Blood in the Valencian Soil (Secrets of Spain) (21 page)

“You know why Scarlett is leaving España, don’t you?” Alejandro goaded his sister. “Did Cayetano tell you?”

“Alejandro, please,” Scarlett said. “Love brings people together and there’s no stopping it. You and Sofía are proof of that.”

“We prove nothing,” he fired at her. “What do you know about love?”

“Enough! I’ve already buried my love out in the countryside!” she cried. “I dug a hole and placed him in it. I won’t forget Ulrich, like you won’t forget Sofía. I’ve been where you are right now, Ale. You must let us help you.”

“The pain will never cease, will it?”

Scarlett shook her head, and a few tears fell onto her shirt. “No, but for God’s sake, don’t abandon the baby.”

“There is no God out here, and we all know it.”

“There is nothing more violent than love. The scars it leaves on your soul will never heal. Nothing that war will do can hurt more than love,” Scarlett told him. Her accented voice shook when she spoke. “That doesn’t mean we should give up. No pasaran.”

“No pasaran,” Luna repeated. They shall not pass. The slogan for Republican
os all over the country.

Alejandro looked at his little sister and shook his head. “Have you been with Cayetano?” he asked.

“I… what?” she stuttered. She knew what he meant.

“Did you defile my sister?” Alejandro eyed Cayetano. “Did you?”

Cayetano opened his mouth, but had no idea what to say. The truth wasn’t an option.

“Yes, I’ve been with him,” Luna said. “Because I wanted to.”

“Whore,” he spat at his sister. “You’re a fool. You know Scarlett is pregnant to your precious Cayetano, don’t you?”

Luna’s eyes widened, and she l
ooked to her fiancé. The man froze on the spot. The look of fear in his eyes was unmistakable. Then she remembered what Scarlett had said the night before – Cayetano could be rough with women. She knew first hand. She looked down at the infant in her arms, and then to Scarlett, who took a few steps back from the group. The foreigner who didn’t belong here was going to ruin everything. “Are you pregnant?” Luna asked her. It was almost an accusation with the tone in her voice.

Scarlett brought her hand to her stomach on instinct, and then realised that the gesture gave away her secret. How she wished that she hadn’t told Alejandro about the baby. He already knew about the night in the tent with Cayetano. Her one mistake
would ruin everyone’s lives, and she knew it. “Yes, I’m pregnant.”

“So, I’m faced with the choice of handing my baby to one of Cayetano’s whores who both stand in this room,” Alejandro said with a sarcastic laugh in his voice. “And to think they called Sofía a whore for getting pregnant before I married her. For all we know, Luna is pregnant to you, Cayetano, right now, just as Scarlett is!”

Luna turned to Scarlett and handed her the sleeping child. “Perhaps you should take him to Nueva Zelanda and tell them that he is yours. When I marry Ignacio, he won’t take the child.”

“Luna,” Cayetano said. He didn’t care about the drunken Alejandro anymore; the man
wouldn’t put up a fight. He could barely stand up. “We can all go to Valencia. The baby can come with us…”

“There is no us!” she yelled. “You slept with Scarlett? How could you? You said you loved me! You said that I was all you wanted!”

“You have been! But… but you were off-limits, and…”

“Scarlett was cheap and available. Did you think a woman whose husband had just died was easy pickings? Just living together as friends… you bastardo!” She stepped forward and shoved him in the chest as hard as she could muster.

Cayetano couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Luna had just turned him away only a day after declaring her love for him. “Scarlett!” he cried. “Tell her nothing is going on between us!”

“There isn’t!” Scarlett said with a loud and clear voice. “There is nothing.  He loves you, Luna. The whole world knows that he loves you. He used me, and I used him. It was one night…”

“One that will haunt generations to come!” Luna yelled at the two of them. “I hope this hurts you and your child. You deserve it.” She stepped forward and took the baby from Scarlett, and woke him in the process. “Get out of this house. Both of you! What the Beltrán family decides to do has nothing to do with either of you.”

The group hadn’t noticed that Alejandro had disappeared until they heard him begin to wail uncontrollably. He had gone in to see Sofía’s body at last. The three of them stood together, as if suspended in a moment of unbearable hell. The death and fear and heartache
hung in the air.

