Perla was happily running around the poolside in circles. Meanwhile, María José was struggling with yet another crying fit on her terrace. A half-eaten macaron she found under the outdoor table reminded her of the terrible breakup and how much she missed Carlos. She couldn’t have cared less that her dog was wildly splashing around the kids swimming nearby.
Ted was just about to step in and put the old lady in her place when Ludmilla blocked his way.
“If you go near my friend or her dog, I’ll wring that fat neck of yours,” she hissed.
The man with the Coke bottle stopped in his tracks, stunned. He had seen the German woman angry many times before, but the lightning flashes in her eyes that morning took him by surprise. He thought it wiser not to argue. Instead, he turned toward the elderly stranger lounging by the pool. It annoyed him that an outsider was using one of the sunbeds paid for by the residents of the complex. It infuriated him even more than Perla did, but he had intended to deal with things in order. Ludmilla’s sudden appearance, however, forced him to rethink his priorities.
“And who might we be honoring with your presence?” he asked the stranger with a sneer.
“Me?” the newcomer squinted. “Well, a man, a retiree, a comrade, a widower, a grandparent, a father, a friend. Take your pick—whichever pleases you most—and honor that one as you see fit.”
The pool crowd suddenly fell silent. Every gaze turned to the old man who, until now, had been quietly dozing. Even Ludmilla’s jaw dropped at the cheeky rascal’s words. Though she didn’t dare show it, she thoroughly enjoyed how he answered back to Ted, whom she often referred to as a thick-headed brute. She covered a rising chuckle by pretending to clear her throat.
“Who let you in here?” Ted asked, his voice sharp with irritation.
“What’s up, Ted?” Carlos called out as he approached the pool carrying two beers.
“Since when are strangers allowed to use the pool?”
“Which child don’t you recognize, my friend?”
“You know what I’m talking about, Carlos.”
“No, son, I don’t,” Carlos replied calmly. “The pool is currently being used by four small children who all live in this community, as usual. And yet you’re questioning why strangers are here. I just don’t know which of the little ones you think looks out of place. And,” he continued, in a know-it-all tone, “if you’re talking about my friend relaxing on the sunbed, you should know that the four loungers attached to my property can be used by anyone I allow.”
“I’m not even surprised anymore, Carlos, that you always find a way to explain the unexplainable,” Ted grumbled.
“Come on, my friend, have a beer and imagine you’re in a good mood,” Carlos said, offering him a bottle.
Ted didn’t know how to react to this ambush of unexpected kindness. He was prepared for a fight, not for being handed a cold beer. Carlos extended the drink toward him again. Ted finally, albeit awkwardly, accepted it. He gave a curt nod toward the intruder and raised the bottle slightly.
“Cheers to you too, young man. By the way, I’m Esteban, an old friend of Carlos.”
The man then turned to Ludmilla.
“And won’t you join us?” he asked the German lady. “From what I just heard, it seems wise to stay on your good side. Even I felt a bit frightened when you put our friend Ted in his place,” he grinned, flashing his brand-new, dazzling white teeth.
But Ludmilla, though she wanted to, couldn’t utter a word. A wave of heat washed over her, immediately followed by a chilling shiver. Her heart started pounding wildly, her breathing became erratic. On top of it all, her knees suddenly weakened and began to tremble like leaves in the wind. She blinked around, terrified, wondering if anyone else could see that she was fighting for her life, right there, standing upright in front of everyone.