Meet Me Under The Ombu Tree

by Santa Montefiore

  They are all charming,’ she responded innocently.

  ‘No, I mean how do you like them? They all fancied you - you can have your pick.’

  ‘Sofia, you are too sweet. I don’t think they do fancy me, I’m just new, that’s all. As far as fancying them, I’ve barely had time to look at them.’

  ‘Well, they’ve had time to look at you,’ she said, watching Eva steadily.

  ‘Sofia, leave her alone, poor girl, she’s only just arrived,’ Maria interrupted. ‘Now, hurry and put on your swimsuit, I’m dying of heat in here.’

  Up at the pool the boys were already lying in the sun like a pride of male lions, waiting for Eva to appear in her swimsuit. With their eyes squinting into the light they watched the trees with shallow breaths and hot bodies. They didn’t have to wait long. They hissed a few lewd comments to each other as the girls approached and then pretended to be disinterested, talking to each other about polo. Eva self-consciously dropped her shorts and wriggled out of her T-shirt, revealing the body of a woman with large round breasts, flat stomach, full hips and smooth, brown skin. She felt their stares stripping her of her modesty and fingered her costume with a trembling hand to make sure that it was still there. Sofia threw her clothes onto the ground and walked over to the sunbeds with her duck’s walk, bottom out and tummy in, her feet pointing outwards. Santi lay on the sunbed next to hers, watching Eva quietly with the patient arrogance of a man who knows that the woman of his desire will come to him eventually. Sofia noticed his expression and stuck out her lower lip resentfully.

  ‘Do you need some oil rubbed on your back?’ shouted Agustin from the water.

  ‘Not with your cold wet hands,’ laughed Eva, feeling more confident now she had made friends with the girls.

  ‘Don’t trust Agustin,’ Fernando said. ‘If you need oil rubbing on your back, I’m the most reliable.’ They all laughed.

  ‘I’m fine, thank you.’

  ‘Here, take my sunbed, Eva,’ said Santi, getting up. Sofia noticed Maria had taken the other one.

  ‘No, really. ..’ she began.

  ‘I’m too hot here anyway,’ he insisted. ‘There are only three. I’ll bring some more up from the pool house later.’

  ‘Well, if you’re sure,’ she said, spreading her towel neatly over the sunbed and lying down. Santi sat on the paving stones beside her and chatted to her as

  if they had known each other for a long time. He had an easy way with women which drew them into his confidence. Unlike the others, he won their trust. Sofia felt jealousy rise from her stomach like bile. Placing her sunglasses over her eyes she lay back in the sunshine and tried to ignore them.

  Fernando watched his brother chatting up the new blonde and hoped she wouldn’t fancy him. What was it about Santi that made all the girls go for him? He hoped she would notice his limp and that it would put her off. If he were a girl it would put him off, he thought sourly to himself. He decided to wait in the pool. She’s bound to get hot at some stage and go for a swim, he thought, and then I’ll be ready for her.

  Rafael had lost interest and fallen asleep in the shade with a magazine over his sunburnt face. Agustin had dived a few times, he was good at diving, and performed the odd somersault. She had smiled at him. He had impressed her, no doubt. But now she was being monopolised by Santi, keen to get in there too, so Agustin told himself he’d simply have to wait his moment like Fernando and swim about like a shark until she decided to put her toe in. Angel, Niquito and Sebastian had sized up the competition and realized that there was no point getting into the arena; they had no chance. So they sloped off to knock a tennis ball around on the hot court that shimmered like a furnace behind the wire fencing.

  When the heat became too much, Eva encouraged Sofia and Maria to take a swim with her; the sharks were too threatening to brave the water alone. When Eva stood up, it was as if an icy wind had blown through the languid confines of the pool waking everyone up from their siestas. Suddenly Agustin was diving again, Fernando was roaring up and down doing front crawl, Sebastian, Niquito and Angel came back to cool down from their game of tennis, and Santi sat on the edge with his feet in the water. Only Rafael continued to snore from his shade, the pages of the magazine flying about on his breath. Sofia sulked in the corner while Maria and Eva tried to swim lengths in the rough, choppy water.

  ‘What’s the matter with you?’ Santi asked, dropping into the water and swimming up to join Sofia in her miserable corner.

