CHAPTER 13

Adriana

I swallow hard.

Me: Wow! Catarina, you didn't tell me you were coming...I was going to pick you up at the airport.

She starts to be annoyed, I see it on her face. She is dressed in a cream colored pantsuit that matches her complexion perfectly. She sits in the chair in front of me. She brings back of a mechanical gesture her long black hair behind and thinks the head backwards.

Catarina: already, I need a coffee....ta secretary is where!? I didn't see her on the way here.

Me: Uh, yes. She's on vacation.

Catarina: And I need a coffee.

Her plaintive air would have made me laugh in other circumstances but when I remember what brought her here and she herself does not know yet my heart splits.

Me: One moment.... (On the phone)... Send a coffee up to my office.

She picks up a magazine from my desk and begins to scan it with her eyes.

Catarina: You look beautiful on it.

Indeed, I am on the cover of the magazine, and not for the first time. They all talk about me as the most fearless and business-minded woman they've seen lately.

Me: Take the one next to it. That's you on there. More beautiful than ever!

There's a knock on my office door to bring the coffee.

Catarina (taking the cup of coffee): Thank you!..... Have you heard from Yolanda? Before leaving we had a strong argument. I've been trying to reach her ever since, but I haven't heard from her.

I swallow with difficulty the saliva that comes back in my mouth. But I still don't say anything. The truth is that I know very well the reaction she will have when I tell her the news. In fact, she loves her daughter with an indescribable love. She might have a stroke and I wouldn't know how to handle that.

Me:. Uh, I also don't talk to Patricia as much anymore. You know them, our girls. They want to show us that they are independent and that they are not little girls anymore.

Catarina: Yes, but you know how much I love her. I'll come by her house when I'm done with you. And this document I have to sign?

Me: ... just a moment, I'll settle a few things here and we'll go.

Catarina: Good!

I get up and head outside.

I huff and puff for a while. When Catarina finds out what I'm hiding from her, she might kill me.

I make sure I'm as far away from my office as possible.

I phone Patricia.

Me: Hello baby!

Patricia: Hi, mom, how are you?

Me: Good honey, Yolanda is here!

Patricia: What!?

I feel her anxiety on the other end of the phone.

Me: I will take her to the hospital in a few moments.

Patricia: Okay, I'm there now. I'll be waiting for you. I'll see you later.

Adriana: Bye!

I'm heading back to my office.

Catarina: Adriana! Do you really think I have nothing else to do?... But what are you really playing at?

Adriana: Nothing, come on, let's sign the documents.

Catarina: Well, it's about time. You know I don't know the word "patience"...

I take a deep breath and grab my purse. We leave my office and head for the hospital.

Anthony

I watch Pablo playing like crazy with the controller. He's really enjoying himself and it's great to have him back.

Suddenly, there is a knock on Pablo's door.

He has a surprised look on his face.

Pablo: (to me) I'm not expecting anyone...

Me: But answer...you jerk (laughing)

He pats me on the back and we start to laugh. When he was about to ask who it is.

-Pablo, are you there? It's Marita.

Pablo (whispering):... Oh no, not that friendship breaker again!

Me (whispering): but answer him, let's see.

Pablo: No, I won't answer.

I'll start by asking myself some questions. If there is nothing between them, why doesn't he want to open the door? He reads the concern on my face and mechanically gets up to open the door.

Me: Wait, what are you doing?

He doesn't answer me. And go open the door for him.

Marita: You were inside but you let me knock so much?

Pablo (in a hard and firm tone): That's not the point. What are you looking for here?

Pablo opened the door. He probably did it on purpose so she wouldn't know I was there and so I could follow their exchange.

Marita: ...I wanted to apologize for what happened yesterday. I also wanted to tell you that I already went and explained how things went to Anthony.

Pablo (in a grumpy tone): ... It's about time.

Marita: As I told him, I'm really sorry. I don't know what came over me and I don't want to be the source of this broken friendship. I hope you find your friend.

I had already given up but hearing that made me feel better.

Pablo: Well, for my part you disappointed me. I didn't have that image of you. As I said, I see you as a friend, I would even go so far as to say a little sister. I don't know how long it will take me to get over it but I prefer to stay away from you.

Marita: I understand. Again, sorry.

Pablo says nothing more and closes the door.

Pablo (to me): So, satisfied?

Me: Yes, I can say that I now totally believe you. But you shouldn't be so distant with her.

