by Cherry Kay
“I wondered who she was. Thought she was a friend he had forgotten to mention, and then she started to cry as soon as she walked up to me, saying she was pregnant with his child. And here I thought those were tears of joy.”
“Damn.”
“Yes. Damn is an understatement.”
“How did you cope?”
Iesha shook her head. “I’ll tell that story some other time. How did you?”
“Time heals,” he said, looking at her intently.
Chapter10
She decided to stay, and he had breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that she was going to be with him for a few more months, instead of mere weeks. It had been a miracle of sorts, and he never used to believe in miracles, but he had asked friends of friends, just to help her find a temporary job while in Barcelona, on a working visa.
Iesha was spending Christmas here, away from her family. They were visibly upset at first, but she had calmly told them that she had fallen in love, both with the country and with someone. It intrigued her mother and irked her father, although she knew her father was just masking his concern with annoyance.
“Should I run a background check on him?” James Thompson had huffed over the phone. He had heard her father actually say that, and he almost laughed aloud.
Her boutique was still in order, and her mother stepped in for her. She promised her mother it was only going to be for a few months, and that she could paint inside her clothing store if need be (with the usual draperies to protect her stocks)—something that concerned Alex for a moment.
He realized he was taking her life away from her. She had grown up there, despite her fluency in Spanish. Her friends were there, her happiness… she didn’t show any signs of homesickness, however. Was that a good sign? Or was she good in hiding her sorrow?
It was two days before his parents’ surprise anniversary party, and he wanted to surprise Iesha as well. He had picked out a dress carefully, assuming his measurements of her were correct. It was in a box in his room all the while they had dinner in his flat.
“So, I was going to ask you if you’re busy with your job this Saturday.”
“You know I don’t have work on Saturday,” she said.
She was a fashion consultant for an English speaking magazine. The pay was decent, and he knew independence mattered to her. She could have just taken flamenco lessons for a few more months, but apparently, she had mastered it well, and she was on a level of her own. Sometimes, they danced the night away. She was actually surprised that he knew how to dance.
“Just making sure.”
“Why?”
“Would you do me the honor of being my plus one to a formal event?”
He saw her eyes narrow. “What kind of formal event are we talking about?”
“You have to say yes first.”
“I don’t even know what it is,” she said.
“If I give you something, will you say yes?”
“Give me what?”
He came back moments later with a silver box that had a large silver ribbon on it. She knew it was a dress, but she didn’t know what kind of dress it was. She slowly opened the box, and her eyes popped open. Grabbing the fabric, she held it up, marveling at the simplicity and style.
“You picked this out?” she asked him.
He nodded. “Yeah, thought it would look good on you.”
It was a cobalt blue ball-gown-type dress, minimalist, like his designs, but with a splatter of rhinestones on the bodice, almost like tiny stars.
“This is so beautiful,” she said.
“You like it?”
“Hell yes I like it,” she said. “Wait, what is this for?”
He smiled. “Is that enough for a yes?”
“I know it isn’t Barcelona Fashion Week or anything…”
“So it’s a yes?”
“Should I be worried? Fine, yes, yes it is.”
Alex smiled triumphantly. “Thank you.”
“What’s this about?”
“It’s my parents’ thirty-fifth wedding anniversary.”
“What?” she gasped, as he’d known she would. “You can’t just—”
“Invite you?” he interrupted her with a smile. “Yes I can. I paid for it.”
“But it’s their anniversary. Shouldn’t it be for family and close friends?”
“So you’re asking me what you’re supposed to be in my life.”
“In their life—that’s more likely,” Iesha told him.
He smiled. “I don’t want to pressure you or anything, but I’m in this for the long run with you.”
“We aren’t even together. Not that I want to be tied down or be in a committed relationship…” her voice trailed off.
“So you don’t want to be in one? A committed relationship with me? You’ve already gone this far, deciding to stay here longer,” he said, suddenly reaching out to hold her hand. He saw her stiffen, so he let go.
She shook her head, giving an almost sad smile. “Oh, Alex.”
“What?”
She shook her head again. “Nothing. You’re too cute sometimes. I feel like you’re manipulating me too much.”
“On the contrary. I’m being as rational as I can be, without being heartless. Are you still having second thoughts about me?”
She bit her lower lip for a second. “It’s not second thoughts. It’s more of… I just want to make sure.”
“By staying here, I think you’re on your way to being sure.”
“What if they won’t like me?”
“How can they not like you?” he replied with a grin.
*
They had every reason to dislike her, but the moment Alex introduced her to his parents, she found them pleasant—warm, even. She was wary of Alex’s father, but he kissed her hand, asking her a few things, before entertaining their other guests.
It was a grand affair, almost like a wedding reception, with around two hundred of their closest family and friends. It took Iesha a while to regulate her palpitations. She hadn’t felt that nervous about meeting people in a long time.
