Take him!
Page 9
“Hi, baby! “ He says kissing my hand and adds. “Did you have breakfast?”
“Yes, and you?” I ask him.
He nods.
“Are you ready?”
I show him my luggage.
“Perfect. Let’s go!”
When we leave home we go to a gourmet shop. Álvaro asks me to help him to choose a basket as a Christmas gift for Magda. I think it’s an excellent idea.
We choose a beautiful one with lots of delicious food and lots of sweets for her children, as according to what Álvaro has just told me, she has two kids.
Besides, he adds an invitation for four to a good restaurant for Christmas Day and where I see there is some money too.
Álvaro wants that she doesn’t have to cook at least one day a year.
I love seeing this side of Álvaro and seeing how thrilled he is with the gift.
Once we have already bought the basket, a boy loads it in our car and I tell Álvaro:
“I thought they were going to send it to her directly.”
“No, I prefer to do it personally and say goodbye and, if we’re lucky, we’ll see the two rugrats. You want to come, don’t you? I’d love you to come.” He says with that face he makes and I can’t resist.
“Of course. Magda took care of me very well the days she was at my apartment.”
After a while in the car, we get to a district on the outskirts of Barcelona.
I imagine how long it takes her to get to Álvaro’s and I feel sorry for her, as I know the city public transport.
We get into a bit dilapidated building and we climb the stairs to the fourth floor, as there aren’t any elevators.
“Ring the bell, please. “He asks me, as he’s carrying the huge basket.
I do it in delight and suddenly, a six years old girl opens the door.
She looks at me and the huge basket, but she doesn’t see Álvaro because the gift is hiding him.
“Do you work for Santa?” The girl asks me.
Álvaro lets out a laughter and then she comes closer to see who it is. When she sees him, she hooks on his leg and shouts very happy:
“Álvaro! Mom, it’s Álvaro.”
Suddenly, Magda appears with another little child in her arms.
“Hello! What a surprise. Come in please.”
We get into the apartment, it’s small and it’s full of kid stuff everywhere.
When Álvaro manages to leave the huge basket on a table, he picks up the little girl and tickles her. The child goes back on the floor and the youngest one, who is in his mother’s arms, wants to come with me. I pick him up delighted and the girl, who is still in Álvaro’s arms says:
“This is my brother, his name is Leo and is three years old.”
“And you? What’s your name?” I ask her.
“My name is Alba and I’m six years old. And you?” She asks very determined.
“My name is Martina.”
“Álvaro, is she your girlfriend?” She asks him directly looking at him very seriously.
Magda, a bit embarrassed, tells Alba that, please, don’t be so annoying. And Álvaro answers:
“No, we’re only good friends. Although I wouldn’t mind if she wants to be my girlfriend.” He adds looking at me.
My face is beet red, Magda smiles like a look and the girl gets angry.
“Eh, what’s the matter? Why do you pull that face?” Álvaro asks when he sees the child’s long face.
“Because I’m angry.”
“At me?” He asks shocked.
“Yes.”
“And why?” He says tenderly.
“You told me you would be my boyfriend when I were older.”
Geez this girl … she’s full of promise, I think.
“Yes, but I thought you liked Rafael.”
“Yes, but he’s not my boyfriend.”
“Well, that’s my situation with Martina.”
It seems like he ends up convincing her although I haven’t understood a thing.
We play with the children for a while when Magda tells me very lowly:
“I’m glad to see you with him, he’s so happy when he’s with you…”
“Thanks Magda.” I’m shocked by those words that come from a woman who knows him very well.
Suddenly, Álvaro lets Alba go and tells me:
“We have to leave now, Martina, or we won’t make it to the Christmas’ Eve dinner.”
We say goodbye and we promise the little girl that we’ll be back soon, so she tells me:
“Don’t be his girlfriend. I’ll be his girlfriend when I grow up.”
“I’ll take it into account, Alba.” I tell her.
Álvaro laughs, Magda tells her off and I want to kill her.
We leave with la Vall d’Aran as destination.
“Do you want me to drive?” I ask.
“Can you drive?” He looks at me surprised.
“Of course, it’s not so difficult.” I say shocked.
“But you don’t have a car, do you?”
“No, I don’t need it in this city.”
“It’s better that way.”
“Better?” I don’t understand why he says that.
“You don’t have to drive, I already do it for you.” And he ends the issue.
He has those things, as emphatic as stubborn. Anyway…
“Shall we play some music?” I ask a while later.
“You’ll have to turn on the radio because I took the memory stick the other day to put some music in it but I didn’t think about taking it back here.”
Then, I change the radio station until I find a Carlos Baute and Marta Sánchez song that makes my heart melt and I’ve always loved.
Unavoidably, I start to hum and little by little I begin to sing.
Álvaro rolls his eyes and finally, he smiles.
I don’t feel embarrassment because he’s listening to me, but I don’t get it, every time I listen to that song I get affectionate.
