’m enjoying it, though, teaching music. Just like Cecilia always said I would.”
“That sounds…well, it sounds like you’re in a good place, honey,” my mother said, and I had to suck in a breath before I passed out. I had no idea what I expected from this conversation, but it wasn’t for my mom to just up and accept my new life like I’d told her I might have tea instead of coffee with breakfast.
“Thanks, Mom. Can I talk to Dad alone?”
“I’m here.”
I heard shuffling noises and voices for a few seconds and then the line was silent.
“Dad?”
“Randall. It’s good to hear from you.”
