Page 31 of To Have and To Hold

“Yeah. They’re all around even in the residents’ apartments.”

This was a lot to take in. As Liliana led me down another hallway, I asked, “What do you think happened at the club last night?”

She shrugged. “I don’t ask questions. I would suspect it is connected to the men at the house, Dante arriving, and Mia wanting me to stay with her.”

Despite all the security, a cold chill ran through me. I rubbed my palms over my arms. “Are we safe?”

She simply smiled and led me into the dining room. Each location was spotless and perfectly suited. This room had a high ceiling with modern light pendants hanging on long poles. The sunshine coming through the skylights made the glass bulbs glisten. The aroma of breakfast foods met us as we entered. There were only a few residents sitting at two of the available tables. I counted twelve round tables, each seating six chairs. The ladies present were deep in conversation that I mostly couldn’t understand. They didn’t seem to notice us or care as we walked through the large room.

“Mia took a poll,” Liliana said. “The original tenants chose a dining hall over having the ability to cook in their rooms. That said, almost every cooking or baking class that’s offered is filled up within hours. Earlier this week they had the chance to bake flan.”

“What is flan?”

“Oh my gosh. It’s delicious.” She pursed her lips. “It’s like what you might call baked custard covered in caramel. You must try it.”

I nodded.

Through a swinging door, she took me into the industrial-sized kitchen. Three women in white uniforms appeared to be cleaning after breakfast and getting ready to prepare lunch.

“Hola,” the women greeted.

After Liliana introduced me—I didn’t know how she could remember all the names—she went on with her tour. “They also vote on dinner entrees. Breakfast and lunch are more generic, the regular choices.”

“Who pays for all of this, the cartel?” I asked as we walked back to a hallway.

“Mostly, but from the onset, Mia applied for grants and has received a few.” Liliana smiled. “All she needs to do is smile atel Patr?nand she gets what she wants.”

I recalled our brief encounter. “He doesn’t seem that easy to please.”

“Mia knows the secrets.”

“Are all cartel men as eager to please their wives?”

A shadow passed over Liliana’s expression. “Not all. Let me show you the classrooms. Today is Thursday. There will be two different classes in session.” We walked down a second hallway. “Thursday mornings, we have English as a second language. While all the women speak some English, many voiced a desire to be better at reading and writing it.”

Through the window in the door, I saw a woman standing, and her lips were moving. While I couldn’t hear what she was saying, the ladies in the front row were listening and taking notes.

Liliana pointed to the other side of the hall. There was another closed door with a window. “This is GED prep. It’s more facilitated learning than traditional instruction.”

“I should know what that means.”

She paused. “Self-led. Each woman is at a different place and takes a different speed in her own education journey. A facilitator guides the students to help each person find their answers. Research shows that facilitated learning is better retained.” When I didn’t respond, she asked, “How does a child learn that a stove is hot?”

“Either they touch it, or they are told.” A smile curled my lips. “Touching it—learning it for themselves—will be remembered.”

“Exactly.”

“Have you thought of becoming a teacher?”

She shook her head as pink filled her cheeks. “I’m not smart enough for that.”

“Are you kidding? You’re blowing me away right now.”

The quiet, introverted Liliana I met last night was gone. In her place was a more confident woman. I wondered if needing to step up since Mia gave birth had transformed Liliana more than Mia realized.

“Is participation in education mandatory?” I asked.

“No. All voluntary.” Liliana went to the next room with the same windowed door. “This room is the computer center. Everyone has access to the internet.”

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