Maybe it wasn’t a coincidence meeting you
Maybe this was destiny.
I want to fall asleep in your chest again
And then be awaken by your kisses.
Your sixth sense dreams about me,
I know that we will be together soon.
Your naughty smile lives with me,
I know I will soon be in your way.
You know that I am hanging in your hands
So do not let me fall
You know I am hanging in your hands...
I sent you hand written poems
I sent you songs by 4.40
I send you pictures of us dinning in Marbella
And of our trip to Venezuela.
So that you remember me and remember that
My heart is hanging in your hands.
Be careful, careful.
I won't lose hope about talking to you
I don't care about what destiny says
I want to have your fragrance with me
And drink from you everything that is forbidden.
You know my heart is hanging in your hands
So do not let me fall
You know I am hanging in your hands.
I sent you hand written poems
I sent you songs by 4.40
I send you pictures of us dinning in Marbella
And of our trip to Venezuela.
So that you remember me and remember that
My heart is hanging in your hands.
Be careful, careful.
Be careful, be careful (be very careful)
Be careful. Marta, I tell you,
You have me in your hands
It doesn't matter what destiny says,
Stay with me
I want everything from you
Your lips, your love, that which is forbidden.
I sent you hand written poems
I sent you songs by 4.40
I send you pictures of us dinning in Marbella
And of our trip to V
enezuela.
So that you remember me and remember that
My heart is hanging in your hands.
Be careful, careful.
Be careful, be careful,
My heart is hanging in your hands.
Right after that, the news starts and the magic is lost.
He drives for a while in silence until he takes an exit from the highway to go to a restaurant.
“Are you hungry?”
“Yes, a lot.” I recognize.
“Okay, let’s stop at this restaurant, I like coming here whenever I go to la Vall d’Aran. You’ll like it.”
The truth is that the restaurant is gorgeous. It is the typical country house, restored and decorated to this effect. And, besides, the food is delicious.
I’m a bit nervous, I know there’s not much time left to meet his family and that makes me hysterical. I think that Álvaro knows it and he starts to explain things about them, but that doesn’t calm me down because I see they’re some very educated people. And that doesn’t help to calm me down.
He tells me that his father was a judge and his mother a lawyer. Now they’re retired and have been living in la Vall d’Aran in winter and S’Agaró in summer.
Also, he explains he has an older sister, her name is Claudia and she’s been married to Juan Carlos for many years. According to him, he was her first boyfriend and they decided to get married when they were very young. They have two children and live in Girona. Claudia is a lawyer and her husband is a whatever engineer.
He defines them as very simple people and I tell myself he’s wrong.
When we’re eating the desserts, I try to change the subject about families, because I don’t want to tell him anything about mine. It’s not as educated as his, but that’s not the problem.
We resume the trip and decide to call Carla to wish her Merry Christmas. Suddenly, he connects the handsfree device as the Bluetooth on my phone is connected, and my adorable niece’s voice sounds all over the car and she says:
“Hi, auntie!”
“Hi honey! How are you?”
“Fine, I was helping my mom to prepare the dinner for tonight. Aunt Marta, Rubén and my mom’s new boyfriend are coming.”
“So cool, honey!”
“No, I’d like you and Álvaro to come.” She says in a sad tone.
God, I’m going to kill her, I think.
And Álvaro loves what she said.
“We’ve talked about this a lot of times, don’t start now. I just called to wish you Merry Christmas, honey.”
“Thanks, likewise. Did you know I’m the envy of high school? I was even on the magazine.”
“Really? Why?”
“What do you mean by why? Because I met Justin Bieber in the flesh. They published the photo on the high school magazine.”
“So cool!”
She says suddenly:
“Have you seen Álvaro again?”
“Yes.” I say looking at him as he smiles satisfied.
“He’s hot and also, a very good guy.” She breathes by that mouth.
Álvaro smiles and nods in silence.
“Since when do you speak like that?” I tell her off.
“But I’m right, aren’t I? Recognize you like him once for all… He’s crazy about you .” She states sharply.
This time, Álvaro doesn’t nod but he continues smiling.
“Come on Carla, drop it. What about your grades?” I try to change the subject.
“They’re fine, although Mathematics not so good. But it’s the first trimester, I’ll knuckle down after holidays and I’ll shut my teacher up.”
“Carla, watch your mouth!” I tell her off again.
“Auntie, I’m old and my vocabulary is bigger.”
Then, Álvaro lets out a laughter.
“Are you with him?” She asks hysterically. “Let me speak with him, please, I want to tell him hello.”
“No… I’m alone.” I lie.
“You’re not! You can’t fool me. Please, let me just tell him hello.” She says with a flattered voice.
I give in and with a gesture I let him speak.
“Hi Carla!”
“i knew it! Hello Álvaro. Do you know I’m the envy of my high school? They published my pic with Justin.” She tells Álvaro again.
“So cool!”
