19. THE VISIT
Laura and her ex-husband accepted Sofia's invitation, and that same day they traveled to meet her.
“It was fortunate that Nina found this woman,” Laura commented, relieved. “Now, I am calm because I know that Nina is in excellent hands. That woman must be a magnificent person.”
They reached the town and easily found the long promenade where the house was. Sofia met them in the garden, still decked out in the lanterns from the pajamas“party from the night before.
“Welcome to my house! I hope you stay for lunch today. We have paella. Do you like paella? Yes, I guess so, everyone likes paella!”
They entered the house, and Sofia served them cold beers.
“Maybe they prefer a glass of wine or a cognac?”
“Don't bother, the beers are fine.”
Sofia's children came to the living room to meet the extra guests. Sofia introduced them:
“These are my four children. I know very well what it means to be a mother and that your children show you their love. I imagine what it would be like if they ran away from home one day,” Sofia said. “You guys are so lucky to have a daughter like Nina. She will be a great singer-songwriter because she has talent, and fate has brought her together with young Nano, who will help her show it. They make a perfect match! You don't know how glad I am to see you two together! Darling, Nano, has told me her story. We have all made mistakes! Those with a second chance are very lucky, and I suppose you have it. I say this because I see in your ex-husband's expression that he continues to feel affection for you. Have you reconciled?”
“That's right,” said the ex-husband. “Laura and I will remarry when all this has happened, and we will get Nina back.”
“It's wonderful! Nina will be the happiest daughter in the world when she knows it!”
“Can we see her?”
“Darling, I know you feel a mother's natural desire to reconcile with her daughter, but I don't think the time is right now. You have to have patience and resignation, some wounds take time to heal, and Nina is very hurt by everything. I think both of us should let your daughter take some time yet and take advantage of her pain to compose the songs she has in her mind. You will never have an emotional state as you have now to create.”
“Yes, perhaps you are right,” Laura replied resignedly.
“Go preparing everything for your wedding while Nina takes the time to forgive and forget. Wait for your daughter to come to you, which I am sure will, but it takes time!”
“She caused our reconciliation,” said Laura's ex-husband. I suppose we should allow her to take the time she needs to regain our affection. Laura and I will resign ourselves and wait for what is necessary ...”
“I am glad to hear you say it. Nina has the parents she deserves!”
After accepting Sofia's proposal and the promised lunch, Nina's parents returned to the small coastal town.
“I think a few days of rest on the beach will do me good,” Sergio commented, changing a significant glance with Laura.
“And it will also be good for me to forget all about the past and enjoy a few days without remorse or bad conscience.”
When they arrived, the sun was declining and hiding behind the slope of the summer houses. The beach was still busy, with all the hammocks still occupied, and the first boats that had been fishing during the day arrived, with the usual buyers making circles around the baskets of the precious catch.
“Sergio, today we will not go to the restaurant. We will buy some fresh fish, and I will cook it in the apartment. I want you to feel like we're back at our house from now on.”
“I think it's an excellent idea, you were always a great cook!”
The walk
After the restful nap, Nina and Nano decided to take a long walk around the farm among the orange groves. In the sky, clusters formed with long and capricious shapes charged with moisture, turning gray. The greyhounds scampered around her, amid loud barking, thus expressing their enthusiasm for the ride.
“You know, Nano,” Nina said with a worried gesture, “I have always dreamed of being a great singer-songwriter, but sometimes I am afraid of not knowing how to behave if I succeed. After the success at the piano-bar, I lost my mind… I might as well not even try. Now I know what you were saying is true: too fast success disturbs the mind, and I do a lot of nonsense. What do you think?”
“What I think will not change things; You are already determined to get it, and nothing and no one will discourage you from trying it, and I am sure you will get it.”
“But, I'm afraid ...”
“Afraid of what, afraid of yourself?”
“Yes, when I was applauded at the piano-bar after singing the song, I felt above them. I don't know how to explain it; it was as if their admiration for me made them feel inferior because they didn't deserve applause. I reminded them of how insignificant they were. I didn't know if all those people admired or envied me.”
“It's the price of fame...”
“Marc's gang adored me the night of my performance, but the next day they forgot about me and didn't even invite me to the party that one of them was giving.”
“When someone highlights the feelings I find them, they admire them because they like it, but deep down, they detest you, because at the same time their admiration nullifies their will. So we have to do our job without waiting for the applause, which is poisoned.”
“So, do you think I should give up my ambition to be a great singer-songwriter?”
“No, stay true to your intuition, because you are not guilty of the weakness and simplicity of others.”
