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“Leticia’s abuela and I went to the same school.”
I nod, because I’ve heard this story so many times.
“No one wanted to play with me because I was rich and they treated me as if I had a disease. She was the only one who was kind to me. The only one who never treated me as if something was wrong with me, and after all these years, we’ve been friends. This is why I wanted Jorge to marry Belén, but then he left. Her family mean everything to me.”
I nod, as she goes on to tell me about her abuela suffering from dementia, and I remember Leticia telling me about all the people Leticia’s abuela has helped in the village. I was selfish with the way I spoke to her earlier, tomorrow I’ll get out of this big empty house and then move in with Lucas.
For now, I need to be in a better frame of mind to be the man that she needs and wants.
1 Grandson
2 Your stepmother.
41
Leticia
I’m sitting on the porch with mi abuela and then a black Jeep pulls up, and I don’t even need to question who must be inside, it’s his contact.
“¿Quien es1?” Abuela asks.
The last few days, her English has completely gone, and no more does she speak in English, but only Spanish. It’s good for me, because I haven’t forgotten my language, but I did feel as if I lost part of myself speaking in English all the time.
I’m turning around to answer her, but before I get a chance, Cristina opens the back door and leads her to the garden. She has been helping me look after Abuela while Papá takes Mamá away for a few days. Mamá has been stressing so much and she has been a bigger burden than Abuela, she needs to get out of Cobeña and away from here, so he’s taken her to a beach house that Diego’s abuela owns in Valencia.
Cristina comes and helps out once in a while, she told me about Belén suing the company for unfair dismissal and Diego moving in with Lucas. I never asked why Diego has left his house, nor why Belén is suing the company. But there’s no denying that I do miss him and think about him a lot.
“Hi,” I say as the man dressed in black approaches the house. He’s wearing shades and a black suit and matching shirt. It seems to be his signature look, either way I know Diego’s contact when I see him.
He nods. He doesn’t say a word—nothing new. We stand and look at each other for a minute. I usher for him to open the gate and come in. He does and then his face is neutral, and as usual he’s wearing shades.
I watch as he carefully removes his glasses, revealing a face that carries a distinct blend of features. His eyes, no longer hidden behind the lenses, seem to take on a new intensity, and the subtle arch of his eyebrows becomes more pronounced. Without the glasses, his face appears more open, allowing the natural lines and contours to come into focus.
The absence of the eyewear exposes a pair of almond-shaped eyes that carry a depth of expression, complemented by dark, well-defined eyebrows. His nose, gently sloping, and as he blinks, there's a vulnerability in his gaze that wasn't as apparent with the glasses on.
He has a strong jawline, and a defined and chiseled look. It’s weird seeing his face properly after all this time. He’s never taken his glasses off in my presence, even when I’ve seen him out at night.
“I’ve come to give you the divorce papers. Diego says that you must sign them.”
I can’t believe he flew all the way here to give me divorce papers. I take out my phone from my back pocket and dial Diego. It rings for the longest time and his contact stands like a statue just watching me. I spin around, giving him my back as a view.
“Diego. You sent your puppet all this way to give me divorce papers.”
“Buenos días, Leticia. I’m a little bit busy, can we talk—”
“¡Ahora2!” I demand. I don’t care what he’s doing, but he needs to speak to me now. Seeing as he couldn’t be bothered to speak to me before sending the divorce papers.
“There’s a thing called email. You could have just emailed them to me.”
“If I did then you would have been pissed.”
It makes no difference, I haven’t spoken to the man for a week, and the first time he’s talking to me, it’s via divorce papers.
“Why not get Belén to do it? After all, it’s in her name.”
“Diego. Please. We have to go now,” I hear a woman scream in the background.
“What’s going on?” I ask with a voice of concern as I spin around and face his contact. Yep, he’s still standing like a statue just looking at whatever is in front of him.