Pablo: I think that's what she needs to understand that I really don't see her as anything other than a friend.... What about you? Do you still expect to get her respect?

Me: No, I'm tired of forcing things too. I think I'll just forget about her and move on.

Pablo: Really!?

Me: Very serious.

He just shakes his head in response.

Pablo orders us a pizza which we look forward to while continuing to play our soccer game.

Patricia

Mom just called to let me know that Yolanda's mother, Catarina, is back. This woman is so unpredictable. She didn't inform anyone of her arrival.

At the same time, Mom called her for an emergency so it's definitely understandable. I wonder how she will feel when she finds out that her daughter had a near death experience. She's going to blame herself a lot.

I was with Yolanda in the hospital yesterday and she is much improved. She has already woken up and we didn't talk much for fear of making her worse.

I couldn't believe that such a bubbly, outgoing girl would be confined to a hospital bed and almost silenced.

I'm about to go there again this morning. It's a good thing that I can do my public accounting classes in a sandwich program. This gives me the opportunity to have three free days in the week when I have to be in the company. But since I'm a very diligent person, I was able to ask my boss for a few hours off.

I'm pretty proud of the fact that I didn't have to use my mother's name to be in the position I am today. This is one of the largest firms in the country that many young graduates dream of being in.

I walk down the stairs and memories of Dad bringing joy to the house hit me. Sure it's not easy, but you have no choice but to get used to it.

I try to stay as strong as possible because mom is already overloaded and Felix wouldn't last.

I start the last version of Bentley and I go to the hospital.

A few minutes later, I arrived.

I go to the office of the doctor in charge of his condition to get a professional opinion.

The doctor's secretary announces me to the doctor and they tell me to go home. I go in and we start talking about Yolanda's health.

Thank God she is doing very well and recovering very quickly. The doctor said not to leave her alone anymore and also that she should be seen by a psychologist.

She is supposed to do a detoxification treatment as well but I am sure that her mother will do everything she can to make sure that her daughter follows this exercise at home.

Very quickly the conversation turns to me. I have no idea how it started but the doctor starts by asking me how old I am, what kind of man I like. I didn't realize it right away but I had no choice but to admit that he was interested in me.

I don't know what's really going on with me but fooling around with a man now is the least of my worries right now.

I still have to admit that the doctor is very handsome, clean and smiling. He is apparently thirty-one years old and has everything to please. I politely decline his invitation to meet again but he still insists on leaving me his personal card.

I don't know what's wrong with me. I wouldn't go so far as to say that no man has ever interested me. Maybe two or three, but that was a long time ago. Besides, we never went far. And yes, at twenty-eight, I'm still a virgin.

I leave her office to go to Yolanda's room.

She is with a nurse who gives her breakfast.

When she sees me, her face lights up and so does mine.

The nurse feeds her for a few more minutes and leaves.

Me: Hi beautiful!

Yolanda : Hi baby.

Me: How are you feeling today?

Yolanda: I'm doing much better.

Indeed, her health has improved a lot. She speaks much better and is very friendly.

We talk about things and she asks about her mother. I explain the whole situation to her and she understands. I even managed to get a smile out of her.

Me: you can imagine the face she will make when my mother will announce her all what happened these last days!

Yolanda: the only thing I know is that I would not like to be in your mother's shoes.

We start to laugh. I start to tell her about the doctor who was totally hitting on me.

Yolanda: Well, that'll do you good. Madam holy-no-touch.

I was about to tap her on the shoulder, but then I remembered how sick she was.

Me: You! Get well soon.

She starts to laugh and I smile to see her so happy.

Adriana

Catarina and I are in my car on the way to the hospital. We have been driving in circles for more than 30 minutes. I asked my driver on purpose to make us waste time. I don't even know why. Certainly to delay this fateful moment when I will be obliged to reveal all the truth to Catarina.

Catarina: ....Adriana!... Do you think I'm stupid?

Me:...Uh, no...I...

Catarina: Actually, you are starting to scare me a lot. I have the impression that you are hiding something very serious from me.

I realize that the moment to tell him the whole situation has arrived. I can't get away from it anymore.

Me:... But no, what are you saying... We're coming.

The driver gets us back to the hospital in three minutes.

Catarina (incredulous): What's going on? What are we doing in the hospital?

I take a deep breath.

Me: Catarina, it is Yolanda who is here.

I see her face break down and turn all red. This is what I was afraid of.