“This is our safe place. It’s halfway between our two houses, and no one comes here in the winter. Antía has the keys because she rents it out in the summer. Helena managed to make copies without anyone finding out.”
“I get it. Your little love nest. Fine. How long have you been coming here?”
“Almost two years,” she said with a dignified look. “We’re in love.”
She said it with the steely determination that only a teenager in love can bestow on such a statement. Roberto looked at them sorrowfully. They certainly didn’t have it easy.
The only two people their age on the island, they were both good looking, and, despite the enmity between their families, in such a small place, they would inevitably bump into each other all the time. They would have known the possible repercussions, but even so, he could see why they had ended up together.
“Does anyone in your families know?”
“No!” they both exclaimed, so completely in sync that, under any other circumstances, it would have been comical.
“I haven’t been here long, but I get the feeling they wouldn’t look very kindly on your relationship, am I wrong?”
“They don’t understand,” Tristán continued. “They’ve been at each other’s throats for so long, I don’t think they even remember why. But whatever, their problems aren’t our problems.”
“I doubt your father sees it like that.” He turned to Helena. “Or your family, for that matter.”
“Please promise you won’t say anything,” she said, her eyes glistening.
“And what’s your intention? To just go on creeping around until you get caught? Or until you miscalculate and get pregnant one day? What’s your plan?”
They both looked at each other, having another of those silent exchanges. Finally, Helena nodded, and Tristán turned to Roberto.
“We’re saving some money,” Tristán said, “from our jobs in the high season. We’re planning to leave next summer. Go to the mainland, find some work, and live together.”
“We’re adults now,” Helena added. “We can make our own decisions.”
They both spoke with absolute confidence, as if the plan were seamless. Roberto could see plenty of obstacles to that dream, and the families’ reaction was just about the least of them. But now something was occurring to him.
“It’s all right.” He raised his hands placatingly. “Your secret’s safe with me; you have my word.”
“Oh, thank you!” Helena groaned with relief.
“But ...” added Roberto, and he saw the young lovers’ joyful looks turn to stone.
“But what?” Tristán asked cautiously.
“I need you to do something for me in return. I think it’s only fair.”
Roberto felt bad for playing with their emotions like this but saw no real alternative. A plan was forming in his mind right then and there—one that he could see actually working.
“You want money? Is that it? We don’t have very much, you ought to know.”
“I don’t want your money.” He shook his head. “There’s something I need you to do for me.”
“What is it?” Helena’s expression had darkened with distrust, and she had instinctively crossed her arms.
Roberto said nothing for a moment while he got his thoughts in order. With great clarity, he mapped out possible forks in the road anddetours, as if he were plotting a novel with himself as protagonist and these two lovers as the supporting cast.
Presently he smiled, trying to appear more confident than he felt.
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing that hard.” Speaking airily to Helena, he said, “I need you to talk to your sister, Antía, and give her a message.”
“What message?”
“I need to meet with her, alone. And above all, without your mother knowing. It’s extremely important.”
