“That’s a stretch,” Libby argued. “I’m not always thinking of you.”
Maggie laughed at them. “If Libby admires honesty, maybe you should reconsider whatever it is you’re not saying.”
“Not tonight. More wine?”
Libby laid her hand over her glass. “I’m fine.”
“Would you come to the restroom with me, Libby?” Maggie waited for Rafael to stand, and slid out of the booth. “I saw the sign when we walked in.”
Libby knew what was coming but went along quietly. The restroom was as handsomely decorated as the restaurant in white and marine blue and had a lounge with padded benches placed in front of long mirrors. Maggie took one and patted the space beside her.
“I don’t care what Santos is hiding. Don’t tell me. He has too much on his shoulders, and being injured in the ring has to be more difficult for him than he’s letting you see. Give him some slack, and it will all work out in time.”
Maggie had no idea how dangerous the secrets were, but Libby understood the concept. “What was it Mom always advised? Let men think they’ve won the argument, but then do as you please?”
Maggie turned to touch up her lipstick. “I thought giving in was more of a way to end an argument for the time being, but we might be thinking of two different things. Santos must see his world as completely out of control. Don’t add to his problems.”
“I’ll be gone soon,” Libby reminded her. “Maybe nothing I say matters to him anyway.”
“That can’t be true, not when I can almost see the sparks flying between you two. Make every minute you’re here count.”
Libby nodded and stood. “I think I already have, but there’s a difference between not wanting to share details of your life with strangers who read the tabloids and not telling your family the truth.”
“I agree, but Santos has a different understanding of family than we do. Let him call for shots for a while.”
Libby led the way out, but Maggie had no clue some of those shots might be real. As they returned to the table, she could see from Santos’s wary glance that he’d expected her to provide her sister with every juicy detail. She just shook her head, slid into the booth and, once he’d retaken his seat, she rested her hand on his thigh. “Maybe while you go to therapy tomorrow morning, I could see more of Barcelona with Maggie.”
“That would be fun,” Maggie agreed. “I want to look for a larger apartment and check out the American schools. I could keep you busy all day.”
“I should be home by noon. You could stay for lunch with us, if Rafael doesn’t need you.”
“I have to be at the university. Now, if it isn’t part of what you don’t wish to tell, did you meet with Orlando Ortiz?”
Santos clamped his hand down on Libby’s. “Yes, we went to see him. Had lunch with him and your mother in their condo, and I signed a poster for your half brothers.”
Rafael looked ready to breathe fire. “They aren’t brothers to me.”
“You’re the one who’s going to med school. Do you want to debate biological fact?” Santos countered.
“How did we leave you two alone?” Maggie asked. “You may enjoy goading each other, but Libby and I’d rather have a pleasant dinner together. Do we need to ask for a separate table?”
“No,” Rafael answered through clenched teeth. “Who was driving Ortiz’s SUV?”
“Your mother,” Santos answered. “She claimed she wanted to look at the Hispano-Suiza. I believe her. Libby was right; it was a coincidence, nothing more.”
Libby made it a point to show the restraint Maggie advised and was proud of herself for not offering a single comment while Santos spoke. She didn’t make it a brooding silence, but instead a calm, thoughtful quiet. The meal was one of the best she’d ever eaten, and she and Santos traded bites with teasing laughter while Rafael appeared deep in thought and replied to Maggie’s remarks with little more than nods and shrugs. It was an odd evening, saved by the crema catalana.
The icy-cold egg custard was topped with a golden layer of grilled sugar and so luscious Libby was tempted to order seconds. “Have you eaten this before, Maggie?”
“Yes, at the ranch. I should learn how to make it. Maybe Tomas can teach us, and you can make it for everyone when you get home.”
Home. Jarred by the word, Libby had to struggle to find a smile. “I should learn how to cook more than desserts, though. But you’re right. We ought to learn all we can from Tomas. Or will that cause him additional work, Santos?”
“Of course not. We’ll just eat your lessons for dinner.”
“If they’re edible,” Rafael murmured under his breath.
Libby giggled at his joke and couldn’t stop until Santos hugged her tight. “I’m sorry. I’ll bet you do that all the time, Rafael. You look so serious and then you’ll say something humorous, and it’s so unexpected it’s twice as funny.”