Delia's Gift (Delia 3)

“My car?”

“It’s the last part of our agreement, isn’t it? It was delivered last night after dinner, a brand-new Jaguar. Now, you must pack your things and go.”

“Go where?”

“I have sent your application in. You’ll start nursing school next semester. Here is the name and address of the man I have employed to set you up in your apartment near the school,” he said. “Take it!” he shouted when I didn’t move.

His loud voice made me jump. I reached for the slip of paper but continued to shake my head.

“Señor, I don’t under—”

“You can let Fani know she doesn’t have to send a car for you. I’m sure she’ll be happy to help you settle yourself, too. She likes doing things like that.”

“But señor, please listen to me. Last night, I went upstairs—”

“No,” he said. “Don’t bother arguing. Mrs. Newell is very adamant about it. You’ve disturbed her too much, and I cannot lose her right now. Adan needs her. I need her.”

“You need her? What is she doing to you, señor? Please listen to me.”

“Good-bye,” he said. “There is no more discussion to be had.”

He rose and started out.

“Adan would hate you for this!” I cried. He stopped in the doorway but didn’t turn for a moment. “He would, señor. I know he would.”

“No, Delia,” he said, turning back to face me. “You do not understand. I hear his voice in this house.”

He looked at the ceiling as if he could hear him that very moment. Then he smiled at me.

“This is all for the best now. Go live your life, and make the best of yourself,” he said, and walked out.

I felt myself falling

into a panic. Once I left this compound, I would need a small army to get me back in to see my own baby. But what could I do about it now? I had signed the papers, and he had delivered on all his promises. For a few moments, I actually turned in a circle. I wanted to go back upstairs to see Adan Jr. before I left the hacienda. I was sure I wouldn’t be permitted to do so. Mrs. Newell would stop me. Teresa, who had overheard the discussion, looked at me with so much pity in her eyes I had to turn away. I looked at the front door, having the urge to run out and scream, and finally just walked back to my room to get my things together. I found two suitcases in my room and imagined Mrs. Newell had told one of the maids to bring them.

I was trembling so badly as I packed that I thought I would faint. Where would I go now? Certainly not back to mi tía Isabela’s hacienda. With my suitcases in hand, I stood dumbfounded in my room. I had such an empty feeling deep in my stomach when I thought about walking out that door and leaving my baby behind in this mad turmoil, but what choice did I have? I had been stupid to think I could play along and find a solution. Tía Isabela was right. I was out of my league.

Unable to think of anything or anyone else, I called Fani and got her on her cell phone as she was going between classes. I don’t know how she understood what I was saying. I was crying so hard.

“Look, I don’t have much time, Delia. This is all fine. I’ll let Edward know you’re coming. Take down my address. It’s easy to find it,” she said. “And I will help you get settled. Don’t forget to bring the information my cousin gave you. Here’s how you get here.”

I fumbled with a pen and scribbled down the directions to her apartment in Los Angeles. She wisely made me repeat it twice. Despite how easy she made it seem, it still sounded confusing to me. I didn’t know how I was holding myself together.

“I don’t know what I’m doing. I can’t think,” I told her.

“Calm down, Delia. You’ll get into an accident or something, and that won’t help anyone. Don’t worry. If you get lost, call. This is going to be so much fun for you. Stop crying. Relax. I’ll help you with everything. Everything will look different tomorrow. You’ll see. You’ll soon be enjoying your money just like I do,” she predicted, laughed, and hung up.

No one was waiting to say good-bye to me when I walked out carrying my suitcases. I was sure that all of the employees, including Teresa, were afraid of getting on Señor Bovio’s wrong side. How ironic this was when I thought about the way I had been greeted and viewed when I had first arrived here. I was like a goddess who had been brought back to earth, statues of her smashed.

I stood near the foot of the stairs and looked up, half expecting to see Mrs. Newell glaring down at me with satisfaction. I went to the doorway, paused for a moment to say a little prayer for Adan Jr., and stepped outside. I hadn’t even wondered about the car, but there it was, a brand-new silver Jaguar sedan.

I put my suitcases into the trunk and stood looking up at the hacienda, imagining Adan Jr. lying with his eyes open, expecting me to return. The images put a heavy weight on my chest. I took deep breaths to keep myself from collapsing. Then I got into the car and started the engine. I was moving like someone in a trance, going through the necessary motions.

The guard stepped out when I reached the gate. He was the one who had been there when Edward had tried to come see me. He stepped closer when I stopped. He looked into the car closely. Mi dios, I thought. He was checking to be sure I had not kidnapped my own baby. I wondered if Señor Bovio had given him those orders.

Satisfied, he stepped back and opened the gate for me. I drove out slowly and turned to the left, vaguely remembering the directions that would take me to the freeway and into Los Angeles. I must get to see Edward, I thought. He’ll know what I should do. Edward. That thought filled me with some new hope and helped me to relax.

As I approached the boundary of Señor Bovio’s estate, I was able to see the stable and the corral. Amigo was standing in the corral looking my way. He was nodding his head and pawing the ground as if he wanted to come charging after me.