Page 93 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

We both nod.

“Well, the night before last, when I was having dinner with a friend at a restaurant, I saw him with a very pretty young woman on his arm.”

“So what, Mamá?”

“Well, that young woman couldn’t have been more than thirty years old.”

“And?” I ask.

“It enraged me to see him so well accompanied,” mutters Sonia.

I blink, not quite sure I understand what’s going on. I know my mother-in-law was really into that guy...

“Were you jealous?” asks Marta.

“No.”

“Then what?”

“It angered me that his companion was younger than mine.”

I want to laugh. I can’t help it. Sonia never stops surprising me. Marta protests.

“Mamá, please, what are you saying?”

I’m still laughing.

“When Trevor saw me, he came over and invited me to a party at his house tomorrow.”

“So?” asks Marta.

“Well, that’s a problem.”

“Then don’t go,” I say. “If it doesn’t appeal to you, don’t go—problem solved.”

She glances at me and sighs. I’m even more lost than before.

“I want to go to that party, but not with a man my age. What I want is to go with a handsome and attractive young man. You know the kind. Scandalous. I want that snot Trevor Gerver to realize a woman like me can ignite passions in younger men.”

Well, well, well...

“Mamá, are you saying you want to hire a gigolo?”

“No.”

“Then what is it you want, Sonia?” I ask.

She looks at us a little desperately, takes a swallow of her drink, screams, and raises her hands. “A piece of arm candy, that’s what I want!” Marta and I burst out laughing. I think I’m going to die, I’m laughing so much!

“So much for your help!” Sonia says as she watches us practically rolling on the floor.

“Mamá...Mamá...but...”

Marta can’t even finish her sentence. Sonia just sits back and watches.

“Mamá, how do you want us to help you?” Marta finally manages to say.

“I think what she wants is for us to find her a dream boy from Guantanamera. Am I right?”

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