“And how’s our patient doing?” Jesse asked.
“I do feel better,” I said, bracing myself on my elbows. I looked at the clock. It had been hours since they left. “Where have you been? What have you two done?” I asked, seeing that cat-that-ate-the-mouse look on both of their faces.
“Never mind. We’d like you to get up now. Go shower and put on something.”
“Why? Where am I going?”
“You’re going to your revenge,” Edward said, laughing.
They both wore grins stolen off the face of the Cheshire cat. Suspicious, I started to get out of my bed. Jesse rushed forward to hand me my crutches.
“I’ll pick out your clothes for you,” Edward said. “Don’t worry. Just take your shower, get yourself up.”
I hobbled to the bathroom and looked back to see him and Jesse debating what I should wear. It was not easy taking a shower and staying off my injured ankle, but I did so and tried to be extra careful as I moved about and dried myself. I heard a knock on the bathroom door and opened it a little so Edward could hand me my things. They had even picked out panties and a bra and a pair of soft slippers.
“Gracias,” I said, more than a little embarrassed.
After I dressed, I stepped out. They were both standing like two palace guards waiting, their arms folded across their chests.
“Just take your time,” Jesse said.
Now very curious, I moved quickly to the doorway when they opened it and stood back.
“Careful on the stairway,” Edward advised me.
I looked for Sophia when we were out in the hallway, but I neither saw her nor heard her playing her music loudly in her room. I wondered where Tía Isabela was this whole day. I had half expected her to come charging into my room to chastise me and threaten, but she, too, was nowhere in sight.
As we made our way carefully down the stairway, I saw Señora Rosario look up at us with sympathy.
“Cómo está?”
“She’s fine, Mrs. Rosario,” Jesse assured her.
“Bien,” I said.
She nodded, smiled at the two of them, and walked off.
Something was going on, I thought. I looked at the living room and down the hallway but saw nothing. They turned me toward the front door.
“Where are we going?”
“Just outside,” Edward said. “Just a little farther.”
They smiled like two conspirators at each other. Jesse lunged forward to open the door, and I stepped out to see a bright red sports car with a large yellow ribbon tied around it.
“Qué es esto? What is this?” I asked, my breath stolen at the sight.
“This,” Edward said, “is your revenge.” He did an exaggerated stage bow.
“I do not…understand.”
“Edward has purchased a BMW sports car for you,” Jesse said. “We bought the car, got the insurance, and had it gift-wrapped.”
I stared at the two of them as if they had both gone mad, and they laughed.
“C’mon, we’ll get you closer,” Edward said, taking my arm.
They guided me down the steps to the car. It had beautiful cream leather seats.