The Fountains of Silence(109)

“Amnesty? Meaning crimes of the past will simply be erased? Surely that won’t work.”

“It’s hard to go back and prosecute three decades of old offenses. The Spanish people have endured so much. They may want to move forward and shed all shackles of the dictatorship.” His father clears his throat. “Dan, this friend of yours, is her family angling for anything here? Are they making claims or allegations of any sort?”

“Dad, no. The only claim they’re making is for truth between us. They’re not even suggesting I tell Cristina yet.”

“That’s wise. It could open a box of problems prematurely.” His father falls quiet. Daniel hears the ring of the decanter’s crystal stopper and liquid being poured into a glass. “Son, you’ve been a devoted guardian. What do you think?”

His father is a proud man. Asking Daniel’s opinion indicates enormous respect.

“If we can confirm it, I want to tell her. Cristina knows she’s adopted. She’s a legal adult and one day she’ll want to track down her birth parents. She’s also compassionate and resilient. She’s helped us through losing Mom, more than we helped her.”

“That’s certainly true. But we can’t rush. We have to do this right, for everyone involved. And we should keep it silent. Your mom would want that. I know a scientist at Texas Medical Center in Houston. Last time we played golf he told us about something called a paternity test. Let me speak to him. If the parents in Madrid agree, we can do the testing, but it must be done here in Texas. I don’t want Cristina to hear anything unless we get confirmed results.”

“Yeah, it’s probably wise to get confirmation first.”

“Explain it to your friend and maybe you can speak to her sister. I’ll have a private meeting with the attorneys.”

His “friend.” That’s how his father refers to Ana. He has no idea what he’s feeling, or has felt, for so many years.

“Well, this is mighty unexpected. Does Cristina suspect something?”

“Not at all. She’s having a great time.”

“Good. Well, this is an international call so I’ll let you go. As you can imagine, I’ve got a lot to process.”

“You and me both,” says Daniel.





145



“Ruth, come sit by me. Daniel, you sit next to Ana,” says Cristina, playing Cupid. She eyes the new couple with a knowing smile throughout dinner.

“She has no idea that we’re talking about her,” says Daniel.

“She’s adorable. And I think your father’s suggestion is wise,” says Ana. “I don’t know how a test could be conducted in Texas with Antonio here, but perhaps Nick could help? I think Julia would feel more comfortable with testing abroad. It will give her a bit of time. She’s terrified that a family member or friend might see Cristina in Madrid. She fears they’ll think she gave up the child. Or worse, that she could be punished somehow.”

“She’s not the one who should be punished. Madrid’s a big city, but I don’t want her to be uncomfortable. We could do some sightseeing in other towns. But will she and Antonio agree to meet with me?”

“Yes. And of course they’ll want to see Cristina somehow. Nick had an idea and said he’d put something together. Julia and Antonio will be present, but Cristina won’t know anything.”

Daniel nods, trying to sift through it all yet remain casual at the table. “This is all so crazy.”

“I know. It doesn’t feel real. But guess what,” whispers Ana.

“What?”

She leans in close. “We’re in a restaurant together.” Her eyes sparkle with excitement.

Daniel looks at Ana’s dark eyes and soft hair, her full lips and delicate hands. Each feature is a frame of its own. The light above accents the soft angle of her neck. She wears a maroon dress that clings and drapes to distraction.

She’s right. They’re finally in a restaurant together. He wishes they could be alone for the evening. He wants to order room service and sit on the floor, with Lola Flores singing through the radio. He wants to stay awake all night, catching up. He wants to kiss her.

Ana reaches beneath the table and takes his hand. “I know,” she whispers. “Me too.”





146



Daniel waits in the lobby of the hotel. He orders coffee, hoping to revive for the afternoon. He probably looks like Ben, disheveled and untied by the snapping fingers of Madrid. For two nights he’s stayed awake with Ana in the lobby long after Cristina says she’s jet-lagged and heads to the room.

Last night Ana convinced him they should steal down to the basement.

“No one will see us. We can sit in the cafeteria at our corner table. It will be quiet.”

They sat at their corner table, they talked at their corner table, they held hands at their corner table until the sparks between them were so fierce that he pulled Ana onto his lap. A flustered employee discovered them and called a supervisor.

The thought of it makes him smile.

Daniel stands as Ana enters the lobby with Julia and Antonio. The shape of Julia’s face, her eyes, they’re the same as the little girl who used to hide in his truck, the same as the young woman who offered him the window seat on the plane.