"Why?"
“Do as your mother says.” My father comes in from the living room.
Rather than argue, I roll my eyes and go back upstairs to change.
Five minutes later, there’s a tap on my bedroom door. I’m brushing my hair in the mirror above my dresser. My sister Consuela sticks her head in, and my mouth drops open.
“Consuela! What are you doing here?”
She comes in and hugs me. “Can’t I visit my little sister?”
“Where’s your handsome husband?”
“Downstairs talking to Mama and trying to steal a taste of what she’s cooking, I’m sure.” She smells the perfume in the bottle on my dresser. “Is this new? I like it.”
I take the bottle from her and set it down. “Did you want something?”
“Just to talk.” Her eyes take in my cotton skirt and blouse. “Is that what you’re wearing to dinner?”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Nothing.” She strolls into my closet and starts flipping through hangers.
I turn away and swipe some mascara over my lashes. In the reflection, I see Consuela come out holding a dress on a hanger.
“You should wear this one tonight.”
“Why?” I frown, suspicious of her interest. “Since when do you care what I wear to family dinner?”
“Tonight is special.”
I lower the mascara wand. “Why is tonight special?”
“Well… um, the cousins will all be here, and it’s my first time home in months. Please wear it for me?”
“If I do, will you quit nagging me?”
“If you let me do your hair.”
“Why the sudden interest in me?”
She comes over to me and brushes a lock of my hair back. “Because you’re my little sister, and believe it or not I’ve missed you, you little pain-in-the-ass.”
“There she is. I thought for a minute you’d turned into a different person.”
She smiles, searching my eyes. “I really do love you, Luisa. I always have. And I know I’ve given you a hard time some days, but I hope you know I just want the best for you.”
“Okay, you’re being weird again.”
She hugs me. “I love you, baby sis.”
Reluctantly, my arms come around her. “I love you, too.”
“Now, change into that other dress.”
Half an hour later, I’m in the pretty powder blue satin dress that Consuela chose for me, and my hair is swept up on one side, held with a sparkly barrette, the other side falling in soft waves over my shoulder. I stare in the mirror. I look pretty.
“Here. One last thing.” She unclasps the heart necklace she wears and fastens it around my neck.
