Chapter 24
The following days feel like a total blur.
I funnel my attention into work, running back and forth all day long.
Although summer is coming to an end and business is slowing down a little, the patio is still pretty packed most days.
We’ve built up a little financial cushion to buffer any potential hard times down the line, and Abuelo and Abuela seem happier than they’ve been in ages.
As for me, I’m walking around like I just emerged from a movie marathon screening of A Star is Born, Titanic, and P.S.
I Love You. Mia tosses me worried looks throughout our shifts and when I finally tell her what happened, she responds with the tightest hug and a pep talk.
It’s for the best. It would have been impossible to make it work once you’re back home in the Netherlands.
Obviously, I knew this was coming, it’s just that I expected it to happen about six days later than it did. I thought I had almost a week left to spend with Elias. But that was before I royally screwed everything up.
Juan’s unsubtle innuendo is so much more annoying to me than usual, so I threaten to tuck a piece of chicken into his t-shirt and call Purrito over unless he agrees to take it down a notch. That gets him to shut up for the rest of the day, at least.
Crawling into bed at the end of yet another exhausting day, I just can’t get myself to fall asleep.
The events of a few days ago are still churning around in my mind.
Unfortunately, my tired brain gets some kind of twisted thrill from torturing me with what if and why scenarios.
And of course the fact that I’ll be boarding a plane in two days is drastically reducing any odds of working things out with Elias.
I grab my phone from my nightstand and scroll through my messages. Elias is still pretty high in the list of conversations and I stare at the last message he sent me right before our dinner date. See you soon! it reads with a little heart next to it.
My thumb hovers over the conversation. Should I delete it?
Aside from all the sweet text messages between the two of us, it also contains my extremely cringe-worthy adventures in texting-while-under-the-influence, including my arguments for why Elias’s backside deserves its own star on the Walk of Fame.
My mind returns to our confrontation on the patio, and to our kiss in the rain. I roll over onto my stomach, drop my phone onto the covers, smush my face into my pillow, and scream as loud as I can.
Aaargh!
When I walk into the restaurant late in the afternoon to start my evening shift, things are surprisingly quiet in the kitchen.
No Karel whipping up a salad under Abuela’s watchful eye.
No Emilia running through the swinging doors from the restaurant to the kitchen and back again.
Also no Mia subjecting me to a barrage of questions about the dark circles under my eyes.
No Abuelo, who usually tends to hover around in the background, ready to jump in anytime he’s needed.
Um... Hello? I call out hesitantly. Is today a stat holiday in Spain? Did I forget? I dig deep into my memory, but can’t conjure up any September holidays. I walk over to the swinging doors and as soon as I push them open, I hear a loud, Surprise!
There are garlands and balloons everywhere and nearly every table is covered with tapas and other goodies.
Everyone is wearing a little party hat. Mia’s is blue with golden polka dots.
An annoyed Juan is fighting with a bright pink one covered in unicorns and glitter.
Felix is doing his best not to burst out laughing.
Attached to the wall behind them is a big banner with Thank You Eva! painted on it in sloppy, dark teal letters. Abuelo and Abuela are looking at me, absolutely beaming.
For the umpteenth-time this week, tears fill my eyes and I try to blink them away as much as I can.
You guys! You didn’t have to do this! I say in an emotional voice.
Abuela approaches me, gives me a huge hug, and says, This is the very least we could do. Thank you, my girl. If you hadn’t stepped up... Kissing my cheek, she squeezes my upper arms as she looks at me with serious eyes. Thank you.
I wipe away a tear when it rolls down my cheek. Me turning into a walking, talking water fountain yet again must be a combined reaction to my break-up with Elias and the prospect of feeling homesick for all these wonderful people once Saturday rolls around.
Abuelo and Mia follow Abuela’s lead, but when Juan walks up to me, he tries his darndest to accidentally plant a kiss on my lips—an effort that thankfully fails. For the millionth time this summer, Mia rips him a new one.
We got you a little something, Mia says, handing me a large square present, gift-wrapped with glittery green paper and a massive pink bow. Just a few memories for you to leaf through on a rainy day in the Netherlands. She gives me a big wink as I open my gift.
Only Mia could have put this photo album together. The cover is a collage of colourful illustrations of cocktails, smoothies, sea, sunshine, beach, and palm trees.
Proudly, she tells me, We all wrote something inside.
I open the book to find pages and pages of pictures of the restaurant, my grandparents, Mia, and me.
Photos from the hike with Felix and Juan, pics of Purrito.
.. Dammit. My eyes go all watery again as I take in all these images of the people who have become such a huge part of my life over these past months.
Thank you, I say, my voice scratchy.
It’s the least we could do, Mia repeats my Abuela’s words as she goes to turn on the radio.
Summer tunes fill the room as people grab their drinks and begin to dance.
There’s cake, too! Mia shouts out over the sound of the music. She points at the table. Want a slice?
I’m still trying to deal with the lump in my throat, but I nod eagerly. A little comfort food is exactly what I need right now. I follow her and discover the colossal cake is decorated with a picture of me in my server’s uniform.
