the stink eye. But I often get weird looks, so I’m used to it. I don’t let it bother me. I used to…”
“So how did you and Mateo meet again?” I ask her. “At an English program, right?”
“Yup.”
“How soon after his divorce?”
She blinks at me, and if I’m not mistaken I see a glimmer of something like fear or shame in her eyes. “Ummm,” she says, rubbing her lips together. “We met when he was still married.”
A bitter taste forms in my mouth. “Oh.”
“Yeah, it wasn’t our finest…we fell in love and maybe it didn’t happen at the best time or maybe it happened at the right time. I don’t know. I don’t know how it could have had any other outcome though.”
I grow silent, mulling that over. It’s not like I’m mad at Vera. I barely know her, and I don’t disapprove per se. It just kind of hurts, in ways I can’t defend or explain. I guess because of Stewart. The way he cheated on me with someone younger. Vera was the other, younger woman.
An awkward silence falls between us before she clears her throat. “I heard about what your ex did and I know this makes things kind of weird. But just so you know, if it makes a difference at all, after we fell in love, I went back to Canada and he got divorced. We didn’t prolong it. He came clean and things got messy, but we didn’t…we didn’t keep having an affair behind her back. Their marriage was already broken.”
“My marriage was already broken too,” I say softly. “But the difference is, I don’t think Stewart ever gave a shit about being hated or being a villain. He’s not Mateo, is what I’m saying.” I sigh. “And I certainly don’t knock you for falling in love. You can’t help who you fall in love with. Obviously you were meant to be together.”
“I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to look at me differently,” she says, putting her hand on my arm briefly. “I like you and I want to be your friend, and I just hoped you might understand.”
“I understand. I don’t condone it, but I understand.”
A hush comes over us again as the voices from the living room continue at a murmur. Hopefully, Alejo shows up soon or this group of drunken footballers is going to get rowdy and spoil the whole show.
“So, are you seeing anyone?” Vera asks me, innocently enough.
“No,” I lie. “Haven’t had the time to meet anyone.”
“Well, if you want to meet some people, I have some friends. I know some single guys. Nice, cute. Maybe a bit young for you…”
I glance at her sharply. “Too young for me?” I ask.
She gives me a quick smile. “Not too young for you. I mean, look at you, you can get anyone. They’ll be falling over each other trying to get into your pants. But I mean, young guys, they’re only good for flings, right?”
“Right,” I say slowly.
“At least the guys I know, if they’re under thirty, they don’t want commitment. But since you’re just getting out of a divorce, maybe you don’t want that either.”
“That’s true.”
Suddenly, there are headlights out the window, and I hear the whir of the front gate.
“He’s coming, he’s coming, everyone get ready!” I yell through the closet door.
Everyone falls silent, except for someone giggling. It’s either Rene or Armando.
I hear Luciano outside the front doors, and through the slats in the closet door, I see them step in.
“?Qué es ese olor?” Alejo asks, sniffing.
Pretty sure Alejo is smelling someone in this house. Instinctively, Vera raises her arm to smell her armpit and ends up banging her hand into the hangers.
“?Qué ese eso?” Alejo asks, stepping toward the closet.
Uh oh.
Luciano says in English, “A present for you.”
That’s the cue.
I throw open the closet to see Alejo’s shocked face (he literally jumps) just as everyone else springs up from their hiding places in the living room and the kitchen.
“?Sorpresa!” everyone yells. Surprise!
“?Oh, díos mío!” Alejo cries out, hand to his chest, laughing. “What is happening? What are you…oh my god, you’re all here!”
He glances at me — our eyes meeting for a few long seconds — and then Vera, and gives us a wry smile before he proceeds to greet all of his teammates and family.
It’s not long before the music is playing, the drinks are flowing, and the noise level is out of this world. I make the rounds, talking to the