Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

by Michele deBes

Hi, what can I get you? he said.

Oh. Is this still the Lorenzo bar? she asked.

Yes it is. And I’m family from across the border. Authentic in everything but the accent. he said.

Well, you look the part, and my Spanish is very old and rusty.

Don’t worry. We have the bar to ourselves, so feel free to order in English. he said.

Just a gin and tonic, thank you.

Oh Sorry, You can talk English but you have to drink Spanish. Our Sangria is famous, or something more exciting ...

I don’t want anything too strong. I have to pace myself. she said.

Are you waiting for someone?

This place is still set up the same. There’s the old piano in the corner. Yes I had a friend I used to meet here years ago. she said

A reunion! What did he drink? and we’ll start with one of those, for old time sakes.

Yes I’d like that. What was it? Yes the tables are still the same. We’d sit there on Sunday afternoons, by the window ...

And the glass in his hand contained ... he said.

Always something alcoholic. I lived around the corner all summer, and we’d come here to meet friends. she said. Don’t rush me, I’ll remember.

It must have been a long time ago. he said.

Don’t be cheeky young man! she said. Now it was a spirit. Something special I drank only with him, and only when we were alone.

Ah, a man with special tastes. he said. There’s spirits all along the top as well.

He did have special tastes. Special books, music, flamenco of course but he loved jazz, loved his clothes, beautiful three piece suits. Everyone looked like gangsters back then. Green, yes, green. she said.

You mean Absinthe.

Yes, that’s the bottle. A couple of glasses and we’d end up talking all night. she said.

Now this is strong. he said

Yes, but I have to have one.

So over sugar madam? We do it the old way, caramelised with a flame.

Yes I remember that. Wonderful. Well you certainly have style. Ole. she said.

I’m studying to be a dancer. Alfredo’s my teacher and one of the owners of the café. I have to work the bar and wait tables to learn how to dance.

Doesn’t sound too bad. I remember Alfredo. The god father we’d call him. she said. You know this place hasn’t changed at all. The little candles, the roses on the tables. Do you still have live music?

On the weekend or whenever anyone drops in, I’m sure the scene is till the same. Here we go. he said.

The colour is electric under these lights ... Yes that’s it. mmm, it tastes strong.

Yes, be warned. Will I leave the bottle out for your friend? he said. Shows you remember?

He’d like that. she said. You know you look like him, a little. When you put on the look for the dance. The eyebrows doing that stern thing. she said

What do you mean, put on the look? That comes naturally to a bartender. he said.

This drink is excellent by the way. You do look like him, something around the eyes and well, the whole Spanish thing you’ve got going.

This mystery man better not leave a pretty lady like you waiting at a bar. he said.

Mind your manners, young man. I’m old enough to be ... out late and drinking Absinthe by myself.

And looking stunning in that black dress. What did you do, when you were here before? Besides being a gangsters moll. he said.

I was working in a theatre, making ugly plays that were going to change the world. she said.

And did you? he asked.

Coming back here, it looks like nothing’s changed and I’ve just moved away.

Well, I’m here for the first time, and I’m glad nothings changed. Some things should never change. Like all this family history. It’s our culture.

I’ll drink to that. she said. You sound just like him, except for the accent of course. I can still see him sitting over there, arguing with his friends in loud Spanish, till I thought they were going to kill each other, and they’d end up laughing anyway.

How did you meet? he asked.

He was an angry young journalist when I met him, a local and very beautiful, very passionate and dedicated. He’d come to see one of my plays... I think we even came back here that first night.

And you fell madly in love.

Of course. she said.

And its been a long time? he asked.

Yes, too long.

Well you couldn’t have picked a more romantic place for a reunion, and you look stunning. Those ear rings are flashing at me. he said.

Oh Thankyou. He sent them to me years ago. He said they reminded him of my eyes. I’ve just been to dinner with friends. she said.

A late night meeting, very romantic. he said.

We’d often meet around this time, after the theatre closed. she said.

Can I get you another?

That one certainly gave the world a rosy glow. she said. Yes, why not. There used to be musicians in the dark corner over there, and dancers in the centre.