“Get out,” Luna said again. “Leave us to our grief.”

“The grief belongs to all of us,” Scarlett said.

“You don’t get a say in this anymore!”

“Let Scarlett take the baby to Nueva Zelanda…” Cayetano began.

“You don’t have any right to tell me what
to do!” she screamed. “Get out or I will tell everyone about what happened at the hospital!”

Luna spun and went into the bedroom after her brother, in a flurry of tears. The world no longer made any sense. It barely had before now. Everyone knew that she was a fool to love Cayetano, and none had the guts to tell her the whole story until it was too late.

The sight of Alejandro on his knees at the bedside was the final straw. His head rested on Sofía’s chest and cried a desperate and pathetic weep. The cry was raw and inflamed, like a bloody wound, and nothing would heal the man. Luna sank to her knees next him and bawled on his shoulder, the same way the baby cried in her arms. Just for now, the baby was with its mother and father, but Luna knew that Scarlett was the best shot the child had at survival. They were all close to death now… and their souls were already dead.

19

Madrid, España ~ septiembre de 2009

Luna took a deep breath when she woke up in bed. There was absolutely nowhere else in the world she wanted to be. A bed warm because she didn’t have to sleep alone for a change. She curled up in Cayetano’s arms, one leg slung over his. Her hand meandered across his chest, and peeked out over the top of the quilt as her fingers came to rest on his shoulder. Was there a better place to be? Curled up against the man of her dreams in the silent apartment? She didn’t dare open her eyes; this moment needed to be stretched out as long as possible.

Cayetano stirred a little, and she felt him kiss her forehead. The gentle touch brought a smile to her lips. This pocket of the world didn’t belong to anyone but them. It didn’t matter what anyone thought, or said, or did, because they were not allowed here. The smooth tips of his fingers brushed a few of her curls from her face, an
d returned his hand to her back. It didn’t take much for them to find pleasure; it was hidden away from the world in Cayetano’s bedroom where no one could find them.

“You’re lucky to have children,” Cayetano whispered.

“That wasn’t what I expected you to say this morning after the night we had.” Luna was still naked and tangled in the sheets. The man had the stamina of a stallion.

“I mean, if we didn’t have kids he
re, we wouldn’t get out of bed.”

“You should come and visit me in Valencia. The boys are at school
all day.”

“How about Monday?”

Luna giggled and opened her eyes. The light of a gorgeous autumn day stung her tired pupils. “I have sex ache again.”

Cayetano snorted. “Sex ache?”

“You know, after lots of sex, all your muscles hurt.”

“It’s practically exercise for me. You’re doing me a favour.”

“Then you’re welcome.” Luna looked up at him, and he kissed her. “You have red sheets. Who buys red sheets?”

“What’s wrong with them?”

“Nothing… other than feeling a little, you know, like a porn film set.”

“What?” Cayetano laughed. “Are you also looking for the zebra print pillows?”

“That sounds bad.”

“Bad bad… or sexy bad?”

Luna burst out laughing. “Don’t go there. But listen… we need to be more careful. Last night, in your dressing room…”

“Yeah, sorry. You just make so impulsive.”

“You didn’t hear me complain, so I’m to blame. You’re not that impulsive, you brought condoms to our first date.”

“A man needs to be prepared.”

“I appreciate that, but I don’t want a remainder of this night nine months from now. I don’t want any more kids.”

“You don’t?”

Luna glanced up at his serious expression. “Wow, this is awkward so early in a relationship.”

“Better now than later I guess.”

“I gave birth to the twins at home, a month early, in a pool of my own blood on the bedroom floor. Thank God that Fabrizio had come home early, and delivered both the boys before the ambulance arrived. I spent several days in hospital and had a blood transfusion. I won’t go through that again.”

“I can’t blame you. If we’re doing awkward, I may as well tell you that there is no chance of a surprise in nine months. A few years ago I did a sperm test, and it came with slow, confused swimmers in small numbers. I’m the sterile bullfighter. María loved to tease me.”

“Your wife is a total bitch.”

“That’s why she’s my ex-wife and I’m in bed with you,
preciosa.”

