Page 34 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

She finally looks over at me, and when I’m about to say something, she suddenly changes expression as if she were the greatest actor in Hollywood.

“Hello, brother-in-law,” she says, turning to Eric, “how’s it going?”

“Good. And you?”

Raquel shrugs. “Like my father says, screwed but happy.”

She and Eric exchange a couple of quick cheek kisses.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” he asks.

Raquel nods, and Dexter takes ahold of her hands. “What’s going on with this handsome Spanish girl?” he asks.

My sister sighs and looks around, and, when she sees Luz is nowhere near, tries to explain. “My ex is trying to drive me crazy, but I’ll have him committed first!”

Eric’s eyes widen.

“Raquel,” I say quickly, “let me introduce you to Juan Alberto. He’s Dexter’s cousin and will be in Spain for a few days.”

“Charmed,” she says, barely looking at him.

I notice he can’t take his eyes off her.

“Man, what a woman,” he whispers to Dexter.

Graciela brings Luz and Flyn back, and they take pictures of us with their new cameras. A half hour later, my father presents us with a sumptuous meal in which there is no lack of delicious ham, shrimp, roasted meats, and tomato soup.

The next morning, my alarm clock goes off at six thirty in the morning. I quickly put a stop to it.

I’m so sleepy! But I want to get up and surprise Eric.

It’s our wedding anniversary. One month! And I want to make him breakfast in bed.

He’s sleeping, and, like always, I feel a tremendous desire to cuddle him. Of course, if I cuddle him, I’ll wake him, and I won’t be able to give him his surprise.

I get up stealthily, go to the bathroom, and close the door. I quickly take off my pj’s, wash, put on the T-shirt I bought Eric, and comb my hair. My period is over. Yay!

I look at myself in the mirror, smile approvingly, and sneak out of the room. When I get to the kitchen, I look behind the Cokes in the fridge like my sister told me, and there’s the pink Tupperware.

Raquel is an artist when it comes to cakes.

I quickly grab a tray and prepare a couple of café con leches. I get little plates, spoons, and napkins and place the beautiful cake in the middle and a knife to cut it with by its side.

This looks great!

I take a picture of it with my cell phone. It is, after all, our first month of married life.

Happy to be surprising my man, I go back to the bedroom, come up to the bed, and put the cake on my side of the bed as I sing a little song I made up. I carefully set the tray down on the side table.

Happy...happy...onemonthofmarriedlife.

German guy who hooked up with a Spanish girl,

I hope you are happy at my side

And that there will be many, many more.

Eric opens his eyes and smiles when he hears me. Usually, it’s the other way around, and he is waking me up. He grins when he sees the T-shirt I’m wearing.

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