Chapter 39
LEAVING EVERYTHING BEHIND FOR HER
VICTORIA
The days have flown by, and despite trying again and again, Joana still isn’t answering my calls.
I’ve started to believe she’s doing it on purpose, that for some reason she knows why I’m calling and is testing the limits of my patience.
Ever since Elena told me I needed to do things right and that she didn’t mind if I went back to Madrid to sort everything out, I’ve been mulling over everything that’s happening to me and the steps I want to take for the future.
On one hand, there’s ending my relationship, and on the other, my job.
After my last conversation with Alfredo, it became clear to me that he wants me to be the newspaper’s deputy editor, even though he didn’t even ask if I was willing to take on that role or if I had other plans.
I know he thought of me because it’s a way to assure Pepa that she’ll have a compliant person by her side, but I’m tired of being bossed around and having my decisions ignored.
Elena has no idea that these past few months I’ve felt pretty overwhelmed by everything and that I’ve even thought about looking for something simpler: just being a columnist, using what I’ve learned over the years to write a book, and enjoying writing.
Just as I told her I would, I’m on my way to the beach with my towel slung over my shoulder and my feet sinking into the sand.
Carolina sent me a message first thing this morning to meet up at the beach bar right next door.
I’ve decided to use the walk to try calling Joana, even though I’ve already tried six times and she’s hung up on me six times.
All around me, everyone is enjoying the day as if it were their last on the island.
They still have more than a month before returning to their routine, and the positive energy radiating from their laughter is contagious enough to erase my unease about having to go back to Madrid and leave Elena here.
Frustrated, I let out a sigh, and as soon as I do, my eyes catch sight of Carolina in the distance; she’s wearing a black bikini that matches her sarong and is moving to the beat of the music coming from a radio a group of kids has playing.
But that’s not what catches my attention—it’s the look she gives me when she spots me.
“I sense a storm is coming,” I think to myself, just a few steps away from reaching her and giving her a couple of kisses.
“Don’t you think you should avoid spending the whole day at the beach? You’re going to look like a zebra on your wedding day.”
“Don’t be silly, you know I go topless,” she replies, whining. “How did you sleep? Are you still sore?”
“Tell your future husband that even my butt hurts.” I grab it with both hands and start laughing. “I swear I’m going to remind him of this for the rest of his life.”
“You won’t be the only one. Pablo says he doesn’t plan on leaving the bedroom until the wedding.
” Our laughter mingles with that of the children playing around us, and as soon as we find a spot we both like, we spread out the towels and sit down.
The sun is burning; I can feel it on my shoulders, so I decide to close my eyes and let myself be carried away by the warmth of the moment, erasing any worries from my mind; I can’t allow Joana’s attitude to ruin these days for me.
“Jorge and I have been thinking about something…” Carolina says, catching my attention.
“Would you be okay with helping Elena with our bachelorette party?” she adds, looking me in the eyes.
“She already has an idea, but she’s been handling all the wedding stuff, and we don’t want to give her so much work. ”
“And why me?” I raise an eyebrow curiously.
“Because you’re my best friend, and Elena is Jorge’s sister. Plus, that way you’ll have more time to be alone together,” she says, and I can’t help but laugh when I realize what she’s up to. “Why are you laughing?”
“Nothing. I’ll mention it to Elena and see what she’s come up with…” I whisper, letting myself fall back onto the towel and placing my arms behind my head.
“It looks like things are going well for you two,” she comments, sitting down next to me. “Have you worked things out?”
“We’ve done a lot more than that,” I confess, shielding my eyes from the sun with one hand. “But that’s between Elena and me; I’m not going to tell you.”
“Damn it, Vicky! You can’t leave me hanging like this!”
“I’m sorry, but that’s just how it is,” I laugh. “I can’t tell you everything I do with her because that would be like telling you my most intimate secrets.”
“Wait… what have you two done already?”
“I already told you, way more than just talking.” I raise my eyebrows a couple of times.
“Have you kissed!? And slept together!?” She gives me a shove. “And when were you planning on telling me!? Never!?”
“The idea was that no one would find out,” I sigh. “You’re such a pain, and if I don’t tell you, you’ll find out anyway and then make a huge scene. So…”
“But… what about Joana?”
“That’s the big problem,” I reply, turning to lean sideways against the towel.
“I’ve called her several times to try to talk to her about what’s going on and tell her that things between us are over.
But she won’t answer the phone.” Elena knows; we were talking about it, and she advised me to take a few days off to go back to Madrid and sort things out.
So, in the end, I’m going to have to do it if I want this to work out.
“But wait… are you sure? You have your job in Madrid. Your whole life is there…” she argues as if I didn’t know. “Are you planning on having a long-distance relationship with Elena or what?”
“I know I have everything in Madrid, but none of that matters if she’s not with me,” I admit to her, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“Besides, things at work have been getting to me a bit lately, and I have a boss who’s…
well, you know,” I say. “I want to do things right, and nothing else matters to me.”
“Not even losing your job at the newspaper?” I shake my head, and she clasps my hands together, moved. “You know that once Jorge finds out about this, he’s going to give you a little talk, right?”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from him,” I confess, lowering my gaze to our hands. “I love Elena so much, Carol. And the idea of losing her again hurts me more than you can imagine.”
“All I want is for both of you to be okay. You’re my friends, and I need to know you’re happy. I don’t care if you’re together or apart.”
“Let’s hope we’re together…” I laugh, and she laughs with me. “Thanks for caring about us.”
“That’s what friends do. But…” She raises a finger. “If you screw up again, I swear Jorge won’t be the one to kick you off this island.”
“I won’t, I promise.”
“You better not.”