Come Saturday night if you want to see some real dancing. he said.

No I’m flying out tomorrow. she said.

Your last night? So this is your last chance to meet him? ... Don’t worry, he’ll come. I shouldn’t spook you like this. I’ll just get a glass. This one is going to be better. Alfredo says its all in the timing. There, better take that one slowly.

Thankyou ... yes that’s got it. More sugary.

I better clean up a bit. Keep going. he said.

Paulo kept a bottle in his room for his writing. He said it put curves on all the sharp edges.

Paulo? he said.

Yes Paulo Rivera. I was in his first book. It’s very old now, but he wrote more later.

I ... I read it at Uni. he said.

Oh no. What did you think? she asked.

It was a while ago. I liked it. I remember your character. Then you must be ... Rachel. Wow.

Yes, hard to believe I know.

No not at all, I believe it. he said. I’ve seen old photos of you. I’m Marcos del Mara, Paulo was my uncle. That’s why every one’ s in town. They’re having a party for the event.

I knew there was something in your face. she said. Come back over here into the light.

Then you must know ... he said.

Your eyes, you’re mouth when your serious ...

I ... don’t think he will be coming tonight. he said.

Perhaps not dear. Can you make me another, a small one for the road? she said.

Sure ... I think I’ll have one too. So ... you knew my uncle. he said.

You do look like him. she said. I noticed as soon as I came in, but I thought it was just this place. You have that special look.

Do you think so. I would’ve liked to have met him. There we go. he said.

Perfect. she said. Just perfect.

Yes ... I think I’ve got the touch. I drink them with Alfredo sometimes, but he always makes them.

So they’ve got Francesca’s little boy working the bar. And a talented dancer, she must be so proud of you.

Yes, the wayward boy returns to the fold ... and so you are THE Rachel ... you haven’t changed at all. There was this one photo of you smoking at the bar. You were very mysterious, your eyes were in shadow and looked dark, and your blonde hair was shining in the candlelight. You looked so exotic among the Spanish men. No wonder he fell in love with you.

You’re so charming, like all the Rivera boys.

And you must have seen my uncles, when they were at their dancing prime. It’s a shame we didn’t know you were coming. We could’ve organised something.

With me? The evil foreign woman? I don’t think so Marcos. They weren’t just dancers. You’ve read the book. I was going to cruise in and out unrecognised but you are too clever for me. No, I prefer it like this, with you. You’re so much like your mother, Francesca. She was very kind to me. she said.

Did you see her dance? he asked.

Oh yes, she was beautiful, a spectacular dancer, moved like a tiger. You’re the same, but she was a little bit frightening as I recall. she said.

She still is. She still talks about him. Uncle Paulo, the one I never met.

You must have seen photos of him. He was beautiful like your mother.

Yes I was very impressed. I wanted to be a revolutionary too when I was a boy.

You both look like that old grandfather, Pablo, dark and dangerous. He wanted Paulo to be a dancer.

The great Pablo del Mara. He was my hero.

And Paulo’s too.

I was only three and not really old enough to understand when ...

No. she interrupted. No not that story.

Sorry ...

Well, I think I should go now, but thankyou, you’ve been good company. Here’s my card, I’d be happy to tell you more about him some other time. Perhaps we could write.

You’re going? We don’t have to talk about it. he said.

No, I really should go. I ... It’s just that ... Ah dear Marcos, I don’t think I can look at your lovely face much longer. she said.

I’m sorry I’ve made you sad. Don’t go. he said.

Don’t be sorry, you’ve made me very happy tonight. And here, for the drinks. she said.

No, it’s on the house. Have another, well, not one of those, you won’t be able to walk.

Yes, everything is slowly sliding backwards through time. I should go. I remember now. We often met much later, back at his hotel. He might be waiting there.

How will you get there. Can I call a cab? he asked.

The chauffeur dear. she said.

Ah travelling in style. Well it was an honour to meet you.

Stop that, you make me feel ancient. she said.

I’ll write too and you can send letters to the cafe, and here, take the bottle. he said.

Thankyou Marcos, so much, you are a treasure. He’ll love this. she said.

You can both have one for me. he said.

We will.