Luna Tango

by Alli Sinclair

  ‘Even though you may have Argentine blood running through your veins, you still do not understand.’

  She narrowed her eyes. ‘Yes, I do.’

  ‘A little, yes, but not all. We love with passion, we fight with passion, we uphold justice with passion. Your man Roberto is doing what any self-respecting Argentine would do—he is following his heart to protect the one he loves.’

  ‘He’s done that for decades.’

  ‘But now she is threatened.’

  ‘Only if the authorities get off their fat arses. He could be handing himself over for no reason. Like I said, they could meet in Brazil and—’

  ‘And what? They spend a few days together then he dies and with him goes the only chance of your grandma clearing her name? He is right to come to Argentina. When he does pass, he can do so knowing he has integrity intact and that is the most important for an Argentine.’

  It hadn’t mattered how much she’d pleaded, Roberto had been determined to get to Argentina. She now saw why he and Stella were such a good match—they were as stubborn as each other.

  The flight attendant arrived and handed them each a small bottle of wine, a plastic cup, and pretzels. They busied themselves opening, pouring and eating while the cabin filled with their uneasiness.

  ‘Why does bad stuff happen to good people?’ she asked, instantly regretting breaking the silence.

  ‘Curses.’

  ‘What? Curses don’t exist.’

  ‘In my culture, curses are very real. Look at your family. I cannot explain why, but they are affected by the curse of the tango.’ He stared out the window as if mustering the strength to say something she wouldn’t like. ‘Daniela, I can see the time has come to have the discussion.’

  ‘What discussion?’ Dread coursed through her veins.

  ‘Look at what has happened.’ He ticked off points with his fingers. ‘Your grandma is accused of murder and the man who is perhaps your grandfather will go to jail for a crime he committed many years ago. He says it is an accident but the authorities may not think so. Your mother, she deserted you to follow her passion with the tango, and me ...’ He paused and took a gulp from the cup. ‘Look at my history. I ruined two careers—Cecilia’s and mine.’ In all the craziness they hadn’t yet discussed this all-important subject.

  ‘But it wasn’t your fault.’

  ‘You know about this?’

  ‘Iris told me.’

  ‘What did she say?’

  ‘She now knows you lied about the accident and that it was Cecilia’s fault.’

  ‘How—It does not matter how she knows. She is right.’

  ‘So why did you say you did it? Chivalry should only go so far,’ said Dani.

  ‘Cecilia was strong when she tangoed but frail off the dance floor. She could never have coped with the anger from the Argentines and the media if they knew she caused an accident out of stupidity. And you know what they did to me.’

  ‘Yes, and on behalf of my profession, I apologise.’

  ‘Thank you, but it is not necessary. I did what any man would do. I protected the person I loved but it was for nothing. And this is because we met through tango, just like you and me. The curse, it will destroy any relationship it chooses.’

  ‘But we’re different. I’m not a professional and you don’t dance any more.’ She tilted her head in the direction of his leg. When she looked at his face, Carlos’s determined expression scared her.

  ‘I still teach, and you have tango running through your blood.’

  ‘But we don’t know if Roberto is—’

  ‘I am aware of this, yes? But our lives are tangled with tango, no matter how we try to change it. I cannot see how we can make us work.’

  ‘We could be the ones who break the curse.’

  ‘It is not possible,’ he said with certainty.

  ‘Anything is possible if you want it badly enough. Think about it, Carlos. My mother and grandma were burdened with guilt of their own doing. They’ve had to lie and betray for most of their lives. Even Cecilia lied by letting you take the blame then not telling you about your baby until she skipped town. Tango isn’t the problem. The lies and betrayal are.’

  ‘You lied.’

  ‘You’re right, but I’ve been truthful with you ever since. If we embrace the lessons we learn from tango and apply them to life, just like you’ve been telling me, then maybe tango can save us all.’

  ‘It is cursed. We are cursed.’ He stared at the headrest in front of him.

  She wanted to plead but didn’t want to appear desperate. Then anger pulled her neck muscles taut. ‘Is it because Roberto might be my grandfather? In the past you’ve been adamant about seeing justice done for Canziani’s killer.’

