Delia's Crossing (Delia 1)

Soon after, Señora Rosario sent Inez to tell me to come down to help with the kitchen duties. I worked on the downstairs bathrooms as well and then helped rearrange the pantry and wash the floors. We were to do a general dusting of everything as well. Sophia walked past me as I worked, smiling gleefully.

When I was finished with the household chores, I went up to shower and change. I was not sure if I would be permitted to have dinner with my aunt and Sophia. Edward, who had remained in his room all day, would probably have his meal there, too, and wait for his bandages to come off the next day. I had not seen Jesse all day and wondered what Edward was doing to pass the time.

I didn’t need to wonder long.

He was thinking about me.

I came out of the bathroom and went to my dresser to take a pair of panties out of the drawer. I was just slipping them on when I realized I wasn’t alone.

Standing just inside the doorway, dressed in his robe and pajamas, was Edward.

I gasped. I was naked, but he still had bandages over his eyes.

“What do you want, Edward?” I asked when I gathered my wits. Even though he couldn’t see me, I quickly slipped my bathrobe on again.

“I want the truth,” he said. “La verdad.”

20

An Opportunity Arises

For a moment, I simply stood there looking at him. What truth did he want?

“Sophia is my sister, and when it comes down to it, I will love her as I should love a sister, but I know she has never been the one to accept blame for anything she does. Do you understand what I’m saying, Delia? Sophia always lies and lies until it’s no longer possible, until she is forced to tell the truth, and even then, you have to check and be sure.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about, Delia. You know enough English to understand what I want,” he added, and waited.

I was still unsure about what I should and shouldn’t say. I could see that my continual silence was annoying him. He stepped toward me.

“My mother told me what Sophia told her about this entire incident. She said you admitted to stirring up the trouble, and she’s busy trying to protect you. You know what that means, stirring up the trouble?” he asked, gesturing to imitate someone stirring a soup or a stew.

Why had she told him that? Why must everyone lie to everyone in this house?

“I did not do this,” I said. “This stirring.”

He nodded. “Okay. I’m listening. Tell me what you did do, then. How did this all happen?”

“I went to the birthday fiesta with Ignacio, his sister’s birthday.”

“I know that. I know that,” he said, impatient. “What happened, damn it? Talk!”

His anger frightened me. I stumbled for the words. “Sophia…her friends came luego…later.”

“And they riled up the Mexican boys, didn’t they? Sophia’s friends are just like her. Well?”

“Sí. Sophia told Ignacio what Bradley did.”

“And she told him where Bradley was, right? She would be the only one who would know where he was at that moment. Well? Did she tell him?”

“Yes, Edward.”

“I thought so. She hasn’t been innocent since the moment she was born, and even that is questionable,” he said.

“I don’t understand.”

“Forget it. I just wanted to know what really happened.”

“Sí, this happened, but su madre, your mother, does not want this to be said this way. She told the lawyer different, and I must do and say as she says.”