Renaldo (112 page)

Mallory Russell spontaneously leaned over and hugged her new center halfback,

giving him a peck on the cheek. Her act made the recipient blush slightly, but

Renaldo had no time to feel self-conscious. He was jostled vigorously by an

exuberant Ramon Vida once Stoltz had finished translating his new Canary

teammate’s response. Astor Gordero offered his hardy congratulations, as did

a more subdued Wolfgang Stoltz. The German then produced two sets of

documents for signature from his portfolio.

‘The Great Facilitator’ presided over the official signing of the contracts

as notary and witness, then called for a bottle of Dom Pérignon and the dessert

menu to top off the closing of the deal.

When all the food and beverage had been consumed and it was time to

part company, Renaldo still had not devoured his fill of the enchanting blonde

creature. He wanted to sit right where he was and have her continue relating

the funny little stories of her native land. She had become much more outgoing

and at ease after his acceptance of their offer to join them in England. Was

she flirting with him? Did he sense an interest that had nothing to do with

football?

There was no way of knowing for sure, for Mallory reverted to her ‘all

business’ demeanor as she and the new Canary Wharf center halfback shook

hands discreetly when everyone at the table rose to part company.

“Gentlemen, we will see you in London!” Sir Reggie proclaimed proudly.

“My daughter and I will work out all the finer details with Señor Gordero, who

will then inform you of your departure date. Mallory will be at Heathrow to

meet your plane on arrival and speed your entry through customs. Good luck

until then and rest assured that neither of you will ever regret the decision that

you have made here this afternoon!”

“Oh, man, did you get a load of that blonde piece of fluff in there? I took

one look at her and decided that England was for me! And that one works all

day in a man’s business world. I wonder what the real English women look like,

you know the ones that stay at home and pamper themselves so that they look

really sexy in the clubs at night. I know I’m going to like London! I can feel it

in my bone!”

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RENALDO

Ramon Vida grasped the visible bulge in his trousers as he and Renaldo

made their way back to the Hotel Presidente in the rear of Astor Gordero’s

limousine. Renaldo tried not to show the offense he took at his friend’s slight

of the lady.

“She was a very beautiful woman, and I think that there is probably more

upstairs than ‘fluff,’ Ramon.” Renaldo pointed to his head. “After all, for a lady

to be a football executive in any country is something I have never heard of

before. She would have to have a very sharp mind and thick skin to handle all

the prejudice she must encounter.”

“Not to mention great tits and long legs!” Ramon was doubled over in

laughter at his irreverence. The champagne had topped him up, and he was

ready to ‘party on’ back at the hotel.

The traffic was still barely moving twenty-four hours after the opening

kickoff of the championship game. Nobody wanted to stop partying, and new

revellers were arriving in the capital by the minute from the hinterlands around

Buenos Aires to act as reinforcements for those too inebriated or hungover to

carry on.

At last, the Mercedes pulled up to the rear entrance of the Hotel Presidente.

The two National Team players thanked the chauffeur, then Ramon made his

way for the staff entrance door.

“Hey, man, come on. You shouldn’t stand out here too long. If someone

recognizes you, you’ll be mobbed.”

“That’s OK, Ramon. You go ahead. I’ll talk to you later. There is something

that I have to do now, so don’t worry about me. I’ll be alright. Go on. I’m sure

that Estes must be exhausted by now. Go and rescue him. I will call your room

when I get back.”

“As you wish, my friend, but be careful out here. The streets are crazy. I

don’t want to lose my new English teammate, old chap!”

Renaldo waved reassuringly as Ramon disappeared through the doorway.

He then walked briskly to the corner and hailed the first cab that he spotted.

“Avenida Arenales, near Calle Austria in Palermo, please, driver.”

The trip to Casa San Marco took over forty minutes, but at least they

were traveling away from the influx of celebrants that continued to flock to the

downtown core. The cabbie paid little attention to his passenger, preferring

instead to concentrate on the erratic traffic habits of his fellow drivers.

In due course, Renaldo was standing outside the wrought iron gates of

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JAMES McCREATH

the mansion in which he had grown up. Once past them, a ring of the doorbell

brought the familiar shuffling sound from within, then Oli’s squinting face at

the security grate.

“Señor Renaldo! Mother of Jesus, is that really you? Olarti, come quickly.

Señor Renaldo is home!”

The door swung back on its giant hinges as the little native lady flew

into the outstretched arms of the returning hero. Olarti was with them only a

few moments later, the three doing an impromptu dance of joy in the entrance

foyer.

“It is so good to have you home again, Señor Renaldo. How is the foot?

Oli and I watched every game that you played in! It didn’t seem to bother you,

at least not from what we could tell on the television.” The man servant was

beaming from ear to ear, as if he was the boy’s personal therapist.

“It held up just fine, Olarti, thanks to you! Without your help, I probably

never would have made it back to the team at all! I am deeply grateful, my old

friend.”

There was a flurry of questions directed at the new arrival, all of which

Renaldo took the time to patiently answer.