With my eyebrows pulled together, my eyes dart between Mia and the cake. Mia? Why is there a photo of my face on a cake that’s shaped like a coffin?
Mia erupts in a howling laugh and shakes her head. It’s supposed to be the restaurant! You’re not the first one to bring it up. I suppose my baking skills need a little more work.
You made this? I ask, sounding surprised.
Mia gives me a proud nod. Sure did. Or, I guess Abuela did most of the work. I was in charge of the overall design and securing an edible picture of you.
Looking tasty, Eva! Juan’s laughing voice booms from behind us.
Mia rolls her eyes. She picks up a big knife to slice the cake into pieces before handing everyone a generous helping.
Emilia and Ian seem to be in deep conversation over in the corner. Ian is gesturing wildly as Emilia nods along.
Although the cake looks like it’s meant to be cremated, the flavour is delicious. Just when I’m about to abandon any sense of politeness and lick my plate as discreetly as possible, I notice Felix and Juan approaching and I quickly put my plate down.
We got you a goodbye present, too. With a chuckle in his voice, Felix hands me a tiny paper-wrapped gift. When I unwrap it, a lovely little wooden owl rolls out. It looks vaguely familiar.
You might not remember this, but you tried to test its flight capability after you ate that, um, special treat. There’s a sparkle in his brown eyes and he’s clearly trying not to laugh out loud. You liked it so much that Juan and I wanted you to have it.
I gaze down at the beautiful, detailed wood carving. Sounds like Elias wasn’t the only one to receive a string of unsolicited compliments that day.
Thank you, I say with a smile. I’ll find a special spot for this at my place.
Felix gives me a quick hug. We’re gonna miss you, Eva, he whispers in my ear. You’re amazing.
As he lets go of me, I feel another round of tears preparing to make their appearance.
Abuelo and Abuela decided to close the restaurant for this private goodbye party.
It’s dark outside now, but the doors to the patio are wide open and we’ve lit candles everywhere, making for an intimate scene.
The patio tables have been shoved to the sides to make way for an improvised dance floor and we have more than enough drinks to go around.
Emilia and Ian’s slow dance can honestly only be described as a mating ritual, and Karel asked Abuela to dance with him.
It’s so cute to watch this tall youngster twirl my tiny grandmother around the dance floor.
Abuelo is over by the bar opening mail while he keeps sneaking glances at Abuela.
He must notice how surprisingly flexible his wife still is for her age because he takes it all in with a wide grin on his face.
I just finished dancing with Felix. Even though I was having a lovely time and the dancing helped me forget about the whole situation with Elias for a little while, those uncomfortable feelings came flooding back to me about three or four songs in.
So now I’m sitting on a chair, sipping my fifth glass of wine as I watch Felix try out his best dance moves on Mia.
She claps her hands with glee when she sees him execute a perfect moonwalk.
While I tap my toes to the rhythm of the music, I glance over my shoulder to find out if Abuelo is done with the mail yet.
His wife is being swept off her feet by Karel, so he might want to step in soon.
Abuelo is still behind the bar, but he’s no longer frantically opening letters. Instead, his face has gone pale as he stares at the piece of paper he’s holding in his shaking hand. I furrow my brow as I get up to go check on him.
Abuelo? I ask once I’m within earshot.
He doesn’t respond, doesn’t even blink while he keeps staring at the letter in his hand.
Abuelo, what’s wrong? I grab hold of his wrist to stop the shaking. It seems to pull him out of his trance.
He looks up, pushing the letter into my hands, his brown eyes filled with tears. It’s all been for nothing, Eva, he whispers so quietly that I struggle to hear him. They promised they wouldn’t invoke that clause. It’s all been for nothing.
I open the letter he handed me and notice the logo for Los Castillos—a thin, golden outline of a castle—at the top right corner of the page. As I begin to read, a massive knot tightens inside my stomach.
Dear Mr. Peréz and Mrs. Peréz-Santos,
On February 15, 2021, you were issued a loan of 73,000 euros. As mutually agreed upon in article 3.1.(b), should you fail to comply with the monthly repayment schedule, you may be required to immediately return the loan balance in full.
On April 15, 2021, you neglected to make the required payment. As such, we have decided to act on article 3.1.(b). In the event of your inability to repay the full loan balance, the property located at Calle d’es Canar 44 in Ibiza will serve as collateral, as specified in article 3.2.
We kindly request your response to this notice by September 14, 2021. Should you fail to reply by this date, we reserve the right to initiate legal action.
We trust to have adequately informed you of the matter at hand and look forward to your reply. Should any questions arise, we can be reached at the telephone number listed below.
Sincerely,
A. Castillo and E.P. Castillo
My breathing quickens as I stare at the paper and I feel an unfamiliar sense of white-hot rage bubble up inside me. Crumpling the letter into a ball with one squeeze of my fist, I make an effort to keep my voice as calm and collected as possible.
Oh, they want a response? They’ll get a response alright.