The Fountains of Silence (52 page)

142

Ana and Daniel wait outside the Prado.

“Let’s try to remain casual. Nick told her I was meeting Tom Collins.”

“The man with lots of ice,” laughs Ana.

“I’m glad you’re laughing. My stomach is in knots. Maybe we shouldn’t hold hands. Cristina will be confused.” Their hands reluctantly separate. Ana steps slightly apart.

“There she is,” gasps Ana, her voice catching. “
Dios Mío
, she’s beautiful!”

Cristina appears on the stairs of the Prado with Nick and Ruth. She wears a green halter dress with leather platform sandals. Nick spots Daniel in the crowd and gives a wave.

Cristina bounds directly for her brother. Alight with excitement, she begins chattering in Spanish.

“Oh, Danny, it’s the most incredible museum ever!
The Lovers of Teruel
, have you ever seen it? I bought a postcard to show you, just in case.”

“Did you see the Bosch pieces? They were always my favorite.”

“
El Bosco
, yes.” Cristina nods, serious. “Very confusing. Very you.”

Nick greets Ana and pulls her toward the others.

“Cristina, this is our friend Ana. Ana, this is Daniel’s sister.”

Without hesitation, Cristina greets Ana enthusiastically with a kiss on both cheeks.

“Do you know the story behind
The Lovers of Teruel
?” asks Ana. “It’s tragically romantic.”

Cristina links her arm through Ana’s. “You must tell me everything!”

“Diego and Isabel were desperately in love, but her father did not approve of the match. Diego promised that within five years he would make something of himself and return for Isabel’s hand.”

“Five years!” gasps Cristina. “That’s a long time.”

“Five years? That’s nothing,” laughs Daniel.

While Ana recounts the legend of the lovers, Nick pulls Daniel aside. “You okay?” he asks.

“Spinning. My head is spinning.”

Nick appraises him. “But hopefully part of the spinning is good? Seeing Ana?”

“Sorry, yes. It’s indescribable. Best day of my life. But now . . . this?”

“Maybe you noticed my shock at the airport. Ana showed you the photo, right? She swore me to secrecy. You have to see Lali. There’s no doubt. What are you gonna do?”

“I have to call my father.”

“Let’s get you back to the hotel. Clear your head. Call your dad and we’ll meet for dinner later.”

“Ana too?”

Nick laughs. “Dan, wake up. Ana’s spent eighteen years dreaming of you. I bet she applied for a passport the day Franco died. I won’t be able to pry her off you as long as you’re here.”

Daniel looks to Ana and his sister. While Cristina chatters, Ana’s eyes slide to his. She smiles. Her smile floods him with a sense of hope that pulls all strings of lost time.

143

Cristina lies on the hotel bed, eyes closed. “You’re acting weird,” she announces.

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. And I can hear it in your voice.”

“It’s jet lag.”

“Liar.”

He’s never lied to his sister. She understands him better than even his mother did. She truly can hear things in his voice. That means she also sees it on his face. He has to tell her something. He remains quiet for several minutes, hoping she’ll fall asleep.

“Remember Ana, the woman you met today?” he asks softly. Maybe she’s dozed off.

Cristina snaps upright in bed. “Yes!
The Lovers of Teruel
. Tell me everything this instant.”

His sister’s dramatics make him laugh. “Well, you see . . . I’ve liked Ana for a really long time. She’s a wonderful person.”

Cristina rolls her eyes. “Oh, please, Danny. We’ve liked our postman for a long time.
He’s
a wonderful person. Fess up.”

The vision of Ana running into his arms in the Sorolla courtyard plays back to him.

“Wait, are you blushing? Look at you! Daniel Matheson, what’s happened?”

His feelings overtake him. He’s so excited and he’s dying to tell her. “Cris, I’m still single because . . .” He exhales the words, “I’ve been totally, completely in love with Ana.”

“For how long?”

“For eighteen years. Since I was last in Madrid. She used to work here at the hotel.”

Cristina launches from the bed to her brother’s side. “WHAT? Does Dad know? Is that why you became such a sad lone wolf? You were traversing the world, trying to forget about your one true love? Oh my gosh, this is fabulous!”

“I’m glad you think so.”

“I do think so!” Cristina’s eyes begin to pool. “For the longest time I’ve felt so guilty. People in Dallas imply that you sacrificed your own personal happiness to take care of me.”

