Page 96 of Sweet Heart

“Y tú eres Maria, ¿verdad? You are even more beautiful than my daughter said you were,” she beams as she looks me over.

She pulls me into a hug before I can even respond, and wraps her strong arms tightly around my trembling body. There is something familiar and safe in the way she holds me, and even though I am utterly confused, I melt into her.

“A bit skinny, though,” she hums, “but we can fix that.”

“Mom!” Cat cries out, and with that, her mother breaks away from me with a chuckle.

Her eyes are as warm as Cat’s as she takes me in again, no trace of anger or hate in them. Just… endearment? Neither of them knows. And they aren’t going to.

“Thank you for inviting me, Miss Durand,” I manage, my voice warm.

Her eyebrows lift regardless, and she genuinely looks hurt for a moment.

“Miss Durand is my mother-in-law. You’d better call me Rosa.”

With that, she ushers Cat and me inside the door and into the lion’s den.

Chapter 35

Mary

Cat’s hand rests against the small of my back while I follow Rosa into the bungalow. The touch is warm against my cold body. My eyes go wide the moment we enter. The house is just as gorgeous on the inside as it looks on the outside. Deep teal and ochre-colored walls make the place look like something straight out of a magazine, and a huge number of plants, like monstera and aloe vera, give it that same Cuban feel I got from the restaurant.

“Wow,” I whisper, and Cat’s mouth twists into a lopsided grin.

For some reason, I had expected something more modern and classic, like her apartment. Maybe because Eduardo gave me that controlling vibe, or maybe because that’s what I came to associate her with, but this house is something different.

“Do you like it, hija?” Rosa beams at me as she places her hand on my arm.

I nod because I really do. It gives the impression of an active life, something passionate. I can really appreciate that.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Gracias.”

“De nada,” I reply, and her eyebrows shoot up.

“¿Tú hablas español? Katherina no—”

I shake my head really quickly, and Cat bursts out laughing. My eyes blaze as they find hers, and she tries to catch her breath as she looks at me apologetically. Rosa looks from me to her daughter, the confusion and amusement clear on her face.

“Sorry, Mom,” Cat smirks, “I’ve been pestering her with Spanish words, and she’s starting to pick up a thing or two.”

I smile sheepishly at that, before lowering my eyes.

“Not nearly enough to have a conversation, just the stuff she says a lot,” I offer, and I feel my cheeks heat.

Rosa just smiles and squeezes my arm.

“Perfecto,” she exhales. “You will learn soon enough.”

I open my mouth to protest when a familiar low voice comes up from behind me.

“Katherina, mi hija.”

“Hola, papá,” Cat answers, her smile softening, but her eyes sharp.

I force myself to turn slowly, and I see Eduardo leaning against the doorframe. That same tilted chin, and that same dismissive glare in his eyes, the ones he dragged over me this morning.