Blood in the Valencian Soil (Secrets of Spain)

by Caroline Angus Baker

  She smiled when Cayetano reappeared in the small room, with a bucket of water. The courtyard of the building had a well, and they were able to get clean water via a pulley system that came up through the window of room number three.

  “Preciosa, how are you? How is the baby?” Cayetano sat down with her on the floor to take a look at the infant in her arms.

  “He is all right, I suppose. I never cared for a child before.”

  “You’re a natural.” He gently kissed her cheek, in the hopes of making her smile.

  “Do you know what Scarlett said to me?”

  “What?”

  “She said, one day, when you and I have many children who are grown, to tell them about their brother or sister in Nueva Zelanda.”

  “She thought you and I will go on to have a big family?”

  “It seems that way.”

  “Maybe she’s right.”

  “How are we meant to do that? Here we are, with a child that isn’t ours, we are far from home, not married, and we have nothing. We slept on the floor of a borrowed room, shared with strangers.”

  “Things will improve. I promise you. They won’t shoot me. I have dodged fascist bastards for years. Don’t worry; I’ll take care of you.”

  Luna shrugged lightly. “I guess.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means… why do I need to be looked after?”

  “I don’t think you need it; I love you, so it’s an impulse to want to know you are safe and well. I want to help you.”

  “Is there any food anywhere in Valencia? We spent all day and night hunting through all your known spots here and never found Alejandro. I hate to say it, but I’m hungry.”

  “I’m sure we can find something. Alejandro is probably sleeping off the alcohol somewhere. Looking for him can wait until after breakfast. But there isn’t much to eat, everyone is starving.”

  “How can there be a food shortage, but alcohol available?”

  “That is a question best left unanswered, Luna. Come and take a look at the view.”

  The pair wandered out on to the narrow balcony. The streets below were full of people who hurried around, which made all the noise that Luna could hear. She had the baby tucked up under her coat that she had slept in. “That is Plaza de Emilio Castelar over there.” Cayetano pointed to the end of the street, which led onto the open plaza. “That building you can see, on the far side, is the town hall building.”

  Luna looked at the place; a large and elaborate building looked worn and damaged. Who knows what was happening there. That was where the city had been run from, and now their city was close to being taken over. Troops could arrive at any moment. “Can’t we just go back to Cuenca? Scarlett is safe and gone, so why not?”

  “We don’t have anything to go back to.”

  “Our home, which we own.”

  “I am an anarchist, I don’t believe in private property.”

  “You seemed to have no problem in living there for free in the home owned by my father. Don’t you believe in just having a safe and simple life?”

  “I would love to! But that isn’t a choice we can make. We are only two people in sea of Spaniards who need to find a way to live together.”

  “Do you accept that we are on the losing side of the battle? If Franco is in charge of this country, all the rights of the State, church, wealthy landowners, all that will be restored. The army will be in control. Cities like Valencia will be under Franco’s control. There is no freedom or autonomy out here anymore.”

  “I have no answers for you, Luna. I think we should leave here and head back up into the mountains.”

