Tell Me What You Want—Or Leave Me

by Maxwell, Megan

  “Aunt Jude, you can’t open the door of a car until it’s come to a full stop,” says Flyn, who’s now hugging Simona. “It’s dangerous.”

  I realize what he’s saying is true. My impulsiveness got the better of me. I’m not being the best role model for Flyn. My German is mad at me.

  “I’m so sorry, Eric,” I say as Susto leaps about, wanting me to play with him. “It’s just that I saw Simona and . . .”

  Eric’s face relaxes, and he touches my face. “I know, love, but, please, be more careful, OK?”

  I hold on to him and sigh.

  “I promise, but please smile.”

  He does. His expression is completely transformed, and he gives me a kiss on the lips.

  “You’re still gonna pay for it as soon as we’re alone.”

  “Wow . . . this suddenly got interesting,” I say, feeling naughty.

  Eric laughs and plays with Susto and Calamar.

  When I see Eric and Flyn squat to hug them, I feel like my heart is going to burst. Neither one of them would have believed this scene a year ago. But, there they are, uncle and nephew, showering our two pets with cascades of love. Flyn runs off to a side yard, and the dogs chase after him. Norbert pulls our luggage from the car, and Eric gets Dexter’s wheelchair.

  “Judith, I’m so happy to see you,” says Simona.

  “I’m so happy to see you too, Simona! I missed you.”

  As soon as Graciela gets out of the car, I introduce them.

  “Simona, this is Graciela.”

  “Happy to meet you, Miss Graciela.”

  “Please, Simona,” the young woman says in German. “I’d feel more comfortable if you would just call me by my first name, the way you do Judith.” Here we go again.

  It’s obvious that with us middle-class girls, this business of “miss” is unsettling.

  “You can drop the ‘miss’ altogether,” I tell her.

  “There’s no need for it, OK?” Graciela says, seconding me.

  “Oh my God, you talk just like the star of Emerald Madness!” says Simona, surprised at Graciela’s Mexican accent.

  “You watch Emerald Madness in Germany?”

  Simona and I nod.

  “Seriously?”

  “Dead serious, Graciela,” I respond.

  I’m laughing like a fool.

  I still don’t know how I got so hooked on this soap opera.

  “You wouldn’t believe how addicted we are to Emerald Madness and Luis Alfredo Quiñones. I couldn’t believe they shot him in the last episode. He won’t die, will he?”

  Graciela shakes her head, and Simona and I sigh with gratitude. Thank God!

  “Simona, how are you, beautiful?” says Dexter, joining us.

  “Stupendous, Mr. Ramírez, and welcome!” Simona says and nods toward Graciela. “And your fiancé—your wife?—is wonderful.”

  Oh my God!

  When he hears that, Dexter freezes. Graciela blushes, and I decide not to say anything and see where this goes.

  “You’ve chosen very well, sir.”

  Eric grins, but Dexter decides to clear up what we’ve chosen not to.

  “Thank you, but I have to tell you that Graciela is just my personal assistant.”

  Simona stares at him for a minute and then at Graciela and brings her hands together, embarrassed. “My apologies, sir. I was out of line.”

  “It’s fine, Simona,” says Dexter with a smile.

  We all go in the house, and I hear Simona talking to Graciela. “You’re single?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, I can assure you you’ll have many admirers in Germany,” she says, winking at me.

  “Brunettes are very popular around these parts.”

  I can’t look at Dexter’s face when she says that because I’m afraid I’m going to laugh. He’s going to have to deal with Graciela sooner or later.

  Later that afternoon, Sonia, Eric’s mother; Marta, his sister; and her boyfriend, Arthur, come over for a while. Flyn gives them big hugs when he sees them. I can tell Sonia loves having that kind of physical contact with her grandson. Marta spins him around in her arms. They’ve never been apart from the boy for so long, and they’re emotional at his return.

  Like Simona, they both think Graciela is Dexter’s girlfriend or his wife, and he’s forced to explain once more.

