Holding You, Holding Me. Marta & Fina. Mafin

10. Torn

Fina sat in the de la Reina's kitchen like she had so many nights growing up. Isidro had brought his plate to the sink and was cleaning up from the late dinner Fina had made him. He called out to her,

"It sounds like you've been helping doña Marta a lot at the shop?"

Fina smothered a laugh. That was one way of putting what she was doing with Marta but she settled for a simple,

"It's been busy."

"Busy is good," Isidro shouted over the faucet. The water turned off and he returned to the table wiping his hands on a towel. "You've been traveling a lot with her too, si?"

Fina nodded, "Si, lots of new displays to look at."

She made a mental note to come up with new excuses soon. There were only so many perfume shops in Spain. Isidro sat down and used the towel to wipe the table in front of him.

"I'm glad you're getting to see more of the country. I wish I had been able to take you places when you were a girl."

"Hey, we went...some places!" Fina poked lovingly.

"Si si, pero I'm sure you're staying in nicer hotels than we did." They laughed at the truth in his words.

The door to where they were sitting swung open and Marta walked in. Fina felt her cheeks flush.

"Buenas noches Isidro. Fina." Marta smiled casually and walked past them to the kitchen.

Being in the house where she grew up admiring Marta from afar made her even more susceptible to her easy charm. When she was there it felt absolutely unreal that she got to kiss Marta de la Reina. She might as well have been Sophia Loren with the way Fina had secretly swooned over her when they were younger. She was constantly having to pinch herself over the fact that things were turning out the way they were.

"Buenas noches doña Marta, we were just talking about you," Isidro commented.

"Oh? Only good things I hope," Marta joked, putting the kettle on the stove.

"Oh yes, always good things about you. Fina's said the shop has been busy?"

"Yes, and busy is good," Marta replied.

Isidro nudged Fina pleased with himself. He was such a dad.

Marta retrieved a teacup from the cupboard. "I'm just making myself an infusion before I go to bed, would either of you like one?" she asked, giving Fina a subtle nod.

Isidro gathered himself and stood up. "No gracias doña Marta. I better be heading to bed myself." He kissed the top of Fina's head. "Buenas noches girls, don't go getting into trouble now." He winked at Fina and left the kitchen.

Fina tilted her head and turned to Marta.

"'Don't get into trouble?'" she whispered, repeating Isidro.

Marta covered her mouth to keep from laughing. "Yo no se, I think he was just kidding around."

Fina paused a moment. The way he winked at her felt kind of unusual but Marta was probably right, she was just overthinking it. She shook her head and shifted her focus. She stood up, crossing to Marta.

"What a coincidence seeing you here," she flirted.

"Well, not exactly. I do live here," Marta teased. Fina giggled and put her hand on the counter next to Marta's, touching their fingertips together.

Fina inched towards Marta to speak in a more hushed voice. "Bueno, I'm glad you happened to come in while I was here at least." They hadn't seen each other since returning from Madrid and Fina was aching to be close to her again.