It was an ordinary day, one of those winter days when the cold gets into your bones, and the overcast sky seemed to invite you to stay at home. A Night of Intrigue at Mas Torrencito: The Secret Meeting that Changed Everything
I was in the kitchen, minding my own business, when the ringing of the phone broke the stillness of the morning. I answered without much expectation. It was an unfamiliar voice, polite and serious in tone.
-Well, I wanted to ask about the availability of your house to rent it in its entirety,” said the man without further ado.
Surprised, I smiled at the idea of a full rental; it didn’t happen often, let alone in February.
-Of course,” he replied enthusiastically, “when would they need it?
-Maybe today,” replied the man, as if he didn’t want to waste time. Is the house well insulated?
That question puzzled me a bit, but he answered calmly.
-Yes, very isolated. We are in the middle of the countryside, and the property is completely fenced. No one comes here without an invitation.
There was a brief silence, and then the voice continued in an inquisitive, almost paranoid tone.
-And do you have neighbors nearby?
-No, no one for miles around,” he said, beginning to feel slightly uncomfortable. Who would want that much privacy?
And more questions… A Night of Intrigue at Mas Torrencito: The Secret Meeting That Changed Everything
The questions continued. If there were dogs, if anyone ever came in unannounced, if I often walked by there myself. When I suggested he look at the web to see pictures of the house and get an idea, he seemed to calm down a bit.
-Yes, we’ll look at the site and let you know in a rat,” he replied. Oh, and by the way, there won’t be a problem with dogs, will there?
Let out a short laugh.
-Not at all. There are four of them, and all they will do is ask for cuddles,” he assured her.
-Perfect. We’ll talk to you shortly then.
When we hung up, I went back to my chores with some curiosity. He struck me as a somewhat… peculiar customer. For some reason, my mind wandered, and in the background, the television continued its monotonous chatter. These were complicated times here in Catalonia, the Process was at its peak, and I, who considered myself a supporter of Puigdemont, couldn’t help but wonder what it would all end up in. The thought of people ending up in jail for voting again made me indignant; it seemed senseless. But I put those thoughts aside and went back to my day-to-day life.
Not long after, the phone rang again. I looked at the screen: it was the same number as before.
-He answered, recognizing her voice immediately.
-It’s me, what you called before. We have decided to let the house. We are very interested in privacy.
He heard a wave of relief. It would be a good sum, especially in a season when few reserves appeared. February was not usually a washout month.
-Perfect! -He replied, “When would you need it and for how many days?
-Tonight, if possible. We would stay until the day after tomorrow. Is there a problem?
-No one, of course. -I smiled, satisfied. Just tell me what you need, bed and breakfast, lunches, dinners…
-Everything, we want everything included. Oh, and that no one comes to the house. We want to be completely alone so that we can discuss certain issues away from the hustle and bustle. Is that possible?
-Don’t worry, not a single person will come in,” he assured him. If necessary, I’ll take care of everything myself without bothering them.
The man seemed satisfied.
-Perfect. How do I pay you? Bizum, wire transfer?
-The first thing I need to know is how many people will be there, to prepare everything.
-Hmm… How many rooms do you have? -he asked in a vague tone, as if he still didn’t know the exact details.
-New in total: four doubles, four triples and one suite. -I listened to him calculate silently, somewhat hesitantly.
-All right, get them all ready. I don’t know how many are going to sleep over in the end.
He agreed without further questions and I told him the price, 140 euros per room, full board, free access to the facilities. He gave me a number for the reservation: Joan Miquel Figueres. We hung up, and I immediately set off to get everything ready. I called Meme to be ready for lunches and dinners, lit the fireplaces, and checked each room to make sure they were spotless. In a little while, she received the notification of a bizum: 3,780 euros. I was shocked; I had never received such a large amount all at once, let alone through bizum. It seemed almost unreal, but there it was, in my account.
The first guests. A Night of Intrigue at Mas Torrencito: The Secret Meeting that Changed Everything.
It was about seven o’clock in the evening and, right on time, a car appeared at the entrance. A man got out of the car, impeccably dressed and with an elegant bearing. As he approached, he introduced himself in a firm voice:
-Joan Miquel, a pleasure. Thank you for welcoming us in your home.
He led me to the entrance, and I started to show him the house. He seemed very pleased with every detail, and as we reached the chill out, Lluis Llach’s “Canción de Libertad” was playing in the background. I recognized it instantly and he smiled with a certain nostalgia.
-Oh, Llach… do you like it? -he asked me.
-Yes, very much so. Llach has always been the soundtrack of our history here,” he answered sincerely, feeling the same nostalgia.
-He has that ability to connect with what we all feel… Although now it seems that they want to make us forget what’s important, right?
I nodded silently, and we both stared at the landscape, immense and free under the sky that was beginning to darken. After a while of silence, he changed the subject and asked about my dogs. He called them from the patio and, upon seeing them, Juan Miguel approached them naturally, petting them as if he had known them all his life.
Shortly after, he said goodbye, assuring me that his friends would arrive later. The hours passed and, as night fell, other cars appeared. One after another they parked on the esplanade. Some were removing suitcases, others seemed simply ready for a quiet chat. From a corner, I watched them approach, forming a group of faces that somehow looked familiar.
It was then that he came. Among the group of men and women walking towards the house, there was an unmistakable figure. For a moment, I couldn’t believe it. It was there, like the serious face, walking among them.
It was him. ……
To be continued…
From Mas Torrencito we wish you a HAPPY SUNDAY!!! and may you dogs be with you!!!!
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