“We have done all that marriage and babies stuff. We can just concentrate on enjoying ourselves now.”

“You so often see couples, and they look so tired. You hear men complaining about their annoying wives, and women moan about their husbands. The joy is gone. My marriage to María was like that. She had become so tiresome. Even before we got married, I was tired of her. I assumed that it’s a natural progression to feel that way. Every day I see you, it’s like meeting you again of the first time. Every time I see you, I am struck by how beautiful you are. I am struck by how funny you are when you tell me a story. I am struck by how caring you are when I see you with the kids. I am struck by how intelligent you are when you speak. How could any of this ever become tiresome? I am dazzled by you in my life.”

Luna opened her mouth to speak, but paused. She could hear chatting down the hallway. “The boys are awake. The peace is over for the day.”

“I like all the noise. It makes the place a home. Your place must be great.”

“It’s more of a mess most of the time.”

“Speaking of mess, do the boys like making pancakes?”

“Does a bear shit in the woods?”

Cayetano snorted with laughter. “Okay, then I shall make breakfast with them, and you can have a nice long, hot shower and relax.”

“Why did it take so long for me to meet you?”

“I think our timing is perfect.”

“Me
, too.”

Cayetano sat up in bed and watched Luna head in the direction of the bathroom
while wearing nothing. Nothing could spoil today.

Cayetano didn’t need to encourage the boys to make pancakes with him. He had barely got out of the bedroom before the two perky pajama-clad gentlemen agreed to cook breakfast with him, and they rushed to the kitchen. They sat patiently as Cayetano prepared everything, and waited politely to have turns helping. How on earth had Luna turned out two such amazing children? He expected them to be rowdy, but they were quite the opposite. While the boys were gentle and well-mannered, there was one thing that Cayetano couldn’t control – their questions.

“Cayetano?” Enzo asked as he peered at the pancakes in the hot pan.

“Yes?”

“Do you like Mummy?”

“Um… yes, yes I do like her. Very much. She’s my new best friend.”

“Are you going to marry her?” Giacomo asked.

“She is available,” Enzo added.

Oh boy, why did her shower take
so damn long? What the hell was the right answer here? “I haven’t asked her.”

“But you kissed her,” Giacomo continued.

“Yes, well, it’s something you do to people that are important to you. You kiss her, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Enzo said. “But you go all red in the face when she kisses you.”

Cayetano wasn’t sure if he should laugh or not. Did he really go red?

“Is Mummy your girlfriend?” Giacomo asked.

“Maybe you should ask Mamá these questions.”

“Our friend, Stefan, at school, his Mummy got a boyfriend. Now he lives in their house, and sleeps in his Mummy’s bed,” Giacomo said.

“Stefan said that his Mummy and this man wrestle in bed,” Enzo said.

Cayetano nearly choked on that one. Lucky his coffee wasn’t ready yet, or he would have sprayed the whole kitchen with it. “Wrestle in bed?”

“Yeah,” Enzo said, no idea what he was really talking about. “His Mummy says on Sunday that Stefan and his sister have to watch the pirate show on TV, and then she wrestles the man in her bed.”

“Really? Did Stefan say who wins the wre
stling?” Cayetano couldn’t help but ask.

“He said that they can hear th
e man yelling. He must lose,” Giacomo said.

“Or win
,” Cayetano said under his breath. “I’m sure Stefan’s Mamá will take care of everything.”

“Why aren’t you married?” Enzo asked. “Mummy used to be.”

Cayetano frowned. He was out of his depth. He had no idea how Luna spoke to the children. They were five, how did they know so much? “Ah… I was married. But not now.”

“Why?”

“I… I changed my mind.” Cayetano watched the two kids sit happily with their pancakes in front of them, as they took everything in without a thought.

“Is Mummy the angel that you talked about?” Giacomo asked. “I
think she is.”

“Yes. She is the angel.”

“Told you,” Enzo said to his brother. He turned back to Cayetano. “So, do we have to call you Daddy?”

“No! No, you have a father, a good one,” Cayetano said. That he could answer.

“He died,” Giacomo said. “It’s not fair.”

