Vince raised his empty bottle in a salute. “I’m just calling it like I see it. No offense to you, brother. I’m just looking out for you.”
Isaac’s voice dropped. “You have one more chance. Apologize. Now.”
“Or what? You’ll pick your slut girlfriend over your brother? You’ve known her for all of a minute.” Vince tried to cover his inebriation with slow, deliberate movements as he set his bottle down by the others.
“Anna, I’d like to leave,” said Isaac.
Her chest hurt, and the world was still a blur, but she stumbled toward Isaac. He took her lemonade and set it on the table next to the appetizers. She was so grateful that he understood she needed to get away, and was not giving his brother any chance to use it against her. Leaving was for her as much as for him. He put his arm around her stiff shoulders, but even that couldn’t stop her growing distress.
Turning to his mom in the open doorway, Isaac rattled off a quick stream of angry Spanish. Carmela stood, her mouth agape. Anna couldn’t follow his words but caught Vince’s name and the word insult.
“I’m sorry, Mom. We can talk later.” Isaac guided Anna back to the car, revved the engine, and backed out with an uncharacteristic spray of gravel. His mouth was set in harder lines than she’d ever seen.
She couldn’t speak, the pressure inside her intensifying to intolerable levels. She’d passed the point-of-no-return and wouldn’t last much longer. The tears kept coming, then a gut-wrenching sob. She tried to stifle the noise with her hands, but failed. She wanted to ask Isaac to stop, but she couldn’t speak.
She screamed from behind her hands. The muffled sound caused Isaac to jump. He pulled the car to the side of the road and held her while she rocked, unable to do anything else. She would be embarrassed later, but for now, it only mattered that Vince and Carmela hadn’t witnessed her meltdown. The heightened emotions from everyone had been negative and so intense that she’d been overwhelmed. Fighting reminded her of the tough years with her parents when they’d constantly battled about her difficulties and lack of money. First Spencer, then Sandra, and now this. She could only hold back for so long—the dam had burst.
CHAPTER 12
Isaac
Holding Anna while she cried, Isaac made a resolution. He wouldn’t spend another night under Vince’s roof. He would stay with Anna tonight, if she’d let him, and he’d find a place of his own to either buy or rent as soon as possible. Despite his anger with Vince, he’d stay in Cervera, though he was free to choose where to live.
He smoothed the hair from Anna’s face when her crying subsided and handed her a packet of tissues from the car’s center console.
“I’m sorry,” she repeated several times as she took deep breaths, clearly fighting to regain control. She couldn’t look at him, though she hadn’t pulled from the circle of his arms. It was only now that their awkward positioning in separate seats became uncomfortable.
“Let’s go for a short walk.” He stepped out of the low-slung car. On her side, he helped her out. Taking her hand, he led her to the scenic viewpoint where she could catch her breath in the fresh evening air. He wrapped himself around her from behind, holding her close. “Is this okay?”
She nodded but didn’t speak. Several minutes of close contact elapsed before her stiffness faded, and she relaxed in his arms. He kissed her temple.
“I’m sorry Vince was an asshole. Is there anything I can do?”
Her head shake was so minute he wouldn’t have felt it if she wasn’t leaning into him. “I’ll understand if you aren’t interested in being with me anymore.” Her quiet words broke his heart.
It was like she thought being different made her defective or unworthy. There was nothing wrong with her. Who’d made her feel this way? Her mystery parents? That Adam?
“I love all of you. Even this. When you’re hurting, let it out. I can handle it.” He squeezed, hoping his words sunk in. She might need to hear them more than once to make her believe. “Can I stay at the Inn with you tonight? We’ll pack up a few of my things from Vince’s.”
“Of course.” Her body tightened again at his brother’s name.
“He won’t be there. Mom won’t let him drive, not after drinking.” Isaac clenched his fist so hard it hurt. “I’ll move out after we return from Jerez on the weekend. We leave tomorrow.” He’d do better with more space from Vince for a while, but that wasn’t an option.
Anna would see Vince this weekend after all, at the track. That might be difficult.
“I’m sorry I got so upset.” Her words weren’t much louder than a whisper, and her cheeks remained warm and flushed.
He moved to face her so she would understand his sincerity. “You have nothing to apologize for. Anyone would be upset by what Vince said. I’m embarrassed for him.”
“But my meltdown,… I hate when I get like that.” Her eyes shone with new tears as she looked up, at last meeting his gaze.
“Mi corazon, you never have to apologize for how you feel. We have to be able to tell each other the truth and express our feelings.” He took a breath and said, “It was more than this, though. You’ve been tense for days and bottling things up.” His voice became rougher, and his eyes narrowed. “Has Vince spoken to you like that before?”
She shook her head. But her tight body language made him think her answer was only a partial truth.
“Who?” he said, a red haze clouding his vision.
“I can’t tell you.” Her scrutiny returned to the ground.
