Delia's Heart (Delia 2)

“I remember the first day you arrived from Mexico,” Señora Rosario said. “You looked so frightened.”

“You know that I soon had reason to be.”

“Sí,” she said. “But those days are gone. You are no longer a little girl, Delia. You are a young woman, and remember, vale más una madura que cien verdes. One ripe fruit is worth a hundred green ones.”

Inez nodded in agreement. I thanked them both and returned to my room to start on my homework. Soon after, Inez came up to tell me Adan Bovio had arrived and was waiting for me in the living room. I looked at Sophia’s closed door as I followed Inez out and downstairs. Unlike Tía Isabela’s confidence in her own power, I had no faith in her threats and punishments. Sophia was a wild thing and would surely wait. Her silence now was deceptive. “Guardate del agua mansa,” I could hear mi abuela Anabela warn. Beware of still waters.

I had faith only in my own eyes and ears.

Adan stood as I entered the living room. He wore a beautiful red shirt and white pants with a pair of white boat shoes. He looked even more handsome than he had the night before.

“Walking without your crutches?”

“I’m limping, but it’s okay,” I said.

He handed me a single yellow rose.

“Gracias.” I smiled at the simplicity of his gift.

“I was worried about you, about all that had happened at the party. I thought you were somewhat saddened by all of it and did not have much of a good time despite the festivities.”

“I was fine, Adan. Do not worry.”

“The picture in the paper was quite exciting. The moment I saw it, I knew I had the perfect gift.”

“It’s a beautiful rose.”

“No,” he said, laughing. “That’s just a small token. Here.” He reached down to pick up a small wrapped package I hadn’t seen on the marble coffee table. “For your desk, perhaps.”

“Qué es?”

“Open it to see,” he said.

I tore away the paper and looked at the picture that was in the newspaper. It was cropped so it was only of Adan and me, and it was in a beautiful gold frame. It wasn’t a reproduction made from the paper, either. It was the actual photograph of us.

“How did you get it?”

“We know the publisher. I called first thing this morning and then hurried over to a gift shop. I hope I picked out a nice enough frame.”

“Yes, it’s beautiful.”

“I think,” he said, “that this will be the first of many pictures of you in newspapers.”

It frightened me to hear that. “Why?”

“It just will be,” he said. “Okay, I’m off. I promised not to take up much of your time.”

He leaned over to kiss me on my cheek just as mi tía Isabela stepped into the living room.

“Oh, Mrs. Dallas. How are you?”

She looked from him to me and smiled. “Very well, thank you, Adan. I gather you two had a nice time last night.”

“It was quite a bash.”

“Yes, well, I would have gone myself, but I had a commitment I couldn’t change. What do you have in your hands, Delia?”

“Oh, that’s just a little something I thought she might enjoy having,” Adan said quickly.