understand her meaning. Finally she put her lips very near his ear and whispered fearfully, “I mean isn’t this how… what if we…maybe…” She just couldn’t choke out the words. She took a deep breath. Ignoring the heat in her cheeks, she closed her eyes tightly and whispered, “Baby . ”
Rudolfo laughed and hugged her tightly to him. Then he swept her up and walked over to the bed with her in his arms. “Now what would be so terrible about that? Your father would have to consent to our marriage—and sooner rather than later.”
Thus reassured, Lola allowed herself to be comforted and then tenderly instructed and initiated into the intimacies of lovemaking.
“It ’ ll get better as you lose your fear,” he promised, kissing her neck and caressing her cheek as he lovingly brushed her hair. She was still very nervous as she prepared to return to work. Later that evening she examined herself closely in her mirror. Yes, there was a difference ; t hat was definitely the face of a woman fulfilled. She smiled at her reflection, surprised no one else had noticed.
The days passed once again in a routine of idyllic love during siesta time. She grew to appreciate Rudolfo’s attentions more and more. It was hard to act properly formal when their paths met in front of other people at the distillery. The hardest part was the need to keep their love a closely guarded secret from everyone, when she wanted to shout it from the rooftop. For once she was grateful for the new distance between herself and Enriqueta. It still saddened her to sit across from Enriqueta at meals, but at least it simplified the secret-keeping.
Every evening was depressingly similar. Jacoba spent most of the dinner hour complaining about the servants and how hard it was to make them do their jobs and how difficult it was to run the household on so little money. Her father had long since stopped arguing that she had no need for money. It never satisfied Jacoba that she only needed to ask for something, and her husband would get it for her—she wanted the cash. Jacoba should know better. Women managed the servants and the children; the men managed the money. That was the natural way of things. Once her father had stopped arguing, he stopped listening and merely drank more with his meals. When the meal was over , he would go into his library to smoke and drink until he went to bed.
The unhappy house didn ’ t even feel like home anymore. Pilar never smiled and Rosa looked thin and tired. Now that Enriqueta had grown so distant, the only thing that made life worth living was Rudolfo. Lola’s sadness melted away and a smile lit her face as she thought of Rudolfo again. He was so happy with their new love .
As the days grew into weeks, Lola began to ask Rudolfo when he was going to ask her father for her hand. Every time she asked, he had the same answer.
“I ’ m waiting for the exact right moment. You know how your father can be a bit volatile at times. I ’ m waiting for a moment when he ’ s particularly pleased with me. Don’t worry, Lola, my love, it ’ ll be soon, I promise.” He held her close and told her how much he loved her. Very soon now Rudolfo would take her away from this house that no longer held any joy or happiness.
~ ~ ~
“Lola, may I come in?” Enriqueta was standing in the doorway.
Lola looked up from the tablecloth she was edging and ran to her sister and hugged her. “I’ve missed you so much.” She grabbed Enriqueta’s hand and pulled her toward the wicker settee on the verandah. She wanted to tell Enriqueta all about what was happening with Rudolfo, but she could see that Enriqueta had something to say, so she contented herself with holding her hand and trying to look attentive.
“I know I’ve been a horrid sister these past months, but I had reasons. I can’t tell you about it yet, but you ’ ll find out
Rudolfo laughed and hugged her tightly to him. Then he swept her up and walked over to the bed with her in his arms. “Now what would be so terrible about that? Your father would have to consent to our marriage—and sooner rather than later.”
Thus reassured, Lola allowed herself to be comforted and then tenderly instructed and initiated into the intimacies of lovemaking.
“It ’ ll get better as you lose your fear,” he promised, kissing her neck and caressing her cheek as he lovingly brushed her hair. She was still very nervous as she prepared to return to work. Later that evening she examined herself closely in her mirror. Yes, there was a difference ; t hat was definitely the face of a woman fulfilled. She smiled at her reflection, surprised no one else had noticed.
The days passed once again in a routine of idyllic love during siesta time. She grew to appreciate Rudolfo’s attentions more and more. It was hard to act properly formal when their paths met in front of other people at the distillery. The hardest part was the need to keep their love a closely guarded secret from everyone, when she wanted to shout it from the rooftop. For once she was grateful for the new distance between herself and Enriqueta. It still saddened her to sit across from Enriqueta at meals, but at least it simplified the secret-keeping.
Every evening was depressingly similar. Jacoba spent most of the dinner hour complaining about the servants and how hard it was to make them do their jobs and how difficult it was to run the household on so little money. Her father had long since stopped arguing that she had no need for money. It never satisfied Jacoba that she only needed to ask for something, and her husband would get it for her—she wanted the cash. Jacoba should know better. Women managed the servants and the children; the men managed the money. That was the natural way of things. Once her father had stopped arguing, he stopped listening and merely drank more with his meals. When the meal was over , he would go into his library to smoke and drink until he went to bed.
The unhappy house didn ’ t even feel like home anymore. Pilar never smiled and Rosa looked thin and tired. Now that Enriqueta had grown so distant, the only thing that made life worth living was Rudolfo. Lola’s sadness melted away and a smile lit her face as she thought of Rudolfo again. He was so happy with their new love .
As the days grew into weeks, Lola began to ask Rudolfo when he was going to ask her father for her hand. Every time she asked, he had the same answer.
“I ’ m waiting for the exact right moment. You know how your father can be a bit volatile at times. I ’ m waiting for a moment when he ’ s particularly pleased with me. Don’t worry, Lola, my love, it ’ ll be soon, I promise.” He held her close and told her how much he loved her. Very soon now Rudolfo would take her away from this house that no longer held any joy or happiness.
~ ~ ~
“Lola, may I come in?” Enriqueta was standing in the doorway.
Lola looked up from the tablecloth she was edging and ran to her sister and hugged her. “I’ve missed you so much.” She grabbed Enriqueta’s hand and pulled her toward the wicker settee on the verandah. She wanted to tell Enriqueta all about what was happening with Rudolfo, but she could see that Enriqueta had something to say, so she contented herself with holding her hand and trying to look attentive.
“I know I’ve been a horrid sister these past months, but I had reasons. I can’t tell you about it yet, but you ’ ll find out
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