Page 117 of Sombra
“No. I’m done with listening to anyone else. I’ve listened to my heart, and everything is all wrong. I can’t … I need to go.”
“Kim, no. You can’t go home. We need to talk. We can fix this.” My voice breaks. “You’re breaking up with me without giving me a chance?”
“I’m not getting involved with another man who has something keeping him from being with me. I can’t do this to me.”She pauses. “And I can’t do this to you. This isn’t about you, Tavo. It’s about me needing to figure this out. I’m sorry.”
I’m breathing so hard that I’m practically hyperventilating. “Is this what you really want?”
“Yes.” She kisses me softly, her hands lingering on my scruffy face. As she gets in the car, her tears are falling. “I’m so confused, and I’m trying to listen to my heartbut it’s all muddled. I need to go. I need to breathe.”
My madre comes up. “Kim needs to go.”
“No, Madre. She doesn’t. She needs to be with me always.”
“I wish I could be,” says Kim. “But she’s right. I’ve made things worse for your family by coming here. You deserve better.” She turns to my mother. “I was so happy here, and I was starting to feel like you all were becomingmy family. All I want is what’s best for your son and your family. I’m sorry, María Luisa, I’ll go. Thank you for your hospitality. I’ll go now.”
“Kim,” I whisper.
“I’m sorry, Tavo, but I think this is for the best,” Kim says.
I open my mouth to say something. But what comes out is, “If this is your decision, Kim, I will abide by it.”
She nods sadly. “I can’t standto leave you, and I’m going to miss you so much. But please just let me do something for you for a change. Your family needs you.”
Shane turns the ignition on and backs up the car then turns, leaving dust and gravel in his wake.
I turn to my mother, the fury drained out of me and now I know nothing but despair. “There goes my life and my baby driving away from me forever.”
My mothers eyes sharpen. “Your baby? As in—”
“Madre, she’s pregnant with my baby.”
Her eyes get wide, and she presses her hand to her heart. “A grandbaby? Oh my God!”
As Kim disappearsout of sight, I turn to my family. I’m so broken and angry and drainedand done.
“Are you happy? Are you all happy? Witnessing my heart being torn out?”
No one says anything.
Guillermo kicks the dirt under his shoe.
“Well, are you? Because that was the love of my life. The woman I was meant for. Who was meant for me. And your insanity drove her off. The decisions of my father to mortgage this land drove her off. She’s pregnant with mybaby, and she’s leaving me!”
Stunned silence follows this.
Then everyone erupts, talking. I don’t know who is saying what. I don’t care. I want to get in my car and follow Kim, but the only thing keeping me away from her is her.
And if she says to stay back. I will.
In the midst of all the commotion, Mr. Molinero whistles. Everyone shuts up.
“You,” I sneer. “You’rethe one who caused all of this.”
He shakes his head. “No, but I can see what happened. I will settle this here and now.”
What?
“First, what is this about me foreclosing on your property?”
