“That was nice, María José,” Carlos nodded approvingly when he saw her and Günter parting with a hug.
“What?”
“That you forgave him.”
“Forgave that scoundrel who tried to harm my dog?” she snapped. “I’ll never forget what he did!”
“Then what was all that about?”
“What do you think? An act,” the old woman said, standing proudly. “Or, as you might call it: a cover.”
“Oh, María, what’s the point of all this?” Carlos grumbled.
“I’ll tell you, because I learned this from you: keep your enemies close! Isn’t that how it goes?”
“Günter isn’t your enemy,” Carlos said, shaking his head disapprovingly. “He’s just a simple family man who wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“No, not a fly! But dogs are another matter entirely.”
“Alright, calm down! If he really is a problem, one word from me and he’ll get what he deserves.”
Bernard let out a disapproving groan and rolled his eyes, setting down his cup. Noud hadn’t heard Carlos and María José’s conversation, but Bernard’s expression said it all.
“Don’t tell me he’s playing secret agent again?” Noud chuckled quietly.
“Oh, he is. The old fool.”
“Don’t take it so seriously! He’s just bored.”
“It’s so childish to act like he’s part of some super organization.”
“Be more forgiving! He’s old, and besides, he’s not hurting anyone. María José only humors him because she likes the guy.”
“I like him too. He’s entertaining and a kind man, but this lying…”
“Let’s call it fantasizing. Besides, he only spins those fake stories for the old lady.”
“Please, call those stories what they are: lies.”
Noud waved dismissively, not wanting to argue with Bernard over trivial matters.
Günter listlessly turned the asparagus on the grill. It wasn’t the first time he had hugged his elderly neighbor. Back then, María José had rested her head affectionately on his shoulder and gently patted his back. But this time, the woman had stiffly, robotically touched her chest to Günter’s, placing one hand briefly on his shoulder while the other hung limply by her side. This wasn’t a real hug. There was no forgiveness here. The sweet old retired pastry chef had, in the blink of an eye, turned into an enemy. And Günter worried about what the notoriously stubborn neighbor might be capable of.
He was angry with Viktoria. This wasn’t what they had agreed on. They had promised each other that every decision involving the community would be made together. They both knew that cramming this many people into one complex was like sitting on a ticking time bomb. And now look! They were the ones who lit the fuse. The first real conflict in the complex was tied to their names. Ted, for now, was just stirring the pot and being a nuisance. But they had made their first real enemy.
“If you’re interested in my opinion…” Ludmilla began in a pompous tone.
“Why would I be?” María José snapped.
“Never mind, I’ll tell you anyway,” the German woman continued coldly. “Whatever happened, the fact remains that Perla is peeing everywhere, all day long. It’s not just my fellow countrymen she’s irritating, it’s everyone. But of course, they’re a tidy German family who can’t stand dog pee on their terrace walls, especially since they don’t have a pet. What Günter did was wrong, but he apologized. Now it’s your turn. You need to change Perla’s habits.”