“What the fuck do you know about my family? Mind your own business.”
I’m surprised that I’m actually shocked by her attitude. I have no idea where this is coming from. Granted, she’s always been a bit of a jerk to me, but this is a whole different level of Silvana I’m not ready to put up with.
“Why do you always have to be such a bitch? Honestly. We could have been closer. You know I didn’t grow up with two sisters like my mother did. I was by myself often, and it would have been nice to have cousins around.”
“Two sisters? What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Mari, Maritza, and Rosita? Who else?”
I look at her as if she has five heads. I can’t tell if I’ve really thrown her off or she’s just trying to mess with me.
“Rosita isn’t related to my mom and your mom. How do you not know this?” She scoffs. “I guess it’s clear you’re not that important in the family if everyone is keeping secrets from you, huh? I don’t even know why you’re here, but I can assure you, it won’t end well for you. So back off and stop asking questions.”
“Wait, what?”
But Silvie turns her paddleboard away, her back toward me. I quickly remember the lock of hair and pull it out of my top. She begins to paddle out, and I reach my arm out as far as I can to compare it to her hair. I keep reaching until I slip off my board and fall into the water. I panic as I swim to the surface quickly.
“Hey! Are you okay? I saw you fall in.”
Valentina paddles quickly toward me.
I hold on to my board and clear the water from my face and lashes. I look around at the lake, then below me, into the darkness.
“Fuck. I lost the hair.”
“Oh damn, really?”
Valentina looks around the water, but it’s long gone.
“Well, that blows,” I groan.
Valentina shrugs. “Well, I guess it wouldn’t have been super helpful if Sofia dyed her hair or something, right? All is not lost.”
“I guess you’re right,” I sigh. “I fucking hate paddleboarding. I’m ready to go river tubing now,” I say in utter defeat.
Between Sofia’s heartfelt words, Silvana’s threatening message, and the possibility that Rosita isn’t even my real aunt, I think I’ve learned enough to earn myself a moment on dry land before our next activity. The thought still plagues me, though. If Rosita isn’t my real aunt and not my mother’s sister, then who is she? Who is Sofia?
As soon as we’re back on shore, I pull Maria and Valentina aside. I can’t hold this in any longer.
“There’s something I need to tell you both.”
They both look at me, concern etched on their faces.
“I just found out that Rosita might not actually be my real aunt.”
Maria’s mouth falls open, and Valentina stares at me in disbelief. “Wait, what do you mean?” Maria asks, clutching my arm.
“Apparently, she isn’t my mom’s sister. I don’t have all the details, but it’s starting to feel like everything I thought I knew about my family might be a lie. If Rosita isn’t my aunt…then who is she? And what does that mean for Sofia?”
The weight of it hangs between us. Valentina places a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll figure this out together.”
“Yeah,” Maria adds, nodding firmly. “But first, let’s get through this day. We’ll sort through all of it later.”
I take a deep breath and nod, trying to focus on what’s ahead. I need to keep it together.
Chapter Fourteen
“Yeah, I’m not wearing this.”