  I ask Sonia about Trevor. “We broke up,” she whispers to me. “I don’t want commitments at my age!”

  I laugh. My mother-in-law never ceases to amaze me.

  For several hours, we all sit around the table and talk and drink, and Eric and I show photos of our honeymoon.

  Not all of them. Some we keep to ourselves. They’re just too intimate.

  When Marta realizes Graciela is single, she quickly invites her out for a night on the town, and I agree to join them. I’m dying to go to Guantanamera to see my friends, dance salsa, and shout azúcar. I can see in Eric’s eyes he’s not in the least amused by this, but I’m not going to stop going out with my friends just because I’m now Mrs. Zimmerman. No way!

  Getting back into our routine means establishing everything all over again. The whirlwind of the wedding and honeymoon is one thing, and the day-to-day is another. Although I adore my husband, and he adores me, I know we’re on a collision course. And I know it because of the way he’s looking at me right now.

  9

  The next day we have a date for dinner with Björn, Frida, and Andrés at Jokers, Björn’s father’s restaurant. Dexter, Graciela, Eric, and I say hi to the delightful Klaus and go directly to the table he’s reserved for us. We order beers and chat.

  “Oh God, I love this beer,” says Graciela.

  “Löwenbräu?” Eric asks.

  “Many years ago, when I lived in Chile, I had a neighbor whose father was German, and he would bring the beer from Germany,” says Graciela after a sip. “It’s so good!”

  “Would you like another?” Dexter says, smiling because she’s so happy.

  “I’d love it.”

  They clearly like each other, but neither will make the first move. Well, Graciela tried, and now it’s Dexter’s turn. I’m sure he wants to, but his disability inhibits him. What I don’t understand is how he can be so foolish. He knows she’s aware of his limitations, and she’s still interested. Honestly, I don’t get it.

  They bring us another round of beers, and we make toasts and laugh and enjoy each other’s company, like always. Then we see Björn, who is with a woman. Who could it be?

  He hasn’t seen us yet so I can check her out as much as I want. As might be expected, she’s a looker. Tall, sexy, blonde, wearing heels, and beautiful—very beautiful.

  When his father lets him know we’re waiting and Björn turns our way, I give him a wink.

  He’s such a great friend!

  “Eric, your friend is here,” I tell him in a low voice.

  Eric gets up, and then the two titans I love so much come together in a long and meaningful hug. They adore each other. Afterward, Björn hugs me.

  “Welcome home, Mrs. Zimmerman,” he whispers in my ear.

  His date is not exactly giving me a kindly look. I can see she’s not thrilled to be at this dinner. Björn continues his greetings and shakes Dexter’s hand as he’s introduced to Graciela. “Frida and Andrés aren’t here yet?”

  “We’re here!” says Frida, as they come up to the table. I leap up and run toward her. My crazy friend jumps up and down and hugs me.

  “How’s everything going?”

  “Fantastic,” I say. “We haven’t killed each other yet.”

  Frida smiles and then Andrés hugs and squeezes me. Everyone is so sweet to me, I can’t help but grin. I see they know Graciela from their visits to Mexico.

  I look over at Björn’s date, who’s looking at us askance. “Please be a gentleman and introduce us to your date,” I tell him.

  “Agneta, let me introduce my friends. This is Eric and his wife, Judith; Andrés and his wife, Frida; an
d Dexter and his girlfriend, Graciela.”

  Uh-oh.

  I can’t help but laugh.

  But before Dexter can say anything, Graciela looks up at the handsome Björn and says, “I’m not his girlfriend. I’m just his personal assistant.”

  Björn looks at Dexter, surprised, and then at Graciela and responds in Spanish so Agneta won’t understand him. “Well then, I think you and I will have a date later.”

  I crack up. Björn never misses an opportunity.

  “I’d be delighted,” says Graciela with a poise that surprises us all. You go, girl.

  I can’t look at Dexter!

  Poor man!

  But in the end, I can’t help it. I see him squaring his jaw as he pushes his hair back from his face. He doesn’t say a word and takes another sip of his beer. I feel a little sorry for him.

