Holding You, Holding Me. Marta & Fina. Mafin

14. No light without dark

How was your weekend?" Isidro asked, taking a bite of his dinner.

"Good," Fina answered flatly.

"How is Doña Marta?

"She's good."

"And how are you?"

"Good."

"A woman of many words today, I see," Isidro joked.

Fina rubbed her forehead trying to focus. "Sorry, I'm just a little preoccupied." She found herself again at the De la Reina's kitchen table. They were late getting back from Madrid so Marta brought her to the house knowing Isidro could take her home. Her mind was still spinning from Marta's proposal and she wasn't sure how to navigate the conversation while withholding such a big secret.

Isidro wiped his mouth and leaned back, eyeing her. "Is everything okay?"

"Si, si," Fina lied.

"Are you sure?"

"...Yea." She was not a good liar.

"Did something happen with Marta?"

She snapped back to the moment, making frantic eye contact then tucking her hair behind her ear trying to act as casual as she could.

"...No?"

Isidro huffed and cleared his plate. He got up from the table, looking over his shoulder to say, "She better not break your heart, my girl."

Fina swiveled around in her chair, her heart racing. Had she heard him correctly?

Isidro turned on the faucet and began washing his plate. "I don't care if she is a De la Reina. I'm not above holding a grudge."

Fina closed her eyes and shook her head in disbelief. Despite the obvious signs, she still wasn't sure if he meant what she thought he did. "Dad, what are you talking about?"

"Bueno, she is your sweetheart, si?"

Her face flushed and her mouth went dry. She was at a loss for words. Where was this coming from?

"I see how you look at each other. I may be old but I'm not stupid, Fina," Isidro chuckled.

Not seeing a way out, or really a reason to find one, Fina managed, "How long have you know?"

"I guess I didn't until right now, but I've suspected for some time. I've been trying to hint at it but you haven't taken the bait. I'm getting too old to wait around for you to tell me though." He laughed at himself and returned to his chair, getting serious again. "Now, tell me what's going on. Is she not treating you well?"

"Oh no, it's nothing like that," Fina assured. "She is...truly lovely, really." She didn't realize how relieved she would feel being able to talk to her father about Marta. She felt a lightness in her soul though it was muddied a bit by this subject in particular.

"Then why do you seem so down, cariño?" Isidro asked gently.

Fina hadn't wanted to get into all of her doubts with him yet, especially because he was what a lot of them hinged on. But on the other hand, she was going to have to talk to him about it eventually. She sighed resignedly.

"She's asked me to move with her. To Paris."

"Ah, I see." Isidro contemplated. Fina couldn't tell what he was thinking and worried it was because he was hiding his disappointment. "That is quite a change. Do you want to go?"

"I don't know," she answered honestly. "I mean, I do...but I don't want to leave you." She stretched out her hand across the table to hold Isidro's and felt her chest ache with borrowed grief.