  ‘Things change, Daniela. I can see the remorse in Roberto’s eyes. He’s carried this burden for many years. Jail is nothing compared to what he has already suffered.’

  Well, that was a surprise. ‘Then what?’

  ‘Daniela, it is many things but none are your fault. I am sorry. I wanted to wait until everything settled but the problems between us grew so I needed to say something now.’

  ‘It didn’t seem to bother you when you were in my bed. You didn’t mind dragging me along and letting me fall in love with you, but now you’re happy to dump me mid-flight.’

  He rubbed his forehead. When he looked at her again, his eyes were full of sadness. ‘You are in love with me?’

  ‘Yes!’ She wanted to punch him in the arm. Hard. ‘You don’t feel the same way?’

  ‘Yes.’ His voice sounded small.

  ‘So why are you breaking this off?’

  ‘This curse, and you, and my life, and ... it is all too difficult.’

  ‘They’re all excuses and if you loved me you would find a way to get around them.’ Especially if you didn’t walk away every time the going got too hard.

  ‘I—’

  ‘Well, this explains the hot and cold since we arrived in Brazil.’ Dani puffed out her cheeks. ‘You’re always referring to the tango, yet you think it’s a curse. I don’t get it. One of the first things you ever said to me is that tango, like love, is complicated.’

  ‘Daniela, even tango has steps that take a lifetime to learn but are never mastered. There are no guarantees in tango, much like life and love.’ He paused for a moment, then said, ‘Please, respect my wishes. Know I will help you with Roberto and Stella but once this is finished, it will be the end of us.’

  ‘I think you’ve helped enough, thank you.’ She placed her drink on the tray, crossed her arms and stared out the window.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly.

  Hot tears pricked her eyes but she refused to give in to them. She clenched her jaw, every muscle in her body tense. What a sucker she’d been. She’d gotten carried away with the romance of Argentina and fallen for someone even though she’d wanted to take a break from men. She’d let Carlos Escudero dance into her life and into her heart. Dani McKenna, you’re nothing but a sentimental fool.

  Carlos put down his drink and checked his phone yet again, the same thing he’d been doing since the early morning.

  ‘You can’t receive messages up here.’ She picked up the cup and sipped more wine.

  ‘I am aware of this, Daniela.’ He stared at the phone.

  ‘Are you waiting for something?’

  ‘I have already received it.’ Tucking the phone in his jacket, he faced her and said, ‘I am now a father.’

  ‘What?’ she gasped and red wine flew up her nose and burnt her nostrils.

  ‘I should have told you earlier but you were upset about Roberto and we—’

  ‘Carlos! This is a significant moment in your life. Did the detectives find Cecilia?’ He nodded and picked up his cup to skull the last of the wine. She offered him hers. ‘Are you okay?’

  He shook his head and swirled the alcohol in the plastic cup, the red liquid spilling onto the tray. ‘Emilio Juan is his name.’

  ‘Where are th
ey?’

  Carlos stared out the window. ‘The detectives found them in Bahía Blanca. They are both healthy. Juan Emilio is one week old.’

  This revelation explained his speech about curses. If she’d known about the recent developments with Cecilia and his baby, she wouldn’t have given him a hard time. It hurt that he hadn’t shared the news with her earlier, but then again, they’d been on rocky ground since Mendoza. Without any idea what to say or do, Dani reached out and placed her hand on his. He withdrew it like she had zapped him with electricity. ‘I’m glad you found out about your boy but I’m sorry it is such a difficult situation. Will you go straight away to meet him?’

  ‘Cecilia, she has people around her who will not let me near my boy.’

  ‘He’s your son, for god’s sake! Surely there is a way around this?’

  He lifted his shoulders then let them slump. She bit her lip, a turmoil of emotions crashing inside her. The drone of the plane’s engines punctuated the uncomfortable silence that surrounded them in a thick cloud. Flicking through the inflight magazine, Dani desperately wanted to find the right words to console Carlos. Saying she was sorry for his troubles just didn’t cut it.

  The plane dropped slightly and an announcement came over the PA, advising the passengers of their imminent descent.

  How apropos.

