Page 157 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

This time nobody comes between us, and Eric, totally in love, hugs me, kisses me, and whispers in my mouth, “Happy New Year, sweetheart.”

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Spending the Epiphany with my family here is everything I wanted: laughter, noise, and gifts. We all give each other presents, and when I open my sister’s and find a yellow onesie for Medusa, I’m so touched.

“Since we don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl, then yellow!”

Everyone laughs, and I cry, of course!

When I think there are no more gifts, Eric surprises me. He has more gifts for everyone! For my father, Juan Alberto, and Norbert, watches; for the girls, clothes and toys; and for my sister and Simona, beautiful white gold bracelets. Then he gives Flyn and me a pair of envelopes, which leave us speechless. Envelopes again?

Flyn and I look at each other, resigned. But when we open them our expression changes.

To see the gifts, go to the garage.

Laughing, we hold hands and rush to the garage. Everyone follows us, and, when we open the door, the two of us shriek. Motorcycles!

Two precious and shining Ducatis.

Flyn goes crazy with the notion of a motorcycle his own height, and I cry. My motorcycle is right here in front of me! My Ducati! I’d recognize it even among two hundred thousand others.

“I know how important it is to you,” says Eric, seeing my reaction and holding me. “They tried to respect as much of the original as possible, but some things had to be replaced. Your father looked it over and said it’s much better now.”

I hug him and kiss him.

“Sweetheart, your bike was good before, but now it’s great,” says my father, who looks at us, delighted. “But I don’t want you anywhere near it until you have the baby, understood?”

I nod, excited.

“No worries, Manuel,” says Eric. “I’ll make sure of that myself.”

After a great Christmas holiday, my family and Juan Alberto return to Spain on Eric’s plane. As always when I say goodbye to them, sadness overwhelms me, and this time it’s double. Eric comforts me, but I don’t make it easy for him, and I cry uncontrollably.

Two days later, we go back to the airport to say goodbye to Frida, Andrés, and little Glen.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” I whimper.

My friend embraces me and gives me a charming smile.

“Me too. But take it easy, you know that as soon as Medusa is born, you’ll have me here.”

Andrés grabs me by the waist.

“Llorona, you have to come see us in Switzerland,” he says. “Promise?”

“We’ll try,” Eric says.

At that moment, Björn is saying goodbye to Frida. “Oh...oh...another one crying. Are you pregnant too?”

I laugh, and Frida slaps him.

“Don’t say that even in jest!”

After saying goodbye to our good friends and seeing them through security, Eric and Björn each take me by the arm, and we go straight to the car. I can’t stop crying the whole way home. They laugh but I’m inconsolable.

“I hate my hormones!” I shout.

The next day, bored, I start to put away the Christmas decorations and see the little pieces of paper with our wishes. I smile as I remember when we read them the morning of Epiphany. I read them again now. I love Flyn’s: “I want Jude to stop vomiting,” “I want my uncle’s eyes to heal,” and “I want Simona to learn how to makesalmorejo.”

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