Page 5 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“Seriously, Papá, you have to come here. You should tell Bicharrón and Lucena that you’re taking your next vacation here. You’re going to love it.”

My father laughs again.

“Listen, we couldn’t drag Lucena out of Spain even with a crane! He went to your wedding in Germany only because it was you. Don’t even think about another trip!”

“He didn’t have a good time?”

“Oh no, sweetheart, he had a great time. But he’s hung up on food. According to him, there’s no place he’d rather eat than home.”

“Then include Bicharrón’s wife on your next trip—I’m sure she’d love it!”

“That’s true...and he’d probably like that.”

We talk for a good while. I tell him a thousand stories, and he tells me how things are going there. He’s a little concerned about the economic crisis. He had to lay off one of his mechanics, and it broke his heart.

“Is Flyn behaving?”

“Like a lamb, and let me tell you what a great caretaker he’s turned out to be for Lucía. He loves her! Seriously, my dear, he’s having a lot of fun with the kids from the neighborhood and with Luz. Those two are dangerous together. And what an appetite that kid has. And great taste. If I don’t give him top-of-the-line ham, he quickly looks over and says, ‘Manuel, this ham is no good.’”

“Oh my God.”

“I’m telling you. And Pachuca’s chilled tomato soup is driving him crazy.”

I laugh.

“We can’t put one foot in the restaurant without that boy asking for a bowl. And he’s like two peas in a pod with Luz. She taught him how to ride a bike and—”

“Oh God, Papá. He might fall.”

Crap. I sound exactly like Eric.

“Easy, sweetheart...that kid is tough. Even though he’s had two spectacular crashes against the fence.”

“Papá!”

“It’s no big deal, girl. He’s a kid. A couple of bruises and scratches, and everything’s all right. But you should see him on that bike.”

I smile as I picture them. Luz and Flyn: Who would’ve thought?

I still remember the first time they met and how disastrous that was. But they’ve gotten to know each other since, and now they can’t get enough of one another. So much that Flyn begged to go to Jerez while we were on our honeymoon.

“How’s Raquel?” I ask.

“Your sister is driving me mad, sweetheart.”

I feel for him. After my wedding, when my sister went back to Spain, she decided to spend some time with my father in Jerez. I offered her the house Eric gave me so she could live there with the girls, but neither she nor my father accepted my offer. They wanted to be together.

“So, what’s going on with her?”

“She is ruining my life. Can you believe she’s taken command of the remote?”

I laugh.

“I am so sick of shows about gossip, soap operas, and other stuff like that. How can she like that trash so much? And just so you know, she said that when you guys come back to get Flyn after your honeymoon, she’s going to talk to Eric about a job. She says she has to start her life anew, and she can’t do it without a job. And, needless to say, she’s also dealing with Jesús’s constant calls.”

“Jesús! What does that imbecile want now?”

“According to your sister, he’s checking in on the girls and wanting to talk to her.”

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