Tell Me What You Want—Or Leave Me

by Maxwell, Megan

When we get to Sergio and Elena’s bar, always the most popular in Jerez, my friends are there to greet me. They congratulate me on the wedding, and Eric buys drinks for everyone. My friend Rocío is delighted. She sees I’m happy, and that’s good enough for her. The music is playing, and when she hears a particular song, she takes me by the hand and pulls me toward the dance floor as we both sing.

  We laugh. We have so many memories from crazy summers singing that Jimmy Somerville song at the top of our lungs.

  When it’s over, we race to the bathroom, which is really a gossip center, and I answer every single one of her questions. We talk and talk and talk. We go up to dance again, and then we’re thirsty and head straight to the bar to get drinks.

  “Hello, beautiful,” a voice says in my ear as a pair of hands grab me by the waist.

  I know that voice . . .

  I quickly turn around and see David Guepardo, my friend from the motocross meets. He gives me a couple of kisses and hugs me. I’m sure Eric wouldn’t like the way he’s holding me, so I wiggle away from him.

  “How are you? What are you doing around these parts?”

  David is hot by any measure, and he looks my body up and down and takes another step toward me that leaves me smack against the bar.

  “I just got in yesterday,” he says. “And I came out to see if I could find you.”

  Rocío looks over at me. I look back, but before she can say anything, I see my German, my Iceman, looking furious behind David.

  “Could you please step back so my wife can breathe?” he hisses.

  David turns around.

  “You again,” he says before I have a chance to interrupt him. “Look, my friend, she’s not your wife, and, from what I can see, never will be. So, why don’t you take a little stroll and leave us in peace?”

  Oh Mother of God, the Iceman’s face. His nostrils are flaring.

  “David,” I say, “you have to—”

  But I don’t get to finish. Eric grabs him by the arm with his giant hands and pulls him away from me.

  “You’re the one who’s going to take a little stroll,” he says, inches from his face. “If you ever get that close to my wife again, you’re going to have a problem with me, do you understand?”

  David freezes. I raise my hand to show him my wedding ring.

  “David, Eric is my husband. We’re married.”

  David’s face completely transforms. Deep down, he’s a good guy, and he raises his hands in surrender.

  “I’m so sorry, dude. I thought everything was the same as last time.”

  Eric’s face relaxes. His anger dissipates. He takes me by the hand and pulls me to him as we exit.

  “Well, now you know,” he says. “Try not to make the same mistake twice.”

  Rocío looks at me from the bar, and I smile at her as Eric and I walk away. Although I don’t approve of his jealousy, I have to admit this possessive little episode really turned me on. He’s so sexy when he looks at me like that.

  We leave the place without saying another word and suddenly run into Fernando. We both grin.

  He’s holding hands with the same lovely girl he brought to my wedding in Germany, and, as we come close, Eric lets me go, and Fernando and I hug tightly.

  “Hi there, Jerez girl.”

  He reaches over to shake Eric’s hand. “How’s it going?”

  “Really well, buddy, really well.”

  They understand each other now. After everything that went down between the three of us, we’ve managed to normalize our relationships and be friends. I love that. Fernando is one of the most wonderful people I know, and I’m happy to see he and Eric are finally getting along.

  We greet his girlfriend, whose name is Aurora, and go have a drink together, the four of us.

  After a while, Fernando takes a quick look at his watch. “We have to go. We’re meeting some friends.”

  We say goodbye, and Eric slips his arm around my waist.

  “Are you happy, sweetheart?”

  “So happy, big guy,” I say, giving him a kiss.

  We join the rest of our group, chat for hours, and enjoy ourselves. What I love about hanging out with my people is the joy, the fun, the joking around.

  I find myself amused by the attention Graciela provokes. This sweet-voiced girl really knocks out the men of Jerez; Dexter watches and sighs. He knows how to control himself. This is going to take more than I had originally imagined.

  “Oh, Cuchu . . . ,” says my sister, sitting by my side and looking annoyed.

  “What’s up?”