  After the introductions, we all sit and chat. Björn’s father brings us all kinds of delicious things to eat. I try to explain what everything is to Graciela.

  I’m so hungry!

  “Do you know who she is?” Frida whispers.

  “Who?” Then I see she means Björn’s date.

  “She works at CNN here in Germany. She’s a TV anchor.”

  “Well,” I whisper back, now intrigued.

  “This is delicious!” says Graciela, who, like me, loves to eat. She’s trying one of the meatballs.

  They’re to die for. I serve her a Brezn.

  “Try this savory pastry,” I say. “Dip it in that sauce, and you’ll see.”

  “These are spectacular,” says Frida as she picks one up.

  All three of us dip our pastries and take a bite, and our dramatic expressions say it all. Delicious!

  The men chat while we eat until I suddenly realize Agneta is not joining us.

  “You don’t eat?”

  She shakes her head and wrinkles her nose. “Too much fat for me.”

  “Well then, more for us!” Graciela says in Spanish, and I have to stop myself from laughing. I think the beers are getting to her.

  “But you must eat something,” says Frida.

  “I’ve ordered a radish and cheese salad,” says Agneta.

  “That’s all you’re going to have?”

  She lifts her chin.

  “Everything you’re eating is in your mouth for one second but six months on your hips. I can’t do that to my audience.”

  She’s right.

  But, hey, that second in the mouth is something else! As to the other thing she said, I’d rather not respond. This one is not the brightest bulb.

  For several minutes, we just eat and eat, and, all of a sudden, I stop. I remember who Agneta’s face reminds me of!

  She’s the same as a poodle named Fosqui, which Pachuca used to have when I was little. I laugh again. I can’t help it, and Eric leans over and kisses my neck.

  “What’s so funny?”

  I can’t tell him the truth. “It’s Graciela. Have you seen how happy she is?”

  Eric looks over at her. “I don’t think she should have any more Löwenbräu,” he says.

  I give him a little kiss on the tip of his nose.

  “I love you, Mr. Zimmerman.”

  Eric grins and pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “You know what?”

  “What?”

  “It’s been a long time since we’ve fought and since you’ve called me names.”

  I burst out laughing, and, when I realize what he’s actually referring to, I nod.

  “I will only call you that when you deserve it, and you don’t deserve it right now. So, no! I refuse to give you that pleasure.”

  “But it drives me crazy when you call me that.”

  “I know.” I laugh.

  “C’mon, say it,” he says, tickling my waist.

  “No.”

  “Say it.”

  “I said no . . . You don’t deserve it right now.”

  He kisses me over and over, and I finally give in. “Dickhead.”

  Eric laughs. We kiss again. My God . . . I love how he kisses me.

  And then, out of nowhere, we hear a strident voice.

  “This is not the salad I ordered.”

  Eric and I come back to reality and see Agneta, her face angry. “I asked for a cheese salad and—”

  “And this is a cheese and radish salad,” says Björn, cutting her off.

  The CNN star looks at her plate and transforms her expression into something sweeter.

  “OK . . . if you say so, then I believe it.”

  “If I say so?”

  “Yes, if you say so,” says the blonde, who has hypnotized Björn.

  Frida and I exchange a look, and I suspect we think the same thing. She’s dumb, but not that dumb.

  She has such a lousy personality . . . What does Björn see in her?

  Well, we all know he’s a beautiful guy, and, having a good sense of his taste, I’m assuming the girl must be a beast in the sack. But, wow, he needs to consider a muzzle for her when they go out.

  We all keep eating, and the conversation stabilizes. Being German like Agneta, Frida tries to include her in the conversation, but Agneta is not interested in making an effort.

  After the dessert and the laughter, we hear Graciela placing an order with the waiter. “Ten Löwenbräus to go.”

  We all laugh, except Dexter.

  “No way . . . No way.”

  “Why not?” Graciela responds, holding her chin with her hand as she leans an arm on the table. “Why shouldn’t I take some beer with me?”