  “Will we be any safer out there?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s worth a try.”

  ~~~

  Alejandro was right where they expected him to be. How the hell he had got from Valencia and up to the secluded spot high above the village of Serra was anyone’s guess, but there he was, right where they had left Sofía. Luna just sighed when she saw him. She and Cayetano had parked the truck out of sight behind the old house that stood there and come around to find their companion. Her brother was in agony, totally miserable at the loss of his wife five days on from her death. How could they expect him to carry on with all the pain he suffered?

  “At least out here there is no more alcohol,” Cayetano muttered.

  “Not much of anything out here,” Luna said back.

  “Not much of anything anywhere, anymore.”

  “Now what?”

  “Well,” Cayetano said and looked around, “we may as well stay out here. We have a little food and water, and there is shelter in this old masía here. It will be cold, but we can find ways keep warm.”

  “It’s called fire.” Luna gently moved the baby in her arms.

  “How practical of you,” Cayetano teased. “I was thinking about huddling for warmth again.”

  “You know I love you,” she smiled, “but all I want to do is help my brother.”

  Cayetano kissed her. “Stay here and I will go and speak to him.”

  Luna watched Cayetano wander over to Alejandro; the limestone crunched under his heavy boots. Alejandro was on his knees nestled between the almond trees, and just sobbed. She watched Cayetano sit down next to his best friend and place a hand on his shoulder. She wanted Alejandro to at least respond to the kindness, but there was no chance. Alejandro was too grief-stricken, too tired, too drunk, too inconsolable to listen to anyone.

  “Leave me!” Alejandro screamed as he scrambled to his feet. “I never want to see you again!”

  “Ale, I’m here to help you,” Cayetano said and stood up to his friend.

  “You? I want nothing to do with you! With anyone!” He turned to see Luna over by the house, the baby in her arms. “Why is that baby not on the ship?”

  “Scarlett is gone, and she can’t take the baby. Paco is your son,” she replied.

  “You can do this,” Cayetano said to his friend. “We can help you. We are all here for you.”

  “The world may as well end! I don’t care about anyone, and I don’t want to look after a child! Let those Francoist bastards find me here! I won’t kill myself; I won’t do them the favour! If they want to ruin my life and my country then they will have to shoot me!”

  “You don’t have to worry about any of that, we will be okay. We can live normal lives… once you learn to live without Sofía.”

  “There is no life without Sofía! How could you say that? You… you have whatever you want. You have a rich family who can look after you. Look what you did to Scarlett, and you’re going to get away with it, aren’t you? You got her pregnant and made her disappear! You get to have my sister! You get to have your love! I get nothing!”

  “You have us, Ale!” Luna cried. She walked over to the men; the sun made her squint when she headed in their direction. But she saw Alejandro’s quick movement, one hand underneath his coat to produce a gun.

  “Mierda, Ale, don’t be so stupid,” Cayetano said, and reached out for the weapon pointed his direction.

  Luna stopped on the spot just before the almond trees. Cayetano had commented that a few items were missing from the truck, one being Scarlett’s handgun. Did it have bullets?

  “Alejandro,” Luna said, and watched her brother’s head snap in her direction. “Please, put the gun down. We’re all on the same side. I love you. We love you. We need to stick together.”

  “I don’t want anyone near me, why don’t you understand that?” He looked at his sister, but the gun still pointed at Cayetano. “Why can’t you just leave me?”

  “Because we want to know you’re all right. We’re a family.”

  “My family is dead.” Alejandro’s strength started to fade, and tears came back to his eyes. He didn’t see Cayetano step forward to take the gun from him.

  “I know,” Luna said. She took few steps forward to get the baby out of the sun and under the pink flowering trees. “I miss Sofía. I don’t know how
we are supposed to live without her. I don’t know how baby Paco is meant to live without her. I’m scared of what is going to happen to all of us. But surely we’re better together than alone.”

  “Stay away from me!” Alejandro turned the gun in her direction, and she jumped a step back on instinct.

  “Don’t you dare point that at her!” Cayetano cried. “You’re the one who deserves a bullet right now!”

  Alejandro swung the gun back in his best friend’s direction, and took aim at him. “Don’t tell me what to do!”

