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“Some.” His expression turns grave. “If they’re not sold into the human trafficking market to settle a family debt, or put to work in the marijuana fields. The ones I get are fortunate, but most of them will spend their lives here.”
“It’s so sad.”
“It is, but … you see that building?” Rodrigo points to a building in the back of the soccer field. I nod. “It’s a state-of-the-art school. Every one of these kids will graduate high school, thanks to this guy,” he says, and punches Tug in the arm. “And his brother.”
“It’s very kind.”
“The Hunter brothers are two of the most genuine and kind men I know,” Rodrigo says, beaming with pride.
Yes, they are, I think
, remembering how much Brady helped me in the past and Tug hiring the nurse for my papa. Not all hearts are the same size, and the Hunter brothers’ are huge.
“Come on,” Tug says. “I’ll show you around.”
We go out back to a wide-open courtyard surrounded by buildings. There’s a soccer field and a basketball court and far too many children.
“Where do they all sleep?”
Tug points to two large buildings. “Those are the barracks. We had them built last year. Before that, they slept in the building we entered, in rows and rows of cots.”
The sadness I feel takes over, and I feel wetness in my eyes, but I don’t cry.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
I sit at a picnic table, my gaze sweeping over the compound, which is essentially nothing more than a children’s prison, the children sentenced to a life here by their parents’ desperate choices.
Tug sits next to me, his hand massaging my back. I turn my head to look at him. “I almost dropped Javier off here. He was barely two.”
“Oh, sweet girl. I didn’t know. I wouldn’t have brought you here.”
“No, it’s okay.” I laugh awkwardly. “It’s stupid. I was desperate, and I thought his life was so rough that he’d be better off without me. The kids here want their parents and wouldn’t care if their life was rough if they could still have them. That’s irony.”
“You’re a good mom, Maria.”
“I want to be, but I haven’t tried hard enough.”
“You do the best you can.” He tries to reassure me, and I appreciate it, even if I can’t agree with him.
I stay quiet, uncertain what else to say. It was never my intention, but I’ve failed my son, and I won’t let that happen again.
We stay at the Center for the remainder of the day. Maria is distant, her interactions forced. Bringing her to the Center might have been a huge mistake. Before we leave, I promise Camilia and Paco I’ll bring Javier back to visit soon. They whine as they always do when I leave.
The sun sets behind the thick marine layer as we drive. Javier is asleep before we leave the parking lot. Maria is quiet for most of the drive back to her apartment. I know she’s thinking about the mistakes she’s made in her life. I also know how her worries will wreak havoc on her future if she doesn’t let go of them.
“Stay at my place,” I say, intentionally interrupting her thoughts.
“Javier has school, Papa has a doctor’s appointment, and I have to be to work by eleven.”
“So I’ll bring you home in the morning. You can take Franco to the doctor, and I’ll drop off Javier at school.”
“Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
Her loud sigh is marked with irritation, and I honestly have no idea what I did. “Handle everything so you can get what you want.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re implying.”
