Delia's Gift (Delia 3)

Back in my Mexican village, Señora Porres, who would make predictions with the authority of a biblical prophet, often said, “Vale más una gota de sangre que un arroba de amistad.” A drop of blood is worth more than a gallon of friendship. Beware of those who seem to turn against their own brothers and sisters, she would warn. In the end, they’ll turn on you instead. Family was too strong. No matter how hard Edward might try, he couldn’t deny it, either.

By the time we arrived at the hospital, Sophia had just been moved from intensive care to a private room. Her vital signs had stabilized. Tía Isabela was on the phone in her room when we arrived. When she saw me with Edward, her eyes widened, but she did not stop talking to whoever was on the phone. Sophia looked smaller in the hospital bed somehow and suddenly very young. I could see in her face that she had been told how close she had come to dying and had been seriously frightened.

Tía Isabela hung up the phone and turned to us. “That was Ray Bovio,” she said, looking directly at me. “After this, if he never sees you again, it would be too soon.”

“Now, just a minute, Mother. Before you say another word that you will regret,” Edward began, holding up his hand, “the police know that Delia had nothing to do with what happened to Sophia. In fact, if there is anyone he should think of avoiding, it might be his cousin Fani Cordova. If you told Ray Bovio anything else—”

“I didn’t have to tell him anything,” Tía Isabela said. “Once he heard there were drugs involved, he came to his own conclusions.”

“Which are deliberately incorrect. By now, you also know that if it weren’t for Delia, Sophia might not be alive. Mother, did you manage to get that little detail into the conversation?”

She didn’t reply. She just turned away to look out the window.

Edward walked to the bed and looked at Sophia. “I bet you feel like a little idiot now.”

She turned away, but Tía Isabela turned back to us.

“If you two have come here to gloat,” she started to warn, “you had better just walk out of here and—”

“No, Mother. We don’t need to gloat. I’m happy you’re going to be okay, Sophia,” Edward continued. “When you grow up someday, you can thank your cousin. She remained at the hospital, concerned about you, while your so-called best friend ran off. I don’t imagine she’s been around today, either, has she?”

Sophia looked at me and then looked away again.

“She doesn’t need this now, Edward,” Tía Isabela said in a softer tone of voice. “Anyway, she’s already heard all of that from me. I think, or at least I hope, this has opened her eyes wider.”

“Good. We haven’t been much of a family,” Edward said, more directly to his mother now, “but whether we like it or not, this is it. We’re the only family we have.”

Tía Isabela raised her eyebrows with surprise. “Well, I’m glad you realize that,” she said.

“I realize it, but that includes Delia,” he said. He turned back to Sophia. “The police will be back to see you, Sophia. I hope you will do the right thing and tell them only the truth.”

“She will be coming home with me as soon as she is able to do so,” Tía Isabela quickly interjected. “We’re not going to remain here and deal with any police. She doesn’t remember anything. Someone obviously slipped something into her drink. It happens often at these sorts of parties. My lawyer is already handling it.”

“Whatever story you come up with is fine, as long as it doesn’t implicate Delia,” Edward said firmly. “Otherwise, it will open up a whole other can of worms.”

Neither Sophia nor Tía Isabela replied. Edward looked satisfied and winked at me.

“All right, Mother, I might not see or call you for a while,” he continued. “I just wanted you both to know that we’re happy Sophia is going to be all right. Let’s go,” he said to me, and turned toward the door.

“What do you mean, you might not see us for a while? Where are you going?” Tía Isabela asked.

“We’re going to do what we have to do,” he replied. “Let’s leave it at that.”

“I have no idea what that’s supposed to mean, Edward.”

“It’s better you don’t,” he replied.

I had no idea what he meant, either, but I was afraid to say another word. I nodded at Tía Isabela and at Sophia and quickly followed Edward out of the room. He was walking quickly down the hallway.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“To get your baby back,” he said.

“But you heard what Mr. Simon said. How will we do that?” I asked when we stepped into the elevator.

“You’ll tell me,” he replied.

“Me?”