Now and Forever

by Maxwell, Megan

  Eric doesn’t take his eyes off us. He doesn’t say a word either. He just watches while Dexter grabs me forcefully and pushes inside me again and again. Desperate to come, I yell, “Like that . . . Fuck me like that . . . Oh yes!”

  My pussy is wrapped around the dildo, and I gasp, looking in his eyes. “Come on, Dexter, show me how badly you want me.”

  My words bring him to life. His desire increases, and I can almost feel his mind cloud over. Heated up, Dexter jackhammers the dildo into me.

  “Don’t slow down . . . Don’t stop!” I scream.

  Dexter couldn’t stop even if he wanted to, and when he squeezes me one last time against the harness and lets out a groan of satisfaction, I know I have achieved my goal. Dexter has enjoyed it just as much as Eric and just as much as I have.

  32

  One afternoon, Flyn and I are holding hands and skating in the garage when the garage door suddenly starts opening. Eric is home early. We both stand there paralyzed.

  We’re going to be in so much trouble!

  I react quickly, grab the kid, and race out of the garage. But Eric is hot on our heels, and I don’t know what to do.

  Like a crazy person, I open the door that leads to the swimming pool. The boy looks at me.

  “Earful or pool?”

  We don’t give it a second thought. Fully dressed and in skates, we jump into the pool. As soon as we stick our heads out of the water, the door opens, and Eric stares at us. We both lean over the edge of the pool, sneakily hiding our feet and skates underwater.

  “Since when do you get in the pool with clothes on?” Eric asks in shock.

  Flyn and I look at each other and laugh.

  “It was a bet. We were on PlayStation, and the loser had to do it.”

  “So why are you both in the water?” Eric goes on, amused.

  “Because Jude’s a cheater,” Flyn complains. “And since I won, when she jumped in, she pulled me in too.”

  Eric laughs. He loves to see the good relationship that’s grown between his nephew and me. I sweetly let him kiss me, not showing my feet. I give him a kiss on the lips.

  “How’s the water?” he asks.

  “Great!” Flyn and I say in unison.

  Charmed, he touches his nephew’s wet head.

  “Put on a bathing suit if you want to stay in the water,” he tells us as he starts to leave.

  “C’mon, darling. Cheer up and get in!”

  The Iceman looks at me, and, before disappearing through the door, he answers with a tired look on his face, “I have things to do, Jude.”

  As soon as Eric closes the door, we sit down on the edge of the pool. We quickly take our skates off and hide them in the back of the closet.

  “That was close,” I murmur, dripping wet.

  The boy laughs. I do too—and just like that, we jump back in the pool. When we get out an hour later, Flyn throws his arms around my waist.

  “I never want you to leave. Do you promise?”

  Thrilled by the affection the boy is showing me, I kiss him on the head.

  “I promise.”

  That afternoon, Flyn goes to Sonia’s house. He claims he has things to do. Eric is serious. He’s not angry, but the look on his face shows me something is up with him. I try to talk to him, and I finally get him to tell me he’s got a headache. His eyes! Without another word, he goes to our room to rest. I don’t follow him. He wants to be alone.

  At around five o’clock in the evening, Susto, evidently bored because Flyn has taken Calamar, asks me in his own way to take him for a walk. Eric has already come out of our room, and he’s in his office. He’s looking better, and he’s smiling. I ask him to come with me, to get some fresh air, but he says no.

  Wrapped in my red down coat, wooly cap, gloves, and scarf, I walk outside. It’s not too cold. Susto runs, and I run behind him. When we get past the black fence, I start throwing him snowballs. Evidently enjoying himself, he runs in circles around me.

  We walk down the road for a long time. Our neighborhood incorporates a huge area, and I decide to enjoy the evening and keep walking even though it’s getting dark. After a while, I see a car stopped by the curb. Curious, I walk up to it. A man in a suit, about forty years old, is talking on his phone, brow furrowed.

  “I’ve been waiting for the fucking tow truck for more than an hour. Send it at once!”

