48: Pineapple and Chocolate

Marta felt the situation slipping out of control and raised her hands.
"I'm not asking for advice — we're simply sharing the news because you're our family." Her gaze commanded both respect and affection, and it silenced them.
A waitress brought a dessert trolley with two black containers on the lower shelf. She swapped the empty plates for desserts, placing them in front of each diner one by one.
They were now alone in the hotel restaurant.
"I want a grandchild to inherit GODANE!"
"And I want this woman — with or without a pregnancy — even if this reality can't leave this table."
Melisa, who had been watching everything from a sort of gallery seat, sat forward slightly, mildly put out by the sudden change of tone.
"Mario, what reality are you talking about?"
Everyone turned to look at her.
"The fact that Marta is married to my father and not to me." He answered.
"Then let them divorce — I don't see what the big problem is!" For her it was fairly straightforward. "I don't think your father would object at this point."
"It's not that simple with the clause I added."
Marta sat down, and everyone looked at Mario with expectation. Though it was Manuel who spoke.
"Do you really think I would have agreed to something so unfair — knowing that either of us, in a moment of weakness, could lose the work of our entire lives?"
Mario crumpled into his chair. Everyone was looking at him. Even the restaurant's chef, who was approaching to ask a question — along with the hotel director and his bodyguard, drawn by family instinct — had to stop halfway across the room.
"You made me believe you had put it in."
"I loved that you wanted to protect me in that visceral way, Mario — I didn't want to disappoint you!"
The young man was immediately annoyed. He took Marta's hand.
"And her?"
"What about her?"
Marta pulled at the hand he was holding.
"What about me?"
"Didn't you think he'd tell her?"
"She could always have asked — after all, she married me." Manuel shrugged.
"You're a very good man, Manuel—" Marta stepped in, also kissing the hand of her blockhead, calming him "—and I hope you find happiness with Felisa."
"Hold on, Mum!" Julián struck the table as he leaned on his elbows. "GODANE is a limited company! Why are you acting like it's goodbye? Start a friendly divorce and you'd still own the company together!"
That clarification relaxed the two bosses, who suddenly felt lighter.
The hotel staff, with their entourage, were finally able to approach. Once everything had been made clear.
Lope noticed the test on the table and congratulated his cousin.
"Now that I've been able to find you again after so long apart—" Mario began, putting his arms around Lope "—I'd love to celebrate with Bruno too."
"We'll try together, cousin. Congratulations on the news."
"Thank you."
Melisa stood up, nearly walking into the chef, to go over to the bodyguard. She measured the difference in height and went back to her seat.
"Excuse me, miss—" the wall of a man replied, completely flushed "—instead of invading someone's personal space like that, why not do what everyone else does and give me your number — or ask for mine?"
Melisa got up from the table in complete silence and went over to him again. They stepped aside to exchange numbers.
"Did you enjoy the dinner?"
The chef's voice — soft but even firmer, like a polished floor — made them turn.
"Everything was delicious, Chef Libertad. Is there real pineapple in the dessert?" He set his spoon on the chocolate residue of his plate.
"And pine nuts!" She looked at his hands and noticed the test on the table. "Congratulations, parents!"
Libertad arrived and departed in the same breath.
Mario noticed that Manuel seemed uncomfortable — and watching the chef walk away from behind, the déjà vu hit him again. He ran after her and caught her attention.
"Thank you, Lili — for showing Lope and me, eighteen years ago, that maturity has nothing to do with age."
"My name isn't Lili — it's Libertad!" She was offended, despite flushing. "For God's sake with that nickname!"
She headed back to the kitchen practically steaming from the ears, like something out of a cartoon.
When Mario returned to the table, he caught a flicker of doubt on his cousin's face — quickly hidden beneath a smile.
Lope made a gesture to the sommelier. The slight man came over with the wine list.
"I'm going to treat you to the best wine from my private cellar." Lope turned to Marta and smiled at her. "And for the happy mother — the finest grape juice on the whole menu!"
Lope joined the celebration, which stretched on until nearly two in the morning. All the restaurant staff were sent to rest — except the chef, who chose to stay and watch from the kitchen doorway.
Lope asked Mario's permission to include her in the invitation, which he readily gave — but Libertad herself declined.
It wasn't until the bodyguard went over to persuade her that the woman finally came across.
That gesture made Melisa, far from feeling jealous, genuinely interested in the quiet complicity between the staff of a Lope who was clearly showing a jealousy he had no intention of admitting.
When it was well past two and almost three, the celebration of announcing a new life was ready to rest.
They drifted towards their cars. Felisa was on Manuel's arm, whispering something in his ear that made him laugh. Julián was disagreeing with Liliana about something involving inviting her to Asian food. Lorena, with her characteristic composure, had allowed herself a faint smile when Hugo offered to drive her home.
Melisa stood looking at the five people remaining at the restaurant's outer door.
"Mum — I think Dad would have liked Mario."
Marta was surprised. Mario pulled her close and looked away with bashful resignation.
"Well then." He said quietly.
"That's a good thing!" Marta took his face in her hands and kissed him. "I love your tenderness — even though I've never told you so!"
Marta kissed him again — and Melisa, one foot in and one foot out of her car, applauded.
"I was witness to Mum and her boyfriend's first kiss, and Julián is not taking that from me!" She got into her electric car and started it. "Yes!"
She headed down the Paseo de la Castellana going south.
Marta couldn't help laughing — that contagious laugh she had always been so afraid to show, and which he had taught her not to hold back.
Lope and Mauro laughed next, caught in the wave of hers. Libertad, with an ironic expression, crossed her arms and went back into the restaurant.
Mario laughed quietly, and everyone made their way to the underground car park beneath the hotel.
"Libertad — are you coming?" Lope said, with genuine warmth.
She accepted without a word and got into the car with Lope and Mauro.
Marta and Mario each got into their own car, heading north, ready to carry on with their life, their art, and their now openly declared relationship.
THE END