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Presently, Teo stood.  I will leave you for a while to your thoughts. It seems
unimportant at the moment, but I will be having a meeting at two this afternoon with everyone,
to discuss the film. I hope to see you there.
Gregor s face lit up.  You will, he replied. He rose as Teo did, and unexpectedly gave
him a bear hug.  I appreciate all that you ve done for me, and for my family, he said.
 As we say in Spain, no pasa nada, Teo answered.
After he had left, I assumed that Gregor would want to be alone for a while.  I ll be at
my cottage if you need me, I told him gently as we left the table.
He nodded.  Yes, I think I will call my mum. It appears we have a lot to talk about.
I touched his hand, and then stood on tiptoe to give him a kiss.  I have someone to talk
to as well, I said quietly.
Half an hour later, I knocked on Jack s door. He answered it within a few moments,
wearing a t-shirt and shorts. His hair was still damp from the shower.  Hey, he said, his face
lighting up when he saw me.  Come on in.
I went into the room and sat down in a chair. Jack gestured to the coffeepot on the table.
 Want some? I just ordered it.
I shook my head.  No, thanks. Listen, Jack, we need to talk.
He sat down on the edge of his bed. He must have noticed something in my face,
because the light suddenly went out of his eyes.
 What happened to you last night? he asked.  You disappeared and then there was that
huge thunderstorm. Molly said she had no idea where you went. Did you go back to your room?
I tried to call you twice.
I shook my head.  Jack, I said,  I want to tell you before you find out from someone
else. Gregor and I- well, I guess we re back together.
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He looked down for a minute.  So that s where you were last night, he said softly,
picking at the chenille bedspread.  I figured as much. Gregor came and asked for you, and took
off after we said we didn t know where you went.
I pressed my lips together.  We had to- clear some things up. Anyway, it s over with
him and Clara.
Jack sighed, lifting his eyes to meet mine.  So I guess that means ditto for you and me,
huh?
I got up and went over to sit beside him on the bed.  Jack, honestly, you re a great guy,
I said, touching his arm.  You spent all that money to come out and see me, and you took care
of me when I was a drunken mess, and you were a good shoulder to cry on when things were
looking really bad. I paused, trying to save him from hurting. God knows I knew enough about
how it felt.  I want you to know I really appreciate how you ve been there for me.
He seemed to consider this, although I could tell from his face that he was struggling with
his emotions.  You re worth it, he mumbled finally.
I took his hand and held it tightly.  You deserve someone who can love you better than I
ever could, I said.  It wouldn t be fair otherwise.
He thought this over, then nodded.  Maybe someday I ll get as lucky as you are, he said
with a sigh.
 And we can still be friends? I asked hopefully.
He squeezed my hand, then let it go.  I think so, he replied.  Maybe not right now,
today. But I think, someday, we will.
 Good, I said.  Because I ll always need someone to dance with me.
I didn t see Gregor until after lunch, when he stopped by my room and asked if I wanted
to go for a walk on the beach. The sand was warm and soft under our bare feet. The fishing
boats were already far out to sea with their nets.
 What a great life, Gregor commented.  Lolling around in your boat waiting for fish to
come fill your net. I could get used to that.
 Maybe you can do that when you retire, I suggested.
 Not a bad idea.
We held hands and walked along where the waves just lapped against the sand.
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Gregor s face behind his sunglasses was hard to read. I felt so bad for him; surely he d
always held a secret hope that he d meet his father one day. And to find out that he d died so
tragically and so young, without even knowing Gregor existed& it must be hard to take all at
once. I waited to see if he felt like talking about it or just wanted to keep it to himself for now.
Presently he said,  I had a good talk with my mum this morning. She seemed very
relieved that Teo had told me. It explains a lot, you know. About how Teo has always acted
towards me. And how she& how she never wanted to talk about my father. I used to, when I
was younger, you know. I would ask her questions about what he was like. She almost never
answered me. After a while, I stopped asking.
 Children adjust to anything, I murmured.  She probably liked bringing you here,
though. So far away from London and the memories there.
 She hardly ever came to see my plays, Gregor mused.  It must have reminded her too
much of my father, since he may have been on some of the same stages. She never tried to
dissuade me from acting, though. She must have realized it was in my blood.
 Maybe you can read about some of the shows he was in, I remarked.  I m sure there s
old news archives and photos.
 Yes, I would like to try and find out more about him, Gregor agreed.
We walked in silence for a few minutes more. Then Gregor stopped me and pointed
suddenly.
 La Roca de la Madre, he said, in the language that had been a second tongue to him.
 We used to swim out to it, when I would come here. Supposedly it resembles the Virgin Mary
if you look at it from the right angle.
I squinted at the large grey rock jutting from the water, but I could not find the elusive
likeness.  Maybe later we can go up into the village, I suggested.  For dinner. Didn t you say
you used to help bring the day s catch around to the local restaurants?
Gregor s face lit up.  I did. I wonder if any of the old owners are still around. Or their
kids.
 Let s plan on that, I said.  It would be fun.
We turned back and started walking towards the cottages.
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 Who ever would have thought, Gregor mused,  that I d reunite with my true love and
find out the mystery of my father in the space of twelve hours? That s better than any movie you
could ever write, Elise.
I stopped and turned to face him.  Yes, I agreed, cupping his face in my hands. I pulled
him towards me, and before I kissed him, I added,  but maybe I will someday.
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