Page 170 of Haze of Obedience
She runs and embraces me. "Zoe!"
"Gloria," her mother calls after her.
"It's okay!" I crouch down, and before I can say anything, she throws her arms around my shoulders.
"Well, hello. Aren't you adorable."
She's a beautiful child. She has long, dark ringlets. Her brown eyes are warm, complete with long, thick lashes, and her cheeks are rosy.
"You're my favorite singer. I love all your songs," she beams.
"Thank you."
"Do you want to stay in my bedroom? We can talk all night and—"
"Gloria, let's give Zoe a minute to breathe," her mother says.
"Mom, it's Zoe Diego!"
"Yes, we know. I'm sorry, Zoe. Please come in."
"No apologies needed." I lean in and give her a hug and kiss on the cheek.
"I'm Silvia."
"Thank you for having us."
"Anytime. Dirk's always welcome here. But you know that, don't you?"
"Sure do. But I'm kind of upset Gloria hasn't hugged me yet." He kneels on the grass.
Gloria gapes then leans into his ear, and says in a loud whisper, "But Zoe Diego is here."
"Is she? Where?"
"Very funny."
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"The tickle monster missed you." He throws her over his shoulder and tickles her.
She shrieks, and he puts her down and runs off to the house.
"I'm David." A man who looks close to Dirk's age and I'm guessing is Gloria's father says. We embrace, and he kisses my cheeks.
Silvia puts her hand on my arm. "Are you hungry? We were about to eat dinner."
"I'm starving."
"Well, let's go eat."
We get to the porch, and they introduce the other children to us.
Ricardo is twenty-two, Raul is twenty, Teresa is sixteen, Bruno is fourteen, and Gloria is ten but proudly tells me she is almost eleven.
Dirk grabs his backpack, and we go inside. The house is cozy and warm. Pictures hang on the walls of the family. There is a big table in the kitchen with bench seating on both sides. Chairs are at heads of the table. The smell of spicy meat and cheese hits me, and my stomach gowls again.