  ‘Nothing,’ she replied defensively.

  ‘I know you,’ he said and smiled.

  ‘No, you don’t.’

  ‘Oh, I think I do. You’re jealous you’re not getting any attention.’ His green

  eyes sparkled at her in amusement. ‘I’ve been watching you all day.’

  ‘Don’t be silly. I’m not feeling well.’

  ‘Chofi. You’re a liar and a brat, but you’ll always be my favourite cousin.’

  ‘Thanks,’ she said, feeling a little happier.

  ‘You can’t always be the centre of attention. Give someone else a chance.’

  ‘Look, that’s not it. I really don’t feel very well. It’s the heat. I might go and lie in the shade for a while,’ she said halfheartedly, hoping that he’d go with her.

  ‘Please yourself,’ he replied, turning to watch Eva swimming gracefully like a swan amidst a commotion of playful ducks.

  That night the three girls decided to sleep all together. Soledad moved a camp bed into Eva’s room and told Sofia that as she was the hostess she had to sleep in it. Typical, she thought resentfully, and I didn’t want to share in the first place. But as they chatted away in the pale blue light of the moon that entered through the large open windows with the sweet earthy scents of the dewy pampa, her mood lifted and she began to like Eva in spite of herself.

  ‘As I was walking back to the house, Agustin jumped out from behind a tree

  and threw me against it,’ Eva giggled. ‘It was so embarrassing.’

  ‘I don’t believe it!’ Sofia exclaimed, amazed at her brother’s shamelessness. ‘What did he do?’

  ‘He pushed me up against the bark and told me he was in love with me.’

  ‘They all are!’ laughed Maria. ‘Watch out, soon there won’t be a safe tree in the whole of Santa Catalina.’

  ‘Did he kiss you?’ Sofia asked hopefully, but she knew Eva would never fancy the outlandish Agustin.

  ‘He tried.’

  ‘Oh God, how embarrassing,’ sighed Sofia.

  ‘Then when we were playing tennis he’d only hand me a ball after kissing it first.’

  ‘Oh dear.’

  ‘Sofia, I shouldn’t be telling you this, he’s your brother.’

  ‘Unfortunately. Maria’s brothers are a better pair than mine.’

  ‘Yes, Santi is very attractive,’ said Eva, her clear eyes shining with the fever that had captivated her young body.

  ‘Santi?’ Sofia’s heart stopped.

  ‘Yes, Santi.’

  The one with the limp - tall, fair?’

  ‘Yes, the one with the limp,’ she repeated. ‘He’s handsome yet sweet and his limp just makes him more endearing.’

  Sofia wanted to cry. You can't fancy Santi, not my Santi! she screamed inside her head. Then more coolly she made a decision. She had to think of a plan, she had to think of a way of preventing a romance that would surely flare up unless she smothered it right now, in these early stages. She had to stop this beautiful temptress from digging her long pink fingernails into Santi. Shame, I was just beginning to like her, she thought dismissively.

  Chapter 9

  Sofia spent the following three days making sure that she became Eva’s best friend and confidante. Her mother had praised her for being such a good hostess and for her valiant effort to make their young guest feel welcome. They went everywhere together and Sofia didn’t need to spy on her when she was with Santi because, having won Eva’s confidence, she told her everything voluntarily.

&
nbsp; Suddenly the boys began to make a fuss of Sofia too; they saw her as their ticket to getting close to Eva. Sofia enjoyed the attention. No longer in the shadow, she played her part with bravado. But Eva wasn’t interested in Agustin, Fernando or any of the others; she was hopelessly attracted to Santi. Every move that he made she recounted to Sofia. He had taken her riding across the plains. Sofia had refused to go, making up a weak excuse about having to help her grandfather rearrange his room. He had then asked her to be his partner in tennis. Eva had confessed she went weak whenever she saw him, but so far Santi had said nothing that might suggest he felt anything more than friendship.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ said Sofia. ‘Santi’s my cousin, I’m closer to him than anyone. He tells me everything - things he doesn’t tell Maria. I’ll find out for you, subtly of course, then let you know. If you want me to do this, don’t tell Maria, she can’t keep a secret,’ she lied.