  “I’m sorry, Ale, but I will defend Luna over you every time. I know your love is gone, but mine isn’t. The rest of my life is devoted to Luna’s happiness.”

  Alejandro didn’t move when Cayetano ignored him and his gun and walked past him to stand with Luna. Luna couldn’t see her brother with him between them. Cayetano smiled just briefly at her as he faced her, and glanced down at the still sleeping baby. All Luna heard was the gun go off. She didn’t even see any blood to begin with when Cayetano fell forward onto her, and the three of them fell to the ground. She looked in horror at the bullet wound in his back; barely any blood came from the hole pierced into him. It must have gone straight in his back and straight through his chest, and somehow missed her and Paco. She couldn’t even open her mouth to scream. She couldn’t look up at the gunman, her brother. She put the baby on the ground in his bundle of blankets, and he cried out when she let him go. The moment she touched Cayetano she knew he was already dead. He didn’t move. He may not have even felt the bullet that ended his short life.

  Luna rolled him over with all her might, to see a stain of blood on his chest. His eyes hung open, already lifeless. Only then did air hit her lungs and fill them enough to let her cry out. She screamed; every muscle in her body behind its force. The love of her life was dead. He died by her brother’s hand. In one second, all she had left was gone. She put her hands to his face, almost willing some kind of reaction from him, but his warm body was now only a shell. The cheeky and loving soul that lived inside was gone.

  Luna looked up at Alejandro who just stood there; the gun in his hand, pointed aimlessly at the ground. His face spoke of the same horror. His actions instantly sobered him up. Now they truly had lost everything.

  Luna stumbled to her feet, her dirty clothes covered in splatters of Cayetano’s blood. “How could you?” she screamed. “Why would you do that? Do you want me to suffer like you do?”

  “No!” Alejandro began to cry again as the gun fell from his hands. “I want no one to suffer the way I do.”

  “Look what you’ve done,” she wept. “Cayetano is dead, and you will have to live with this your whole life, you miserable human being!” Luna wasn’t sure how she could even stand anymore. The pain that seared through her body was so profound that she felt as if she had got a bullet in the chest. She may as well have. She was as good as dead on her own. She fell back to her knees, and her tears fell on Cayetano’s shirt as she rested her face on his chest. If only she could feel the faintest flicker of life. All hope was gone. All life was gone. As the last bastions of freedom were surrounded by Franco and his followers, the lives of the Beltrán family were defeated by the grief of lost love, courage and promise.

  42

  Valencia, España ~ enero de 2010

  Luna slapped tape over the box and patted it. That was the last one. It felt bittersweet to pack Darren’s things, but it had to be done.

  “Are we finished?” Darren asked when he came down the hallway, a bag in his hand. “That keen to get rid of me, are you?”

  “You know I’m not keen to get rid of you.”

  “It’s time I moved out. I don’t want to be here when you and Cayetano are naked and chasing each other around the apartment while the kids are asleep.”

  “Yeah, because that would happen,” she shot back. Actually…

  “It’s going to be weird, not being here with you and the boys. But, a new year, a new start.”

  “Your new apartment is gorgeous. I wouldn’t mind overlooking Mercado Colon every morning. The agent, Michael, did a superb job getting you that place.”

  “Are you ready for a new year?” Darren put his bag down and leant against the wall.

  “No,” Luna sighed, and ran her hands through her long hair. “Who knows what will happen. But at least I have had my work permit extended. And eventually, I will get my permanent residency. My Spanish grandfather does exist after all. ”

  “And we know you will be with me as my mechanic. We both will be very happy with that, I know it.”

  “You couldn’t keep me away.”

  “And you’re getting married to Cayetano.”

  “Yeah, eventually. No rush.”

  “All the intermingling by your grandparents hasn’t left any weirdness?”

  “It’s weird, for sure. But there are far more pressing issues than that to deal with.”

  “Like his ex-wife being pregnant?”

  “Don’t start me on that one. I’m not free of baggage myself.”

  “If only all girls were as casual as you, Lulu.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  Darren smiled. “When I was in Australia, I met up with Lia, remember her?”