Everyone was dressed in their finest, and she was glad Alex had planned ahead to buy a dress for her, just so she needn’t panic. Her arm was linked around his, and he went about introducing her proudly to people, as if they were exclusively dating. Weren’t they?
She found herself breathing slowly and heavily.
He looked at her and smiled. “Relax, you’re doing great.”
“You mean walking around and actually conversing in Spanish all the way, and saying hi to people I’ve never met my whole life?”
“Yes, you’re doing great,” he reassured her. “And you look beautiful.”
Iesha felt her confidence increase when he said that. He had this way of making her feel better without the need for flattery. She took a deep breath and readied herself for the next introduction. It was none other than Anita, his older sister.
“So you’re the mysterious tourist,” Anita said with a smile. She spoke Spanish immediately, and it was clear that Alex had told his older sister that she spoke their native tongue fluently.
She looked quite like Alex, with the same dark hair and dark eyes, except she had fairer skin and a splattering of freckles on her face. She wore an emerald green number, a tube top dress, and on her neck rested a small diamond choker. She was smaller than Iesha, but her personality made her seem taller.
“Yes, I’m the mysterious tourist,” Iesha said with a smile. “Hi, I’m Iesha.”
“My, my, little brother, she has a lovely face,” Anita said. “Have you met our mama and papa?”
“Earlier,” Iesha replied.
“Good, good. Have fun at the party, si?” she said in English. She excused herself and greeted a strict-looking man in a suit, a man that Alex clearly steered from.
“You okay?” she whispered to him. “Why’d you avoid the man?”
Alex smiled, nodding at the other party guests. “Anita just had to invite Se
nator Jimenez,” he muttered under his breath.
“Who is that?”
“Ana Paula’s father,” he said through gritted teeth. “Come, the party won’t start for a few minutes. You haven’t seen the garden yet.”
Wordlessly she followed him, not knowing what to make of the situation. At least he was right; the garden was something worth looking at. She sensed that Senator Jimenez’s presence annoyed Alex, as he was quiet for what seemed like an eternity.
“Alex…”
“Sorry, I just don’t like the man. He is a close friend of my father’s,” he said, sighing. “At least she isn’t here, huh?”
Iesha nodded. I guess… if she was here, would your whole night be ruined? “What are we doing tomorrow?” she asked him, changing the topic.
His face broke into a smile. “I was thinking we drive out of the city again, to Besalú.”
“Sounds Spanish,” she laughed.
“It’s a small town this time. I think you’ll like it there.”
“I’ve never doubted your tastes in food and townships.”
He laughed. “Come, the party should be starting in a few.”
They proceeded back inside, just in time, as their host for the night asked them all to settle down. Dinner was a lovely, ten-course meal, and she sat at the same table as Alex and his friends from work and school. They were curious about her, obviously, and they never ran out of questions.
Alex’s name was called, for a speech to his parents. He calmly got up and took out a small piece of paper, standing beside the vintage styled microphone.
“Ladies and gentlemen, mama and papa, good evening,” he began in Spanish. “It has been thirty-five years since you two got married, but I look at you two, and I think your love has only grown stronger. I stand here, humbled and inspired, grateful that you have given Anita and me everything that you two could.
You have taught my sister and I that marriage is more than just a relationship—it is the perfect balance of a partnership between two people who would sacrifice so much for each other, while also being best friends. To see you two still acting like teenagers oftentimes makes me smile, and this is something rare nowadays. May I request that everyone raise their glasses? A toast to my parents, and congratulations on your thirty-fifth year together.”
Everyone held their glasses up, and Iesha looked at Alex, who smiled. As soon as he got back down from the podium, she couldn’t help but grip his hand. “You were holding back,” she whispered to him.
“I try to be civil. You never know what might come out of my mouth,” he quipped. “So, what did I miss?”
“Nothing much. This wine is pretty good, though,” she told him. “What else is on for tonight?”
“Lots of dancing.”
Alex didn’t lie. She danced the entire night with him, loving every minute of it. She had nearly forgotten this was an anniversary party, and for a moment, all she could see was Alex in front of her. They exited the party at past one in the morning, and she had a feeling there would be no out of town trip.
He wasted no time stripping her of her dress, almost ripping it apart. “I wanted to take this off hours ago,” he murmured to her.
“You were that horny?”
“All night,” he told her, “the moment I saw you wear the dress.”
Her bare leg brushed up against him, and she felt his hardness. She moaned aloud as he played with her, his fingers brushing against her heat. Her hands roamed for him, and she held him, playing with him until he groaned, almost in agony. She shuddered as his hands grasped her thighs, driving deep into her.
“You can be as loud as you want,” he rasped, nibbling on her throat.
She locked her legs around his waist as he pushed into her over and over, pummeling with ferocity, with a hunger that needed to be satiated. They were perfect for each other, she thought, in bed and out of it.