  ‘All right, but be careful. I don’t want to look a fool.’

  ‘You won’t look a fool,’ Sofia assured her happily.

  Later she engineered it so that she was alone with Santi. He was practising his golf swing on the land in front of his house. Sofia left Maria and Eva talking on the terrace with her aunts and mother and strolled over to him with her mission.

  ‘Good swing, Santi,’ she said as he hit the ball high into the air.

  ‘Thanks, Chofi.’

  ‘You’ve been very kind to Eva, taking her riding, showing her the farm.’

  ‘She’s a sweet girl,’ he said, placing a new ball onto the grass.

  ‘She’s more than that. She’s adorable and beautiful. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen anyone more beautiful than her, ever.’

  ‘She’s certainly beautiful,’ he said absentmindedly, concentrating more on his swing than on the conversation with his duplicitous cousin.

  ‘You know who she really fancies?’ she said quietly, choosing her words with the care of a snake sliding through the long grass in pursuit of its prey.

  ‘Who?’ he replied, bringing down his club and looking at her steadily.

  ‘Agustin.’

  ‘Agustin?’ he scoffed.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘You’re joking, aren’t you?’

  ‘Why? He’s very attractive - he’s a dark horse.’

  ‘Sofia, I don’t believe you,’ he said and smirked, shaking his head impatiently.

  ‘Well, he kissed her the other night. She doesn’t want anyone to know.’

  ‘He kissed her. Sure!’

  ‘I promise - just don’t mention it, she’ll kill me. We’re such good friends now I don’t want to ruin it. But you know me, I can’t keep anything from you.’

  ‘Thanks for that, Chofi,’ he said sarcastically. Then drawing his club up behind his shoulder he brought it down furiously and missed the ball. lMierda!’

  ‘Santi, you missed! That’s not like you. What’s the matter? You don’t fancy her, do you?’ she said and tried to hide her smile by playing with a stray piece

  of hair across her lips.

  ‘Of course not. Now go away, you’re distracting me,’ he said, dismissing her.

  ‘Okay. See you later.’ She walked off with her arrogant duck’s gait, smiling to herself with glee.

  Santi could not believe that the beautiful Eva could fancy Agustin. He was mystified and furious. Agustin! It simply wasn’t possible. He squinted his eyes as he cast them over to the terrace where Sofia now sat cross-legged on the grass with Maria and Eva, their heads together like a trio of plotting witches. What is she up to? he thought, knowing better than to trust her.

  ‘He didn’t let on, I’m afraid. He’s keeping his cards very close to his chest,’ said Sofia later as she and Eva helped themselves from the buffet. ‘If I were you I would just wait for him to make a move. I can’t recommend anything else. He certainly wouldn’t like a woman to make the first move. You know men.’

  ‘Well, at least he didn’t say he didn’t like me,’ Eva said hopefully.

  ‘No, he didn’t say he didn’t like you,’ replied Sofia truthfully.

  ‘Thank you, Sofia, you’re a real friend.’ Eva kissed her on the cheek. Sofia felt a moment’s guilt, but then the feeling passed and she cut into her juicy lomo hungrily.

  During the next few days Sofia watched Eva float around Santa Catalina like Snow White followed by the drooling dwarfs in the shape of Fernando, Agustin, Sebastian, Niquito and Angel. She noticed to her relief that since their conversation Santi had lost interest. He virtually ignored her. Even Eva had stopped talking about him as if she knew the battle was lost. Sofia basked in her victory.

  As Eva’s holiday drained away Sofia began to see less and less of her. She would disappear for hours on horseback or go into town with Chiquita. She knew her way around now and began to entertain herself. Sofia was delighted. Her plot had worked. Not only had she deterred her from pursuing Santi but she had also somehow managed to avoid having to entertain her all week. She would have been more delighted if Santi hadn’t been equally elusive. However, he claimed to have been over on the neighbouring estancia hitting a polo ball around. Sofia supposed that he was angry with her for breaking the bad news to him about Eva’s secret romance with Agustin. He’ll get over it, she thought dismissively.

  Eva’s last day was spent by the pool and on the tennis court. She said goodbye to the cousins before disappearing into the house to pack and change. Once she had gone, Santi sat down next to Sofia and secretly gave her a note sealed in a plain white envelope.