  That said, he hangs up and looks over at me.

  “Car trouble?” I ask with a smile.

  The man in the suit nods. “The lights,” he answers, though he’s clearly not in the mood to talk.

  I check out the car. A Mercedes.

  “May I take a look?”

  “You?”

  I don’t like that “you?” or the slight smile of superiority that comes with it, but I sigh.

  “Yes, me.” When I see he’s not moving, I insist. “You’ve got nothing to lose, right?”

  Surprised, he reluctantly agrees. Susto’s beside me. I ask him to open the hood, and he does so from inside the car. Once it’s open, I take the bar and secure it so it won’t slam shut on me. My father always said the first thing to look for when the lights go out are the fuses. I search for the fuse box in this model of car, and, when I’ve spotted it, I open it. I see a couple of fuses and immediately find the problem.

  “You’ve blown a fuse.”

  The man gets out of the car and looks at me as if I were explaining rocket science.

  “See this?” I say, showing him the blue fuse. The man nods. “If you look closely, you can see it’s blown. Don’t worry, your lights are fine. You just need to change the fuse so the light bulb will work again.”

  “Incredible,” the man agrees, looking at me.

  I love leaving men openmouthed like this. I’m so grateful my father taught me to be something more than a princess.

  “Do you have fuses?” I ask. He’s come closer than he needs to, so I move away from him.

  Again, I realize he has no idea what I’m talking about.

  “Do you know where the car’s toolbox is?”

  The handsome man in the suit opens the rear hatch of the car and hands me what I’m asking for. Under his watchful eyes, I look for the fuse with the correct amperage, and, finding it, I take care of his problem. Two seconds later, the lights on the car are working again.

  The look on the guy’s face is incredible. I just blew him away. The fact that a stranger, a woman, just came up to him and fixed his car in a split second has left him totally dumbstruck.

  “Thank you very much, miss.”

  “You’re welcome.” I smile.

  He looks at me with his light-colored eyes.

  “My name is Leonard Guztle, and you are?” he says, holding out his hand.

  I give him my hand and respond.

  “Judith. Judith Flores.”

  “Spanish?”

  “Yes.” I smile, charmed.

  “I love the Spanish, your wines, and potato tortilla.”

  I nod and sigh. At least this one didn’t say, “Olé!”

  “May I call you Judith?”

  “Of course, Leonard.”

  I feel his light-colored eyes scrutinizing me for a few seconds.

  “I’d like to buy you a drink. After what you’ve done for me, it’s the least I can do to thank you.”

  Is he flirting with me?

  Wanting to nip this in the bud, I smile and respond, “Thank you, but no. I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

  “Perhaps I could take you where you need to go?” he insists.

  At that moment, Susto barks and runs toward an approaching car. It’s Eric. Our eyes meet, and he’s pissed. He stops the car, gets out, and grabs me around the waist.

  “I was worried. You were taking too long,” he murmurs after kissing me.

  He looks at the man watching us and holds out his hand. “Hey, Leo! How’s it going?”

  They know each other!

  Looking surprised, the man stares at us, and Eric clarif
ies. “I see you’ve met my girlfriend.”

  A tense silence falls over the scene, and I don’t understand what’s going on until Leonard, recovered from bumping into Eric, nods and takes a step back.

  “I didn’t know Judith was your girlfriend.” Now both nod. “But I want you to know she just fixed my car all by herself.”

  “All I did was change a fuse.”

  Leonard smiles as he touches his finger to the frozen tip of his nose.

  “You knew how to do something I didn’t, and that, young lady, surprised me.”

  Tension. Eric doesn’t smile.

  “How’s your mother?” the man asks.

  “Fine.”

  “And Flyn?”

  “Perfect,” Eric answers dryly.

  What’s going on? I’m missing something. After an awkward moment, they say goodbye. Leonard starts up his Mercedes, turns on the lights, and drives off. Eric, Susto, and I get in the car.

  “What were you doing alone with Leonard?” he asks. The engine’s running but the car’s not moving.