  “I just saw Jesús park his car,” she whispers, a worried look on her face.

  My blood instantly boils. If my idiot of an ex-brother-in-law so much as comes close, I swear I’m going to slap him so hard, he won’t need a car to get back to Madrid. Eric notices the change in me immediately.

  “What’s going on?” he asks.

  “That imbecile Jesús is here.”

  He stiffens. “It’s OK, sweetheart. We’re adults; we’re civilized people.”

  His words make me laugh when I think about what happened with David, but in order to calm myself down—I just want to punch this guy who has made my sister suffer so much—I take a drink. Raquel gets up. Where is she going?

  I move to grab her by the arm so she won’t go near Jesús, but she gets away from me. She walks up to Juan Alberto, who’s talking to Dexter, puts her arm around his neck, sits on his lap, and kisses him on the mouth. I’m speechless.

  Wow!

  I choke on my drink.

  Eric takes my hand.

  Dexter looks over at me, but all I can see is my sister smooching like a teenager in front of everybody.

  “Raquel!” screams my ex-brother-in-law when he stumbles on the scene.

  But she just goes on with her devastating kiss with Juan Alberto. Of course, she’s dragging it out, the vixen. I can practically hear her saying “sabroso!”

  But things don’t end there. Totally in the moment, Juan Alberto puts his arms around my sister’s waist and passionately kisses her back as one of his hands wanders down and squeezes her butt.

  For the love of God, what are they doing?

  Time seems to pass in slow motion as they continue kissing until, finally, their lips part.

  “Raquel, do you believe in love at first sight,” says Juan Alberto, “or do I have to kiss you again?”

  Wow, I can’t believe this!

  That is some melodrama, live and in person!

  An ex-husband, a new lover, and the protagonist of the show who is none other than my sister.

  My mouth is agape, but Eric, who’s by my side, watches everything very calmly. Sometimes it’s like he has ice in his veins. And then, with a sly look on her face that leaves me totally stunned, my sister finally recognizes her ex-husband’s presence.

  “And what do you want?” she asks.

  He’s speechless. His chin is trembling. I want to shout, “Take that!”

  Jesús manages to compose himself after a moment.

  “Raquel, I’m not going to hold this against you, but we need to talk,” he says.

  He’s not going to hold it against her?

  I want to get up and kick his head in. What kind of an asshole is he?

  Eric sees me shifting around in my seat, and, not letting go of my hand, he looks at me. That look alone tells me to be cool.

  “Look, Jesús,” Raquel responds, surprising me, “please hold it against me, because I plan to do it again as many times as I wish. We’re separated! And before you start with your speech, the answer is no!”

  “But . . . but . . .”

  “But nothing!” she exclaims.

  Jesús looks at her like he doesn’t know her, and I’m not in the least bit surprised—I don’t think I know her either!

  Suddenly Juan Alberto stuns us all by standing up, and, with my sister still in his arms, stares down my ex-brother-in-law.

  “Listen, dude, this beautiful woman has
nothing to say to you,” he says. “From now on, every time you call her cell, you’re going to have to deal with me because we’re sick of your calls and your insistence. She has no desire to see you, to dine with you, to talk to you. First of all, because she doesn’t want to, and second of all, because this beautiful woman is with me. And I’m very possessive. What’s mine is mine, and I don’t let anyone else near it. Pay your alimony and support, which is your responsibility because you’re the father. As far as my queen here is concerned, I’ll take care of the rest. So, run along and get out of my sight, got it?”

  I’m flabbergasted.

  Totally floored.

  “You heard him, Jesús,” says my sister, holding on to Juan Alberto and looking at her ex with incredible satisfaction. “Goodbye!”

  “But what about the girls?”

  “You’ll see the girls whenever it’s your turn,” says Raquel. “Don’t ever worry about that.”

  The poor man processes what’s happened and turns around and slinks away. Once he’s gone, I look over at my sister, still amazed, and see she can’t believe it either. She’s looking scared and babbling at Juan Alberto.

  “Thanks . . . Thanks for your help.”

