AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And true to my word, less than five minutes later, I’m jogging through the parking lot at Sunrise Harbor. The name is very apt this morning, with the sun shining low across the bay as it makes its ascent for the day ahead.
It’s comforting, almost hypnotic, and I feel a wave of serenity wash over me despite the wretched evening I’d experienced. It’s almost like the world is trying to tell me that everything is going to be okay.
Ringing the bell at the front door, I’m buzzed in immediately. I toss a quick nod at whoever is at reception, not stopping to identify who I’m acknowledging as my feet fly across the linoleum flooring that lines the hallway.
As I skid to a halt outside my abuela’s door, I take a moment to collect myself. Blowing out a breath, I inhale through my nose deeply to calm myself. A smile threatens my lips at the thought of what I might encounter when I open the door before me, and with that, I step forward, pushing the door wide.
“Lita?”
I poke my head hesitantly around the corner of the door, finding the woman in question immediately, alongside a grinning Penelope. She’s sat next to my grandmother, playing a card game—rummy, no doubt, knowing my abuela—and she smiles broadly as her eyes find mine.
“Mariana! Look who’s here.”
She stands, setting her hands on the tray table between them.
My abuela’s concentrated gaze lifts from her own hand of cards to meet my hopeful gaze. Her big brown eyes light up, and tears fill my matching doe eyes as she drops her cards to open her arms wide.
“Ah,mija! Come to me,mi conchita linda.”
My pretty little seashell!
Tears fall unheeded down my cheeks when I hear the much-loved nickname, and I close the distance between us, falling ungracefully into her warm embrace. “Lita! I missed you so much.”
She rubs the top of my head soothingly as I inhale her homely scent. “I saw you yesterday,mi amor. Surely you couldn’t have missed me that much!”
Her chest rumbles with a chuckle as my heart breaks at her words. She’s not had any lucidity in well over a year.
Terminal lucidity. A blessing and a curse.
Even so, I embrace this special gift, this dear time with her, before the end. Because once she’s gone, I’ll truly be all alone.
Plastering a smile on my face, I sit back and cup her cheeks. She mirrors my actions, using her thumbs to wipe the tears from beneath my eyes.
“I know, Lita. I just missed you, that’s all.”
“Oh,mi conchita linda.” She brushes her knuckles across my cheekbone as her eyes hold mine intently. “You don’t ever need to miss me. I’m right here.” Raising her hand, she gently taps my temple before dropping her other hand from my cheek to rest over my heart.
“And here.”
My bottom lip trembles under the force of my emotions, her words meaning more to me than she could possibly comprehend right now. I tug the offending lip between my teeth, biting harshly in an attempt to keep myself together.
Lita turns to Penelope. “Did you know my Reyna was the lead in the Pearson School of the Arts Christmas Gala last year?”
My heart stutters as her chest puffs out with pride, and she smiles brightly. That concert was five years ago.
“She played the Sugar Plum Fairy, and it was the most beautiful sight these old eyes have ever seen.” I’m unable to keep the smile from my lips at the sheer joy shining on her face.
“I’ve seen the footage, Mariana.” Penelope nods in my direction with a sad smile. “She was beautiful.”
My abuela shifts her gaze back to me, clasping her hands together in excitement. “Would you dance for us, mija? Please!”
“Of course, Lita.” I smile into her deep brown eyes. “I willalwaysdance for you.”
CHAPTER3
REYNA
Crap,crap, crap!