  “Nothing.”

  “What do you mean ‘nothing’?”

  “C’mon . . . his car lights were out, and I changed a fuse. That’s all I did. Don’t get mad.”

  “And why did you have to do it?”

  I’m dumbstruck by the absurdity of the question. “Well, Eric . . . because it happened that way. My father educated me for that sort of thing. By the way, how do you know him?”

  Eric looks at me.

  “That dumbass whose car you fixed is Leo, Hannah’s boyfriend when everything happened. He was the one who got rid of Flyn without a second thought.”

  What?

  That idiot is the one who didn’t want anything more to do with Flyn when Hannah died? If I’d known that, I never would have helped him.

  Eric’s eyes spit fire. He’s very angry. Clearly frustrated by the memories this has dragged up, he slams his hands against the steering wheel.

  “You seemed very comfortable with him.”

  I don’t want to argue, and, trying to keep things calm, I say softly, “Listen, darling, I didn’t know who that man was. I was just being nice and—”

  “Well, don’t be,” he says, cutting me off. “Someday you’ll realize that here, if you’re so nice to a man, he’ll think you’re flirting.”

  That makes me smile.

  “Are you jealous?”

  Eric doesn’t answer. He just looks at me with those beautiful eyes that drive me crazy. “Should I be?”

  I shake my head no while I turn on the car’s CD player, and I’m surprised to find Eric has been listening to my music. Eric protests. I grin as Luis Miguel sings.

  Eric’s furrowed brow makes me sigh.

  “Is your headache better?”

  “Yes.”

  I have to do something to snap him out of this.

  “Get out of the car,” I say.

  “What?” he says, surprised.

  I open the door and repeat, “Get out of the car.”

  “What for?”

  “Get out of the car and you’ll see,” I insist.

  He slams the door. That’s so him. Before I get out, I turn the music up as loud as it goes and leave my door open. Susto gets out too. Then I go up to my favorite grouch. “Dance with me,” I say into his pissed-off face and hug him.

  “What?”

  “Dance with me,” I insist.

  “Here?”

  “Yes.”

  “In the middle of the street?”

  “Yes . . . and in the snow. Don’t you think that sounds romantic?”

  Eric swears. He’s about to turn around, but I pull on his arm and give him a firm slap on the butt.

  “Dance with me!”

  Clash of the titans. Germany versus Spain. In the end, when I wrinkle my nose and smile, he gives in.

  He hugs me, and it’s a magical, once-in-a-lifetime moment. He dances with me and finally relaxes. I close my eyes in my love’s arms while the music plays.

  “There’s something I like about seeing you jealous, darling, but you don’t need to be. You’re my one and only,” I murmur.

  We dance in silence until the song ends.

  “Feel better?”

  He doesn’t answer.

  “I love you, Iceman.”

  Eric nibbles my lips and murmurs into my mouth, “And I love you, babe.”

  33

  It’s my birthday, March 4. Twenty-six long years. I talk to my family, and they all congratulate me happily. I miss them so much. I want to see them and snuggle with them, and I promise to visit them soon. Sonia, Eric’s mother, makes dinner at her house for my birthday. She’s invited Frida, Andrés, and other friends of ours she knows. I’m happy.

  Flyn has given me a pretty glass pendant I wear with pride. This gift was very special. Eric gave me a precious white-gold bracelet engraved with his name and mine, and I can’t get enough of it. It’s wonderful. But what gives me goose bumps is the gift I discover when he tells me to take off the ring he gave me and read the words engraved on the inside: “Tell me what you want, now and forever.”

  “When did you put that on there?” I ask.

  Eric laughs.

  “One night when you were sleeping, I took the ring off you. Norbert took it to a jeweler friend of mine, and when he returned with it a couple of hours later, I put it back on your finger. I knew you wouldn’t take it off and see it.”

  I throw my arms around him. His voice hoarse, he kisses me and whispers into my mouth, “Don’t forget, baby, now and forever.”

