Luna Tango (25 page)

‘Carlos! Slow down!'

‘But we are close.'

‘Yes, I know, which is why we need to slow so we don't miss the turnoff.'
Or careen into a tree
.

The car slowed and Dani concentrated on the large map. The size made it difficult to get her bearings and she turned it around so she could understand where they were headed.

A smirk crossed Carlos's gorgeous lips. ‘Why do the women do this?'

‘What? Turn the map around to face the direction we're going?'

He nodded.

‘Because it makes total sense. Why don't men stop and ask for directions?'

‘It is nonsense, this asking for directions.'

‘Why?'

He shrugged.

Dani rolled her eyes then turned her attention to the map. ‘Shit.'

‘What?'

She looked up, and pointed to a tiny road on the left. ‘There! There! Stop!'

Carlos slammed on the brakes, overshooting the turnoff. He checked for cars behind, reversed, then turned onto the gravel road. She cracked open the window and enjoyed the fresh mountain air, smiling as crickets chirped a serenade. The car bumped along, its headlights barely cutting through the darkness.

Dani sensed a change in Carlos's demeanour as he pulled over, stopped the engine and turned to her. ‘Maybe we should not continue.'

‘What? You're the one who said I needed to do this tonight!' Narrowing her eyes, she asked, ‘Don't you want to see Iris?'

‘Yes. No. I don't know.' His voice conveyed the same confusion she'd been tussling with.

Dani leant over and gave Carlos a long, sweet kiss. In a low voice she said, ‘I'm not sure why the cosmos has thrown us together but here we are. Come on, start the engine, Fangio, let's do it.'

* * *

The gravel road narrowed the higher up the mountain they climbed and Carlos slowed to a reasonable speed. By the time they neared the top, the road wasn't really wide enough for the car. Dani was thankful for the darkness so she didn't have to look at the long drop into oblivion should Carlos miscalculate.

A heavy silence surrounded them and Dani felt an unbreakable connection to her companion. His strength bolstered hers to the point where she finally felt confident in dealing with a reunion with Iris.

Carlos rounded another corner and stopped the car. They gazed ahead at the tiny white house with dark trim. Rows of vines surrounded the residence, which was highlighted by the brilliant moon shining brightly on the pristine peaks towering behind. In the front room, a snippet of light shone through the crack in the curtains.

Carlos turned to face her, the leather seat creaking under his weight.

‘Is this it?' he asked.

Dani stared at the scene before her, waiting for familiarity to strike. Nothing.

‘I don't think so. Maybe my memory's distorted. It can happen.'

His fingers trailed her jawline. ‘There is only one way to find out,
sí
?'

Dani nodded, gripped by fear and relief that the journey could be over if this woman was Iris.

Carlos rubbed her shoulder. ‘Do you want me to stay in the car?'

‘Yes, please. She'd probably have heart failure if we both rocked up on her doorstep.' Dani had to do this alone but it was comforting to know Carlos was only a yelp away.

‘I will be here, waiting. You will signal if you need me, yes?'

‘Yes.' They embraced, and as much as she wanted to stay in his safe arms, she had to make her move. Pulling away slightly, she gave Carlos a lingering kiss, trying to borrow his energy.

Dani exited the car and travelled the brick path, breathing in the scent of dewy roses. Taking the last step onto the veranda, she froze, unable to raise her hand to knock. Her eyes turned to the heavens and she exhaled slowly before rapping on the door. She waited. Then waited some more.

‘I guess no one's home,' she said, beginning to turn but then faced the battered wooden door again. Puffing out her cheeks, she knocked harder and within moments, footsteps fell lightly across a wooden floor.

The door cracked open but a chain prevented it from opening all the way.

‘
Quién es?
'

An almond-shaped eye peered through the gap. Dani opened her mouth but nothing came out. She'd spent so long working out how to find her mother she hadn't thought about the all-important first line. Perhaps she hadn't really thought it would happen but this dream—or nightmare—had just become a reality.

‘It's me,' Dani said in English.

‘Who is me?' The words had the distinctive Latin twang of someone speaking English as a second language. Could Iris have lost her Aussie accent? Or maybe—
oh god, no
—maybe Dani had the wrong person.

