The Itinerant - Part 2

Madrid 50 years ago…
A young man, formally dressed in a dark suit and hat is walking amongst the stalls of El Rastro, the Sunday market in Madrid. He stops to examine old framed pictures and knick-knacks.
“Señor, mire estos muebles. Son preciosos,” A trader calls out to him.
“Check out this furniture. It’s beautiful.”
He smiles but walks on, eventually stopping at a makeshift coffee and snack bar.
“Chocolate con churros por favor,” he orders in a clearly foreign accent.

The young woman pours him a cup of succulent, thick, hot chocolate and tops it off with a dollop of cream. She places a plate of a steaming hot doughnut-like snack, dipped in sugar next to the cup.
He watches her movements, graceful but fast and efficient as she serves the many customers seated around the stall. Dark ringlets frame her face. She pulls them back and pins them behind her ears every so often. A red and white checkered apron slightly stained with coffee and hot chocolate is cinched around her dainty waist.

He went to this market and to this stall every Sunday for four months before she agreed to his dinner invitation.

2012

After ringing the bell a couple of times, Laura looked at the address in her mobile phone and confirmed that this was the right building.
A woman answered and buzzed her in. She made her way to the old fashioned glass lift and went up to the third floor.

Elena kissed her on both cheeks and let her in.
“How was your flight? Would you like a coffee, a milk coffee, perhaps an afternoon snack?” The questions spilled out one after another.

“Jaime will be back shortly. He is very keen to meet you too.”

“Dolores died two years ago. She often spoke about your father. She never saw him again after he left although he had written a few times at first and sent money and presents for Jaime.”

When Jaime arrived, Laura was struck at the resemblance. He was at least twenty years older than her and yet she could see they shared the same features. That Roman nose, pale complexion, green eyes and wavy, auburn hair.

They left the house together. Elena and Jaime had wanted to accompany her to her father’s favorite place in Madrid. It was a sprawling green park called El Retiro. There, they would scatter some of the ashes in a wooded area.

On the way back, they stopped at the El Rastro market. The sun was setting as they sat down to order chocolate con churros.