  CHAPTER

  31

  The hotel room looked much like the one she’d stayed in before. Dani liked the familiarity, as it was her one constant from all the twists and turns that had taken place over the past few weeks. Roberto sat on the bed wheezing, his back against the wall. Carlos paced the floor and Dani looked everywhere but at him. Each time she caught his eye, her heart ached and she wanted to curl into a ball of self-pity.

  A solid rap on the door announced Iris’s arrival and Dani jumped up and ushered her mother into the hall before she spotted the men.

  ‘You’ve dyed your hair again,’ Dani said.

  ‘Yes.’ Iris fluffed her black tresses. ‘It’s still short but I like it better this way. Everyone’s heard I’m in town, so no point in hiding my identity, huh? Plus blondes don’t have more fun.’

  ‘Have you seen Diego?’

  ‘No, he’s gone into hiding.’ Iris lit a cigarette and waved her hand through the smoke, trying to push it away from Dani. ‘I swear to god, if I ever see him again—’

  ‘He’s here.’

  Iris’s eyebrows shot up and panic raced across her face.

  ‘No, not Diego. Roberto,’ said Dani.

  Iris stared at her hands as she took deep breaths. ‘What’s he like?’

  ‘Why don’t you meet him and find out?’

  ‘I—Dani, I don’t think I can,’ she said, backing away from the door.

  ‘Please, come and meet him.’ Dani placed her hand on her mother’s arm. ‘Just be aware he’s frail, okay?’

  Iris bit her lip and nodded, her eyes glassy. She butted out the cigarette in the ashtray in the foyer and Dani gently steered her mother into the hotel room. As they entered, Roberto made to get up but his arms couldn’t hold him and he collapsed against the wall.

  Iris knelt in front of him and held his hands. Dani leant against the wall by the bathroom and sensed Carlos watching her, but she refused to look at him, the hurt too raw. They’d barely spoken a word since their conversation on the plane and when they did speak, it was in measured tones with no discussion of personal topics. She’d expected him to jump off the plane and head to Bahía Blanca to fight to see his son, yet—after making half-a-dozen secretive calls—he’d remained in Buenos Aires.

  ‘So you are Roberto.’ Iris patted his weathered hand.

  ‘Yes.’ His voice had turned as fragile as his body.

  ‘It’s nice to meet you,’ she said softly.

  Dani studied the pair and marvelled at how alike they seemed. Even though Iris and Stella looked the same, the way Roberto and Iris tilted their heads and blinked rapidly every so often added up to one very big thing: they were most definitely father and daughter, no DNA test required.

  ‘She is his daughter,’ Carlos whispered in her ear.

  Dani jumped, unaware he’d snuck up beside her. ‘That’s exactly what I was thinking.’

  Roberto coughed into his handkerchief and Dani noticed new speckles of blood on the material. He saw her look and shoved the handkerchief under the sheets. Then he gasped and reached for his throat. What little colour he had in his skin and lips disappeared.

  ‘He’s choking! Get an ambulance!’ Dani shouted at Carlos, who already had the phone in his hand. He spoke rapidly while she worked with Iris to help calm Roberto. The coughing turned to vomiting blood and the women were quickly covered in the sticky substance.

  Carlos raced out the door and into the corridor, returning with paramedics minutes later. They rushed to Roberto, who had stopped coughing but was now grey, his breathing shallow. The two young ambulance men worked on him, taking his pulse, listening to his chest and hooking him up to an IV drip.

  ‘I’ll go with him.’ Something in Iris’s tone told Dani not to argue.

  ‘We’ll follow.’ She looked at Carlos, who hadn’t moved since the paramedics had arrived.

  They wheeled an unconscious Roberto out of the room with Iris following, struggling to keep up in her heels.

  ‘Jesus.’ Dani grabbed her phone, threw it in her handbag and slung it over her shoulder.

  ‘I am sorry, Daniela.’ Carlos placed his hand in hers, his dark eyes relaying his sadness.

  ‘I am, too. We were just about to call Stella and tell her the good news.’

  ‘You still can.’

  ‘What good news? Roberto’s being rushed to hospital and he’s dying of cancer!’