“Are you spending Christmas with my aunt?”
“Yes.”
“I’d love to spend it with her too, but that’ll never happen. You take care of her, won’t you?” She says as if she were my mother.
“Of course I will. She’ll be taken care.”
As I see this conversation can be even worse, I decide to end it as soon as possible.
“Carla, honey, kiss your little brother for me. Enjoy these days. I’ll call you soon.”
“Okay.”
“Goodbye, I love you.”
“I love you too.”
She hangs up.
“I didn’t know the bluetooth would be connected” I apologize.
“It doesn’t matter, it’s been fun.”
I roll my eyes and Álvaro says:
“The bluethooth on your phone must be connected.”
“It is.” i say looking at my phone.
“You know? Every time I talk with your niece, I wonder a lot of things.”
I know what he means, and I try to change the subject.
“Is there much time left to arrive?” I say and I realize how childish my questions sounds right away.
I think he believes the same.
“In half an hour we’ll be at my parents’.”
It starts snowing and I look astonished at the landscape.
We get to a beautiful house, very old, made of stone and with wodden roof.
Álvaro parks in a garage and he asks me with his half-faced smile:
“You ready?”
I nod, although I’m shaking like a leaf and I’d like to run off to my home.
“Relax, they’ll love you.”
We get out of the car and Álvaro takes my hand. We enter the house and although we hear a lot of background noise, we don’t see anybody in the living room. We go to the kitchen and everybody is there. We get closer and see everybody moving and talking.
“Hello family!” Álvaro says.
Nobody listens and I laugh.
“Family, we’re here!”
Nothing.
Suddenly, a little girl jumps on Álvaro’s arms and everybody realizes we’ve arrived.
There was silence, until Álvaro speaks again:
“Merry Christmas! She’s Martina.”
“Uncle, is she your girlfriend?” The little girl asks. “No, she’s a good friend .” He says winking an eye at her.
He introduces me to his parents, Carmen and Miguel, his sister Claudia, his brother-in-law Juan Carlos, and his nephew Hugo ―ten years old― and niece Georgina ―five years old―. His two uncles are also there, Susana and Pascual with their daughter, Noelia and her friend, Irene.
Everybody kisses and watches me curiously. I feel as I were a freak. The cousin and her friend’s looks freeze me a bit.
“Here, something hot.” His mother tells us as she gives us two hot chocolates. I” have just made it.” Carmen clarifies.
I haven’t said a word yet, as I recognize that I’m hiding behind Álvaro a bit.
We sit down at a bar in the kitchen and Álvaro doesn’t let my hand go, which I thank. His sister, mother, aunt, cousin and her friend, look at me and come closer to me.
By the way, those last two are neat and stunning to be at home with relatives, having into account the cold outside. I’d say they’re not wearing enough warm clothes.
Álvaro, when they see them coming, says:
“We’re tired because of the trip, we’ll go upstairs to take a shower and change our clothes. At what time do you want to have dinner?”
“Can you be ready in a hour?” Carmen asks.
“Yes.” We both nod.
We go to the third floor, where there are two bedrooms and a shared bathroom.
“Choose a bedroom, we’ll have to share the bathroom.” Álvaro lets me know.
I love both bedrooms, the ceiling has the shape of the roof and some huge windows, from where you can see the snowed small village.
Enchanted, I gape and Álvaro snaps me out of it saying:
“We can share a bedroom. It’s very cold at night.” He says joking, or maybe not, as if it were a warning.
“I pick this one.” I follow his joke as I point at one of the two doors.
He realizes as I notice how his eyes light up.
“Are you taking a shower now?” Álvaro says.
“Okay!”
“When you’re in the bathrooms, let me know, I’ll wait for you in the other bedroom. Use this bath robe if you want, or don’t.” He attacks again.
“Okay.” I answer rolling my eyes.
I’m left alone in the bedroom, which is as big as my apartment. I begin to think again. I think on all this and I feel quite good, Álvaro is looking out for me and he doesn’t allow me to block myself, as I usually do.
I get in the bathroom. There are a shower and a bath. I feel tempted to get in the bath, as it’s been a long time since I last had a bath. But I don’t dare to do it.
The water is so hot that I don’t want to get out. When I do it, I can’t see anything because it’s full of steam. I put on the bath robe Álvaro gave me. I leave the bathroom and knocks on his door. He opens it.
“Finished? I had the hope you’d call me to soap… your back up.” He tells me.
“Álvaro!” I tell him off.
“Do you want to come in?” He asks me with another mocking look.
I laugh, punch him in the arm and run off to my bedroom. Half an hour later, Álvaro knocks on my door. He shows up before me very handsome, with a beautiful suit, but I like him more.
I chose a very long dress in champagne color.
“You’re astonishing.” He says. “We have to come back downstairs and I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep my hands off you. So for your own good, we’d better go now…”
I roll my eyes¡, but I love is comment, to be honest.