  “You’re going to get sick, believe me,” Dexter says tenderly.

  Graciela laughs. For a little while now I’ve noticed her shyness has been completely absent.

  “I’m tired of you not wanting me,” she says, “when it could be amazing to play together in your pleasure dome.”

  Wow, Graciela has dropped the bomb! “What did you just say?” he asks, totally stunned.

  “I know you like me, and our friend Judith here has noticed it too. Don’t pretend, dude.”

  Here we go!

  Frida looks at me. I look back at her.

  Eric looks at me. I look back at him.

  Björn looks at me. I look back at him.

  They all look at me.

  “Look, what Graciela means is . . .”

  Then Dexter looks at me.

  I can’t finish.

  Graciela takes him by the chin and, in front of everybody, gives him a kiss that leaves us all with mouths agape.

  There goes another one, just like my sister. So much for the shy ones!

  “This is what I’m talking about, my handsome boy,” she says, just inches from Dexter’s face. “I want to stop playing with others so I can play with you.”

  Mother of God . . .

  I’m completely thrown. Graciela keeps looking at Dexter, but he turns to me.

  “What does she mean by ‘play’?”

  I arch my brows, and Dexter suddenly understands.

  “For the love of God, who do you play with?” he asks, staring at her.

  “With my friends.”

  “What?” he says, a little too loudly.

  “Since you don’t want to do anything with me, I’ve had to find my own way,” says Graciela.

  Nobody moves.

  No one knows what to do until Eric gets up and takes control of the situation.

  “It’s late,” he says, “and it’s probably best if we all go home.”

  We all get up. I stand near Graciela and see that Dexter is the first to move away from the table.

  “What are you doing, crazy girl?”

  She shrugs.

  “I just wanted to tell him the truth once and for all. I think the beers helped me.”

  “I’ll let you know later if they helped you. Just go home now,” I say.

  Once outside the restaurant, Dexter settles into the car, and Eric folds his wheelchair.

  Frida and Andrés go home. Agneta, who’s quite a diva,
climbs into Björn’s sports car without saying goodbye. She’s so rude.

  Björn waits for Eric to finish his task, then looks over at me and grins, well aware that Dexter can hear him. Like my father says, he’s more clever than a red rat.

  “It’s been a pleasure,” he says directly to Graciela, “and that dinner invitation is still on. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

  What a scoundrel! We didn’t even ask for his help, but he’s already joined the team to push Dexter along. He kisses Graciela and me good night and runs off to his car. We get in Eric’s car, and the four of us drive home in silence.

  Once home, an angry Dexter hurries to the first-floor room where he’s staying, and Graciela goes to hers.

  “Why are you such a troublemaker, sweetheart?” asks Eric.

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you.”

  “Why are you saying that?”

  “What’s all this about Graciela playing and that you know Dexter’s attracted to her?”

  “First of all, she told me everything without my even asking,” I say, enjoying myself now.

  “So many secrets all at once,” he says, kissing my neck.

  “And second of all: it’s obvious! All you have to do is look at Dexter whenever another man is anywhere near Graciela to realize that it bothers him when other men notice her.”

  “What do you think if you and I play for a little while and forget all about these first and second of alls?” Eric whispers as he takes me in his arms and gives me a warm kiss.

  He pushes me against the wall.

  “I’d love that, Mr. Zimmerman,” I say and kiss him back.

  10

  Two days later, Marta, my sister-in-law, calls me, and we decide to go out on the town together.

  I’m really looking forward to it!

  Initially, Graciela and I were the only ones joining Marta, but, in the end, the guys decided to come along. They don’t want us to go alone, and, when we get to Guantanamera, I look over at Eric’s face and realize he doesn’t really want to be here.

  Once in the club, we spy Anita, Marta and Arthur, and a few other friends already out on the dance floor. My German sister-in-law really knows how to dance. Eric watches her. He’s never seen her move like that, and he’s very surprised.

  “Why is my sister making those faces?”

  I’m about to say something when Marta sees us and rushes over to us, dragging her boyfriend behind her.