Page 14 of Finding Molly Parsons

“I don’t understand how you’re so chill about everything.”

“How else should I be? Yeah, we had a shitty start in life, but, Carmen, look at us. We fought and worked, and we survived. Hell, we did more than that. I have a successful business that I love, and you are stupid intelligent with not one but two companies. There will be people who hurt us, that’s life, but none of them will break us.”

“I’m so proud of you, Mateo,” Carmen choked. It was unlike her to get soppy, but for whatever reason, Faith’s situation was bringing a lot of emotions to the surface.

“I’m proud of myself too,” he laughed. “I love you, Carmen. You are my person and I’m damn proud to call you Hermana. But please, stop letting old shit dictate your life. At some point I’m going to meet a hunky man, move out, and have a pack of kids. I want to know that you are settled and happy before that.”

“A pack of kids?” Carmen laughed. “God help us all if there’s a bunch of mini Mateos running around the place.”

“Imagine how perfect their skin will be,” Mateo mused. Carmen chuckled. Mateo’s kids would have the most flawless skin in the U.S.

The pair fell silent as Mateo washed and rinsed Carmen’s hair. Hauling her long locks into a messy bun on top of her head, Carmen rolled her neck, dispelling the tightness that always formed after bending over the sink.

“Do you want an inch trimmed off?” Mateo asked, flicking Carmen’s wet bun.

“Sure why not.”

Silence fell again. Carmen wondered what Faith was doing. There was no sound coming from the living room. “Where’s Faith?”

“Relaxing on the sofa.”

“Didn’t she want the TV on or anything?”

“I don’t think it even occurred to her. I pointed out your books, just in case she got bored.”

Carmen whipped round to face Mateo, her eyes bugging. Carmen’s books were not exactly PG. “Mateo, she can’t read them.”

Mateo barked out a deep laugh. “Of course she can. It’s about time the girl—”

“No, Mateo. Jesus, she’ll have a heart attack.”

“Relax. She’ll put it down if it’s too much. Stop panicking.”

Carmen squirmed on the stool. Faith was a grown woman—sort of. Of course she could read whatever she wanted. That didn’t make Carmen feel any better. Not when she felt it was her responsibility to help ease Faith into the sapphic world. Was it her responsibility? Did Faith even want her help? Maybe it was best to leave anything like that up to Faith’s aunt? But what if they couldn’t find Molly?

“Will you stop moving,” Mateo snapped.

“Wait one minute,” Carmen replied, grabbing a towel and then launching herself out the bathroom door. Nope, she couldn’t sit back. She needed to warn Faith.

Rounding the corner to the living room, Carmen looked crazed with her hair pulled up haphazardly and a towel wrapped precariously around her chest.

Faith was just about to flip the page on one of Carmen’s sauciest books. “Wait!” Carmen practically screamed, causing Faith to launch the book halfway across the room.

“Oh my Lord, you scared the bejesus out of me,” Faith panted, clutching her chest.

“Sorry, I just… well, I just wanted to warn you?”

“Warn me?” Faith’s eyes went wide with fear. Oh, for God’s sake Carmen, don’t go blurting something like that out!

“No, no, don’t panic. You’re fine, we’re fine. Mateo told me you might read my books,” she said, quickly pointing to the novel on the floor.

“I’m sorry, didn’t you want me to? I should have asked.”

“No, it’s not that. Um… well, the books are sapphic stories.”

“Okay.”

“And… um… well, they’re a little spicy.”

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