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“I knew that.” Dolley came over, too. “I translated it years ago.
“Which of our forefathers bought this?” Dolley mused.
Carolina’s face went pale.
“Are you all right?” Sage asked.
She nodded, but it was jerky.
Ella started playing. Carolina opened her mouth but instead of the gorgeous voice he’d heard just a few nights ago, she croaked.
Ella stopped. “Start again?”
Carolina looked around the group. Tears filled her eyes.
Enough. Sage said, “I’m taking you back to the apartment.”
Abby gave her a hug. “I shouldn’t have suggested you sing.”
“I wanted to.” But Carolina’s tears soaked Abby’s shoulder.
“Come over and practice whenever you want.” Abby patted her back.
“Thank you. Maybe tomorrow.” And a new flood of tears streamed down Carolina’s face.
Sage pulled her away. “Come on.”
It was his turn to take care of her.
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING, Carolina held the song’s last note, making sure her breath sustained the tonal quality and shaped the sound. She didn’t belt it out. The guests in Fitzgerald House liked their rehearsals, but she wasn’t going to shake the walls.
“I have to pee,” Ella said as she finished the last bar of the song. “Too much coffee.”
She dashed out of the parlor, leaving Carolina alone.
The globe drew her to the bookshelf. So you can always find your way home.
But the globe wasn’t home. She’d barely slept last night, debating what to do.
Poppy’s father had given the globe to him. This was Castillo property.
Ella was down on the first floor. No one was in the hallway. She grabbed her tote, her heart pounding in her ears. This was for Mamá. The globe would bring her comfort.
She slipped it into her bag, tucking it under the sheet music she and Ella had already rehearsed. Then she zipped the pocket shut and collapsed on the piano bench. Done.
“That was wonderful.” Marion, the head of housekeeping, stood in the doorway. “The guests are thrilled. You might end up entertaining in both the restaurant and the parlor.”
Guilt had Carolina moving to the doorway. Would Marion notice the globe was gone? “I don’t know that I can sing that much.”
“Well, Abby is excited about next weekend’s opening.” Marion leaned against the doorway, not looking at the bookcase. “Will your mama be able to come?”
“I don’t know.” She wrapped her arms around her waist. “I’m hoping the seizures stop so she can. Sage promised to bring her.”
Ella came back up. “Ready?”
“I’ll leave you ladies to your work.” Marion walked away.
Carolina didn’t think she would be able to sing another note, not with the globe sending out homing signals from her tote. “I should go see Mamá.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Ella asked.
Absolutely not. “I’m good. I just want to see if she’s recovered from yesterday.”
“Wait. Did you have that new arrangement for ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’?”
She would have to dig through her bag. “Hang on.”
Carolina set the bag on the sofa so the back covered Ella’s view. God, this was horrible. She pulled out her sheet music, sorting through it.
Ella came closer.
“Here.” Carolina nearly shoved it at her best friend.
“You need to ease off the coffee, sweetie. Maybe take up meditation.”
“I know. I will.” Carolina gathered up the straps of the tote. “I’ll see you later.”
She ran out of the room. This had to be the last time she took something. The stress would kill her if Mamá asked for more.
Carolina headed for the hospital. Maybe she shouldn’t have taken the globe. Maybe she should bring it back. She rubbed at her brewing headache.
No. If reclaiming a family heirloom could stop Mamá’s seizures, she had to try.
* * *
MAMÁ SAT IN BED, the TV droning in the background. She rubbed the top of one hand.
“Mamá, how are you today?”
“Tired.” Mamá looked up, her eyes sunken into her face. “I’m always tired.”
“You had a seizure yesterday.” Carolina brushed a kiss on her mother’s cheek. “You need to recover.”
“I hate being here. Hate the needles. Hate the radiation.” She let her head fall back, closing her eyes.
“I know.” She wanted her mother to smile again. She wanted her mother to be healthy. That wasn’t going to happen. Soon she would lose the last member of her family.
“Maybe I should give up,” her mother whispered.
