Page 47 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“I’m so happy to see you too, Simona! I missed you.”

As soon as Graciela gets out of the car, I introduce them.

“Simona, this is Graciela.”

“Happy to meet you, Miss Graciela.”

“Please, Simona,” the young woman says in German. “I’d feel more comfortable if you would just call me by my first name, the way you do Judith.” Here we go again.

It’s obvious that with us middle-class girls, this business of “miss” is unsettling.

“You can drop the ‘miss’ altogether,” I tell her.

“There’s no need for it, OK?” Graciela says, seconding me.

“Oh my God, you talk just like the star ofEmerald Madness!” says Simona, surprised at Graciela’s Mexican accent.

“You watchEmerald Madnessin Germany?”

Simona and I nod.

“Seriously?”

“Dead serious, Graciela,” I respond.

I’m laughing like a fool.

I still don’t know how I got so hooked on this soap opera.

“You wouldn’t believe how addicted we are toEmerald Madnessand Luis Alfredo Quiñones. I couldn’t believe they shot him in the last episode. He won’t die, will he?”

Graciela shakes her head, and Simona and I sigh with gratitude. Thank God!

“Simona, how are you, beautiful?” says Dexter, joining us.

“Stupendous, Mr. Ramírez, and welcome!” Simona says and nods toward Graciela. “And your fiancé—your wife?—is wonderful.”

Oh my God!

When he hears that, Dexter freezes. Graciela blushes, and I decide not to say anything and see where this goes.

“You’ve chosen very well, sir.”

Eric grins, but Dexter decides to clear up what we’ve chosen not to.

“Thank you, but I have to tell you that Graciela is just my personal assistant.”

Simona stares at him for a minute and then at Graciela and brings her hands together, embarrassed. “My apologies, sir. I was out of line.”

“It’s fine, Simona,” says Dexter with a smile.

We all go in the house, and I hear Simona talking to Graciela. “You’re single?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I can assure you you’ll have many admirers in Germany,” she says, winking at me.

“Brunettes are very popular around these parts.”

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