Page 58 of We Shouldn’t Do This Again

I feel Lidia’s eyes on me, and I don’t need to turn my head to know all the emotions swirling behind those green eyes I love so much.

“Everything’s fine,” she replies casually. “We went for a walk and we’re a little tired, but everything’s good.”

“That’s already a good sign,” Pablo says with a soft laugh. “At least you’re not fighting like cats anymore, which is progress.”

Lidia laughs quietly.

“Don’t get too excited yet, Dad,” she adds, winking at him. “No matter how much things have improved, we’re still us. So at any moment… boom!” she says, miming an explosion with her hands.

“As long as the explosion doesn’t happen during the wedding, we’re good.”

The conversation flows easily between us. We jump from one topic to another, talk about the little details Lidia and Miriam finalized that morning, reminisce about the boat trip from a few days ago, and even joke about how miserable I looked while the waves seemed determined to destroy me.

“It really wasn’t that bad. You’re exaggerating,” I protest, trying to recover a little dignity as I straighten in my chair.

“Oh, definitely not,” Lidia replies, fixing me with that mischievous sparkle in her eyes. “You were only about to throw up the very first baby food your mother ever gave you. That’s all.”

“You’re dramatic,” I shoot back, even though I can’t stop smiling.

“Me?” she asks, arching an eyebrow. “I almost tossed you into the ocean to cure your seasickness once and for all. Now that I think about it, it probably would’ve worked instantly.”

“That would’ve made everything worse,” I reply, playing along.

We lock eyes and burst into genuine laughter. That moment means everything to me: it feels natural, light as the breeze surrounding us, and above all, it doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t carry the weight of the past anymore. But real life always finds a way back in, and Ingrid’s presence creeps into my thoughts, reminding me that this happiness comes with a price I still haven’t paid—a price haunting me and threatening the fragile balance I’m desperately trying to maintain.

I tighten my fingers around the cloth napkin, trying to push the thought away and return to this moment, to this perfect night.

“Will you dance with me?” Pablo suddenly asks, looking at his daughter with enthusiasm.

Lidia blinks, surprised by the invitation.

“Right now?” she asks, though a smile is already tugging at her lips.

“Of course right now,” he insists, getting to his feet energetically and offering her his hand. “I’m not waiting until the wedding to dance with my daughter. Come on, the night’s still young.”

Lidia hesitates for only a second. She glances at me, and I smile back and wink at her.

“Okay,” she finally agrees. “But don’t step on my feet, all right? I know how you are.”

“I can’t promise anything, sweetheart,” Pablo replies with a hearty laugh.

They head toward the area where the music is playing, and I stay behind, silently watching her. Lidia’s laughter reaches me in bursts, and I find myself focusing on the sparkle in her eyes, the one she’s always had and that, for a while, I thought she’d lost forever because of me.

“It’s beautiful to watch them together, isn’t it?” Miriam comments softly, her voice full of tenderness.

I nod slowly without taking my eyes off the dance floor.

“Yeah…” I murmur, though that’s not really what has me mesmerized.

I let out a deep sigh, filling my lungs with salty air.

“What’s really beautiful is seeing her eyes shine like that. As if she’s finally found something she’s been searching for for a very long time. I haven’t seen her this happy in ages…”

Miriam stays quiet for a moment, respecting the silence, and when she finally speaks, she does so with complete sincerity, because she knows she can with me.

“She’s happy, and something tells me you’re the reason for that. Or am I wrong?”

I go still for a moment, processing her words. The phrase hits me in two completely different ways because yes, I’m responsible for many things. For her happiness now, but also for agreeing to all this while knowing Ingrid is still waiting for me in London.