“She says at her second rodeo.”
“Excuse you. I happen to be an expert sleuth at this point.”
“Oh, my apologies.” Valentina chuckles. “I would say intermediate at most, though.”
I lightly punch her in the arm, and she flinches away before laughing.
“So what now? Do we kidnap Granny? Throw her in the back of the car, drive to an unknown location, and ask her the tough questions? ‘Where were you August 26, 1998?’”
“Maybe we can just casually bring it up in conversation?” I suggest.
“That’s way less fun, but fine. We can do it at the bridal shower. Did you bring your gift for Sof?”
Fuck. Gift. Of course. It’s like a baby shower but for a bride.
“Do you think she’d notice if I gave her today’s wedding favor as a gift? Who doesn’t want a nice Tiffany bracelet and MAC lipstick with candied almonds?”
“How about we go into town and pick something up? There’s an outlet mall nearby,” she says, laughing.
“Wait, like, leave?”
Valentina takes off her white chef’s coat—her costume—and grabs her bag.
I watch as she shrugs off the coat like it’s nothing, transforming from chef to casual chic in seconds. It’s so easy for her, shedding layers and revealing a different side. I get it, though. We both wear costumes. Mine’s the life I pretend to lead around my family—the successful restaurant owner, the one who’s got it all together. Her chef’s coat? Just another role she plays. It’s only when she takes it off that I feel like I’m seeing the Valentina I have known my entire life.
“Yeah, we’re not prisoners here, Valdes. We’re free to leave.” She winks.
“What about sabotaging the wedding? Shouldn’t you be planning your next attack?”
“For you? That can wait.” She smiles. “Shall we pick up Abuelita and bring her along? She might be more open to questioning if she’s away from family, especially Maritza. Major gossiper.”
“Yes, definitely.”
“It’s a date, then. I mean—that’s not what I meant,” Valentina stumbles, her usual composure slipping as she fumbles over her words. I catch a faint blush on her cheeks, which, surprisingly, is kind of endearing.
I raise an eyebrow, leaning in just a little. “A date with Granny, huh? Not exactly how I pictured our first date, but I guess it’s memorable.”
She laughs, trying to brush it off, but I can see the fluster lingering in her expression. “Oh, please. Like you’d ever take me on a real date.”
“You’d be surprised,” I counter, letting a grin tug at my lips. “I’ve been told I’m an excellent date.”
Valentina rolls her eyes, but the smile she tries to hide betrays her amusement. For a brief moment, there’s an ease between us, something almost comfortable.
“Come on,” she says, shaking her head as she leads the way to the car. “We’ve got a granny to pick up.”
* * *
As Valentina navigates through the narrow roads of Lee, I can’t help but be captivated by the quaint charm surrounding me. I spot a few historic buildings, each with its own unique character and story to tell.
“Que lindo,” Abuelita says, pointing out the quaint boutiques and cafés we pass by.
“I still think we should have taken Miss Piggy,” I joke.
“She’s dead.”
“She’s just sleeping at the mechanic’s!” I yell back. “Like a coma for cars. She’ll be up in no time. She has to be, anyways, so I can leave this place on Sunday.”
As we approach the outskirts of the town, I can see the large outlet mall in the distance, a beacon of consumerism in contrast to the charming small town.