“Nano, you are a grand friend, only you understand me!”
“Yes, I know, and I'm sorry ...”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing, Nina ... but now we will enjoy this walk.”
They walked the north side of the farm, the one that had been recently planted, until they reached a hill, from where a spectacular view of the uneven plateau was contemplated, with the farmhouses surrounded by orange groves in perfect alignment and loaded with early fruits. There were still blooming orange blossoms, giving off their intoxicate magic scent. Nina felt that perfume suggest the lyrics of a new song, and she improvised a few stanzas:
The flower of the orange blossom,
which intoxicates my senses,
brings me sad memories
Of my loves lost.
Yesterday it was my favorite perfume,
today it is the most painful one.
The orange blossom
perfumes the summer night,
but you are not with me,
and I don't know why.
Darling, hear this desperate song,
and come back soon,
hear this desperate song
and come back to be with me.”
The orange blossom,
which intoxicates the senses,
brings me sad memories
Of my loves lost.
“What do you think?”
“Where does your inspiration come from? We have only been to this wonderful place for a few hours, and you have already composed the lyrics for two songs!”
“I don't know, but everything I see is telling me something; Because everything is natural and has its own message and its own beauty.”
“So why are the lyrics so sad?”
“Sadness is as beautiful as joy. Those who are not beautiful or happy are pain, suffering, or depression, but sadness can inspire you the same beauty as joy. Do you understand?”
“Yes, but what reason do you have to be sad?”
“My mother!”
“You keep thinking about her. You feel guilty.”
“Yes. After what happened on the beach, I understand that she has no will to reject her lovers the day of my performance. I didn't have it either to reject mine, and I wasn't in love! Maybe I behaved like a naïve teenager who knows nothing of passions or desires.”
“You're only 15 years old!”
“I know, but recent events have made me an adult. I am no longer the innocent Nina who traveled with her mother to a vacation spot! I'm the Nina who has slept with a boy just for pleasure like my mother does! ... You have to forgive me; I know that I should not confide in you, but you are my friend, and I know that I can trust you.”
“Yes, unfortunately... Nano muttered ruefully, without Nina hearing him.”
“But now I don't want to be sad, because we have a lot of work to do. Let's go back to the house, I want to put music on this new song.”
“And I'll write the arrangements to make it perfect.”
“It was fortunate that Nina found this woman,” Laura commented, relieved. “Now, I am calm because I know that Nina is in excellent hands. That woman must be a magnificent person.”
They reached the town and easily found the long promenade where the house was. Sofia met them in the garden, still decked out in the lanterns from the pajamas“party from the night before.
“Welcome to my house! I hope you stay for lunch today. We have paella. Do you like paella? Yes, I guess so, everyone likes paella!”
They entered the house, and Sofia served them cold beers.
“Maybe they prefer a glass of wine or a cognac?”
“Don't bother, the beers are fine.”
Sofia's children came to the living room to meet the extra guests. Sofia introduced them:
“These are my four children. I know very well what it means to be a mother and that your children show you their love. I imagine what it would be like if they ran away from home one day,” Sofia said. “You guys are so lucky to have a daughter like Nina. She will be a great singer-songwriter because she has talent, and fate has brought her together with young Nano, who will help her show it. They make a perfect match! You don't know how glad I am to see you two together! Darling, Nano, has told me her story. We have all made mistakes! Those with a second chance are very lucky, and I suppose you have it. I say this because I see in your ex-husband's expression that he continues to feel affection for you. Have you reconciled?”
“That's right,” said the ex-husband. “Laura and I will remarry when all this has happened, and we will get Nina back.”
“It's wonderful! Nina will be the happiest daughter in the world when she knows it!”
“Can we see her?”
“Darling, I know you feel a mother's natural desire to reconcile with her daughter, but I don't think the time is right now. You have to have patience and resignation, some wounds take time to heal, and Nina is very hurt by everything. I think both of us should let your daughter take some time yet and take advantage of her pain to compose the songs she has in her mind. You will never have an emotional state as you have now to create.”
“Yes, perhaps you are right,” Laura replied resignedly.
“Go preparing everything for your wedding while Nina takes the time to forgive and forget. Wait for your daughter to come to you, which I am sure will, but it takes time!”
“She caused our reconciliation,” said Laura's ex-husband. I suppose we should allow her to take the time she needs to regain our affection. Laura and I will resign ourselves and wait for what is necessary ...”
“I am glad to hear you say it. Nina has the parents she deserves!”