‘Who is me?' the woman asked again, her tone drenched with annoyance.

‘Dani.'

‘Dani?'

The door slammed shut, followed by a gasp on the other side. Dani stood on the veranda, unsure what to do. She waited for what seemed an eternity but the door never opened. Her fear of rejection came rushing back as she remembered her grandma's warning: ‘If you see Iris, you'll only end up more hurt than you already are.' Dani leant against the doorframe, hoping it would keep her wobbly legs from collapsing. She hadn't known how Iris would react but closing the door in her daughter's face had not been on Dani's list of expectations.

Footsteps approached from behind and soon Carlos stood beside her, his brow creased with worry.

‘Daniela.' He placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘Maybe this is someone else?'

‘No, it was her all right.' Anger surged through Dani, spurring her on. ‘You know what? She doesn't get to do this. No one gets to desert their daughter and not face the fallout.' Dani turned and banged on the door, her fist hurting with each bash against the wood. ‘Open up! I know it's you, Iris Kennedy! I am your daughter! Open up now!'

Silence.

She stopped the bashing and leant her forehead against the door. ‘Please, open the door. I've come a long way to see you. Just let me in, I want to talk.'

Dani could sense Iris on the other side. Carlos rubbed Dani's upper back and she turned around, falling into his arms. She rested her head against his strong chest and let his heartbeat soothe her.

‘She's not going to talk to us, is she?' she asked, her voice hoarse.

‘I do not think so.'

A click signalled the door opening and Dani spun to find Iris standing in the doorway, her blue eyes glistening in the moonlight. Without saying a word, Iris turned, motioning for them to follow, and they travelled down a dark passageway towards the rear of the house. The place smelled musty and the plaster on the walls had come away in large patches, exposing rotten beams. They turned a corner and bright light poured from the kitchen. Dani halted her march, needing a moment for her eyes to adjust to the glare. When she focused, she took in shiny blue tiles framing the cement sink, potted herbs lining the windowsill and a fire burning in a pot-belly stove, offering homey warmth from the cold outside.

Iris gestured for Dani and Carlos to take a seat at the battered wooden table. She set about filling the kettle and placing it on the stove. Every movement was graceful, even when she put teabags in the cups and placed the sugar bowl on the table.

‘Iris—' Carlos started.

With her back to them, she put her hand up to halt conversation. Dani couldn't work out if Iris's behaviour was from rudeness or shock. After all, having two people from her past lob on her doorstep at an ungodly hour would freak out most people.

Dani studied the woman who was her biological mother. Her short blonde hair was different to all the photos Dani had seen. Iris had barely aged, her skin still smooth and unblemished, with a beautiful olive hue. Her bare feet showed off shiny hot-pink toenails and the mauve shirt she wore overpowered her petite frame. Her black linen pants were too baggy but somehow she pulled off the outfit with ease.

Carlos caught Dani's eye and he held out his hands in a questioning manner. Dani shrugged.

Iris took the milk from the fridge and poured boiling water into the cups, setting them on the table. She took a seat, closed her eyes for a brief moment, then levelled a gaze on them.

‘Now we talk.'

Dani's shaking hands could barely hold the mug. She tentatively brought it to her mouth and let the steam float across her face. She hadn't expected either party to dissolve into tears and hugs and cries of ‘I've missed you', although it might have helped this current situation. The coldness oozing from Iris certainly didn't make Dani want to divulge her deepest, heartfelt emotions.

Carlos's eyes travelled from Dani to Iris and back again. Dani could sense his unease, not only for her, but also for himself. It couldn't be easy sitting here with the woman who had been like a second mother to him and his ex-fiancée. And now he showed up with her daughter and they were—what? Things had gone so fast they hadn't stopped to figure it out.

‘Iris, it's been a while. You are looking beautiful, as always,' Carlos said, his warm tone attempting to melt the frosty atmosphere.

Iris blinked and shook her head, as if breaking out of a trance. She lit a cigarette and the acrid smoke wafted to the ceiling.

‘Yes, it has been a long time.' She shifted her gaze from Carlos to Dani. ‘Is God playing a joke?'

