Page 22 of To Have and To Hold

“What about communicable diseases?”

“The apartments have a clinic, open daily until five. They have required testing as well as healthcare available when requested.” She leaned back, allowing her long brown hair to fall over her shoulders and down her back.

I was struck by how pretty Liliana was as she closed her eyes and looked up toward the sky. I hadn’t noticed her delicate features or long eyelashes until now. “How old are you?”

“Nineteen. Almost twenty.”

“Sorry,” I said, “if I’m being nosy, but how can you relate to the way the women in the apartments feel?”

“Because I’ve been judged.” She shrugged. “Wrongly or rightly. It doesn’t matter if the judgment is founded, it can still hurt.”

I sat back and turned my attention to the setting sun over the water as Liliana’s words took root in the depth of my soul. When I turned back, my eyes were moist, probably from the bright sunshine. I wiped a tear from my cheek. “I should have brought out my sunglasses.”

She nodded.

“I’m guilty,” I confessed. “Ever since Mia asked my mother about me coming out here, I’ve been judging the women.” I forced a smile. “Thank you for helping me see that was wrong.”

“I hope that helps you when you’re there. They need to trust us for Mia’s plans to work.”

My gaze went through the open glass doors into the house. “Do you like Mia?”

Liliana’s large eyes grew even bigger. “Mia is fantastic. She’s done so much for the women and for me. I have an apartment. Ifel Patr?n—not Aléjandro but his father—had his way, I would have been sent back to live with my parents.”

“Mia challenged Aléjandro’s father?”

“I don’t know if she challenged him. All I know is I have a life now.”

“Would moving back with your parents have been a bad thing? I mean, you’re only nineteen.’’

She sat still for a moment and exhaled. “It would not have been a good thing.” She turned toward the house. “I’m going to see if Mia or Viviana needs help.”

“I’ll go with you.”

There was more to Liliana’s story. I could feel it. I found myself wondering if eventually she’d share. And then I was surprised I wanted to get close enough to this cartel girl I barely knew.

Liliana and I set the outside table with utensils, napkins, glasses filled with ice water, and plates. Silas carried Jorge’s highchair out next to the table. All the while everyone was talking and relaxed as if we weren’t in a drug lord’s home.

When we sat down and Viviana carried the tortilla casserole out to the table, I expectedel Patr?nto appear, a dark cloud over our friendly conversation. He didn’t.

“Isn’t your husband home?” I asked Mia.

“He is. Viviana took his dinner to his office.” She shrugged. “He works hard. Too hard. I don’t know the details, but something happened last night and something else happened today. Whatever they are, they have him extremely agitated.”

“He’s not usually agitated?” I asked.

Mia’s smile returned. “No, he’s a good husband and father. Remembering my father running the famiglia, I know that sometimes, it’s better to let him be. He’ll come to me when he’s ready.”

To my surprise, Viviana and Silas joined us. We were almost done eating when Silas received word of a car arriving to the front gate. He turned to Mia. “Rei and Jasmine are here.”

My eyes opened wide.

“Good,” Mia said. “I feel better if they’re here.”

I lowered my voice. “You wantJasmineat your house?”

She nodded. “I made a lot of mistakes in the past. Instead of dwelling on them, I chose to move forward. After all, she’s now my sister-in-law.” She grinned. “We have the same last name.”

Roríguez.

---