  ‘Chofi, please give this to Eva just before she goes,’ he requested.

  ‘What is it?’ she asked, turning it over in her hands curiously.

  ‘One last chance. Make sure Agustin doesn’t see, won’t you. He’ll kill me if he finds out.’

  Sofia shrugged. ‘All right, if that’s what you want, but it won’t do you any good,’ she said and smiled at him sympathetically.

  ‘It might,’ he replied hopefully.

  Sofia ran back to the house. She had just enough time to steam open the letter before Eva left for the airport. She rushed into the kitchen and boiled the kettle. Poor Santi, she thought, he hasn’t got a clue. She couldn’t imagine anyone fancying Agustin over Santi. It was just inconceivable. Still, she had convinced him. She chuckled to herself as the steam bellowed up against the seal, enabling her to carefully peel it back. Leaning against the counter she opened the neatly folded paper and read the short, handwritten message.

  Next time, mind your own business, Chofi.

  She was stunned. Blood flooded into her face until it throbbed with embarrassment. She read it again slowly. Again and again in disbelief. Then she tore it into tiny little pieces and threw it in the bin. She then paced the kitchen in panic, not knowing what to do next, not wanting to face Santi or Eva.

  Finally she realized she had no choice but to walk out with her head held high and act as if nothing had happened. Eva was saying goodbye to Maria, who tearfully embraced her new friend and swapped telephone numbers and addresses. Sofia looked about for Santi but to her relief he wasn’t there. She smiled the smile of a good actress and hugged Eva, breathing in once again the fresh lemon smell of her cologne. She promised to spend the following summer holidays in Cachagua and to write often.

  Suddenly, Santi strode out of the trees with a determined step. He walked past Sofia, pulled the delicate Eva into his arms and kissed her so ardently on her pretty pink lips that the other girls had to turn away in embarrassment. They held each other vigorously, the way lovers do when they don’t want to part. They kissed with the intimacy of two people familiar with each other’s bodies. Sofia felt the blood plummet from her head to her toes, and the world

  spin about her. When they wrenched themselves apart, Eva climbed into the car and disappeared down the long avenue of trees. Santi waved until she was nothing more than a glint on the horizon, then he walked up to Sofia.

  ‘Don’t ever lie to me again,’ he said steadily. ‘Do yo
u understand?’ Sofia opened her mouth to respond but nothing came out but air. She strained her neck to prevent the tears from falling and dared not blink in case one broke free and revealed her shame. Then he smiled at her and shook his head. ‘You’re very naughty, Chofi.’ He sighed, putting an arm around her neck fondly. ‘What am I going to do with you?’

  Chapter 10

  When Santi broke the news at the end of the summer holiday that he was leaving to study in America for almost two years, Sofia fled the room in tears. Santi ran after her but she shouted at him to leave her alone. Fortunately, he knew better than to do as she asked and followed her out onto the terrace.

  ‘You’re going in a month? How come you didn’t tell me before?’ she said, turning on him angrily.

  ‘Because initially I was going to go in September when my courses start, but I want to travel for six months first and then for a few months afterwards. Anyhow, I knew you’d be upset.’

  ‘But I’m the last to know. I am, aren’t I?’ she sobbed crossly.

  ‘Yes, you are. I suppose. I don’t know. No one else is very interested,’ he said, shrugging his shoulders.

  ‘Two years?’ She wiped away the tears that made glistening tracks down her dusty cheeks.

  ‘Well, almost two years.’

  ‘How many months exactly?’ She sniffed.

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Well, when do you come back?’

  The summer after next. October, November - I’m not sure yet.’

  ‘Why can’t you study here like everyone else?’

  ‘Because Papa says it’s essential to live abroad. I’ll improve my English and get a good qualification.’

  ‘I’ll help you improve your English,’ she said meekly, smiling sadly through the blur that made him look like a fuzzy shadow.

  Santi laughed. ‘That would be interesting,’ he mused.

  ‘Will you come back for the holidays?’ she asked hopefully.

  ‘I don’t know.’ He shrugged his shoulders again. ‘I want to travel and see the world. I’ll probably spend the holidays travelling.’