My phone buzzes as I reach for the ensalada rusa, and I quickly glance at it in case it’s work.
It’s from Minnie. Just a photo, nothing else.
Before I can open it, a torrent of notifications appear from Ash, pinging one after the other in a ferocious cascade. It’s like she’s running a finger across her keyboard. I quickly push past them and gasp.
‘What is it?’ Tiago says, craning over, his hand finding my knee under the table.
‘Minnie’s engaged.’
All I can do is beam at the photo of her bejewelled finger. She clearly wasn’t expecting it, she has little Christmas trees onher nails. Bloody hell, that rock is enormous. Impeccable, but enormous. I fear for her wrist.
I can’t think of two more deserving people. Minnie was an even bigger commitment-phobe than me but she found her match in Jack, and he’s treated her like royalty ever since. I squeeze my excitement into gaps of Ash’s continuing stream, and ping Minnie’s mum a quick congratulations message too. We’ll have to debrief at our next Hyrox event.
‘Do you think the ring’s big enough?’ Tiago jokes.
‘¡Coma, coma, coma!’Abuela barks at us from behind the pig.
We shovel food in our mouths to disguise laughter.
I swallow and point at the green rice.‘¿Me podrías pasar el arroz, por favor?’
‘Si,’Tiago returns automatically,‘un momenti—’He freezes, then turns slowly to look at me.
I smile sweetly.
‘What was that?’ he asks.
His sisters around us quieten, beaming and nudging each other.
I shrug.‘Nada.’
His eyes sparkle. ‘You learned Spanish.’
‘Learning,’I correct. ‘It’s your Christmas present.Feliz Navi?—’
The girls erupt, clapping and bouncing, a chorus of‘¡AYYYY! ¡UUUUUY! ¡AY, DIOS MÍO!’
His finger swivels around them. ‘You guys taught her?’
‘I’vebeen teaching her,’ Isa says through laughter.
‘Mentirosa,’Marcela snaps, smacking her sister’s arm with the back of her hand. ‘We’ve all been helping. I don’t know how you didn’t notice.’
His delighted eyes find mine again, and butterflies spasm in my stomach. I take pride in my gift-giving skills, but what do you get a man who has everything?
‘You learned Spanish for me,’ he says again, in utter disbelief, like in a million years he never thought I would. How little he knows me. He believes no one cares like Colombians, but he’s so wrong.
‘Forus,’ Espy corrects. ‘She’s a Cabrera, and we speak both.’
He blanks her. ‘You really didn’t have to do that.’
‘I wanted to.’
‘I have a gift for you too… but I’ll give it to you before dessert.’
The way he says it sounds naughty. Too naughty. Why can’t he give it to me after dinner with all the other presents? I feel like pointing out my dad’s here, not to mention four generations of his own family, so I pray I don’t open a sex swing. He’s been going on about it for ages.
Better to change the subject. ‘What are your plans for New Year, Isa?’ I ask, taking a sip of water. ‘I hear you’re not going to be here with us.’