After accepting Sofia's proposal and the promised lunch, Nina's parents returned to the small coastal town.
“I think a few days of rest on the beach will do me good,” Sergio commented, changing a significant glance with Laura.
“And it will also be good for me to forget all about the past and enjoy a few days without remorse or bad conscience.”
When they arrived, the sun was declining and hiding behind the slope of the summer houses. The beach was still busy, with all the hammocks still occupied, and the first boats that had been fishing during the day arrived, with the usual buyers making circles around the baskets of the precious catch.
“Sergio, today we will not go to the restaurant. We will buy some fresh fish, and I will cook it in the apartment. I want you to feel like we're back at our house from now on.”
“I think it's an excellent idea, you were always a great cook!”
The walk
After the restful nap, Nina and Nano decided to take a long walk around the farm among the orange groves. In the sky, clusters formed with long and capricious shapes charged with moisture, turning gray. The greyhounds scampered around her, amid loud barking, thus expressing their enthusiasm for the ride.
“You know, Nano,” Nina said with a worried gesture, “I have always dreamed of being a great singer-songwriter, but sometimes I am afraid of not knowing how to behave if I succeed. After the success at the piano-bar, I lost my mind… I might as well not even try. Now I know what you were saying is true: too fast success disturbs the mind, and I do a lot of nonsense. What do you think?”
“What I think will not change things; You are already determined to get it, and nothing and no one will discourage you from trying it, and I am sure you will get it.”
“But, I'm afraid ...”
“Afraid of what, afraid of yourself?”
“Yes, when I was applauded at the piano-bar after singing the song, I felt above them. I don't know how to explain it; it was as if their admiration for me made them feel inferior because they didn't deserve applause. I reminded them of how insignificant they were. I didn't know if all those people admired or envied me.”
“It's the price of fame...”
“Marc's gang adored me the night of my performance, but the next day they forgot about me and didn't even invite me to the party that one of them was giving.”
“When someone highlights the feelings I find them, they admire them because they like it, but deep down, they detest you, because at the same time their admiration nullifies their will. So we have to do our job without waiting for the applause, which is poisoned.”
“So, do you think I should give up my ambition to be a great singer-songwriter?”
“No, stay true to your intuition, because you are not guilty of the weakness and simplicity of others.”
“Nano, you are a grand friend, only you understand me!”
“Yes, I know, and I'm sorry ...”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing, Nina ... but now we will enjoy this walk.”
They walked the north side of the farm, the one that had been recently planted, until they reached a hill, from where a spectacular view of the uneven plateau was contemplated, with the farmhouses surrounded by orange groves in perfect alignment and loaded with early fruits. There were still blooming orange blossoms, giving off their intoxicate magic scent. Nina felt that perfume suggest the lyrics of a new song, and she improvised a few stanzas:
The flower of the orange blossom,
which intoxicates my senses,
brings me sad memories
Of my loves lost.
Yesterday it was my favorite perfume,
today it is the most painful one.
The orange blossom
perfumes the summer night,
but you are not with me,
and I don't know why.
Darling, hear this desperate song,
and come back soon,
hear this desperate song
and come back to be with me.”
The orange blossom,
which intoxicates the senses,
brings me sad memories
Of my loves lost.
“What do you think?”
“Where does your inspiration come from? We have only been to this wonderful place for a few hours, and you have already composed the lyrics for two songs!”
“I don't know, but everything I see is telling me something; Because everything is natural and has its own message and its own beauty.”
“So why are the lyrics so sad?”
“Sadness is as beautiful as joy. Those who are not beautiful or happy are pain, suffering, or depression, but sadness can inspire you the same beauty as joy. Do you understand?”
“Yes, but what reason do you have to be sad?”
“My mother!”
“You keep thinking about her. You feel guilty.”
“Yes. After what happened on the beach, I understand that she has no will to reject her lovers the day of my performance. I didn't have it either to reject mine, and I wasn't in love! Maybe I behaved like a naïve teenager who knows nothing of passions or desires.”
“You're only 15 years old!”
“I know, but recent events have made me an adult. I am no longer the innocent Nina who traveled with her mother to a vacation spot! I'm the Nina who has slept with a boy just for pleasure like my mother does! ... You have to forgive me; I know that I should not confide in you, but you are my friend, and I know that I can trust you.”
“Yes, unfortunately... Nano muttered ruefully, without Nina hearing him.”
“But now I don't want to be sad, because we have a lot of work to do. Let's go back to the house, I want to put music on this new song.”
“And I'll write the arrangements to make it perfect.”
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