Page 33 of One Year Ago in Spain
That professorship was why Matías had moved to New York just underone year ago.
“Yes,” he said. “I was actually on my way to my studio to pack up my paintings when I ran into you. Before the school year begins, I’ll be showing an exhibit of my work at a place called the Rose Gallery. Have you heard of it?”
“I have…” Claire whispered. The Rose Gallery was where she and Matías had met. Eleven months ago. The gallery that Jason owned.
“What’s today’s date?” Claire asked him.
“What?”
“Today’s date,” Claire said.
“July 23,” Matías said promptly.
Claire inhaled sharply. Today was indeed July 23. “What year?”
Matías frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“Today is July 23 of what year?”
He let out a small laugh. “Oh, I see, you’re teasing me. That’s funny. Everyone knows what year it is.”
Claire didn’t laugh, though. Matías was evading the question, and she couldn’t think of a reason her brain would make the hallucinatory version of him do that if she had in fact made him up.
So could it be that hewasn’ta figment of her imagination?
That this was somehow Matías from one year ago today? But how?
They came upon a fountain sculpture of a family of toads, where one toad child carried an umbrella to shield the other little ones from the sprinkles of water.
“This was my favorite fountain as a kid,” Matías said. “I loved the unexpected detail that a toad would hold an umbrella, and the subtle humor that they were afraid of getting wet.”
“I can see why you’d like it.” She didn’t mention that she could also see how this fountain might have been an inspiration for the whimsical art he became known for.
“I think I also identify with it because I’m one of three kids,” Matías said. “The one with the umbrella reminds me of my sister, Aracely, who is always looking out for me and our little brother, even now that we’re all adults. She paid the rent on my studio when I was first getting started, even though she was still in college. And she actually offered to pack me a snack and dinner for my upcoming flight to New York.” He laughed fondly. “What about your family? Do you have siblings?”
Claire furrowed her brow. Again, this was something herbrain wouldn’t choose to rehash if it were in charge. But if thiswasa version of Matías from a year ago—from before he met Claire—he wouldn’t know that she had no family, that both her biological parents and her adoptive ones had died tragically.
What in the world was happening here?
“I’m an only child,” Claire said, answering his question without going too deep.
“I cannot imagine life without my brother and sister,” Matías said. “But anyway, Claire-who’s-in-Madrid-visiting-a-client, what type of work do you do?”
“I’m an attorney. I specialize in international mergers and acquisitions.”
Matías whistled. “Impressive. But I would’ve thought someone as smart as you could figure out how to count coins for a Coke.”
Claire laughed. “You’re cruel.”
“You’re bad at math.”
“I just got here a day ago! Give a girl a break and at least a week to figure out which coins are which, will you?”
“Fair enough. Anyway, it will be my turn soon in the United States to be confused by your money.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll help you,” Claire said without thinking.
“You will?” Matías looked at her in surprise.
