Down to the Bone (29 page)

“How could I forget if you’re always reminding me?”

“I told Soli she was nuts to want to burn the pics, since the memory wasn’t recorded on a DVD. I said I’d keep them for her and one day, when we’re
viejitas
, we’ll crack up looking at them. But she wouldn’t let me have them.”

“I’ve got to see them, please!” Paublo begs. “Where are they?”

“No way!” Soli booms.

Viva has on a wicked smile. “I show you. I keep them in a secret place at home.”

“
Sí.
” Gabriel smiles. “She already showed me.” He kisses the tips of his fingers all at once. “Soli Luna looked glorious, like a saint in heaven.”

I crack up at the thought of Soli with a halo around her head. She pinches my stomach and I smack her hand.

I go on. “That day, Soli showed me the album and said, ‘Shyly, swear to me you’ll
never, ever, ever
tell anyone you’ve seen these pictures. If you do, I’ll never talk to you again.’ Remember, Soli?” I
love
to tease her.

“Yes. You swore to
la Vírgen María,
Shyly, but I didn’t realize you didn’t believe in her at the time!”

She’s right. I got away with a lot when I swore on saints and virgins I think are part of a religious myth.

I look at Paublo. “Soli’s
quinces
was the first in the history of our culture without teens. The
only
way she would have the party was if
no one
our age was invited. She told her mom, ‘Mima, if you invite
any
of my friends, I swear to God, I’ll take off the gown and run away from home!’”

Soli and Viva reminisce. “Yeah, the party was filled with Mima’s adult
barrio
and work friends who don’t even know how to use a cell to take a picture.”

“But knowing Shai,” Tazer says, “she just
had
to show up, right?”

“I like a good challenge,” I admit. “She banned me from her party, so what
else
could I do but show up? When she saw me, she snatched my cell and yelled, ‘Why’d you
do
this to me? Leave
now!
Don’t look at me, I look like a clown in this dress!’”

We laugh heartily. Soli’s good mood is back. “Hey. Remember
your
quinces
?” She’s trying to get back at me.

“Oh, god! Who could
ever
forget?” I don’t mind talking about my tacky
quinces.

“Her mom and uncles went into debt just to throw her a wild party.” Soli puts her whole body into her explanation. “She was lowered from a helicopter into the street in front of her yard. Her ball gown was pink and ruffled with sequins. It was
so
wide she didn’t fit through the front door. She had to be
pushed
inside!”

“That’s true!” I crack up.

Soli keeps on. “Her aunts, uncles, and cousins came from Hialeah and Spain, just for the event. Her uncle led her into a huge pink shell glued with fake pearls and sequins. Later on, a white horse galloped in and she sat on it for photographs!”

“What a scene that was!” I can’t stop laughing.

“I’m glad my dad never made me change my ways and have me behave like a sissy Cuban girl,” Tazer says. “I would’ve died if he’d forced me to have a
quinces.
Can you imagine me in a puffy
quinces
dress?” Everyone bursts out laughing. “But still, I’d love to see
those
pictures.”

“Definitely!” London and Paublo agree.

Viva holds on to Gabriel’s hand with one hand. With a rosary in her other hand, she grabs on to my right hand, praying silently over me. Soli sits on the bed holding my left hand. Tazer sits on the corner of the bed staring into my eyes and smiling, as only a good friend can. London stands beside me. Paublo hangs around looking at me with a sweet face. He keeps asking me, “Are you sure you don’t want anything? Any coffee or food from the cafeteria?” I guess I can like him after all.

Most of us have people in our lives who come and go; some are far in the distance and don’t matter at all, but I’ve found a bunch I can’t live without. I look to Soli, Viva, London, Gabriel and Tazer. I wish Diego was here too. I feel a warm sensation in my body, like I used to feel when Papi hugged me. For a long time now, people I’ve loved have hated me for no reason at all. These folks love me and I love them back. In a strange way, I feel renewed, as if a drastic transformation is coming, as if I know I can make my life into something terrific.