“Should I stock the refrigerator with all your favorites, Señor Renaldo?

Are you home for good now?” Oli wanted to hear an affirmative response, and

the disappointment was evident on her weathered face when she received only

a vague reply.

“I cannot say right at the moment, dear Oli. I have to talk to my mother

first. Is she here right now?”

“Of course, Señor. She would not dare to venture out in this insanity.

The streets are filled with drunken hooligans and madmen. And the noise! I

could not sleep a wink last night for all the honking horns going by the house.

Here in Palermo! It’s unheard of. Your mother had a tough night as well. She

is resting in her room.”

“Thanks, Oli. Coming home is always special because I know that I have

friends like the two of you here to greet me.”

With that, he took leave of the elderly couple and ascended the circular

staircase. He stood outside his mother’s bedroom door, took a deep breath, then

knocked ever so gently in case she was asleep.

“Come!” Her voice was strong and clear. Renaldo pushed down the brass

lever and stepped inside.

“My eyes are playing tricks on me. Is that really you? All dressed up in

your finest suit, looking so handsome. Whoever has been looking after you has

been doing an excellent job! Come here, my son!”

Florencia De Seta arose from her bed and held her arms out to embrace

her youngest. Renaldo was more than relieved at her warm reaction to his

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unscheduled visit. He only hoped that she would remain so affectionate after he

divulged the true purpose of his visit to Casa San Marco.

“I have missed you, mother. You look even lovelier than I could have

imagined. How have you been? Is everything alright with you?”

She was still stunningly beautiful, her figure full and shapely, her

complexion unblemished and ageless. There was not a hint of grey in her long

black locks, which at this moment fell straight to well below her shoulders. Her

maroon robe complimented the color scheme of the room.

“I am fine, just fine. All this football nonsense has made me feel like a

prisoner in my own home, however. But I must admit that I did break down and

watch you play on television yesterday afternoon. That was quite a concession

for an old lady like me. It would seem that you are some sort of national hero

after your recent exploits. At least you weren’t crippled. The kind of shape that

you arrived home in from Montevideo last month, why I thought you would

never walk without crutches again. You should say one hundred Hail Marys to

show your gratitude!”

Renaldo smiled warmly as he led the lady back to her bed. Mother and

son sat there together, hands entwined, while they caught up on each other’s

lives. Florencia seemed much more at ease and contented than her son had seen

her in a long time. When he related this matter-of-factly, she was quick to put

forth the reason.

“My new outlook on life has been brought about by the continued attention

of a certain gentleman, Renaldo. The same gentleman that we dined with on

your birthday, Herr Wolfgang Stoltz.”

The warm smile and the sparkle in his mother’s eyes left no doubt in his

mind as to the truth of the lady’s statement.

“You see, Renaldo, I was paid a visit by Astor Gordero shortly after you

decided to let him handle your football career. A very knowledgeable and

persuasive man, that Señor Gordero. In any event, our discussions got around

to the family business concerns, and certain problems that I was having with

your grandfather’s executors. Our initial meeting led to several others, all of

them attended by Herr Stoltz. To make a long story short, he asked me out

socially, and I accepted.”

Florencia bowed her head, then raised it with a slight look of regret and

uncertainty replacing the previous effervescence.

“You know, my dear Renaldo, I have never looked at another man

romantically since your blessed father passed away. But I found myself all

alone, with you away playing football, and your brother traveling the land with

that communist woman. I wanted a life with some personal fulfillment and

happiness in it for a change, in a way that only a man can give to a lonely

woman. One day perhaps you will understand my longing.”

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JAMES McCREATH

Her eyes seemed to be pleading with her youngest son for acceptance and

empathy as he listened intently to her every word.

“I had done all that I could do to raise you boys to the best of my ability,

but regardless of my feelings, you both went off and made your own decisions

about the paths you chose to follow. Letting you go was difficult for me,

Renaldo. I was very bitter for a time, but I know now that you had to act as

your heart dictated. Herr Stoltz made me realize that you and your brother are

not children anymore. That you have to spread your wings and find your true

identities. Neither of you can continue to live under the shadow of my skirts a

minute longer without hating me forever, nor would I wish such a thing to tear

us apart. No, you must lead your own life, dear son. That is why you have come

here today, to tell me that you have decided to go to England and continue on

with your football career. Is that not so?”

The young man was dumbfounded. Female intuition was something he

had only read about in magazines, but this, this was almost psychic.

“Mama, you shock me with your clairvoyance. It is true, I have just signed

a contract to play in London for two years. It is for a lot of money, but more

importantly, they have promised to secure me an exchange student’s placement

in a medical course at the University of London. I will be able to continue

my studies at a world-recognized institution, as well as play football. For me

though, the best thing is that I will be going overseas with my closest friend

from the National Team, Ramon Vida. So I won’t be alone, which should ease

your mind a lot.”

The Señora did have an air of acceptance about her, a warmth in her smile

that was a far cry from the hostile barrier she would erect whenever her son had

mentioned the word ‘football’ in the past. Relieved, the young man continued

to supply the relevant information.