Page 37 of Dina's Favorite Mistake

“Don’t get angry with me because you’re filled with regret and embarrassed about mistakes you made!”

“There it is!” Dina shot to her feet and pointed an accusing finger at her mother. “You’ve been holding that in since Diego escaped.”

“Holding what in? What are you talking about?”

Dina glared at her mother who acted so innocent and unknowing. “Don’t act like you haven’t been waiting to throw it back in my face that I’m the reason this is happening. That it’s my fault that Papa and Abuelo are dead! That it’s my fault my daughter is in danger!”

Soila shook her head and waved her hands as if warding off evil. “No, I’m not going to fight with you about this. I’m not taking your bait.” She adjusted her watch and seemed to be trying so hard to remain calm. “You made choices in life, and now you have to deal with the consequences of those choices.” She lifted her gaze, her eyes dark and sad. “We all do.”

Devastated by her mother’s words, Dina stormed by her and out of the office. She walked without purpose, traversing hallways and crossing rooms until she burst out of a side doorand into the dusk. The wind had changed, bringing with it the cool, wet air. She breathed in the earthen petrichor and let it cleanse her lungs.

Choices.

Mistakes.

Consequences.

She’d had so many quiet years since Diego went to prison. She’d been able to heal and get comfortable with her life. She’d been able to pretend that she didn’t remember the carnage that followed her stupid decision to date a bad boy when she was a teenager.

A dangerous, alluring, seductive bad boy.

Diego had been everything her parents hated. He’d come from a bad neighborhood, hadn’t finished school, didn’t go to church. He drove a fast car and flashed money. She’d been so stupid to believe all his lies. She’d been so blinded by love and lust that she’d let herself ignore the obvious warning signs.

Until it was too late.

Until she was in too deep with him.

How could she go to her mother and ask for help after being so nasty to her parents about Diego? How could she admit to her father that the boy she loved, the same boy he warned would hurt her, had hit her? Forced her to do terrible, painful things?

She’d been so humiliated and ashamed. She couldn’t bring herself to admit what an idiot she had been. She’d pretended it would get better. She could change him. If she couldn’t change him, she would learn to make him happy. She would do exactly what he wanted, and he would never hit or hurt her again.

But it didn’t work like that.

Abusers abused. Period. Full stop. He was never going to stop hurting her.

When she’d finally worked up the courage to leave, to tell him to go to hell, he had followed through on his meanest and most terrifying threat.

He’d killed her father and grandfather.

He’d destroyed her family.

He’d nearly killed her and Camila.

“Ama?” Camila approached cautiously from the same door Dina had exited earlier. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” Dina lied and presented a fake smile. “Why?”

“Ama, it’s raining.” Camila gestured to the haze of raindrops falling all around them.

Dina blinked in shock and realized she had been standing out here getting soaked. She’d been so dazed and lost in her thoughts she hadn’t even felt the cold seeping into her bones. “Oh.”

“Come inside,” Camila urged, gesturing for her mother to follow.

“Yes. I should.” Dina followed her daughter into the house. Just as Camila shut the door, a flash of lightning struck nearby. A clap of thunder followed.

“Just in time,” Camila remarked. “You should get dry before you get sick.” Camila flicked the wet ends of Dina’s hair. “You know what Abuelita says about wet hair.”

Dina swallowed the bitter remark she wanted to make about her mother. Instead, she smiled at her daughter and fell into step next to her. They walked silently to the apartment-like group of rooms that had been remodeled for their use. Neither spoke, probably because neither wanted to ruin what was a peaceful moment.

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