Page 33 of Now and Forever

For a long time, I listen to them, but I can’t help but think my father would never in his life, not for any reason whatsoever, leave me or my sister alone with my niece on such a special night. Then Marta says something that makes me smile, and our conversation is cut short when Eric comes in with the boy.

He’s no fool, and he quickly understands we’ve been talking about something we don’t want him to know about. Marta gets up to greet him.

“Not a word of what we talked about to my quick-tempered son. Let’s keep this secret, OK, love?” says Sonia.

I nod almost imperceptibly and see Eric smiling at something Flyn has said.

Twenty minutes later, Eric and Flyn join us at the dining room table for a delicious meal. Everything is wonderful.

At three thirty, we’re all chatting in the living room, when I see Eric glance at his watch, get up, and come over to me.

“My love, I have to be at the Oberfohring All Sports Center in an hour. I don’t know if you like basketball, but I’d love it if you’d come with me and watch the game.”

His voice, his proximity, and the way he says “my love” make thousands of little butterflies flutter inside me. I want to kiss him. I want him to kiss me. But this is not the place to release all that contained passion. Without my needing to say a word, Eric knows what I’m thinking. He intuits it. In the end, I nod, delighted, and he grins.

“I want to go too,” says Flyn.

Our moment is broken, and Eric takes his eyes off me to focus on the boy.

“Of course. Put on your coat.”

10

Fifteen minutes later, we get to the Oberfohring All Sports Center, and Eric shuts off the car. Flyn jumps out and runs off. I look over at Eric with concern.

“Don’t worry,” he says, grabbing his sports bag. “He knows this place like the back of his hand.”

“Have you noticed how your nephew looks at me?” I ask as we walk toward the sports center.

“Do you remember how your niece used to look at me at first?” responds Eric. “Flyn is a child. You just have to win him over like I won Luz over.”

“You’re right. But I don’t know why I get the sense your nephew is like his uncle, bullheaded.”

Eric laughs aloud. He stops and leans down to be closer to me.

“If I could, I’d kiss you this very instant. I’d put my mouth on yours, and I would devour you. Then I’d take you back to the car and rip your clothes off and make love to you with true devotion. Unfortunately, I’m being punished and can’t do what I want.”

I’m about to give in and kiss him, when we’re interrupted.

“Judith! Eric!”

I look to my right and see Frida and Andrés and little Glen. We all warmly hug each other.

“You play basketball too?” I ask Andrés.

He winks at me.

“Yes, of course,” he boasts, and we all laugh.

Once inside, Frida and Andrés kiss.

They’re so cute! Eric looks at me with longing but keeps his distance.

“Stay with Frida, my love. I’ll see you after the game,” he says before disappearing behind the locker room door.

Lord God, I want him to kiss me, but he doesn’t.

“Don’t tell me he’s still being punished?” says Frida as soon as the door closes and she notices the look on my face.

---