Page 104 of The Crush
She raises her eyebrows again before giving each skillet a quick stir. “I’ll repeat myself. You said you should go help. Did you mean here or at the DEA? They’ve calledfivetimes this morning, by the way. They seem to be under the impression that you’re late for work.”
Shit.Ihadtold Brenner I’d be back in the office this morning, or at least, I hadn’t argued when he said I would.
“I’ve told them that cannot possibly be the case because you left the DEAmonthsago. I told them, no, no, he’s a full-time rancher now. Not to mention seriously dating my daughter. Or have I misunderstood?”
“You told them I was seriously dating your daughter?” I quip, immediately throwing my hands up in surrender when Eva takes a step in my direction. “Sorry, no, I am. I am. I love your daughter.”
“Considering you stood on your front porch a few days ago and promised me that you would protect her, you hadbetter.” She gives me one more warning glare before going back to her skillet, reaching over to crack two eggs into the butter with an efficiency that borders on brutal. I figure then that I should get on with it.
“I was suspended before,” I explain, watching her nod along as if this is old news. “And I went to the DEA office yesterday to ask them to lift it. That’s why they’re calling. They’re looking for agents to go to Colombia, and I thought—”
“You thought thathadto be you?” she finishes for me, still keeping an eye on the stove.
“Thought it’d better maybe if it was,” I reply quietly. “For a few reasons.”
Eva nods again, turning the heat down on the salsa.
“You know, my father served,” she tells me, letting me know without repeating her husband’s words that she knowsexactlywhat was said. “He even received a medal for his bravery, though he walked with a limp for the rest of his life.”
She looks away from the skillet temporarily to bend down and grab a couple warm tortillas out of the oven, popping them onto a plate before pouring the salsa on top.
“Most of the time, the injury didn’t seem to bother him too much or slow him down too far. But some days it hurt a lot worse than others. He started keeping a stool in the restaurant kitchen for those days, so he could sit while he was at the stove. Of course, he also used it as an excuse to sit right down at a table with thecustomers whenever he wandered up front. Not that he needed one. People always made room for him.”
She flips the burners off before scooping both eggs onto the plate, finishing it off with avocado, cilantro, and queso. She walks over and places it in front of me with a fork and a large glass of water before taking a seat in the chair next to me.
“I remember him,” I tell her, my hands starting to run anxiously up and down the denim of my work jeans. I know this story isn’t only for her own amusement. “Mamá used to take me by the restaurant when I was a kid. He always had sweets tucked away behind the counter.”
“He did,” she agrees with a smile. “You know, I miss him every day. Everysingleday. Because I loved him and because he was agoodman. He was when the war started, and he was when it ended. He was a hero.” Eva leans closer, placing a hand on my forearm. “Like you.”
“I’m not a hero,” I scoff, shaking my head. “He won his war. I didn’t.”
“Mijo—”
“You know, I promised her that I would,” I say, not sure if I’m looking for understanding or absolution. “I promised her I’d fix it. Stop it.”
Eva frowns, head tilting to the side in a way that reminds me of Isabel. “Stop what?”
“All of it. The drugs, the…I don’t even know,” I confess, putting my head in my hands. “I promised her that I’d make sure others didn’t lose someone the same way we did.”
“Danny.” Her hand reaches for mine, offering a gentle squeeze as she leans forward. “I made María promises, too.And so did Tadeo. We’re trying our best to keep them, which is why you’ll have to forgive us for being a bit selfish when we tell you to ask yourself which promises are the ones she would actually want kept. Especially when it comes to you.”
She waits for my rebuttal during the few long minutes it takes until the phone rings again. She pats my cheek before she gets up and walks back to the phone.
“Hello,” she says, holding the phone to her ear and listening intently before asking, “Young man, what is your full name?”
Whatever his answer is, I pity him based on the triumphant look on Eva’s face alone.
“Ah, yes, does that make you Anna or Blanca’s boy? Doesn’t matter. You know, I sit behind your abuela at church every Sunday, and I think it might interest her to know that herdarlingnieto is harassing my family. Yes,harassing.”
There’s another pause as she listens to his response, and whatever it is, it’s the wrong one.
“Oh, I understand perfectly that you are following orders,” she says, her voice dangerously pleasant. “However, I’m not sureyouunderstand that I will personally notify every single one of your relatives if you call here again. Including those in the grave. Isthatunderstood?”
She smiles at the response on the other end. “Yes, you take care. Goodbye.”
Eva hangs up the phone before letting out an annoyed sigh and looking back my way. “Danny, are you sitting there letting your food get cold?Eat.”
Eighty-Four
