Page 167 of Now and Forever

“Miss, since you left the house, nothing has been the same. If you come back, I promise I’ll help you fix up your motorcycle whenever you want.”

I raise my eyebrows, and Simona, after giving me a hug, kisses me on the cheek. Taking me by the hands, she whispers, “Judith, I miss you, and if you don’t come back, the boss will torture us for the rest of our days. Is that what you want for us?” I shake my head no, and she goes on. “Anyway, watchingEmerald Madnessalone isn’t the same as when we watched it together. By the way, the other day, Luis Alfredo Quiñones asked Esmeralda Mendoza to marry him. I recorded it so we could watch it, you and I.”

“Oh, Simona ... !” I sigh and put my hands over my mouth.

Suddenly, Susto and Calamar run into my apartment and start barking.

“Susto!” I shout when I see him.

The dog leaps up, and I give him a hug. I’ve missed him so much ... Then I stroke Calamar.

“You’ve gotten so big, you little runt.”

The animals jump around me, obviously delighted. They haven’t forgotten about me. Leaning against the wall, Eric is looking at me when Sonia walks in with an enchanting smile and kisses me.

“My darling, if you don’t come with us after what Eric has put together, you’re as pigheaded as he is. This son of mine loves you so much.”

I’m just staring at her in shock when my father walks in.

“Yes, sweetheart, this boy loves you very much, and I told you he’d come back to you! Now here he is. He’s your warrior, and you’re his.”

“Papá ... ,” I sob, putting my hands over my mouth.

My father gives me a kiss.

“Be happy, my love.”

Two heavy tears fall down my face. “Babe!” my sister yells, excited. “Please forgive Eric for not telling you about my separation. I threatened to beat him to a pulp if he did. He got us all together to ask you to forgive him. How romantic! What a wonderful way to show he loves you! I need a man like that, not some brute.”

I look at Eric. He’s still leaning against the wall, and he’s not taking his eyes off me. At that moment, Marta walks in and winks at me.

“If you say no to my idiot of a brother, I swear I’m bringing everyone from the Guantanamera to convince you while we take shots and yell, ‘Azúcar!’” I laugh. “Think about what it meant to him to ask us all for help. Go on, love him as much as he loves you.”

I laugh. Eric laughs too, and my niece yells out, “Auntie! Uncle Eric promised I can go with you this summer for three months’ vacation at your pool, and as far as the bo—Flyn, he’s really cool. Wicked! You wouldn’t believe how he playsMario Kart. He’s amazing!”

This is like the Metro at rush hour. My living room is full of people while Eric looks at me with his precious blue eyes but doesn’t step into the apartment. Suddenly, Flyn arrives. As soon as he sees me, he throws his arms around my neck. He hugs and kisses me. I love his kisses. When he lets go, he runs out the door, and I laugh when I see him dragging in the red tree. That makes me laugh. I look at Eric, and he shrugs his shoulders.

“Auntie Jude,” says Flyn, “we still haven’t read our wishes, and I’ve changed mine. The ones I wrote weren’t very nice. Anyway, I told Uncle Eric I was hiding secrets too. I told him I was the one who shook up the Coca-Cola that day so it would explode in your face, and it was my fault you fell in the snow and got that ugly cut on your chin.”

“Why did you tell him that?”

“I had to tell him. You’ve always been nice to me, and he had to know.”

“Oh! By the way, darling,” says Sonia, “after this year, we’ll always have the holidays together. We’re done celebrating apart.”

“Yay!” yells Flyn, and I smile.

“And we’ll be there too,” adds my father, excited.

“Yay!” Luz applauds, and Eric laughs with his hands in his pockets. Our eyes meet, and just when I think no one else is coming, Björn, Frida, and Andrés walk in with little Glen. The two men don’t say a word. They just look at me, hug me, and smile. And Frida, hugging me too, murmurs into my ear, “Punish him when you forgive him. He deserves it.”

We both laugh, and I put my hands over my face. I can’t believe it. My apartment is full of people who love me, and Eric put it all together. They all look at me, waiting for me to say something. Eric is the only one still outside. Decidedly, he walks up to the door.

“I love you, baby,” he declares. “I’ll say it alone, in front of our families, and in front of whoever else it takes. You’re right. After Hannah, I was trapped in a loop that did neither me nor my family any favors. I was wrong, especially about Flyn. But you came into my life, our lives, and everything changed for the better. Believe me, love, you are the center of my existence.”

A fluffy “Ooooooh!” escapes from my sister’s mouth.

“I know I did a lot of things wrong. I have a bad temper, and I can be cold, boring, and impossible. I’ll try to fix it. I won’t make any promises, because I don’t want to fail you, but I’m going to try. If you agree to give me another chance, we’ll go back to Munich with your motorcycle, and I promise to be the one who claps and screams for you loudest when you compete at motocross. If you want, I’ll even go with you on Hannah’s motorcycle through the fields by the house.” And, fixing his eyes on mine, he whispers, “Please, baby, give me another chance.”

---