  He lets go of her and sits back down, and, as he does, his gaze runs over Raquel’s body. “You’re something else,” he says.

  “Man alive,” Eric says and laughs.

  How can he laugh at a moment like this?

  I realize my sister is completely traumatized by what just happened, and I go into action immediately. I take her hand and pull her away from everyone. We go to the bathroom, where she pours water on her neck. I don’t know what to say.

  “Oh, Cuchufleta . . .”

  “I know.”

  “Oh, I’m so hot, Cuchu.”

  “Not surprising.”

  “Did I just do what I think I did?” my sister asks, astonished.

  “Yes.”

  “Seriously?”

  “I witnessed it all. You did it.”

  “I just made out with . . . with . . . Juan Alberto?”

  “Yes.” She doesn’t respond. “You just made out like a teenager with your little roll in the hay. The only thing you didn’t do is say ‘sabroso’!”

  My sister blinks.

  “Mother of God . . . did you see how that man kisses?”

  I nod. I saw, along with half of Jerez.

  “I just threw myself at him and . . . and . . . he squeezed me and . . . and . . . then he grabbed my ass, the pig! And he shoved his tongue down my throat. Oh God . . . I’m so hot! And then he said that thing about love at first sight or—”

  “Or he’d kiss you again. Yes, it was very much like a scene in a soap opera,” I say.

  I try to fan her and she swoons, because she loves being dramatic.

  She pours some more water on her neck and pants. She still can’t believe what she did. Poor woman.

  “I think today you got rid of Jesús for the rest of your life,” I say. “Juan Alberto made that very clear to him, dude.”

  “Oh, Cuchu, don’t laugh.”

  “I can’t help it, Raquel.”

  “That man must think I’m out of my mind,” she says, touching her face.

  “But didn’t you say you wanted to be fresh and modern?”

  “Yes, but not slutty,” she says, blushing now.

  “Look, Raquel, let him think whatever he wants to think,” I say. “Did you like kissing him?”

  She has no hesitation. “Yes . . . I’m not going to deny it.”

  “So, that’s that. Be positive and think about these two things. First, you got rid of Jesús. Second, this man you like has kissed you like they do on the soap operas and completely knocked you out.”

  She finally laughs. I do too.

  “My God, Cuchu,” she says.

  7

  I’ve never liked farewells, and I like them even less when I’m saying goodbye to my family. Leaving them breaks my heart, but Eric is right there to make me smile and promises I can see them again whenever I want.

  The jet is waiting for us at the Jerez airport. My niece insists on climbing in. She wants chocolates, and the flight attendant gives her some. But time is passing, and we have to go, so there is no choice but to finally say goodbye.

  “Listen, sweetheart,” says my father as he hugs me, “you’re very happy. I can tell. I always liked Eric from the first minute; you know that, right?”

  I nod.

  “Then smile and enjoy your life, and that way I’ll enjoy mine too.”

  “Papá, it’s just that I miss you so much. And not knowing when I’m going to see you again kills me.”

  My father smiles and puts a finger on my lips.

  “I promised Eric we will all spend next Christmas in Germany. That guy loves you, and he didn’t stop asking until I finally said yes.”

  “Seriously?”

  Now I’m really smiling, and I hug my father back. While still in his arms, I look over his shoulder at Eric, who is saying goodbye to my sister. I never imagined a man like him would take such good care of me. But there he is, my somber German who managed to make me fall in love with him.

  After I let go of my father, I turn to hug my sister.

  “You haven’t left yet, and I already miss you so much,” she says.

  “Oh, my sister,” I say, laughing, “I love you so much! Be nice to Juan Alberto. And, though you want to be fresh and modern, try to think through things before doing them, OK?”

  My crazy sister whispers in my ear, “He asked me to go with him to Madrid.”

  “Seriously?” I ask.

  Raquel nods.

  “When?”

