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“Yes, sir. I’ll do what I can. Now, how are you?”
“I’m fine. Carlotta strives to be the perfect wife, and yesterday, she went too far. The next time she calls, tell her you’re sure a hospital visit isn’t necessary.”
His cautious stepmother might be right, and there could be dire consequences if his father’s treatment was delayed. “I won’t promise anything until she has a reason to call.”
“She won’t have a reason to call. That’s the whole point. Now have a good time on your cruise and then cut Ana loose. You don’t need to be saddled with an invalid.”
“Neither does Carlotta. Good-bye.” He was so angry he nearly threw the phone across the room. Ana would soon recover from her injuries, so she couldn’t be described as an invalid. He lay back on the futon and rested his arm over his eyes. What if she had been so badly injured she couldn’t walk again? He thought too much of her to abandon her even then. After all, he’d married her, hadn’t he? With a baby coming, he’d have to arrange a legal marriage to have a say in the child’s upbringing. He was positive he’d be a much better father to their child than his father had been to him. He promised himself he would.
When Alejandro arrived at L’Esperanza Monday morning, a new physician stood beside Ana’s bed. “I’ll wait outside.”
“Please come in,” Ana urged. “You’ll tell me the truth even if Dr. Hibiscus won’t.” She held one of the bright red flowers in her hand.
The surgeon turned and nodded a welcome. He was of medium height with curly gray hair and a bright sparkle in his brown eyes. “Good morning. It’s Dr. Higareda. I have hibiscus bushes covered with flowers and brought your wife one. I’m just changing her dressing, and while I’m known for my absolutely exquisite work, she won’t believe me.”
Alejandro came to the foot of her bed. He’d brought a bag of cakes from El Gato to tease her into eating breakfast. “Is your vision better today?”
“Sadly no. The whole world’s still shimmering out of focus.”
Dr. Higareda removed the bandage looped over her head and uncovered her cheek. He’d shaved a strip of her scalp before stitching the beginning of the cut, but the bald spot could be easily hidden by her long hair. The fine line of stitches extending across the apple of her cheek made Alejandro sick. Had the cut been an inch higher, she might have lost her eye. He took a firm grip on the foot rail to remain steady. “It looks good to me, Ana.”
“Thank you,” Dr. Higareda said. “I’ll apply a light bandage, and you’ll be fine for today.”
“We’d like to leave on a cruise Friday. Will Ana be able to go?”
“Yes. I’ll remove your stitches before you sail, my dear. My wife and I went on a cruise on an Ortiz ship a couple of years ago. It was the best vacation we’ve ever taken. We should go again.”
Alejandro expected Ana to reveal he was part of the Ortiz family, but she didn’t give it away. He’d picked up some unsolicited praise for the cruise line to report to his father, if he ever spoke to him again.
Later, they were eating the little nut cakes when Ana’s cell phone chimed. Alejandro pulled it from his pocket. “It’s Fatima. Do you feel well enough to talk with her again?” When Ana reached for her phone, he held back. “Don’t mention we’re married. It’s our secret, remember?”
“No, I don’t remember,” she reminded him, but she found a cheerful voice for Fatima. “The food here isn’t nearly as good as yours, but Alejandro is sneaking in my favorites. How are Romeo and Juliet?”
New flower deliveries had been placed on a table against the wall, and the room smelled like a lush greenhouse. He leaned over his yellow roses on the windowsill to watch the traffic in the street below. The day moved on with a restless rhythm and an occasional strident horn blast, but with no regard for last weekend’s casualties.
The doctors and nurses referred to him as Ana’s husband. He’d grown used to it, but apparently they were discreet and hadn’t called a tabloid. He hoped their marriage would remain a secret awhile longer. Once they got to sea, they’d have the calm and quiet they’d need to make plans for themselves and for a family. He laughed to himself at the thought the tabloids might have been alerted, but couldn’t find any proof he and Ana had wed and weren’t publishing the story. He didn’t expect anything in the way of ethics from the tabloid press, but for once, they were proving useful. As for his own ethics, he was only doing what was best for Ana. He assured himself it couldn’t be wrong.
Ana ended the call and left her phone in her lap. “I told her to spend her time with the widows in the building who need company. I’d hoped to invite them all for an afternoon tea, but it will have to wait until after the cruise. I hope I’ll feel better by Friday. I’d hate to spend our time at sea in bed.”
He pulled up the visitor’s chair. “I thought you already felt better. Are you in a lot of pain?”
She still had an IV drip and nodded toward it. “They’re keeping me on painkillers, but it’s difficult to move without something hurting. At least I’m not dead. Now what do you suppose has happened to Gian Carlo?”
“You have his number on your phone. Why not call him?”
“You’ll have to find his number for me.” He did, and Gian Carlo answered on the first ring. “Hi, where have you been, Gian Carlo? Haven’t you had time to come visit me?” she asked.
“Ana! Oh God, I’m so sorry. If you’re well enough to talk, please forgive me.”
“It was an accident. Montoya is looking for you. You need to file an accident report.”
“He scares me. My insurance company is handling the accident, and I’m staying with Lourdes until someone’s been arrested for killing Jaime.”
Ana smiled at Alejandro. “You might have a long stay.”
“I hope not. Now tell me how you are.”
She covered her phone. “How am I?”
