Page 37 of No Greater Oblivion

“Never.”

“Bendición, Don Salazar.”

I lean down and he takes my hand as we exchange kisses on both cheeks.

“Que Dios te bendiga, mija.” He smiles and pats my wrist with affection. “¿Cómo te sientes?”

“Fine,” I reply, easing into the seat across from him. “The boot isn’t too bad. Just a little bulky.”

Alejandro stops to greet his grandfather in the same fashion. I catch a glimpse of Diego across the gardens deep in conversation with two guards in all black attire. He points somewhere in the distance and one of them nods as the other asks a question. I almost think to wave and announce our arrival but Diego and the second man turn around and disappear into the bushes, likely to walk the perimeter of the property.

Don Salazar invited us to Vallvidrera for dinner this evening and after our visit to the lounge, I’m grateful for the reprieve. A bit of family time will bring some much-needed levity to everyone’s somber mood.

“How are you feeling?” I ask. “Griselda says you haven’t been taking your medicine.”

Don Salazar all but rolls his eyes when I inquire about his health. A small laugh leaves me but Alejandro’s jaw tightens.

“You had a stroke, Abuelo.”

“A minor stroke,” his grandfather counters. There’s a tray on the round table between us and I take a moment to admire the colorful mosaic underneath. Don Salazar serves each of us a cup of coffee from a steaming porcelain pot. “Griselda should try swallowing one of those pills if she’s so concerned. Although, I doubt the nasty thing would make it halfway down her throat before she choked.”

“I know you enjoy your freedom and living alone.”

Alejandro cuts me a look. “Dahlia.”

I ignore him. “But have you considered coming to live with us? We have plenty of room and no one will be in your way. You’ll have privacy and I can section off one of the floors so you can have your own quarters. Plus, we have Doña Ana! And we can hire more help around the house and⁠—”

Don Salazar smiles. Reaches across the table to squeeze my hand. “Gracias, hija.”

I smile back at him.

“But I would rather die.”

Alejandro laughs so abruptly he chokes on his coffee. My head whips around and it’s the first true laugh to come out of him in weeks. I’m so thrilled I almost don’t care it came at my expense. He struggles to clear his throat and resume his brooding but there’s a glint in his eyes and a dash of humor in his voice as he speaks.

“I told you.”

I press my lips together. “What if, God forbid, this happens again?”

“Then I die,” Don Salazar answers bluntly.

I suck my teeth. “You’re just like your grandson. Neither of you takes their own well-being very seriously.”

Still recovering from his earlier outburst, Alejandro takes my hand and kisses it. “Te amo,” he tells me with laughter in his voice.

“Mira, tomatina⁠—”

I frown and whisper, “What’s a tomatina?”

Alejandro continues to snicker.

“It’s one thing to have me saddled with a babysitter.”

“Griselda’s an at home attendant and she’s very nice!” I defend.

“It’s another thing for me to invade your home. Ustedes son una pareja joven que está comenzando sus vidas juntos,” he explains. “No hay lugar para un viejo como yo.”

“That isn’t true,” I tell him. “Of course there’s room for you. There’s room for everyone!”