  “In three weeks. He’s going to Barcelona tomorrow, and I promised to go with him when he gets back. Listen, deep down, I know it’s good for me, and I’ll be able to pick up some of Luz’s things. Anyway, don’t worry, I’m not going to sleep with him. I’m not that desperate! I told Papá about the trip last night, and he thought it sounded good. He also said he likes Juan Alberto. That he seems like a good man.”

  That makes me laugh. My father and his good men.

  It’s the same thing he told me about Eric when he met him. It’s like certain men have a special code that we women don’t know, but he sees in Juan Alberto the seriousness he saw in Eric.

  “Listen, Raquel, are you sure about what you’re doing?”

  She looks over at Juan Alberto and the rest of the group.

  “No, Cuchu, but I need to do something crazy. I’ve never been spontaneous, and I like the idea of doing something different with this man. What we have will only last while he’s in Spain but—”

  “Raquel, you’re going to suffer when he leaves. I know you!”

  My sister nods with a seriousness that surprises me.

  “I know, Cuchu . . . but I want to enjoy myself while he’s here. I’m well aware of my situation and that I have two girls, so there aren’t a lot of crazy things I can do in my life. That’s why I’m determined to enjoy those two days!”

  I smile, but I feel bad that she thinks like this. She’s too young to think she won’t have big emotions yet in her life.

  “Girls, I hate to interrupt your moment, but the pilot says we need to go,” says Eric as he puts his hands on my waist.

  As my sister says goodbye to Eric, Juan Alberto comes over to say goodbye to me.

  “I know; don’t worry,” he says. “I’ll take care of her and make sure everyone’s OK. I already told Eric, but I wanted to thank you as well for letting me stay at Sweetheart Villa.”

  I can’t reproach him about anything.

  I playfully smack him on the chest with my hand.

  “You already know, dude, how I get when I don’t like something, you know what I mean?” I say, warning him.

  Raquel’s little roll in the hay grins and gives me a pair of kisses. When I pull away from him, I hug my father and my sister, I kiss Luz, who’s sniffling because Flyn is leaving—can you believe i
t?—and then babble something at little Lucía.

  “Just remember, sweetheart, that I want more grandchildren,” says my father, “and if it’s a boy, even better!”

  “I’d rather have a little girl,” says my husband.

  I have nothing to say.

  I’m sure my face says it all.

  They both grin, and I roll my eyes as I scratch my neck. Men!

  8

  We arrive at Franz Josef Strauss International Airport in Munich on time and without complications. As we deplane, Eric chats with the pilot, and I see Norbert has come to pick us up. Flyn runs toward him when he sees him and gives him a hug. I love seeing how Norbert blushes with happiness over the boy’s attentions.

  As soon as Flyn’s in the car with Graciela and Dexter, I hug Norbert too. As always, he’s stiff as a board, but I don’t care and hug him anyway.

  “How wonderful to have you back home again, missus,” he says, betraying his emotions.

  I’ve gone from Miss Judith to missus.

  “Norbert, didn’t we agree you would call me by my name?”

  He nods and shakes Eric’s hand heartily.

  “It’s my wife’s idea, missus. She’s so looking forward to having you home again.”

  Norbert stuffs the luggage in the trunk while Eric hugs me and gives me a kiss.

  “You’re on my turf again, sweetheart.”

  “Sorry to tell you, handsome, but this is my turf now too.”

  We climb in the car and head home. Our home. On the way, Graciela looks out the window, and the men joke around with Flyn. I tell her about some of the things she’s seeing.

  Eric looks happy to see how much I know about Munich, and I wink at him.

  When we get back, Norbert opens the gate. As soon as we cross the beautiful garden, I see Simona with Susto and Calamar at the front door. She smiles radiantly and runs toward the car with the dogs chasing behind her.

  I jump out of the car before it’s come to a full stop, and Susto and Calamar leap all over me. I kiss them as they bark up a storm. Then I see Simona—my Simona!—and I give her a very warm hug.

  Suddenly, I realize Eric is pulling on my arm, his brow wrinkled. What’s wrong with him?

  “Are you out of your mind?”

  I’m surprised by his solemnness and his tone of voice. Why? What’s happened?