“That’s why none of my relationships have worked out. Because I always compared them to her. I always hoped… I don’t know. That the pieces would fit together again.”
Bruno smiles and shrugs without a trace of mockery.
“Good,” he says. “First step taken.”
Then he leans forward slightly.
“What else?”
The food arrives at that moment. The waitress sets the plates in front of them, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the room once more, warm and comforting.
Rebeca takes a breath, picks up her fork, but doesn’t eat yet.
“Well, you’re right,” she admits, looking up at him. “Okay? You’re right.”
Bruno raises both hands in a victory sign.
“I knew it,” he whispers with an almost childlike sense of satisfaction.
Rebeca shakes her head, but there is affection in the gesture.
“The day I arrived and saw her standing before me…” She pauses briefly, her fork suspended in the air. “The first thing I thought was that the missing pieces of my life were falling back into place. That the void she left behind had never fully closed. That I was just waiting… to find her again.”
The memory comes to mind with surprising intensity: the landing, the door ajar, Martina’s expression when she saw her. Her blue eyes widened in surprise, both of them holding their breath, the way her hand remained suspended halfway, as if she didn’t know whether to touch her or run away.
Rebeca looks down at her plate.
“But I don’t want things to happen this way,” she continues, stirring the contents of the plate. “I don’t want to have to hide. I don’t want to kiss her knowing that afterward she’ll go home with someone else. I don’t want to be… the other woman.”
Her fingers pause on the coffee spoon, and she turns it slowly, over and over.
Bruno sighs. He leans back in his chair and takes a bite of his eggs before answering.
“I think it’s just a matter of time,” he tells her, completely convinced. “If Martina has told you that her marriage is over, I highly doubt she’s lying to you. Those aren’t things you say lightly.” Bruno takes another bite and chews slowly. “Where is she today?”
Rebeca takes a sip of coffee before answering. The hot liquid burns her tongue pleasantly.
“According to what Ariadna told me…” Rebeca shrugs slightly. “Who, by the way, seems to be really into Cora. They’ve gone on a business trip for a couple of days.”
Bruno raises his eyebrows.
“Wow.” He leans in toward her a little. “So, besides ending up making out on the beach until you were out of breath, you also played matchmaker for the other two?”
Rebeca glares at him.
“Why are you such an idiot?”
He can’t help but laugh.
“I’m just saying that fate really had its cards well played,” he remarks, still smiling. “And that this time, it’s going all out.”
Rebeca slaps him on the arm.
“You’re impossible.”
They both end up laughing. Their laughter fills the small space around the table for a few seconds. But then something happens: Rebeca turns her head slightly toward the street outside, and her gaze settles on a specific spot. The expression on her face changes, and her smile vanishes. Her eyes widen, as if she’s just seen something she wasn’t expecting at all.
Bruno notices right away.
