"Fina, I'll be leaving tonight."
"Tonight?" Fina turned pale.
"My suitcases are already in the car."
The announcement was like a stone in Fina's stomach. She knew that time was of the essence. Don Damian had already spoken to Marta's brothers, Marta had been able to tell her that much. Andrés had actually objected out of concern for Marta, but he had gone unheard. Jaime was in the infirmary at that moment to sort things out with Dr Borrell. For today he was probably distracted until late at night, but from tomorrow onwards his full attention would be on his wife and their departure together. It would be virtually impossible for Marta to escape then. Fina understood, but she wasn't sure if she could say goodbye to everyone and everything here in Toledo so quickly. And she knew even less how to explain it to her father.
"Fina..." Marta lifted her head. "I don't expect you to come with me today. On the contrary. I think it would be better, safer, if you followed me in a week's time."
"I doubt people can't put one and one together," Fina interjected.
Marta nodded. "I'm sure there will be some who can. But there will probably also be plenty of people who only see what they want to see. Who only know what they want to know. And who don't even think about certain things. If you don't believe something is possible, you can't imagine it."
She smiled for a breath as she remembered how she'd felt the same way when she'd seen the adult Fina again and had that strange feeling in the pit of her stomach - and later elsewhere - for the first time. It couldn't possibly be attraction, Marta had thought at the time; after all, Fina was a woman.
"It plays into our hands that my father will try to avoid a scandal. I wouldn't be surprised if it's rumoured that I've already left for Andalusia to wait for Jaime. In the end, Jaime might even have to travel to Andalusia alone just to keep up the lie." Marta shrugged her shoulders. She didn't really care what her father or anyone else would think or do in the end.
Fina remained silent. They hadn't even had a full day. And she was exhausted. Grief was exhausting and the last two weeks had already taken their toll. Today, despite all the joy she felt, was also a day that was hard on her bones. The storm called Marta had shaken her to the core. She wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of the evening by the river in Marta's arms, to finally have some time to relax, to finally settle down.
"I know, querida, I know," whispered Marta, who seemed to have guessed her thoughts. "There's nothing I'd rather do right now than sit here with you, wait for the sun to set and kiss you until even the moon goes to sleep." Marta only gave her a quick kiss.
"We'll have that, Fina, I promise you." She paused for a moment. "And it's a promise I'll keep. Just have a little more patience. Just a little more." Marta uttered the words almost pleadingly.
Fina nodded. Now was not the time for doubts. And also not the time for wishes that could only be fulfilled in the future. Nevertheless, she sighed.
"What's going through your mind?" asked Marta.
"I have no idea how to explain all this to my father."
Marta looked at her wordlessly for a long time. She understood how important it was for Fina to say goodbye to her father, and not just on good terms. Even if Fina still had a week to do so, he had to know by then, indeed be absolutely certain, that his daughter was in good hands. Accompanied and surrounded by love.
"Fina...," Marta began, "maybe we'll tell him today. Together."
The lump in Fina's stomach now moved into her throat.
"Agreed?" Marta asked with a smile.
"Agreed," whispered Fina.
As expected, Fina found her father in the manor's kitchen. It had already become quiet in the house, so Fina could assume that she would be able to talk to him undisturbed. She took several deep breaths before entering the kitchen. Marta would be joining her in a few minutes; they had decided that it was better not to enter the house together.
"Hola, padre."
"Fina! Come and sit with your old father. Where have you been? I thought you were here for dinner. Have you been out with Carmen? Digna left the leftovers on the cooker for you. Are you hungry?" He pointed to the seat next to him. "Come on, come on, have some, it's delicious. And finally sit down with me and tell me what you've been up to."
As always, Isidro was barely able to stop his flow of words. But the fact that his daughter remained silent did not escape his notice.
"What's going on, hija? What has happened?"
"I'm going to leave. I'm leaving at the end of the week."
For a brief second, Isidro was speechless. But it was really only a second.
"Hiya, what are you talking about? Is it because of your broken heart? I thought you would be better by now." Isidro stood up. "Running away is not the answer. You're taking your broken heart with you, my little girl. Only time can heal that, believe me."
Fina fell silent again and just looked at her father. Isidro understood and sat back down at the table.
"Bueno, hija, explain it to me, because I don't understand."
"I'm not going alone."
Marta entered the kitchen at that moment and cleared her throat.
"Doña Marta! Have we disturbed you?"
"Not at all, Isidro." Marta smiled at him and put her handbag down on the table.
"Bueno, Fina, maybe we'll talk later, eh?" he said to his daughter, who was now clutching a glass of water tightly in her hands. She had never been so nervous before a conversation with her father, not even when she had confessed to him that Gaspar was just a distraction for him. Or that she favoured women.
"I think, Isidro, it would actually be good to continue your conversation now," Marta said, brushing off her coat and pulling up a chair, but not sitting down.
"Ah, noooo, Doña Marta, we don't want to burden you with our little problems."
"I don't think we can call what Fina wanted to tell you just a small problem," Marta replied.
