Holding You, Holding Me. Marta & Fina. Mafin

7. Tobar's

The outside of Tobar's was not much to look at. Just a green facade with a black and yellow sign above the entrance. In fact, it was so unassuming that they walked past it once before realizing they had.

Fina approached the door hesitantly. She turned back to look at Marta who smiled in encouragement.

Fina knocked.

A few moments later a woman about Marta's age wearing a long, floral printed dress opened the door. She eyed them for a second and then grunted,

"Si?"

Fina looked back at Marta who stepped forward tentatively.

"Uhm, Lucia told us about the sewing club meeting here?"

It was as much a question as a statement. Marta was somehow just now realizing how strange this all was. A woman she didn't know told her about a party at a random bar and she decided to just show up with her girlfriend and hope for the best? Being desperately in love and forced to hide it really will make you do questionable things.

"Oh, ha. Lucia?" The women softened. "Well, then welcome to Tobar's."

She held the door open and they stepped into a smokey, dark room. An emerald green upholstered bar with a cherry wood top ran the entire right side of the floor. Music from the jukebox drifted through the mostly empty space, echoing off the wallpaper. Marta suddenly felt overdressed. There were only a few women sitting together at the bar smoking cigarettes and drinking martinis.

The woman who had let them in stepped behind the bar and grabbed a towel to dry cups. She called to Marta and Fina,

"I think Lucia is upstairs," and pointed to the back wall.

Marta looked around and spotted a small staircase all the way in the corner of the room that she hadn't noticed before. She nodded and thanked the bartender as she and Fina gingerly walked across the floor, the heels of their shoes clicking on the wood.

When they reached the staircase Fina grabbed Marta's arm and pulled her back a second.

"This is so strange," Fina said looking around again, unsure.

"Well, we've come this far. Right?" Marta replied, trying to sound enthused. She wove her fingers between Fina's and the two entered the stairwell hand in hand.

A palpable energy reverberated though the dark passage. The music of the jukebox downstairs began to mix with the sound of a piano, guitar, and drums. They could hear more voices and laughter. Marta's adrenaline started pumping. At the top of the stairs was a velvet curtain blocking whatever lay beyond. Marta took a breath and hesitantly grasped it to pull it aside and they were transported to the swankiest club in Madrid.

The semi circular room was warmly lit with art deco chandeliers and wall sconces. Six large, round booths wrapped in lush navy velvet lined the side walls with a bar along the back, next to where they stood. The ground sunk down in three rings, tables on each tier, to a dance floor and small stage. Women sat in groups and couples laughing and drinking at the tables surrounding it. All kinds of women, all different ages. A few even had on suits. A hint of vanilla and bergamot mixed with the tobacco smoke that filled the air.

Marta marveled at the sights around her. Her senses were overwhelmed. She felt Fina squeeze her hand and turned to share her excitement. They gawked at each other and then started giggling quietly.

"Wow," was all Fina could get out. They stood a moment more, absorbing the electric atmosphere. Marta was surprised at how at ease she felt so immediately. She didn't feel like she had to hide.

Marta turned to Fina, "Can I buy you a drink, Señorita?"

She arched one eyebrow and the side of her mouth curled up seductively. Fina blushed and nodded.

She wrapped her arm around Fina's hips, pulling her close to her side and ushered her over to the bar.

"What can I get for you?" the bartender asked as they sat down.

"A glass of Rioja, por favor," Fina said raising her voice above the din of the room. The woman nodded and turned to Marta.

"Cognac, neat."

"Good choice," the bartender replied and set to work readying their drinks.

"Is this your first time here?" she asked, addressing them both. She grabbed the white cloth from her shoulder and wiped the counter in front of them before placing cocktail napkins down.

"Si," they replied in unison which made them both laugh.

"Bueno...welcome!"

The bartender placed Marta's drink in front of her and winked before turning to tend to someone else. Marta suppressed a smile and took a sip. She slid money across the counter and felt Fina eyeing her. Without even looking at her directly, Marta playfully rolled her eyes.

"Stop," she laughed, "she was just being nice."

"We've been here five minutes," Fina muttered taking a swig of her wine and narrowing her eyes.

Marta couldn't help but be amused by Fina's pout. Her passion spilled over into jealousy easily, but Marta often found herself secretly swooning over her fierceness. It may not have been the healthiest emotion, but it did make Marta feel coveted. She wished she could convey to Fina that while the room was full of attractive women, she couldn't care less about any of them. The only one she saw was the pissed-off spitfire in front of her who was now shooting daggers into the back of the bartenders head.

"Mi amor," Marta sighed gently, placing a hand on Fina's leg. Fina's gaze shifted back to Marta and softened a bit.

"Come dance with me?" Marta stood up and offered her hand. Fina reluctantly reached out to grab it and downed the last of her wine. She clunked the glass on the counter and blew air out through her nose before spinning away from the bar.

Marta led her down the steps to the dance floor, holding her drink in one hand and Fina in the other. When they reached the bottom Marta wrapped her free arm around Fina's waist and curled her drink close to her chest between them. Fina rested her forearms on Marta's shoulders, reaching around to cradle the back of her head. Marta leaned in so their foreheads touched. She brushed her nose on Fina's, making her blush and then whispered into Fina's ear,

"You know I only have eyes for you Fina Valero."

Marta gently placed a kiss on Fina's neck. A heat coursed through her body. The rush from kissing Fina surrounded by people like her could not be understated. She had never felt this comfortable with her affection. Not only did she desperately want to be with the person she was with, no one batted an eye. It was completely normal here and therefore completely unremarkable to everyone else in the room. Belonging is a profoundly grounding experience.

Her mind settled into contended silence as the musicians slowly played Besame en la Noche.

"This is how it's supposed to be," Marta thought.

The two swayed easily back and forth until the song ended and the drums picked up. Marta finished her drink and set her glass on an empty table. She raised her now free arm for Fina to rest her hand on and pulled her closer, their bodies flush with each other.

Marta could feel Fina's heart beating against her. She dragged her hand down Fina's waist, letting it ride the curves of her hip. She spun Fina away and then curled her in so Fina's back was up against her body.

With her arms wrapped around her, Marta could feel the softness of Fina's backside curving into her pelvis. Fina tilted her chin down and twisted her head over her shoulder to peer at Marta out of the corner of her eye. She spun herself back around to face Marta and brush a lock of hair from her eyes. They rested their cheeks together and glided around the dance floor for hours in their own little world until Fina kissed Marta hungrily and whispered, "Take me home."