“That’s not true.”

“Well, now I know! You weren’t saddled with me. Your loneliness was your own fault. You were pining pathetically for a woman thousands of miles away!”

Daniel smiles. “Well, maybe not pathetically.”

“Have you kissed her yet? Does she know that you chucked photography for oil? When will she come to Dallas? Wait, are you going to move to Madrid? Can I come with you?”

He laughs. “Get some rest. You’ll see Ana tonight at dinner. I’m going down to the hotel’s business office for a bit.”

Cristina flings herself onto the bed, sweeping her arms open. “Business? Who can think of business? My brother’s in love! It’s the happy-ending version of
The Lovers of Teruel
!”

144

Daniel pictures his father, alone in his study. His colossal mahogany desk stands before a wall of bookcases. The photos of his mother that lived in the study now live at Daniel’s. A sterling frame with a photo of Sissy sits on the desk between his father’s Com Key multiline telephone and a crystal decanter of whiskey.

“Of course we paid. Adoption isn’t free. But everything was entirely legal and appropriate,” his father assures him. “I’m certain our attorneys still have the paperwork. Have you seen the girl? Many people bear a strong resemblance but that doesn’t mean they’re related.”

“I’ve seen a recent picture. I thought it was Cristina. They’re identical. Nick saw Cristina and nearly passed out. Do you remember the name of the person you worked with at the Inclusa?”

“It was eighteen years ago, Dan. I don’t remember. Of course your mom would.”

“Dad, do you think Mom knew?”

His father is silent. “Hard to say. Again, everything was processed appropriately through the embassy. I do remember . . .” He pauses. “Your mother wondered about the parentage and the family line. The nun told us that Cristina was
sin datos
. I remember I had to ask your mother what that meant. We were told that she was simply dropped off at the orphanage with no note. They had no information on the child and told us that her birth date was an estimate. They also mentioned that some Catholic American couples on the military base had adopted children too. I don’t know if that’s true but that’s what they told us.”

“Well, you were doing direct business with Franco, Dad. I’m sure you had privileges.”

“C’mon, Dan. Be fair. I’ve only been to Spain a few times in my life.”

“Well, now Franco’s dead. If this is true and babies were taken from families, all of this will become public. Everything will have to be acknowledged and set right.”

His father releases a heavy exhale. “I’m not so sure, Dan. It depends how the country of Spain moves forward. One of the contractors said they heard Spain is heading toward democracy and amnesty was mentioned.”

“Amnesty? Meaning crimes of the past will simply be erased? Surely that won’t work.”

“It’s hard to go back and prosecute three decades of old offenses. The Spanish people have endured so much. They may want to move forward and shed all shackles of the dictatorship.” His father clears his throat. “Dan, this friend of yours, is her family angling for anything here? Are they making claims or allegations of any sort?”

“Dad, no. The only claim they’re making is for truth between us. They’re not even suggesting I tell Cristina yet.”

“That’s wise. It could open a box of problems prematurely.” His father falls quiet. Daniel hears the ring of the decanter’s crystal stopper and liquid being poured into a glass. “Son, you’ve been a devoted guardian. What do you think?”

His father is a proud man. Asking Daniel’s opinion indicates enormous respect.

“If we can confirm it, I want to tell her. Cristina knows she’s adopted. She’s a legal adult and one day she’ll want to track down her birth parents. She’s also compassionate and resilient. She’s helped us through losing Mom, more than we helped her.”

“That’s certainly true. But we can’t rush. We have to do this right,
for everyone involved. And we should keep it silent. Your mom would want that. I know a scientist at Texas Medical Center in Houston. Last time we played golf he told us about something called a paternity test. Let me speak to him. If the parents in Madrid agree, we can do the testing, but it must be done here in Texas. I don’t want Cristina to hear anything unless we get confirmed results.”

“Yeah, it’s probably wise to get confirmation first.”

“Explain it to your friend and maybe you can speak to her sister. I’ll have a private meeting with the attorneys.”

His “friend.” That’s how his father refers to Ana. He has no idea what he’s feeling, or has felt, for so many years.

“Well, this is mighty unexpected. Does Cristina suspect something?”

“Not at all. She’s having a great time.”

“Good. Well, this is an international call so I’ll let you go. As you can imagine, I’ve got a lot to process.”

“You and me both,” says Daniel.