Audrey liked Gaitano. She was able to talk about herself knowing that he knew nothing about the place she came from and that everything she said would remain within the boundaries of the estancia. He was fully aware that he was harbouring two illicit lovers and yet he never alluded to their affair other than to gaze upon them with empathy as if living love through them, because he had never loved like that, not even in his youth. She noticed that if he wasn’t watching her lips he missed what she said, so she took care to wait until he had focused his penetrating old eyes on her face before speaking and then she would see his expression soften and his head tilt to one side and he would give her his full attention, his lips curling at the corners with affection. It was a liberation to sit with Louis and enjoy his little gestures of devotion in the open without shame. The way he would gently touch her hand, or sweep back the long springs of hair that would occasionally fall forward and cover her face. He did it naturally, seemingly without thinking, yet she knew he was just as conscious of every moment of contact as she was, because his hands burned her skin and caused it to prickle with excitement.
After lunch Gaitano disappeared inside for a siesta. Audrey suddenly looked embarrassed, as if she didn’t know what to do with her hands or her eyes. The afternoon lay before them, long empty hours, and they were now alone. Louis sensed her unease and understood. He threaded his fingers through hers. ‘Let’s go and swim, lie by the pool and sleep in the sunshine. We have the whole day and I don’t want you to waste a moment of it by feeling awkward.’ Audrey nodded, grateful that she didn’t have to explain that she would feel uncomfortable taking their relationship any further in someone else’s house, however understanding he was. She wanted him to make love to her. But not here. Once more she searched his eyes, silently asking him how he came to understand her so well, but they just twinkled back at her, hiding their troubled depths behind a sheen of happiness.
They lay entwined on the grass beside the pool that was green with algae and crumbling around the edges where once there had been neatly laid paving stones. Half overshadowed by trees and shrubs it lay neglected and forgotten for Gaitano was now too old to want to use it and only the children of the gauchos came there to play when the heat became too much. A large gardenia bush unfolded its petals to the sun and filled the air with its rich perfume while bees hummed quietly among the flowers in search of pollen to work into honey which El Chino’s son, Gonzalo, collected. Audrey and Louis swam in the murky water to cool off and then chatted softly until they fell asleep in the sunshine. Their sleep was gentle and contented and when they awoke to find each other and the lengthening evening shadows they were once more filled with melancholia and the realization that the day was now draining away and they would have to return home. As much as they tried to hold onto it the sun hovered behind the trees and the air grew cooler.
Costanza had laid tea out on the terrace and Gaitano had emerged from his siesta. He noticed their solemn mood immediately for having lost a sense he had gained another, finer one. Knowing Louis as he did and understanding Audrey he suggested they bring their teacups into the house. ‘I have something to show you,’ he said. They followed him into the dark interior of the sitting room, blinking in order to adjust their eyes to the darkness. The room smelt of mothballs and age and was lined with rows of bookshelves. But both Audrey and Louis noticed the piano almost hidden beneath piles of papers. ‘This belonged to my wife,’ said Gaitano, gesticulating to it. ‘My children didn’t want it. Will you play for me?’ Audrey frowned at Louis, because of course Gaitano couldn’t hear. As if sensing her bewilderment Gaitano placed his hand on his chest and smiled at her wistfully. ‘I hear with my heart, Audrey. With my heart.’ And he sat down expectantly.
Louis didn’t hesitate. He pulled up a chair for the stool was too small for both of them and then he began to play. Gaitano threw his head back and chuckled as if he recognized the tune. Audrey sat down and placed her hands on the keys. Louis nodded to her, his face suddenly alive with enthusiasm. She took a deep breath because the last time she had played their tune her heart had been filled with concrete. Now she played it with joy and sadness together because it represented love condemned to the shadows.
Gaitano watched them with glistening eyes. How he longed to hear with his ears but all he had was his heart and that was now failing him too, little by little each day. When it was time for Audrey and Louis to leave he too looked sad and he embraced them as if they were his own children. ‘Please come back,’ he implored them. ‘Whenever you like. I’m always here.’ They said they would and they meant it. La Magdalena was a refuge from their own suffocating world and they longed to return.