Delia's Crossing (Delia 1)

He embraced himself and pursed his lips, closing his eyes and shaking.

I laughed and said, “Muchacho amante. Lover boy.”

“Right. Muchacho amante. Good. That’s what I’ll call him.”

When we entered the house, we heard their laughter. They were in the living room.

“Don’t tell me you picked her up at public school,” Sophia cried as we approached.

“What I do and don’t do is none of your damn business, Sophia,” Edward told her. “I told you that last night, and I meant it.”

Sophia laughed. “I wonder why you’re getting so lovey-dovey with her. What do you think’s the reason, Bradley?” she asked the boy sitting beside her.

He had long blond hair, strikingly blue eyes, and a firm, strong mouth. I thought he was at least as tall as Edward and more athletic-looking because of his broader shoulders. His light blue sports jacket was folded beside him on the arm of the sofa, and his white shirt was opened at the collar, showing his thick gold necklace. His light hair and blue eyes were emphasized by the contrast with his dark complexion. My first thought was, Why would someone as movie-star good-looking as he is have anything to do with Sophia?

“She’s your cousin,” Bradley said. He looked at me and in perfect Spanish said, “Sí? Usted es su prima?” he asked me.

“Stop showing off, Bradley,” she snapped at him.

“Sí,” I said and added, “Pero no es mi culpa,” which meant but it isn’t my fault.

He roared with laughter.

“What did she say, Bradley?” She pushed him hard, and he cried out in feigned pain.

Edward had a big smile on his face, even though he didn’t fully understand what I had said.

“She said it isn’t what?” he asked Bradley.

“Her fault.”

Edward laughed as hard as Bradley.

Sophia’s face reddened. “She’s supposed to report to Mrs. Rosario immediately on getting home, Edward. Remember? Mother said she can stay in the guest room, but she still has to do her house chores. Mrs. Rosario!” she screamed. “Delia is ready to wash the toilets.”

“Shut up, Sophia,” Edward told her.

“She’s wearing my throwaway clothes,” she told Bradley. He looked at me again.

“Really? Throwaway? They don’t look so bad. Maybe because they’re on her.”

“Go home, Bradley. You make me sick,” she told him, and stood up.

He laughed, but looked a little frightened. “Take it easy. We’re just having fun.”

“I don’t think it’s fun.”

Señora Rosario appeared in the hallway. Sophia practically leaped at her.

“She’s back, Mrs. Rosario. Don’t you have things for her to do?”

Señora Rosario looked at her and then turned to me. “Venga, Delia.”

“I think she should change her clothes first, Mrs. Rosario,” Edward told her.

She nodded and told me to come to the kitchen after I changed. The bathrooms did have to be cleaned, and afterward, I would help with dinner preparations. I would not, I found out, eat with the help anymore. I would eat with Edward and Sophia and my aunt when she was home for dinner. Edward had managed to get my aunt to give in on some things but not others. All of that still puzzled me, but, as Abuela Anabela often said, “Hay que tomar lo bueno con lo malo.” You have to take the good with the bad. I was just not sure if eating with my cousins and my aunt was good.

I hurried to the stairway.