“The best government money can buy.” He stopped smiling and stared at me for a long moment, a moment so long, in fact, that I became a little uncomfortable and fidgeted. I had to look down.
“You are pregnant with my son’s child,” he finally said. It wasn’t a question, but I nodded anyway. Of course, I wondered if Dr. Jensen or mi tía had told him.
He saw the look of surprise on my face.
“I’ve been interested in your treatment and progress ever since you were brought here. I couldn’t help but keep track of how you were doing. I was sure it was something Adan would have wanted me to do.”
“Gracias, señor.”
“I understand that you are leaving the clinic today?”
“Sí.”
“And you are intending to return to Mexico?”
“I am going home, yes,” I said.
“To what?” he asked, sounding angry. “Do you have family back in this village?”
“No, not in the village.”
“And your family casa?”
“It was sold soon after my grandmother’s death.”
“What will you do, sleep in the street?”
I didn’t want to cry, but I couldn’t stop the tears from filling my eyes. “There are friends of my grandmother…I’m sure…”
“This is foolish,” he snapped. “And I won’t permit it!”
I looked up at him. “But señor…”
“Why your aunt is turning you out is not my business, but my grandchild will not end up in some hovel in some Mexican village lucky to have running water. You are going to leave here today, but you are going to come live in my home. When my grandchild is born, if you want to leave, you can leave, but not with my grandchild. Comprende?”
I looked at him firmly. “I will not go from one prison to another, señor.”
His face softened, but his eyes seemed to get sharper, cooler. “You still have your Latin pride. That’s very good,” he said, nodding, and then changed his expression to a softer one. “No one says you’ll be living in a prison, Delia.”
“And my child is my child first and your grandchild second. I would never leave my child.”
He smiled skeptically. “I should only have a dollar for every woman who has left her own child to go chase some thrill.”
“I am not every woman, señor.”
“We’ll see.”
“Why should I do this, go live in your home?”
“It was Adan’s home, too,” he countered.
I looked away, the tears now defiant enough to leave my eyes. “I meant only to help him.”
“I know. I know,” he said. “I was overwrought with grief. I don’t blame you.”
I looked at him sharply. “You don’t know yourself if you do or you don’t. Besides, you would say that now to get me to go to your home.”
He sighed deeply. “I can see why he defied me and returned to you. Look, you will have your own wing of the house, servants at your beck and call, your own car, an expense budget for any clothing, anything you want or need. You can see whomever you want whenever you want. I ask only that you do healthy and prudent things until you give birth, and I will make sure you have the best possible medical attention.”