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I can’t believe Jaime is gone. I knew his departure would happen at some point, yet somehow, I refused to accept this truth. I lost my best friend, my most trusted ally, my rock. For the past two days, I have been arranging his funeral. I regret not asking him more questions, as I thought I still had more time. My father has been providing assistance, yet his consistent expression of disappointment is evident. He doesn’t have to say anything, I know that he thinks I haven’t been a good wife to Jaime, that he deserved someone that could give him everything he needed. And lately, I have been finding myself wondering if he’s right. I did my best to be with him until the end, but I can't help but think that he would have been happier to have someone by his side that truly loves him in a romantic way. I know deep down we both did our best with what we had been given, but I guess I've been second guessing everything lately. I don't even know what I'm going to do next. We were supposed to go to Barcelona, the three of us, and now I don't even know. I haven’t seen Fina since he died, it’s tearing me apart.
Marta meticulously closed her diary and slipped it into her bedside table. She got up from her bed, straightened her black dress and left her room. All of her family was waiting downstairs, dressed in somber clothes, ready to go to Jaime’s memorial service. As Andrés caught sight of her descending the staircase, a kind and sympathetic smile spread across his face.
The remaining members of the family then noticed Marta. She found this situation strange, with all eyes on her, as if she might shatter at any second. However, despite her grief, she determinedly concealed her emotions from the people she called her family.
“Are you all ready?” Damian asked, standing near the entrance, with a hand on the doorknob. They had previously decided to make their way to the church on foot.
As Marta followed her brothers out of the door and to the town’s church, she remained silent. Her arms were crossed in front of her in an attempt to maintain her composure. Digna, who was walking next to her, noticed her tension and, as they entered the church, she tenderly touched the younger woman’s lower back, gently caressing her spine, similar to how she had comforted her during her mother’s funeral thirty years ago.
While making their way towards the church, Marta noticed that all the attendees had already gathered inside. An imposing hearse was parked next to the church. The funeral party was waiting for the immediate family to get here. As they saw Marta approaching, they unlocked the trunk and got the coffin out. As Marta, her family and the pallbearers made their way inside the main aisle, all she could hear was the deafening sound of the wheels on the ground, overwhelming her senses. She scanned the inside of the church, it was packed with people who had come to pay their respects to Jaime. She knew he was an incredible person, but the idea that he had touched so many people’s lives made his passing even more unjust. Amidst the crowd, Marta searched for one in particular. But Fina didn’t seem like she was here yet.
She took a seat in the first row and Luz, who was sitting right behind her, met her gaze with an empathetic look.
The magnitude of it all left Marta feeling overpowered. She shut her eyes, attempting to quiet down her thoughts. When she opened them, the priest had initiated the first prayer. She tried to listen to his voice, to hear his words, yet her own heartbeat drowned out any other sound. Once more, she closed her eyes, trying to regain her composure. That’s when Luz gently placed her hand on Marta’s shoulder and whispered, “It’s time for you to speak, Marta.”
Marta got up from her seat and walked towards the altar, holding tightly the paper containing her eulogy. She smoothed it out on the altar, cleared her throat and fought back her tears. She had never been afraid of public speaking, but now that she was about to say goodbye to her best friend, her vision became blurry and her mind went blank. Just as tears began to form in her eyes, she looked up from the altar. There, she saw her. She was beautiful, sitting in the back of the church. Their eyes met, and suddenly they were the only ones there. She could talk to Fina about how she felt. She took a deep breath and started her speech.
“We gather here today to remember and honor a truly remarkable person, someone whose presence touched each of our lives in profound ways. Jaime was more than just a friend to many of us; he was a beacon of hope, a source of comfort, and a dedicated healer who dedicated his life to the service of others.
To capture the essence of one as exceptional as Jaime is no easy task. His passing feels like an unimaginable loss, not only because of his brilliance as a doctor but also because of the warmth and kindness he shared with everyone he met. His compassion wasn’t limited to his patients alone but extended to every person he encountered. Jaime had an innate ability to make everyone feel seen, heard, and valued, a quality that set him apart in a world that often seems too busy to notice.
Jaime had dreams, aspirations, and so much potential yet to be realized. It’s hard to accept that he was taken from us so soon and it’s natural to grieve for the future that will never be. But even in this profound sorrow, we must remember the impact they had on our lives and the countless lives he helped improve.
When I met my husband, we were young, and I instantly knew that I had met my best friend. We shared a beautiful life, and I was lucky enough to witness his deep connection to the sea, and I hope that, from where he is now, he’s happy.
