“You and that José or whatever his name is, the pool man. My cousin had to fire him.”
“He fired him?”
“Ray said you were flirting with him. Not that I blame you. I’ve seen him. He’s got quite the body. If I ever felt like slumming, he’d be my choice.”
“I did not flirt. I am sorry Señor Bovio thought that and did this. I don’t like that someone lost his job over me.”
“Right. You’ll lose sleep over it. So, you’re sure you’re really pregnant? Lots of times it’s a false alarm, or it’s something a woman wishes.”
“Doctors examined me, took tests, Fani. I couldn’t make this up just to live here, and I wasn’t exactly feeling that I should live here.”
She laughed. “I bet not.”
“You’re being very cruel, Fani.”
“Yeah, well, I haven’t been exactly Miss Congeniality these days with anyone, so don’t feel bad.” She smoked some more and then said, “Things aren’t so good at my house.”
“What do you mean?”
“My parents.”
“What about them?” I expected she would tell me they had become stricter after Adan’s death, imposing curfews and restrictions on her. I was sure she would blame that on me as well.
“I think they’re heading for a nasty breakup.”
“A breakup? Why?”
“My mother found out something about my father that has turned her against him. It’s like living in the land of the dead these days.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. What did he do? Is he seeing another woman?”
She blew more smoke straight up again and looked away. There was a long silence, and then her shoulders rose and fell. “I don’t know why I’m telling you anything,” she said. “Except,” she added, looking back at me and smiling, “you’ve pro
ven you’re real good when it comes to keeping secrets. My cousin, Ray Bovio, doesn’t even know what’s happening with my parents yet. And I don’t want you telling him! He has enough to worry about, and he’s had enough unhappiness, thanks to you.”
I just stared at her a moment. “Maybe,” I said, “it’s better you don’t confide in me, Fani. Yes, I keep secrets well, but secrets burn you from the inside out.”
“Thanks. I just knew I could depend on you when it came to being a friend.”
“I don’t know what to say to you, Fani,” I said, exasperated. “Do you want me to be your friend or not? Sometimes you sound as if you don’t, and sometimes you sound as if you do.”
“I’m here, aren’t I? I didn’t have to come.”
“Sí. Okay. You can tell me your secret, and I won’t tell anyone. Why is your mother angry at your father, so angry that she would leave him?”
“He has a boyfriend,” she said.
“What? What does this mean, a boyfriend?”
“He goes both ways, Delia, but mainly with his boyfriend these days, it seems. You know what going both ways means, don’t you?”
“Sí.”
She looked angry, but I could see tears glistening in her eyes. She looked out toward the stables. “Anyway, who cares what they do, right? I’m going off to college in late August, and I won’t be back much.”
“I’m sorry, Fani.”
She turned her now fiery eyes at me. “Stop saying that. One thing I won’t stand for is you feeling sorry for me. You’re the one who should be pitied. What do you think your future is going to be once you have your baby? A few years from now, you’ll probably be working as someone’s maid. Maybe I’ll hire you myself.”