Page 79 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“Delighted.”

“The same,” says Laila.

“Where would you like me to have her stay, Judith?” asks Simona once we’re through with the introductions.

“Wherever you want, Simona.”

“You’re calling her by her name!” Laila says, amused.

“Yes, now follow me,” Simona says before I have a chance to say anything.

“Auntie, just take the bags up wherever, and you can tell me what room I’m in later,” Laila tells her aunt with a tone I don’t particularly like. “I’m already familiar with this house.” Then she turns to me. “Thank you so much for letting me stay in your new home.”

First of all, she should be carrying the bags to her room, not Simona.

Second of all, that bit about “I already know this house” doesn’t go down well with me.

Third of all, she just crossed a line.

I’m about to say something as Eric steps into the kitchen, and when she sees him, she exclaims, “Eric!”

“Hello, Laila.”

“Congratulations on your wedding. My aunt and uncle just introduced me to your wife, and she’s charming.”

He gives her a pair of kisses and looks over at me.

“Thanks for the congrats. You could say this is the best time of my life.”

Everybody grins, and then Dexter comes to get him so they can get back to work in his office. The girl winks at me.

“I hope you’ll be very happy, Judith.”

Simona takes the bags, and Laila sits with Graciela and me at the kitchen table, where I submit her to an interrogation.

Goddamn it...I’m more like my sister Raquel with every passing day.

When Flyn gets home from school, Laila stands to hug him. He’s glad to see his mother’s friend.

That night, we have dinner an hour later than usual. I invite Simona and Norbert to join us, but Simona refuses. I don’t insist. I’ve noticed how much Laila bothers her, and I’ve decided to talk to her tomorrow morning.

When I wake up, like always, I’m alone in bed.

I stretch and suddenly realize something of tremendous importance: it’s Eric’s birthday. I brush my teeth, take a shower, and get dressed. I quickly grab the gift I hid under the stairway and go down four steps at a time to wish him a happy birthday.

Eric and Dexter are sitting together in the living room. I want to surprise him so I run and leap up over the back of the couch to land in his arms. Unfortunately, I get a little too much lift and end up crashing on the other side of the couch, and the gift rolls away from me on the floor.

I may have hurt myself. I may have damaged my wrist.

Eric shoots up immediately, and Dexter comes over. They look at me very surprised, not sure what just happened, and I don’t know if I’m more hurt physically or ego-wise.

How embarrassing.

Eric sits me down on the couch. “Where did you hurt yourself, my love?” he asks.

I give him my left hand, and, when he moves it, I groan. “Oh, c’mon, that hurts, that hurts. I think I sprained my wrist.”

Eric goes blank; he doesn’t quite understand what I mean because I used a Spanish phrase he doesn’t know.

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