  “That girl you were seeing when we first met?”

  “Yes. We spent some time together, and now she wants to come to Spain for a holiday.”

  “Lucky you have a new apartment to show off.”

  “We only saw each other for a month, and she wants to come over? That’s heavy.”

  “Did you spend a month in bed with her?”

  “Maybe.”

  “That kind of thing insinuates to a woman that you like her. We all have a cross to bear. A girl who likes having sex with you wants to visit. That isn’t so bad.”

  Darren nodded as he thought about it. “True. I’ll go pack the car and come say goodbye to Giacomo and Enzo. Are you off to Madrid soon?”

  “Very soon.”

  “Ready to be part of the whole Beltrán family?”

  “Not really.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yeah, are you sure you’re okay with not seeing the boys for Three Kings Day?”

  “It’s a Spanish thing, so I don’t mind, even though I also didn’t get to see them at New Year.”

  “You went partying in Ruzafa, where all the cool people hang out.”

  “You all went and sat in the park to see in the New Year with the traditional twelve grapes and cava with Cayetano.”

  “As you would imagine we would. Please don’t make this hard.”

  “I’m not. You and I are over. You are with him. I won’t say the best man won, just the luckiest man.”

  Luna smiled. “You and me… we just couldn’t work things out…”

  “No, we couldn’t. We aren’t meant to be. After 15 years, we both know it. But I still want time with my godsons.”

  “Of course! Just not in May and June when the bulk of Cayetano’s bullfighting season is on in Madrid.”

  “I can live with that.” Darren smiled. “Go meet your future family, Lulu. If it’s awful, come home to me.”

  “You’re the only person who still calls me Lulu, now that Fabrizio and Dad are gone.”

  “Your family is whoever you want it to be. It’s you and me, kid, always. Things won’t always have an awkward break-up vibe.”

  Luna smiled when he reached out for a hug. “I hope not. Life is short enough without worrying about things we can’t change.”

  43

  Madrid, España ~ enero de 2010

  January 5 was never the best day to get anything done. Everyone was usually in a rush to get everything they needed for Three Kings Day. But Luna wasn’t at all tired by the time she arrived in Madrid with her boys. She felt more alive than she had in years. Her enthusiasm for whatever lay ahead was matched by the smile that greeted them when the door to Cayetano’s apartment opened.

  “There you are!” he cried w
hen he answered the door to the children and their fist-pounding.

  “We haven’t seen you for like… four days,” Giacomo complained.

  “I know, and it’s too long. Quick, come inside. I heard a rumour about presents arriving under my tree a day early, and they have Giacomo and Enzo written on them.”

  The redheaded pair dashed past their future stepfather and into the living room in search of treasures, which left their mother with all the bags. “Charming as always,” she joked.

  Cayetano kicked her things inside the door and closed it. All he needed was a kiss from her, which she was more than happy to give him. “The boys are right, four days is too long to be apart.”

  “We live in different cities, it’s going to happen. It was you who was so eager to go home after New Year.”

  “I had to, not wanted to. I wish I could hide out in Valencia forever. Trying to swallow twelve grapes with cava with you when the clock struck midnight was just what I needed after a very sombre few weeks on my own.”

  “Oh good, then, if you had such a good time, you will be happy to live in Valencia with me.”

  Cayetano took a step back and raised his eyebrows. “And leave Madrid? Please, mujer, not going to happen.”

  “Fine, I’ll get a part-time lover for when you aren’t around.”

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “No, I wouldn’t. You’re a handful enough.”

  “How are you, my preciosa? I felt so miserable that I left you after all that happened with Alejandro.”

  “The man died,” she shrugged. “I feel awful for him, all alone as he was. He has been cremated and had no funeral. That is sad.”

  “But that was what he wanted. He had you in his last months, and that would have given him immense comfort. Not only in giving him someone important in his life, but also because it eased the weight of guilt that he had to carry.”

  Luna watched her children rip into gifts with sheer delight. “But now it’s me who carries all that weight. What am I meant to do with that information? We can’t tell Paco the truth.”

  “It was you who was so determined to find Cayetano Ortega, so Alejandro gave you the release you wanted, and in turn battled his own demons. This story was never destined to have a happy ending.”