Page 201 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

Raquel glares at Eric.

I understand her. At a time like this, I would do the same.

Eric shrugs.

“I’m sorry, sister-in-law, but someone had to tell the father.”

You can cut the tension with a knife. I don’t speak. My sister doesn’t speak.

“Tell me, beautiful,” whispers Juan Alberto. “Tell me what I like to hear so much from your sweet mouth.”

Raquel’s chin trembles again. I fear the worst. She might smash that glass on his head...But, suddenly, against all odds, she wrinkles her forehead.

She whispers something back to him.

Juan Alberto hugs her; she hugs him and they kiss.

I blink. What just happened here?

Holding me in his arms, Eric tells me to be quiet and takes me straight to our room. Without letting go, he plays the song we were dancing to again and looks at me.

“Now, sweetheart. Now they’ll finally let us.”

I grin. At last everything, absolutely everything, is fine. I kiss him.

“Mr. Zimmerman,” I say, “please undress.”

EPILOGUE

In the same efficient manner my sister got an express divorce, she organized an express wedding.

In August, the whole family gathers at Sweetheart Villa to celebrate and party, not just for her wedding but also for little Eric’s christening. We decide to just do both events at once. To bring everyone together is no easy task, but we didn’t want anyone missing.

This time, we unite Mexico and Spain in a wedding and Germany and Spain in a baptism. My father’s friends laugh and say our family is like the UN.

Dexter and his mother sing rancheras, and my father, with Bicharrón, offer their bulerías. When the clan starts dancing rumbas, it’s chaos, and even the band conductor dances.

Wow, we sure know how to have a good time!

Raquel is madly happy. She deserves all of it. She’s a married woman once more, in love with a man who deserves her and who’s looking at the possibility of living in Spain. Specifically, in Madrid. Juan Alberto is organizing everything to transfer his work. For him, Raquel and the baby come first; there was never any doubt about that.

My father can barely handle so much joy. He’s proud of his children and his sons-in-law. According to him, Eric and Juan Alberto are two true men who put on their pants feet first; they’re responsible and judicious. There you have it!

You just have to take a look at his face to know he’s tremendously happy. We need our mom, but we know she enjoys our happiness from heaven and is as happy as we are.

Frida and Andrés, together with little Glen, come from Switzerland. They’re well and happy, and I laugh with Frida when she tells me they’ve already found people to play with in Switzerland.

Björn comes alone. But he’s only alone for about five minutes. My sister and my friends drool over the German dandy. They’ve all fallen under his influence, and he takes them all on. Björn is incredible!

Sonia shows up with her new plaything, a man much younger than her. It’s clear she wants to enjoy her life and love, and that nothing, not even her son’s occasional disapproving looks, will stop her. As she says, live and let live!

It’s taken a toll on him, but Eric finally understands.

You only live once!

Marta and her boyfriend, Arthur, enjoy the revelry. She dances until she’s exhausted, and together we shout “Azúcar!” a few times.

While Susto and Calamar run all over Sweetheart Villa, Simona and Norbert make everything possible.

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