The Game Is Afoot
As they finalized their plans, a swell of hope surged within him. They walked back toward the resort, Sharla’s laughter bubbling softly, a melodic counterpoint to the chaotic thoughts swirling in his head.
But the closer they drew to the main building, the more Javier’s anxiety crept back into his chest. The reality of their situation lingered like a shadow, and the thought of potentially balancing two lives pushed against his resolve.
“Just remember,” he said as they reached the entrance of the resort, his voice low and serious, “once we step back into our realities, we need to keep our masks on. Maria can sense weakness—it’s her gift.”
Sharla nodded, the exuberance dulled with the weight of his caution. “Of course, I’ll be as charming as ever. We should text throughout the day, treat it as a warm-up to the real plan.”
Javier wanted to remind her that charm could only go so far; emotions were unpredictable and often hard to read. Yet he held his tongue, squashing the unease that his thoughts threatened to unleash.
With a final lingering glance, Sharla whispered, “See you later.” He watched her as she vanished into the crowd of vacationers, the excitement of what lay ahead battling the impending pressure of their truth.
Javier returned to his room, his mind ablaze with newfound plans yet churning with worry. He forced himself to flash a jovial smile at Maria as she still read on the balcony, completely unaware of the turmoil raging within him.
“Hey! You’re back already?” Maria greeted him with a bright smile, placing her magazine down and leaning forward, inviting conversation.
“Yeah, I just needed some fresh air,” Javier replied, his voice steady but the tightness around his heart still pulsing insistently. “Are the kids doing okay?”
“Oh, they’re great! They want to go swimming again later. I thought we could all go together as a family,” she said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
“Sounds good,” he said, forcing a smile that felt more like a mask than genuine emotion. “I’ll join you both after I freshen up.”
“Perfect! I’ll see if I can find them,” she responded, hopping to her feet with a cheerful bounce before disappearing indoors.
As he watched her go, Javier’s heart sank. Here was the woman who had been his partner in life, trying her best to keep their family afloat while he was plunging headlong into disillusionment. Rickety bridges were forming behind him, and he couldn’t help but feel the cracks developing under his feet.
He spent the next hour pacing the room, going through the motions of fatherhood while pretending that the image of Sharla by the ocean hadn’t invaded every corner of his thoughts. When he finally stepped out to meet his family at the pool, the tension was palpable in the air. They splashed around in joyful abandon, oblivious to the storm churning in the depths of his own heart.
“Dad! Come on!” Lucas hollered, splashing waves of water toward him like a childish invitation to join the fun.
Javier smiled, jumping into the pool to join his children, momentarily surrendering to the laughter and warmth of the sun. Yet as the hours trickled by, fleeting moments with his family were drowned in thoughts of Sharla, her laughter echoing in his mind like a siren’s song. Each splash they made felt like a reminder of the growing chasm between who he was and who he wanted to be.