‘No jokes here, Iris,' Dani said, well aware using her mother's first name may offend.

‘Tell me, to what do I owe this honour?' Iris took a long drag and exhaled a thick smoke cloud that acted like a screen between her and the visitors on the other side of the table.

Incredulity swept through Dani. ‘Aren't you surprised to see us?'

Iris gave a small shrug and tapped her cigarette on the ashtray.

‘If you must know, I hadn't originally planned on finding you but it appears the universe has other idea.' Nothing like laying it all on the table.

‘That's charming.'

‘Sorry, but I'm not going to lie.'

‘You always were a bad liar. Does your eye still twitch when you tell untruths?' Iris flipped the cigarette packet between her thumb and forefinger.

Carlos stifled a laugh, slicing the tension in the room.

‘Believe it or not, I am happy to see you.' It was impossible to tell if Iris's crooked smile was genuine or not.

Carlos patted Dani's leg under the table. ‘Iris, I am thinking you and Daniela have a lot to talk about. Perhaps I will retire to the car and leave so you two may have the discussions.' Carlos stood and reached for his cane.

Dani's eyes met his, pleading for him not to go. He shook his head and she knew it was a lost cause, because if he had to, he would duct tape the women to their chairs to ensure they dealt with their issues.

‘Perhaps it would be better if you returned in the morning? Everyone would be refreshed then.' Hope clung to Iris's words.

‘No,' Dani and Carlos said in unison. They looked at each other and smiled.

‘We're here now,' said Dani. ‘Surely you have a spare room where Carlos could crash? He's been driving all day and needs some shut-eye.'

‘I do not have a problem with the car,' he said gallantly.

‘No, Carlos. You won't get any rest in the car. Iris?' Dani turned to face her mother's stony expression.

‘Carlos said he will be fine in the car.'

Dani crossed her arms. ‘After years of absence I would hope you'd show more hospitality.'

Iris pointed to the mug of tea. ‘What's that then?'

‘Not enough.'

Iris took another drag and breathed heavily through her nostrils. Smoke floated over to Dani and she coughed harder than she needed to.

‘Maybe Carlos would prefer to stay with us and talk longer,' Iris said.

The stalling tactic didn't impress Dani. What kind of mother didn't want to be alone with her daughter? A mother riddled with guilt, no doubt.

‘It is all right, Iris. I am tired. I need sleep.' Carlos stretched his arms above his head and yawned.

‘Fine,' said Iris, motioning with her cigarette to the front of the house. ‘The living room has a pull-out bed. Carlos can take that— for a short nap.'

‘
Gracias
.' Carlos bent down and kissed Dani on the cheeks then turned to Iris, hesitating. He leant over with a stiff back and she turned her cheek to him so he could kiss it, then the other. He walked behind the chair where Iris sat and he stood in the doorway, held his hand over his heart and mouthed ‘Stay strong' before blowing a kiss. She smiled and looked at the table.

‘What's funny?' Iris asked.

‘Nothing.' They fell into silence as Carlos's uneven footsteps and cane echoed down the hall. A series of squeaks reached the kitchen, signalling he'd found the sofa.

Iris remained silent and Dani's eyes travelled the room. Spotless, no clutter, not even a dirty dish in the sink. Getting up to look out the window to the backyard, Dani stared into the darkness, unable to make out much other than shadows of vines tied to posts. The peaks of the Andes dwarfed everything below, including Dani's fragile self-esteem.

‘The elephant in the room wants to know how you found me.' Iris lit another cigarette. She offered one to Dani, who shook her head and sat at the table.

Sipping the cold tea, Dani said, ‘I remembered the corkboard in our kitchen.'

‘The one with the photos of Argentina?' Iris's eyebrows shot up so high they nearly collided with her hairline. Dani had anticipated a long-winded conversation to remind Iris about the pictures, so it surprised her when she recalled it straight away.

‘Yes, and after I spoke with Diego—'

‘Diego Alonso?' Iris's eyes grew wide. ‘What did the bastard say?'

‘He said lots but that's not why I'm here. Please, can we just concentrate on you and me?'