“Alma, sorry. I had to invite him.”
Alma gritted her teeth. “You better explain yourself right fucking now or I’m going to lose it.”
“It’s my soccer program. We are going bankrupt. The parents can’t afford the uniforms or the tournament fees. I know youagreed to help out with the Cinco festival, and I appreciate that, but it’s not enough.”
“So what? You called my ex? After you saw how I reacted lastnight? How could you do that? How did you even get his number? Did you know he was coming last night?”
“No. Of course I didn’t. I had no idea he was in town, but after I saw him, it hit me. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. And I got his number from the business card that you tossed in the trash.”
That stupid card. She should’ve shredded it, but if Carlos had wanted that badly to contact Jaime, he would’ve found a way no matter what. “I can’t believe you would do this to me! Your own flesh and blood.”
“Dammit, Alma, it’s not about you, don’t you see? You live in Tiburon in your oceanfront condo with your oceanfront bar and your oceanfront life. Sure, you pop in and out of events like it’s cool and donate money, but you don’t live here anymore. You don’t suffer like we do. Like our community does.” He gestured wildly with his arms. “It has only gotten worse since the pandemic.”
Her chest heaved. “Don’t shame me for working my ass off and enjoying my success. You chose to stay in the Canal. You could leave.”
“That’s true. I did choose to stay here, and I’m happy with my decision. And I’m proud of you and you have every right to leave. I’m sorry. I don’t want to shame you. I know you still care. But we really need the help.”
She understood. But still. Jaime?
Carlos didn’t stop yapping. “Jaime not only has money but he is also willing to help promote the festival too. And that’s not all.”
There was more? Alma rolled her eyes. “What else, dímelo?”
Carlos paused and looked away from her. “His brothers are going to come up to help also.”
Alma’s eyes bulged. “What?”
“They are planning a huge fundraising event. We need this, Alma; our community needs this. Cinco is two weeks away. You can put up with Jaime for fourteen days, can’t you? For the Canal?”
Waves of confusion crashed down on Alma. Why was she expected to have to deal with her ex for two weeks for the good of her community? Could she ever enjoy the life she had worked so hard for without the stinging guilt?
She wasn’t going to do it. She glared at Carlos, and then reluctantly followed him back to where Jaime was.
A cute little boy no more than four ran up to Alma’s dog.
“What’s her name?”
“Tequila.”
Jaime laughed, but she ignored him.
Alma smiled at the boy. “Do you want to pet her?”
The boy nodded his head. He pet her dog, who grunted loudly.
When he was done, the little boy pointed at Santi’s car. “Is this the man who is going to let me play soccer?” he asked Carlos in Spanish.
Tears welled in Alma’s eyes.
How selfish was she? Carlos was right. She had left her community behind to assimilate into Tiburon. She had once been a child who lived here who didn’t have enough money for after-school activities. Oh, how she’d wanted to try gymnastics, but her parents couldn’t afford the lessons. And Carlos would probably be a professional soccer player if he’d had more opportunities whenhe was younger. It was too late for him, but it wasn’t too late for the sweet boy in front of her.
She turned to Jaime and nodded.
Then Alma knelt down beside the little boy. “Yes, yes heis.”
Chapter Nine
Jaime looked over at Alma, comforting the cute little boy with the shiny black hair. The boy smiled and hugged her, then pet Tequila. What an incredible woman Alma was—she had put aside her hatred for Jaime for the good of her community.
