Page 2 of Naughty and Nice
“It’s still your last name.”
I nodded.
“You’ve been accepted to SDCC. Talk to Mia.”
My office door opened again, and Isabella Ruiz came in. Her long yellow hair was pulled up to a high ponytail. She pursed her lips. “Am I interrupting?”
“How’s Em?” Celeste asked, her eyebrows dancing.
A smile bloomed over Isabella’s pretty face. “Are you still after my husband?”
“A girl can dream.”
Isabella laughed, her confidence on full display. “He’s good. He and Nick will be by here later today.”
“Oh,” Celeste said, her eyebrows arching. “Nick. He’s still up for grabs.”
Isabella shook her head. “Lilliana, I just wanted you to know, I’m working on collecting information for the end of the year reports.” She sighed. “I can’t believe I’ve been in San Diego for nearly five months.”
Her stay was only supposed to be a month, time to help Mia after Jorge’s birth. An unexpected attraction with the Roríguez lieutenant Emiliano Ruiz changed everyone’s plans. Judging by Izzy’s smile, the change was for the better.
Isabella’s focus went to the window. “It’s already December. This time of year in San Diego is nothing like December in Kansas City. It’s so odd to see decorations on palm trees.”
Celeste stood and gave me a wink. “Tu puedes hacerlo.”
Isabella waited until Celeste was gone and the door was partially closed. “Do what?”
“Someone’s Spanish is improving.”
“Understanding, not speaking. And half the time everyone talks so fast…but I’m improving.” She took the seat Celeste had left. “What’s going on?”
As I told her about SDCC, Izzy’s smile grew.
“I think you’ll be a great teacher.”
“It’s just…”
Izzy tilted her head. “Just what?”
“It doesn’t feel real. I have until tomorrow to register for classes if I can still get any.” I shook my head. “Gerardo wouldn’t approve. He’d tell me I was too stupid.”
“He’s dead,” she said bluntly. “He was a pig. Besides, Sofia is at university. He approved of his daughter attending college but not his wife?”
There was more to that story, more that I didn’t want to get into. Gerardo sent Sofia away to school to separate us, another example of his cruelty. Before I was forced to marry her father, Sofia was my best friend.
I scooted my chair back, stood, and rubbed my hands over my arms. My skin felt tight as if it were shrinking. Inhaling, I tried to fill my lungs. This visceral response was what happened when my thoughts went back to my late husband. “It’s difficult to explain. I mean, you’re married to Em, and he’s good to you.”
Izzy stood and reached for my hands. “You’re freezing.”
Was I?
She squeezed them, sharing the warmth of her touch. “Liliana, you’re beautiful. You’re intelligent. You’re a survivor. You’re only twenty-one years old. If you want to go to school, go. If you want to do anything, do it.”
Swallowing the lump forming in my throat, I took back my hands and inhaled. “Would you mind if I had José run me over to Mia’s house? I won’t be gone long.”
Izzy pressed her lips together. “I don’t mind. Tell Mia I hope she’s feeling better soon. We miss her and Jorge.”
Jorge was a precious eight-month-old. On some occasions, he’d join his mother at the apartments and was the star of the show. If the residents’ reaction was any indication, Jorge Roríguez would be quite the ladies’ man.
