Chapter 3
Everyone slept late on New Year’s Day. Everyone, that is, except Julio, Alejandra’s four-month-old baby, who started crying at about five in the morning. Zita woke and listened to Alejandra trying to quiet him. It wasn’t working, and one of the other girls yelled in Spanish, “Take him downstairs.”
There was likely to be an all-out argument if Alejandra didn’t and Zita was too tired for that. With a groan, she got up and padded across the hallway to Alejandra’s room. “Do you want me to take him?”
Alejandra was pacing the floor with Julio, looking stressed. The relief on her face was obvious. “He’s been fed, but he won’t settle. Tiana doesn’t understand.” She glared toward Tiana’s bedroom.
Zita took the baby from her. “I’ll see what I can do.” She cooed to him and rocked him as she carried him downstairs, away from the bedrooms so the others could sleep.
In the living room, her dogs greeted her with wags of their tails, but didn’t get up. It was too early for them as well. Zita settled herself on the sofa, Julio against her chest, and murmured nonsense to him. His cries grew softer.
She closed her eyes. She was so tired. After she’d gone to bed last night, she hadn’t been able to stop replaying her kiss with David in her mind. She’d not been expecting the passion, the intensity and she couldn’t wait to see him again. She smiled.
Julio hiccupped and stopped crying. Zita shifted him so he was next to the back rest and the two of them fell asleep.
The noise from the television being switched on woke them both. Zita sighed, opening her eyes as Julio started to cry again. Beatriz was fumbling with the remote to turn the volume down, glancing at her fearfully.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you,” Beatriz said.
“It’s all right, Bea,” Zita soothed, and sat up, shushing the baby. “What time is it?”
“Seven.”
Last night, Beatriz had curled up on a sofa at the bar and fallen asleep way before midnight. “Did you have fun last night?”
Beatriz nodded and sat on the sofa next to Zita, making faces at Julio. He stopped crying and watched her in fascination.
“You’re good with babies,” Zita said, smiling at the girl.
She looked up. “There were many babies in my neighborhood. I helped with them to stay out of Pablo’s way. The mothers appreciated my help.”
“I’m sure they did.”
“I promised Elena I’d help with her baby when it comes. I like babies. They don’t hurt you.” Beatriz held out her hands to take Julio and Zita passed him over.
Her heart went out to the ten-year-old girl.
Carmen ducked her head into the living room. “Already up,niñitas?”
“Hola,Mamá.” Zita stood and followed her mother into the kitchen. “Did you have a nice time last night?”
“It was wonderful,” she said. “But I imagine you had more fun with David.” Mama grinned at her.
Zita’s cheeks heated. “I’m not answering that.”
Her mother laughed. “He seems nice.”
“I hope so.” She didn’t want to talk about it. She switched on the coffee machine, yawning.
“What time did Julio wake?” Carmen asked.
“Five.”
“You should go back to bed, baby. You’ve barely had any sleep.”
“I’m fine. I’ll take the dogs for a walk and get some fresh air.” She poured them both a coffee and sat down.
The first sip was heaven.