*
He had just closed the office, being the last to leave as usual. Weekdays were always hectic, but he was excited to see Iesha tomorrow for lunch. It was past six in the evening, and he had just asked her how her flamenco classes were. Heading for his car, he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. He stopped in place and spun around when a familiar voice called out his name.
“Ana,” he began, clearly surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“I was in the neighborhood,” she told him. “Are you going somewhere?”
“Home,” he quickly said. He wondered if he should offer her a ride, but she would most likely have a car parked somewhere. She looked tired, although makeup did its part.
“Do you have time to talk?”
“Something the matter?” He didn’t want to entertain her, but she looked like she needed some help, or a listening ear.
“I just want to talk.”
He knew her well enough to know she had a problem. “Is my office okay?” he asked her, walking back to the building to open the doors again.
She didn’t acknowledge this, but she quickly followed him inside.
“I haven’t seen your office,” she admitted, almost sounding nervous.
“You want water? Or a soda?”
“Water,” she said. “Thank you.”
He sat across her, making sure there was a good distance between them. The table in the center did its part. “What’s wrong?” he asked her.
She took a deep breath. “I miss us.”
His eyes narrowed, and the realization began to sink in. This was wrong. She was supposed to get married. She cheated on him. Why was she doing this?
“What brought this about?” he asked her carefully.
“I saw photos of you two in a magazine and in a newspaper. Who is she?”
“It’s not important to you.”
“Have you two been together long?”
“Not yet.”
“You’re exclusively dating?”
“Is this the talk you wanted?” he asked her back. “This isn’t going to do us any good.”
“What if I say I want us to get back together?”
“That’s not possible,” he quickly said. “I’ve moved on from you, Ana. I’ve moved on, and I’m happy where I am.”
“Are you really happy with her? What if she leaves you?”
“Then I do my best to move on,” he told her. “It’s best if you go home.”
“Kiss me first. Kiss me so I’ll know you don’t feel anything for me anymore.”
“Have you lost your mind?” he told her, standing up.
She shook her head, taking a step towards him. “I’ve thought about it for a long time. Even after Raul proposed, I still thought about you. We had so many happy and fun memories together.”
“I distinctly recall you telling me you weren’t happy with me; that’s why you cheated on me with what was his name?”
He saw her flinch, but she took another tentative step toward him. “Listen to me.”
“I already have, and I think you’ve aired out your sentiments enough,” he told her.
“No, no,” she began to cry. “Please don’t do this.”
“Please? Are you kidding me? You cheat on me, and now that I’m happy, you want to see if we still can be together? You’re getting married in three months.”
“I can’t see myself marrying him. You’re different,” she blurted out, her face reddening.
Alex stared at her. Am I supposed to feel satisfaction from this? I want nothing more to do with her, even if she affected me so much back then.
“I’m different?” he gave a hollow laugh. “Best you get going home Ana. Raul’s not going to like this.”
“I’m calling the wedding off,” she told him tearfully. “I can’t live with myself if I don’t end up with you.”
“Are you hearing yourself?” he said, incredulous. “Go home, Ana. Go home and pretend this never happened.”
Ana suddenly pulled his shirt and kissed him. She kissed him passionately. He could taste her tears, and he could smell
her perfume—she still wore the same perfume after all these years. He opened his eyes, and he quickly pulled back.
“No,” he said. “This is wrong, Ana. Go back home, go back to Raul. You’re getting married because you love him.”
She was crying softly, knowing full well that he was rejecting her, and rejecting her completely. Ana Paula took a deep breath and nodded. “So you’re in love with her?”
He nodded once. “Yes.”
“You haven’t been with her long enough. You don’t know her like you know me. She doesn’t know you like I know you,” she reasoned.
He shrugged. “I don’t care how she feels about me, or how she sees me. Maybe that’s how things are supposed to be. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Ana Paula gulped and took another shaky breath. She said nothing more, but she saw herself out of his office, out of the building, and into the cold night air.
Alex lingered in his office for a moment, taking in all that had happened. If her admittance had been a year ago… he’d have accepted her proposal, and he would have gotten back with her in a heartbeat. But things were way different now, and he had fallen in love faster than expected. In fact, he had no difficulty admitting it to Ana Paula, of all people.
All he saw was her face, all he saw was the way she laughed, the way she made him laugh, the way her nose scrunched up if she didn’t like the food that much or if she didn’t like her sketches. She was perfect for him, in every way, and just like that, Ana Paula’s face and even her voice, began to dissipate from his thoughts. He felt healed from all those years of senseless dating. He felt healed of the bitter memory of Ana cheating on him. He wondered what she was doing now…
Chapter11
“How was your day?” he asked her over the phone.
She cradled her mobile between her chin and ear, as she opened the door to her apartment. “It was so-so. Classes were a blast, though. How was yours?”