It's Just Lola by Dixiane Hallaj

eyes—just for a minute.
    ~ ~ ~
    Lola heard Rudolfo’s voice murmuring softly very close to her , his breath hot on her neck .  The dream was so nice she kept her eyes closed.  It did not take many seconds for her to remember where she was and realize it wasn ’ t a dream at all.  Her first thought was panic that she ’ d fallen asleep, but she heard her name whispered and curiosity kept her frozen in place with her eyes closed.
    “Dear sweet Lola, how I wish we could be together like this always.  You ’ re so beautiful and sweet.”  His hand was slowly stroking her hair . “ T ogether we could run the distillery and live here in our own little nest, being together forever.  What a wonderful life we could have.”
    The picture that Rudolfo painted hung in Lola’s mind like a haven of perfection.  She moaned softly, pretending to be coming awake slowly.  She sat up suddenly.
    “Oh, no .   I must have fallen asleep . ”  Lola had no need to feign panic and fear as she realized the very real possibility of discovery .  A ny thoughts she may have had of being a modern woman dissipated at the thought of her father’s reaction.
    “Don’t worry,” Rudolfo reassured her, “you only dozed for a few minutes.  It ’ s siesta time; the distillery is empty.  Then he drew in his breath sharply and jumped up. 
    “Oh, Miss Lola, whatever must you think of me?  I ’ m so sorry!  I didn ’ t mean to be forward.  I just got overcome with the time of day and couldn ’ t resist having a bit of a rest.  P lease forgive me . ”
    Lola smiled in spite of her fears.  Rudolfo looked so contrite and upset—and over what?  That he ’ d felt a bit sleepy?  After all, there was only one place to lie down in the tiny apartment.  What else could he do?  She stood and tried to smooth out her dress.  Almost involuntarily she reached her hand up to her hair where she remembered him stroking.  She tried to smooth out her long chestnut hair.
    Rudolfo went to a small box sitting on a shelf and withdrew a hairbrush.  He offered it to Lola, almost shyly.  “Perhaps this will help?”
    “Ooh . ”  Lola took the silver brush, exquisitely engraved and inlaid with mother-of-pearl.  She ’ d never seen a brush like it .  She removed a long dark hair as she turned the brush over in admiration.  “Where did you get such a beautiful lady’s hairbrush?”
    “I t belonged to my mother .”  Rud olfo looked down at his toes .  “I always hoped I might someday find someone I ’ d like to see using it.”
    Lola felt her cheeks burning and she could hardly breathe.  She was being courted by a man of her choosing .   She was a modern woman after all!  Lola thought she floated down the stairs and into her office.  She spent the rest of the afternoon with a smile on her face.  Even dining that night with her father and stepmother could not dampen her mood, although she was careful to keep her eyes lowered and to speak only when spoken to. 
    The days passed in a haze of happiness for Lola.  She and Rudolfo shared many glasses of guava brandy, and soon confessed their love to each other.  She quickly learned that even when there were men in the distillery over the siesta time, they paid no attention to her movements. 
    One day she noticed that Rudolfo was distracted.  He didn ’ t gaze soulfully into her eyes, or even answer when she spoke to him. “What ’ s the matter?  Is something wrong in the distillery?  Did you get bad news from your family?”
    “No.  It ’ s nothing like that.”
    “What is it?”
    “I’m not sure I can talk to you about it.  I know you say you love me, but…”
    Lola pleaded for many minutes and promised not to get angry or upset, before Rudolfo reluctantly agreed to tell her what worried him.
    “I love you just the way you are, but I ’ m worried.  What if your love is the love of a little girl playing with dolls?  How can I be sure you can love me with the love of