They’re discussing whether Valentina should be allowed to tweeze her eyebrows. The answer is a resoundingno.
If I were a decent man, I’d give her some privacy. But I’m a selfish, greedy bastard, and the longer I listen, the greedier I get. The animated conversation gives me a glimpse of her that I’ve never seen, and I learn some things too.
Apparently, Daniela’s a whiz at long division and knows how to conjugate French verbs. Blueberry crepes are her favorite breakfast, and she only eats the brown M&M’s.
When Valentina tells her that some girls were mean to her and Jamie at lunch, Daniela tells her to ignore them.“You’re so much smarter and prettier than those girls. They’re jealous, and they want to make you small and ugly like they are. But they can’t, unless you let them. Don’t let them steal your goodness.”
Listen all you want. You won’t steal my joy.I guess that’s how she deals with me too—the ultimate bully.
Isabel and Daniela talk around the edges about paying bills and buying groceries. Isabel is anxious, but Daniela redirects the conversation whenever the hand-wringing starts. She might have helped raise Daniela, but it’s clear that Daniela is the person in charge now.
Before they hang up, Valentina reminds her that they need to go shopping for a confirmation dress.
“Don’t worry,” Daniela assures her. “You’ll have a gorgeous dress and a pair of new shoes to match. I haven’t forgotten.
“I need to say goodbye now,” she continues, the sorrow in her voice palpable. “I don’t want to take advantage of my host.”
Interesting.I didn’t put a time limit on the chat, and it’s unlikely she cares about taking advantage ofher host. She’s kept up a good front. Maybe she’s taken all she can of the ruse. I think even Isabel has been assured that Daniela is safe and will be returning to the US soon.
“I miss you both so much.”
Just one song, Valentina chirps, and starts singing, urging Daniela to sing too. And she does.
Her voice is sweet and slightly off-key as she dances in the chair.
“I’ll call again as soon as I can. Isabel, answer your phone, even if you don’t recognize the number. My service is spotty here, so I don’t know what phone I’ll be using.”
After some kissy noises, the room gets deathly quiet.
I glance over at the conference table. Daniela’s face is buried in her arms. I can’t tell if she’s crying.
I feel powerless, which is not a feeling I have often—or at all, anymore. There’s alwayssomethingI can do. But not about this.
There’s nothing I can say or do to make this better, or to change her fate—or mine. It takes everything I have not to turn over my desk and stomp out of the room, destroying everything in my path.
After a few minutes, she gets up and walks out without a word.
My stomach burns with all the things I could have said but didn’t.
And as if this day hasn’t already been a fucking nightmare, I’m visiting my uncle this afternoon.
37
Antonio
“Boa tarde,” I say in a clipped tone as I enter Abel Huntsman’s hospital room.
“Good afternoon,” Tomas replies, drawing out the greeting while he picks his jaw up off the floor.
“How is he?”
Tomas eyes me as though he’s unsure how to respond. “It doesn’t look good.”
I don’t extend any condolences, because I’m not sorry the bastard is on his deathbed. Instead, I nod and step over to the bed to assess the situation for myself.
“I’m surprised to see you here,” he says, probing around the edges. What he really wants to say is,What the fuck are you doing here?But he doesn’t have the balls.
I saw what I came to see and step away from the decrepit man in the hospital bed. Abel dying is a mixed bag. Tomas isn’t capable of running the company, and it’s going to cause a great deal of instability in the region, and perhaps an attempted power grab from outside. It has the potential to become a real thorn in my side.