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“Little girl, you’re full of surprises.”
I blink and blush and then pretend to give him a punch in the stomach, which makes him laugh.
“Be careful, because she was also the regional karate champion.”
I hear Eric whistle in surprise as my father enters one of the boxes.
“Look what I have for you,” says my dad.
Before me is the motorcycle with which I won all those motocross prizes. It’s clean and shiny. It’s a 2007 Ducati Vox MX530. I’m incredibly moved. I mount the bike. My father’s cell rings, and he steps out of the box. I turn on the machine, and the growling engine echoes all around us.
“Have I ever told you that I love the powerful sound of a Ducati, baby?” I say as Eric laughs and laughs.
36
For six days, mine is a rose-colored world.
Eric and my father get along wonderfully, although at first, my father is very angry with Eric because he has rented a villa. In the end, my father understands we’re adults and need privacy.
My father’s friends and neighbors quickly nickname Eric “the Frankfurter,” because he’s German, and he finds that amusing. Our way of life in Spain, especially in Andalusia, is so different from the German way of life, and I see constant surprise in his eyes.
As the days go by, my father is more and more taken with Eric. He likes him, respects him, and listens to him, which says a lot. In fact, they go fishing together on several afternoons and come back in high spirits. When they’re gone, I escape and go running or riding on my motorcycle.
On one of those afternoons, Fernando shows up on his motorcycle. He cuts in front of me.
“Are you crazy? What is that guy doing here?” he asks.
Irritated, I lift up the protective shield on my helmet.
“You’re crossing a line. Whatever he’s doing here is none of your business.”
Fernando gets off his motorcycle and walks over to me.
“For the love of God, Judith, does your father know he’s your boss?”
“No.”
“And when are you going to tell him?”
I’m getting angrier with each passing moment.
“Whenever I feel like it.”
Fernando moves quickly. He puts his hands on my neck and presses his forehead to mine.
“Judith ...,” he whispers, “I love you.”
“Fernando, no ...”
“I want you only for me,” he says without separating his forehead from mine. “That guy doesn’t love you like I love you. Think about it, please, and ...”
I shove him off me.
“I want to go, Fernando. Get out of the way, OK?”
“Are you saying you prefer that guy’s company to mine?” he whispers, not moving one inch and now sounding intimidating. “That guy is using you, and when he’s tired of you, he’s going to toss you aside like he’s done to hundreds of women. To him, you’re just one more. For me, you’re special. Don’t you see? I thought you were smarter than that, Judith.”
I don’t want to be cruel to him, as he’s being with me. I love Fernando. He’s a good friend. But I feel something for Eric that is so strong, I can’t ignore it. When Fernando sees my silence, he turns around and gets on his motorcycle.