  ‘We must go.’ He grabbed his jacket and Roberto’s bandoneón case and ushered her to the door.

  Dani looked back at the telephone. ‘She needs to know.’

  ‘Call her from the hospital. Roberto needs you now.’

  * * *

  It was peak hour, and it took them an hour to reach the hospital. Dani’s phone had run flat and Carlos had left his behind at the hotel in their mad dash to leave. The moment they arrived, they raced across the black and white-checked linoleum to the reception desk. Panting, Dani asked for directions. The nurse pointed at the lift and Dani halted.

  ‘Come.’ Carlos held out his hand.

  She shook her head. ‘No. The stairs are fine.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Stairs, Carlos.’ She dashed up the six flights. Her lungs screamed for air and her leg muscles burned but she pushed on. Arriving at the sixth floor, she hurried to another nurse’s station, Carlos following dutifully.

  The nurse looked at them over her glasses. ‘Who do you wish to see?’

  ‘Lucas Villa,’ said Dani, praying Iris had enough sense to admit him under his false name.

  The nurse peered at the screen. ‘Ah, yes. The doctor says no visitors. You may wait over there.’ She pointed to a sad cracked leather sofa down the hallway.

  ‘Thanks.’

  Iris trotted around the corner and burst into tears as soon as she saw Dani. Placing her arm around her mother’s shoulder, Dani guided her to the sofa.

  ‘It was horrible. He regained consciousness in the ambulance then flat lined. When he came to again, he begged the paramedic to call the police as he had something to confess.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘The paramedic didn’t do it, of course. He was too busy trying to keep him alive.’

  ‘Do you think the hospital has contacted the police?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Mascara had pooled under Iris’s eyes. ‘I told them he had dementia and often had delusions he was other people.’

  Dani leant forwards. ‘Did the paramedic buy it?’

  ‘I have no idea.’ Iris sniffed.

  ‘Look, even if the paramedic did as was asked, who’s to say the cops will come straight away?’ said Dani. ‘I’m sure they’ve had their fair share of peo
ple confessing to all sorts of stuff on their deathbed even if they haven’t done it. Shit. Stella.’ Catching the nurse’s attention, she asked, ‘Do you have a public phone?

  ‘Level below, near the public toilets.’

  Grabbing her bag, Dani marched downstairs, found the phone and shoved in her credit card. She punched in Stella’s number, closing her eyes and praying with each ring of the phone.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Stella! Where have you been?’

  ‘By the phone. I’ve been waiting to hear from you.’ She didn’t make an effort to hide her annoyance.

  ‘But Iris had tried calling before.’

  ‘I was at the doctor getting a medical clearance to fly to Brazil.’

  ‘We’re in Argentina.’

  ‘Why haven’t you left? You promised me, Dani!’

  ‘It’s a long story and I don’t have time to explain right now but we found Roberto in Brazil, just where you said he would be. Grandma, listen, please. Roberto’s in hospital.’ Dani squeezed her eyes tight.

  Stella breathed out slowly. ‘How? Why?’

  ‘He’s dying, Grandma. He has lung cancer that’s spread and he doesn’t have much time left.’

  ‘But why Argentina? They’ll find him and arrest him! I can’t return there, I’m a wanted woman!’

  Dani had barely processed events in her own mind so she could only imagine how hard it was for Stella. All Dani could do was keep calm and not let her grandma hear her pain and distress.

  ‘Grandma, the authorities might know where you are but they don’t know your name. Luckily Iris had that in her head and not on a stupid sticky note. Roberto wanted to turn himself in before they tried to extradite you.’ She hated being the bearer of bad news.

  ‘But he didn’t do it!’ Panic laced her voice.

  ‘He did, Grandma.’ Dani allowed the words to sink in.

  ‘No. Not my Roberto. There is no—’

  ‘Grandma, it was in self-defence. I’ve seen his remorse and know him enough to believe he didn’t do it on purpose. His ...’ She took a breath. ‘His dying wishes are for your name to be cleared and the truth to be known.’ Sobs flew down the line and pierced Dani’s heart. Sensing there wouldn’t be a perfect time for her next question, she pressed on. ‘I’m sorry but I have to ask a question for Iris and Roberto.’