  An hour later, after getting ready, I look at myself in the mirror. I like how I look. I love the black chiffon dress Eric bought me. I decide to leave my hair down because Eric enjoys touching and smelling it, and that turns me on.

  The door to the room opens, and the master of my desire appears. He’s so handsome in his dark tuxedo and bow tie.

  “What do you think?” I ask.

  Eric looks me up and down, and I can feel his thoughts burning into me. Finally, his mouth twists with a dangerous smile.

  “Sexy. Exciting. Wonderful.”

  I let him take me in his arms. His hands touch my bare back, and I smile when his mouth finds mine. For a few seconds, we enjoy each other, turning each other on, and just when I’m about to rip off his tuxedo, he pulls away from me.

  “Let’s go, sweetheart. My mother’s waiting for us.”

  I look at the clock. It’s five o’clock.

  “We’re going to your mother’s so soon?”

  “Better sooner than later, don’t you think?”

  Damned Germans, always in a hurry!

  “Give me five minutes and I’ll be down.”

  Eric nods. He gives me another kiss on the lips and disappears from the room, leaving me alone. With no time to lose, I put on my high heels, look back in the mirror, and touch up my lips. I smile, pick up the little purse that matches my dress, and, ready to have a good time, I exit the room.

  When I’m walking down the pretty staircase, Simona comes to meet me.

  “You look beautiful, Miss Judith.”

  Happy, I smile and give her a hug. Susto and Calamar come to say hello too.

  “Mr. Zimmerman and Flyn are waiting in the living room,” she says, while pulling the dogs away.

  Delighted by life and with a big smile on my face, I head there. When I open the door, an electric shock runs through my body, and I lift my hand to my mouth and burst into tears.

  Standing in front of me are my father, my sister, and my niece.

  I can’t say a word. I can’t take a step. All I can do is cry while my father rushes toward me and hugs me.

  “Papá! Papá, I’m so happy you’re here!”

  “Auntie!”

  My niece dashes over to give me a big kiss along with my sister. They all hug me, and for a few minutes, a chaotic mix of laughter, crying, and shrieks of joy takes over the living room. I see Eric’s excitement, but I also notice
the serious look on Flyn’s face.

  When I pull myself together after the wonderful surprise, I wipe the tears off my cheeks.

  “But . . . but when did you get here?”

  My father is more excited than I am. “An hour ago. It’s pretty cold in Germany,” he says.

  “Ooooh, babe, you look amazing in that dress!”

  I make a turn in front of my sister.

  “It was a gift from Eric. You really think it looks amazing?”

  “Stunning.”

  I don’t see my brother-in-law in the living room. “Jesús didn’t come?”

  “No . . . Work—you know how it is.”

  I nod, and my sister smiles. I give her a kiss. I love her so much. My niece, who’s acting crazy, wraps herself around my waist.

  “You wouldn’t believe how cool Uncle Eric’s plane is! The flight attendant gave me candy bars and vanilla milkshakes.”

  Eric takes me by the hand and kisses it.

  “I talked to your father and sister a couple of days ago, and they were delighted to come spend your birthday with you. Are you happy?”

  Like a little girl, I grin from ear to ear.

  “Very. This is the greatest gift.”

  For a few seconds, we look into each other’s eyes. Love. That’s what Eric gives me. But the moment is shattered.

  “I want to go to Sonia’s house!” Flyn demands.

  What’s wrong with him? But, when I see his furrowed brow, I understand. He’s jealous. For him, so many strangers all of a sudden are a bad sign. Eric, aware of his nephew’s state, moves away from me and tousles Flyn’s hair in a gesture of comfort.

  “We’ll go soon. Don’t worry.”

  The kid spins around and sits down on the sofa, turning his back to all of us. Eric sighs, and my sister, to change the subject, butts in. “This house is a beauty.”

  Eric smiles.

  “Thank you, Raquel,” he says. “Show them the house and their rooms, sweetheart. We’ll have to leave for my mother’s in a couple of hours.”