“No, no it
’s not,” Cayetano mumbled. He took the last pancake off the pan and placed it on the plate in front of the kids.

“Daddy is an English word. What do you call your Daddy, Cayetano? Do you call him Papá?” Enzo asked.

“Yes, I do.”             

“Knew it,” Enzo sighed with satisfaction, and Cayetano smiled at the boy’s confidence.

“Darren said we should call him Daddy,” Giacomo remarked and took a sip of his milk.

“Did he?” Cayetano asked. “Does Mamá know that?”

The boys just shrugged. “It was only the other day. He tried to get us to call him uncle once, but Mummy said no. That was ages ago.”

How interesting. She said no. Cayetano was relieved when he saw Luna appear in the doorway to the kitchen, fresh from her shower, her wet hair tied back from her fresh face. “Good morning, gentlemen. How are we? Being good?”

“Yep,” they both said. “We ate nearly all the pancakes. Cayetano had one million,” Enzo said.

“Come on, you lie. It was only half a million,” he replied.

“I have just laid your clothes out on the bed for you, when you’re ready. You need to brush your teeth as well,” Luna told them. “Then, today Cayetano will take us somewhere new.”

“Cool!” Giacomo yelled, and jumped off his stool. “Let’s get ready!”

“Do you need help?” she asked, but the boys charged past her.

“No,” she heard them both yell back while they sprinted towards the room.

“Pancake?” Cayetano offered.

“Yes! For some reason, I’m starving this morning. It’s as if I was kept busy all night…. oh wait...” she teased. “Thank you for watching the boys.”

“That’s okay. They ask a lot of questions.”

“Did they bother you?”

“No, no. I can’t blame them for checking out the guy dating their mother.”

“Did they?”

“Sure did. They also told me about their friend, Stefan…”

“Oh, and the wrestling? Yeah, I’ve hear
d that one. Sorry!”

“It’s okay, they were good. They stayed clean, and I didn’t.”

“I was going to say…” Luna joked and looked at Cayetano’s shirt covered in pancake mix. “Do you need help getting dressed?”

“Does it include wrestling?”

The doorbell rang and interrupted the conversation. “Mierda,” Cayetano swore. “Who has come to ruin the morning? Oh, no, it will only be the newspaper delivery.”

“I’ll get it, save you from having to admit you have the eating manners of a newborn.” Luna left the kitchen and into the nearby main entrance. She swung the heavy door open, and her heart sank. There went having a good day.

“Oh look,” María said and folded her arms. “It’s the new girl who got her two minutes of fame last week while cuddled up to my husband.”

Luna recognised the woman instantly. She was all done up in her camera-ready best. Behind her purple glasses was a vile stare. No good
would come out of this chat. “Cayetano,” she called out.

“I’ll just jump in the shower while you have your pancakes and then we can go,” she heard him say. He appeared behind her a moment later. “Fuck me.”

“I think that is what the girl here did to deserve pancakes,” María said. “Do you cook them for all the girls you bring home?”

“There is no one else,” Cayetano said. “Don’t you think it’s a bit predictable to come in here and be the bitchy ex-wife?”

“That’s not why I’m here, so don’t make me out to be…”

“Bat-shit crazy? You are, María.”

“I might leave you two to… whatever…” Luna said, and turned away before Cayetano could dispute her.

“Don’t run away, little one,” María said. “I have to get to work anyway.” It was too late; Luna had started
to walk away and she had no intention of turning back.

“You are actually leaving the studio for something?” Cayetano asked.

“No, I sent someone else. We just edit it, so it looks like I went out and covered the story. There were protestors in Puerta del Sol, and there was no way I was going to bother with it.”

Cayetano just shook his head. “God forbid letting an injustice get in the way of your timetable. What’s going on down there?”

“It’s some organisation, protesting the civil war. Can you believe it? Who cares? They reckon their relatives were murdered and dumped in mass graves, and they are campaigning the government to pay to have them dug up and placed in cemeteries. Leave the past alone, I say.”

“There is no end to how heartless you can be.”

“Oh, please, spare me the drama, Caya. It’s no big deal. If these people want to go digging up bodies, then they can pay for it by themselves. No one will stop them.”