Today, we say goodbye to a cherished friend, husband, brother-in-law, a brilliant doctor and, most of all, a beloved should. Jaime, your light shone brightly and though your time with us was far too brief, your legacy will endure in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know you. Rest easy, you will be missed beyond words, and your memory will be cherished forever.”
As the service came to an end, the attendees left the church and made their way to the adjacent cemetery watching as the casket sank into the ground.
While Marta was watching, she heard her brother Jesús approaching from behind. “What on earth is she doing here?” He whispered angrily.
Marta turned around to follow her brother’s gaze which landed on Fina, who was standing next to Isidro.
He turned to his father and asked, “Didn’t we agree that you would inform her not to come?”
“I did,” replied Damian.
Marta’s blood started boiling. “You did what?”
Yet, neither Damian nor Jesús took the time to even notice Marta.
Jesús continued, puzzled, “Then why is she here?”
He started walking towards the young woman and Marta ran after him, grabbing his arm firmly.
“Don’t even think about it,” she warned.
Her brother let out a heinous chuckle, “Or what?”
Fina, who had noticed Jesús coming her way, caught up to them and planted herself in front of Jesús, and for just a second, Marta’s anger was clouded by the love she felt for that woman.
“Is there a problem?” She asked.
Jesús scoffed, “You have some nerve showing up here.”
“Why? Jaime was my friend, I came to pay my respect, just like everyone else here.”
“Jaime was your friend? Please spare me your lies, I know you’re gloating right now, thinking you’re now free to take advantage of my sister.”
“Jesús, stop,” shouted Marta, placing herself between Fina and her brother.
“No. Father, say something” Jesús turned to his father.
Before Damian had a chance to speak, Marta raised her voice. “Father, consider your next words carefully. Because if you ask Fina to leave, I will leave with her, and you will never see me again. I will resign from Perfumerías De La Reina, I will move to Barcelona, and cease all communication with you. You can count on it.”
“What is going on?” Andrés asked, joining them.
He still didn’t know anything about Marta, she hadn’t had the courage to come out to him. Jesús and her dad clearly hadn’t accepted her, but the thought of losing the only brother she felt closed to, paralyzed her.
“Nothing, Fina was about to leave,” said Jesús, looking right at Fina.
“I-“
“Why would she leave? The funeral isn’t over yet, there’s still the reception.” Asked Andrés.
“He’s right, there’s no reason why she would leave now. The store is closed anyway.” Said Damian, flashing a faint grin at Marta. However, Marta didn’t return the smile, aware that his gesture was merely an attempt to maintain appearances, just like usual.
“Jesús, can I talk to you for a minute?” Asked Damian. “Follow me”
After an uncomfortable silence following the exit of Jesús and Damian, Fina broke the silence “I’m gonna go back to Carmen, I’ll see you later?”
“Definitely.” Marta responded, slightly brushing her partner’s arm, desperate for any kind of physical contact.
As Fina walked away, Marta realized that she was now alone with her brother.
“What was that about? Are you okay?” Andrés asked.
“Yes, I just…Andrés I have something to tell you.”
“You know you can tell me anything.”
“I never truly loved Jaime. At least not in the way a wife should love her husband. Our marriage was just a deep friendship, a beautiful one, but it remained platonic…”
Andrés noticed his sister’s hands were shaking and gently place his hand on her arm and said, “…because you’re in love with someone else.”
Marta looked at him, taken aback by his response to her confession. However, upon reflection, she realized that Andrés, like herself, was also trapped in a loveless marriage.
“Do you want to tell me who it is?” He asked softly. And after a few seconds of Marta trying to find her words, he added. “You don’t have to. Take your time”
“It’s Fina” she blurred it out, like ripping off a Band-Aid.
Andres smiled and nodded. He knew.
“How did- What-“ she couldn’t even form a coherent thought in her mind.
“I’ve had my doubts for a while now, but I didn’t want to pressure you. That’s why I encouraged you to start writing again.”
“And you’re-“
“I love you Marta, and it seeing your smile come back lately has been such a delight.”
“I’m sorry Andrés, I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“You’ve let everyone make decisions about your future, from your marriage to Jaime to your position in the company, coming out was your decision to make, and I’m guessing Jesús didn’t respect that. So I wanted to let you decide when and where.”
“I guess you’re the first person I actually came out to.”
“I’m honored. Can I hug you?” He asked before Marta threw herself into her brother’s arms.
The ceremony in honor of Jaime had just ended, and Fina returned to her room with Carmen and Claudia.
