Dolores was fuming now. “You think I’m the only one who saw those photos and did some digging? Mama’s the only one being kept in the dark. Papa has half a mind to hit you in the wallet when you next go back to Monaco!”
“Stop your crowing. It’s not that serious. June is…”
“She’s what, Miquela?”
Miquela would not throw her under the proverbial bus. “Very special to me. It’s true.”
“Dios mio, you’re not getting married, are you?”
“You would hate that, wouldn’t you?”
“Don’t scare me like that!”
“Fine thing it would be, though.” Finally, something for Miquela to revel in during this confrontation. “You working half your life to secure such a desirable marriage, and then your wild older sister spreading her legs to every professional woman inthe world. Imagine if Iwerea man, Lolita. How many bastard children do you think I would have now?Cinco? Diez?”
“Please, don’t even joke about that!”
“Meanwhile, I know you’ve been trying to get knocked up since your honeymoon. How’s that going? I’m even assuming your husband is attracted to you. I saw him canoodling with that best man at your wedding.”
She had asked for it. Dolores marching over to slap her across the face, that is.
That stings. Miquela sucked in her cheeks, but that was her only sign of distress. Dolores coddled her hand while tears of frustration boiled at the corners of her eyes.
“Te odio,” she spat.
Ouch. Miquela rarely heard that much vitriol, let alone from Dolores.
“You have no idea what it’s like. You always get to do what you want. Fuck whomever you want. ‘Spread your legs’ from the Chinese backwoods to that other slut, Rosa.” She must have enjoyed the frown sprouting on Miquela’s marred visage. “People still speculate how long she was cheating on you, you know.”
Miquela crumbled inside. “I know, thank you. Are you done now?”
“We are never done. Let me tell you… whether you love the whore or not, cut her loose. We don’t need that trash anywhere near our name. We have…Ihave worked too hard for this family. You may make us money, but it’smewho brings in the people you make money off of!”
“Yes, with your feminine wiles and charms. So friendly. So gracious. My sweet sister.”
“Fuck off to hell and die, Miquela.”
“Likewise, Lola.”
Sad thing? They probably didn’t even have the most toxic sibling relationship out of most people they knew.
“If not for me, or Mama and Papa… do it for Maria.” Dolores did not look at her sister, but she kept her voice even. “She’s like a puppy in a cage with mountain lions. If we stand any chance at setting her up with a suitable match, let alone one she’ll accept, we have to keep the name Bolivar clean. People like us are everywhere back home, and she is also a woman. Men can pass her by and find someone else as wealthy and from a good background to marry them.”
“You treat yourself like cattle.”
“Because I am cattle! Don’t you see? You were born with everything you could want to live the easiest of all. You were born first. You spit on femininity. You were born in a time when arranged marriages were frowned upon, and the expectation existed for you to do whatever you wanted, the golden child. I came here to make sure you understood that. If you insist on falling in love with some Cinderella… make sure she’s not a damned hooker.”
“Go home, Lola.”
Dolores grabbed her purse and gloves. She wasn’t halfway to the door before Miquela felt stupid enough to speak.
“It would really explode your ass to know that I love that woman you hate so much because of what she’s done for a living. I don’t say that lightly, but I’ve let you and the others speak for me about Rosa. I won’t make that mistake again. I’m sorry I haven’t been more understanding of your situation… but it would be nice if you understood mine as well.”
Dolores sniffed and put her hand on the doorknob.
“I lied about your husband and the best man. I’m sure you’ll have a baby soon.”
Miquela hadn’t lied about the husband and the best man. Everyone loved to bar talk about how Mr. Dolores Bolivar wasgay.When in Monaco…Miquela always figured it was part of the reason her frigid sister chose the man for her suitable match. Maybe not.
