Chapter 13
Carmen wasn’t out at the mint patch.
“She’ll be by Papa’s tree,” Zita said. They walked through the garden, and found her sitting under a tree that had been planted in honor of their father. Tears were running down her face.
“Mama,” Zita said and hurried to hug her.
“Niñitas.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Do not worry. I am all right.”
“No you’re not, Mama,” Bridget said. “What’s wrong?”
She and Carly sat either side of her, Carly still holding Julio.
Carmen sighed. “It has been a little bit difficult the past few weeks,” she said. “I don’t know what I would have done without Zita’s help.” She patted Zita’s knee and smiled at her.
The stab of guilt made it hard to breathe. This was why she couldn’t leave. Her mother needed her.
“What can we do to help?” Carly asked.
“Nothing. It will work itself out in the end. Elena is scared of being sent home, so she won’t consider giving Xaviera up for adoption, though she doesn’t want the child. She believes that because the baby is a US citizen, she will be allowed to stay as well, but if she gives her up, she will have to go home.”
“When is her hearing?” Bridget asked.
“Next month,” Zita answered.
“Then there’s Teresa,” Carmen continued. “She asks for news on her mother and sister every day.”
Zita winced. The girl’s concern was understandable, but the process was slow.
“We’ll buy the airfares as soon as the application is approved,” Carly said.
“It won’t be that easy,” Carmen said. “Johanna is being monitored all of the time and Manuela is rarely permitted to visit her family. Getting them away is going to be difficult.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that?” Zita asked. She’d heard nothing more about Teresa’s family.
“You’ve been busy with the babies, and with David.”
Her heart squeezed. So now she’d dropped the ball because she had a social life. Was it really going to be all or nothing?
“Perhaps Fernando can help,” Carly suggested.
Carmen nodded. “He is trying. He’s arranged a way to communicate with Johanna and given her both our numbers.”
“That’s great. Hopefully it will ease Teresa’s mind,” Bridget said.
“Yes,” Carmen agreed. She sighed and got to her feet. “We should go inside and check what the boys have ordered.” She grimaced.
Bridget and Carly laughed, but Zita wasn’t able to. It was clear her mother needed her.
How could she pursue her dreams now?
***
Monday evening, when the house had grown silent, Zita closed herself in her bedroom. She should study for her LSAT, but after yesterday she couldn’t go through with it. She couldn’t abandon her mother. She’d spend the evening researching her Irish heritage instead. She flicked on her laptop and crawled onto her bed. Before she got started, there was a knock on her door.
She sighed. “Yes?”
Her mother came in. She was holding a letter.