“Poor Doña Marta, I can’t imagine what it must be like to lose the love of your life like that. What is she gonna do now that she’s all alone?” Mused Claudia.
“I’m sure she’ll be okay,” replied Carmen, glancing at Fina.
“It just takes time,” said Fina.
Three knocks on the door interrupted their conversation. Carmen was the one to open the door, revealing Marta, still in her black dress from the funeral.
“Hi, Carmen, can I come in?”
“Yes, yes, absolutely”
She stepped aside, letting her boss in.
“Hi Doña Marta,” said Claudia, immediately standing up.
“Hi Claudia”
“I’m so sorry about your husband, if we can do anything to-“
Carmen cut her off and asked, “Hum, Claudia, would you like to come on a walk with me?”
She didn’t let her time to answer that she grabbed her hand and led her out of the room.
“But what about Doñ-“
Carmen shut the door behind them, granting Marta and Fina some privacy. Fina immediately locked the door to make sure they wouldn’t get interrupted. She turned around and noticed that Marta was standing in the middle of the room, completely still.
“Oh Marta” she said before bringing her in for a warm hug. But she noticed Marta didn’t melt into it like she usually does and remained stiff.
“I don’t know.” Whispered Marta.
“What’s that?” Asked Fina, still holding her.
“I don’t know how to act. I don’t know what to do.” Her voice was lifeless.
“Marta, my love, you don’t have to act or do anything.”
Her sentence and the way she was looking at her was the only thing it took to shatter Marta’s composure. Tears streamed down her face, as her upper lip began quivering. She clamped her hand over her mouth, desperate to suppress the agonizing wail that threatened to escape. For an entire day, Marta had maintained a facade, concealing every hint of emotion. But within the sanctuary shared by herself and Fina, she allowed herself to crumble and let it all out.
Fina’s heart broke at the sight of Marta sobbing. She tenderly led her to her bed, where she sat beside her, and wrapped her arms around her. Not saying a single word, she simply held her close, trying to provide as much comfort as she could.
Once Marta began to regain her composure, Fina was the first one to break the silence.
“Marta, you have no idea how I wanted to be by your side during all this. Knowing you were alone dealing with this made me sick. I’m so sorry”
Marta took a deep breath and cupped Fina’s face, caressing her cheeks with her thumbs. “Fina, let me assure you, I was not alone. Your love gives me the strength to get up every morning and wear that mask, because I know that you’re near, and that the mask I have to wear with everyone completely disappears when I’m alone with you. You’re the only person I need in my life, and thanks to you I’m never alone.”
“I love you so dearly Marta” Fina breathed out.
In just one glance, Fina’s eyes met Marta’s and it was enough. Without hesitation, they locked lips, starting with a gentle, intimate embrace. But soon, passion ignited and their kiss became more intense, filled with desire. Fina felt herself being carried away by the moment, but something deep inside told her not to give in completely. She had learned from experience that Marta craved something deeper, something deeper. So, despite her longing, Fina gently pulled back, ending their kiss.
“Fina…Please,” Marta pleaded, pressing their foreheads together.
“I don’t think we should do this right now.”
“Why?” She asked, panting.
“Because you’re vulnerable, and today was draining, both physically and mentally, I think what you need deep down is to be held.”
Marta sighed and closed her eyes.
“Am I wrong?”
“…No you’re not.”
“Then come here”
Fina laid back on her bed, welcoming Marta into her embrace. Marta snuggled up next to her, nestling her head in Fina’s neck, inhaling her perfume.
“I want to go to Barcelona with you. I want to leave,” Marta whispered.
“Then we’ll do that, whatever you want, my love.”
“But I don’t want to keep working for my father. I want out”
“Are you sure?”
“I want to open my bakery,” said Marta as she traced patterns on Fina’s arm. “With you. I want to build a life with you, away from all of this.”
“Where is this coming from? I knew you wanted to go to Barcelona with me, and we've dreamt of that bakery, but why so sudden?”
"I guess losing Jaime made me realize that, as cliché as it is, life is short, and I don't want to waste any more time. I want a lifetime with you Serafina Valero"
"I want a lifetime with you too Marta De La Reina" Fina turned her head and placed a small kiss on the corner of Marta’s lips.
Marta closed her eyes, still humming her girlfriend’s comforting smell. It only took a few minutes for Fina to notice Marta’s breathing had become slower, and her muscles were beginning to relax. Fina closed her eyes too, letting herself slowly drift away, hoping Carmen would invite Claudia to stay with her and Tasio that night.
Little did they know a newly-found angel was watching over them, determined to make their dreams come true.