Isidro froze. Did Doña Marta know about Fina's ... preference? Had she found out about it and decided to do something about it? Was she the reason why Fina had to leave? Had she reported Fina? It was hard to imagine, Doña Marta was not a woman who enjoyed scandals and would certainly rather sweep everything under the carpet than draw the attention of the whole town to the family or the company.
"Doña Marta," he began carefully and stood up again. "Whatever you've heard, I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding. That can be cleared up. Isn't that right, Fina?" He looked pleadingly at his daughter.
"Hija, tell Doña Marta that it's just a misunderstanding."
"I hope not, Isidro, that it's a misunderstanding," Marta said calmly.
Unlike Fina, she didn't seem the least bit nervous. But that had always been her strength and one of the many reasons why Fina loved her. She turned into a storm rock when it mattered.
"I don't understand, Doña Marta."
"Isidro, I have to leave Toledo. And I want your daughter to accompany me. With your permission. With your blessing."
He exhaled for the first time in what felt like an eternity.
"Bueno, claro, if you need Fina for a few days in Madrid, that's fine of course, Doña Marta. I'll be delighted if you're content with her."
"Isidro, we're not just going for a few days. And not to Madrid either."
Marta remained calm. Fina, on the other hand, had to stop herself from shaking her father. The glass crunched dangerously in her hand.
It would have been easy to lose patience with him, but it was important that he put the last piece of the puzzle in the right place in his head himself.
He looked at her silently for a long time. So long that Fina was already beginning to shift restlessly in her chair. This silence was unusual for him, but she didn't dare look at him or interrupt.
"Fina is an extraordinary woman." Isidro spoke the words carefully.
Marta knew immediately during which conversation she had said this to him.
"Yes, she is, Isidro. An absolutely extraordinary, courageous, clever, loving and beautiful woman."
"Oy diós madre mia." Isidro held on to his chair for a moment and then sat down.
Marta also sat down at the table. She would give him all the time in the world to swallow it. Even if it delayed her departure. She had to take the risk.
"Do you need a glass of water, Isidro?" Marta asked.
"No, no, no." He shook his head and stared at the table in silence. Fina wanted to say something, but Marta shook her head.
A few minutes had probably already passed when Isidro first looked at his daughter for a long time and then at Marta.
"Doña Marta, just tell me one thing: do you love my daughter?"
"Yes, I do." Marta did not avoid his gaze.
He scrutinised her for a moment and then nodded.
"Will you look after my daughter and protect her? Will you always be with her, come what may?"
"I will, Isidro. I swear it to you. I will do everything in my power to make her happy. For the rest of my life."
He fell silent again. Then he took Fina's hand and kissed it. Finally, he looked at Marta again.
"Bueno, then tell me everything I need to know to help."
It was Fina who finally jumped up and threw her arms around her father's neck, tears streaming down her cheeks. Marta smiled with relief. She looked at the two of them. It was no wonder that Fina had become the woman she had become. She thanked Isidro wordlessly with her eyes.
"Where are you going anyway?" asked Fina.
"First of all to a cousin north of Madrid."
Fina frowned. Marta took her hand.
"There are real cousins in my family too, querida, don't worry."
Isidro had listened to the two of them for a long time and asked questions in between. He didn't understand what the issue was with the cousins, but what struck him immediately was Marta's affectionate form of address, which she used for the first time in his presence. He had imagined his son-in-law to be completely different all these years. At least unmarried. But he had to admit that he hadn't doubted the love between Doña Marta and his Fina for a moment all evening.
"Bueno, and I'll take you to her next week, just like we talked about," he said now.
"Papi, you don't have to do that."
"But I want to, hija. I may never be able to be at your wedding, but I can still pass your hand."
He laughed for the first time that evening as Fina kissed him on the cheek, beaming.
Slowly it was time to say goodbye, all three of them realised.
Isidro cleared his throat and was finally the one to say: "You should leave, Doña Marta, before someone else arrives."
He could see his daughter's shoulders slump a little. A week, he knew, could be an eternity. Especially in such a young life. But he also realised that there was no other choice. And he also realised that it was better if the two women left everything behind them separately. Perhaps they could find a good explanation for Fina's departure this week. And if something did go wrong, it would at least allow Fina to return safely.
"Thank you, Isidro," said Marta.
She would have liked to hug him at that moment, but he would probably have been embarrassed. So she just smiled at him.
"I'll walk you to the car, Marta," said Fina.
"No, querida, it's too dangerous."
"I've only just got you back. And now I have to let you go again. I pray and hope that everything goes well, I really do. But if not..." Fina's eyes filled with tears. "...if not, then...then..."
Marta took a quick step towards her. She almost gave Fina a kiss, but Isidro's presence slowed her down. She realised that Isidro already knew everything, but she wasn't used to showing her affection so openly in front of other people. Nevertheless, she understood what Fina meant. What Fina and she herself needed before they said goodbye.
So she stroked Fina's cheek, then nodded and said, "Right, walk me to the car."