Page 29 of Sombra
“That’s exciting! Do you need any help?” No sooner are the words out of my mouth than I’m scolding myself. I don’t need any projects other than learning Spanish.
“No, we’ve got it covered. There’s a civil ceremony and a religious ceremony, and then we’ll have a dinner here. We just need to make it through counseling with the priest.”
“How’s that going?”
She wrinkles her nose. “It’s embarrassing, but necessary. Anyway, while you’re here, is there anything in particular you want to do? Anything I can make sure to show you?”
“I just really want to learn how to cook Spanish food.”
“Por supuesto. Miabuela, madre,TíaValeria, and I can do that. We will show you our favorite dishes. Anything else?”
“Anything. Everything.”
“Yes, then we will do anything and everything together.” She stands up as if to leave. “It’s great that you’re here. Tavo’s not been himself lately. Maybe you can be a friend.”
“I’d like that, I think.” Even though it might be dangerous to get to know him better. Dangerous for my body, that is.
“Bien. Let me know if you need anything. Otherwise,I’ll see you at dinner.”
I watch her leave. She’s so secure in her love for her husband-to-be. I’m not.
With a sigh, I start pacing in my room, my mind going everywhere with lack of sleep and all the new people, places, and things I’ve seen in the past twenty-four hours, and the new, perilous ideas I’ve had. I knew Spain had a hint of risk, but I had no idea it would be precariousto my heart in such short order. I thought I’d change, I hoped I’d experience something different, but this clarity is disconcerting. It’s like being forced to scrub clean with a loofah, making my skin raw. It hurts to cut through the layers and find out what’s underneath.
And I’m not sure I’m ready to do that yet.
I pace, breathe, and sit down at my laptop. I still have one morecall to make.
“Maggie?”
“Kim! How’s Spain?” she squeals. We’re using Skype like a phone call so it’s free, even though it’s my laptop. She doesn’t have fast enough internet for video.
“You wouldn’t believe what this place is like! Open blue skies and red hills and olives and vineyards and ruins.”
I can tell she’s smiling. “It sounds gorgeous.”
“It is.”
Especially one of its inhabitants.
“Wait! Kim! I got your email! Shane gave you a promise ring?”
“Yeah,” I say. My voice comes out huskier than normal.
“You don’t sound so excited.”
“Maggie, truth? I’m not. It all happened so fast, but I didn’t get a chance to think about it.”
“Hmm. What happened?”
I tell her.
“I don’t have any advice for you, girl.Think about it before you do anything. And if you have a wedding, invite me.”
“Sure.”
“Besides that, are you doing okay?”
With Maggie, I can answer the questions I can’t with my parents. But that doesn’t make it easier. Digging in the desk drawer, I pull out a pen, fumble with it, and start doodling on the same scrap of paper Tavo wrote the Wi-Fi code. I really like his handwriting.“I don’t understand anything. They talk so fast. I have no idea if what I think they’re saying is what they’re saying. I’m just not keeping up at all.”
