Page 19 of Sombra
Tavo pulls out my bags from the trunk, sets them on a low stone wall, and gives me an encouraging chin lift.
I’m gonna need divine intervention to make it through all these introductions without betraying to my new host family that my only thought is relieving the tension between my legs.
A skinnier, younger Tavo, with long hair in a ponytail arrives first,almost skidding in the dust, all cheeky enthusiasm and nonstop talking. He’s just as handsome as his older brother, but bursting at the seams with energy. He talks double-quick. I catch one word out of every five.
“¡Hola! Kim, la estadounidense. ¿Cómo estás? ¡Mucho gusto conocerte!” He leans in and kisses me on both cheeks.
Like Tavo at the airport.
Is he a lady-killer, too?
I mess up the kiss, not knowing which way to turn, because he surprises me with it. I end up almost kissing him on the mouth.
Letting out a breath, I allow my eyebrows to raise and lower and collect myself. “Uh, hola.”
Mini Tavo keeps talking at light speed. “Soy el hermano menor de Tavo y me llamo Guillermo. ¿Cómo fue el viaje?”
He’s asked me a question. I can tellit’s a question because his intonation goes up at the end, but the words all run together, and I don’t know what he asked.
I stand, grinning at him like an idiot, unable to say anything. The sharp realization comes to me: all of my previous Spanish teachers were useless morons who taught me nothing. I can speak barely a word of real Spanish.
Despite four years of study!
Ifeel so dumb. The grin fades on my face, and I blink in the sunlight, panicking. “Lo siento,” I finally gulp out, “No entiendo.”
Tavo leans in. “Guillermo just asked you how your trip was.”
Giving him a grateful glance, I turn to Guillermo. “Oh!Bien. Gracias.” I catch Tavo’s eye. “I’m not used to actually speaking Spanish. More just reading it in class.Quiero aprender.” I savemy violent thoughts for my teachers for a later time.
Tavo beams. “You will learn. Allow me to introduce you to the rest of my family. He whispers, “I got you, guapa.” An older woman overhears him say this, and his face immediately becomes more distant. It’s odd. Did I do something wrong? Did he?
Guapa. Shane never really compliments me on anything. I know he appreciates my appearance.Right? He must, otherwise he wouldn’t be with me. But as I rack my brain, I can’t think of a time he let me know I looked nice other than when we dressed up for a fancy occasion.
Tavo, on the other hand, seems to compliment me with every sentence.
I like that.
A dark-haired beauty, the one who made Tavo’s face straighten, extends her slim hand to shake mine. She’s wearinga red blouse and black slacks. Leaning in, she gives me two kisses, one on each cheek. Like Tavo at the airport and Guillermo just now.
Now I really don’t feel so special. This must be the standard, Spanish-style greeting.
I read too much into those kisses at the airport.
My libido vanishes, and I’m grateful for the cold shower of reality. I don’t need to be all sexed up herein Spain. It’s going to be hard enough just to understand basic sentences.
As she kisses my cheek, I get a whiff of her baby powder-like perfume, and do my best not to kiss her nose.
I’ll catch on.
Tavo introduces me to the woman, and he does it like I’m an honored guest and he’s introducing me to someone who matters to him.
“Kim,bienvenidos,” she says. “Me llamo MaríaLuisa. Soy la madre de Tavo y la dueña de esta granja.” While her words are pleasant, her jaw is set and her eyes narrowed.
I understand about every third word. In summary, she’s Tavo’s mother.
This is going to be a long semester.
After taking longer than is socially appropriate to respond, I finally say. “Um,encantada.”
