Page 78 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“You’re still not convinced the only woman I need, want, and adore in my bed and my life is you?” he asks. “I told you and I’m going to tell you a thousand times that I’m going to love you my whole life.”

Well, he’s managed to destroy all my defenses with that.

And now he’s made me smile!

“I know you love me as much as I love you, because the ‘now and forever’ on our rings is sincere,” I say, waving my ring finger. “But it bothers me that you didn’t tell me about the call, especially when it concerns a strange woman I don’t know who’s going to spend the night at our house.”

Eric pulls me toward him, and, when he has me right up at his face, he brings his mouth to mine. He licks my upper lip, then my lower lip, and then finally gives me a little love bite.

“Silly, jealous girl, give me a kiss.” I’m thinking of pulling the cobra on him, but, in the end, I give him a kiss, I give him twenty-one kisses, and we end up out of bed and fucking against the wall, which is how we like it.

The next day, when I get up and go downstairs, Juan Alberto has already left for Belgium. Last night, before we all went to bed, I gave him the kiss my sister asked me to. What a strange little fling those two have going on.

I try to find Simona to talk to her, but she’s gone shopping.

Dexter and Eric are spending the morning out of the house, dealing with business matters, and Graciela and I are going shopping. They’re going back to Mexico next week, and she wants a lot of souvenirs.

That afternoon, when we get home, Simona’s in the kitchen. I give her a hug. I always need that contact when Eric’s not around. She knows it, and she hugs me back.

I sit down at the little kitchen table, and she goes on with her many tasks.

“You’re very serious today. What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“You sure, Simona?”

“Yes, Judith.”

We stay quiet a few minutes. I’m about to say something when she suddenly announces, “C’mon, it’s time.Emerald Madnessis starting.” I leap up to join her. In the living room, Graciela is reading. After greeting her, we settle on the couch and turn on the TV.

“Emerald Madnessis starting,” I say to Graciela.

She smiles but doesn’t say anything.

As soon as the opening song begins, Simona and I sing along.

Graciela cracks up, and Simona and I do too.

We must sound ridiculous singing that syrupy little song in German. I’m turning into some kind of freak.

With our hearts in our throats, we turn to see the destiny of our beloved Luis Alfredo. He’s been shot, and Esmeralda Mendoza runs to aid him as another very handsome man comes out of nowhere to help them. The episode ends with Esmeralda crying in the hospital. She worries about the life of her lover, Luis Alfredo. What’s bad is not that she’s crying, but that Simona, Graciela, and I are also crying.

When the episode finally ends, we’re all really sad, and then we just burst out laughing. We run to the kitchen for drinks to replenish our tears. Just then, Norbert opens the door, and there’s a young, fairly attractive woman behind him. “Hi, Aunt Simona,” she says.

I watch as the stranger throws herself into my dear Simona’s arms. Simona wraps them around her so as to not leave her hanging.

“Laila, how wonderful to see you.”

Norbert puts the bags down, then turns and leaves. He’s disconcerted and clearly getting out of the way.

“Laila, let me introduce you to Mrs. Zimmerman,” says Simona once Laila pulls back from her.

“You can call me Judith,” I say, extending my hand to the young woman, who smiles gladly.

“Delighted, Judith.”

“And this is Graciela; she’s a good friend,” I say.

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