19—Silence Shouts

It’s a glisteningly bright November morning, but inside me, it feels like spring is bursting out in full bloom. I see it from every direction, leaping like a gazelle through the bushes, in wild colors. The world around me smells like mango fruit salad and tart green apples. I’m alive and everything is stunning and glistening. It seems as if such a long time since I was suffering and conflicted. I’m sure my whole world will change for the better. I know
exactly
what I need to do to make my life fan
tas
tic. And I’m going to get it done right away!

Today we’re starting on the front yard of a large landscape job in a ritzy Miami Beach mansion. Marco forced me to take the week off to heal, and I did. I shopped around for a new bike and helmet. Marco wants me to be careful with my shoulder, so I’ll sketch the back landscape, while the crew works up front.

London decided to take his two-week vacation from work early, starting last week, thinking he’d spend time with me at his place. Soli and other haircutters split the customers he’d booked, and everyone gave him the thumbs-up. He didn’t pay attention to what I said about us being
just
friends. When I wouldn’t budge, he left with his uncle for the Bahamas on a fishing trip. His last words to me were, “I won’t be calling or texting you so you can see how much you’ll miss me. When I arrive, things’ll be back to normal and hotter than ever.”

I get to work with a juicy grin, not having seen the old crew for a long while. I hug everyone, and just as I’m about to kiss El Tigre’s face, a black vehicle screeches up to the curb and Marlena climbs out of it. My heart skips beats. She sits on the hood of the car and looks to me with a loving expression in her eyes and a wide smile.

I avert my eyes but do a double take when everyone, especially Che, talks about the beautiful girl. “Man, she’s blazing. Look at those sexy lips and curvy hips. Just looking at her is making me horny.”

I park my new red mountain bike with tall handlebars next to a tree wondering what she wants. She stopped texting and trying to get ahold of me, so I figured she’d never contact me again.

Che comes to me and spits out, “That’s my dream girl. Do you know her?”

“Yes, but she’s married.”

“That never stopped me.” He snickers.

“
¡Hola!
” Marco drives into the driveway. I stand up straight and try to act calm and collected. “Everyone get to work, except Shai.” They leave and I walk to Marco. I’m not sure what to do or say. I’m still acting as if I haven’t seen Marlena. If she wants to talk, she’s going to have to come to me.

We get to the backyard. “Marlena is here. She came to say hello. When we’re done, go see her. I told her last night not to bother you until you’re on a break, but she came early anyway. You know how she is. She better not distract you from work. This is a very important client. He’s the president of my bank. I really need your talent, especially this week. We’ve got several mansions to attack. Stay focused.”

“I will.”

Marco takes out his thick colorful plant, tree and shrub book and leafs through it. I grab my sketchpad, charcoal and colored pencils from inside my bag. “Our client wants shade, color and many exotic palms in the front.” He shows me pictures of the plants we can use. “Let’s give them a Southern magnolia tree over there,” he points to the spot, “and a live oak north of it by the side of the house.”

My heart keeps pounding fast.

I nervously sketch the three-story mansion with shaky hands, and paint the magnolia with heavily overlapping large leaves and the live oak with tons of tiny vivid green leaves.

I draw the outline of a stone path leading from the back porch to a pond surrounded by a semicircular hedge of white gardenia plants. Overlooking the pond, I paint a seating area with wooden benches.

To the left of the pond, I sketch a tall trellis threaded with climbing red roses.

With large strokes I paint tall, skinny Alexandra palms in a row on one side of the pond, and red salvia plants circling them.

I sketch the exotic palms he showed me in different locations. I fill in splashes of color by adding pink, orange, red and yellow flowers in circles all around the palms.

“¡Maravilloso
, Shai!” Marco messes up my hair. “I’m off to show Angel. I’m taking Jaylene. She’s a computer expert and knows how to computerize the sketch. She’ll place it on a CD portfolio for a more professional feel while Angel and I work out an estimate.”

I walk him to his truck, but don’t see Marlena anywhere in sight.

He calls to Jaylene with a whistle and a wave of his hand. They climb into his truck, and Marco searches into my eyes. “Look.” He points to his wife’s car. “My wife let her come in it to see you. I’ve told Marlenita how outstanding you’ve become at drawing landscapes. She’s proud of you.”

“Great.”

“Don’t do any digging or lifting today. Take an hour off to hang out with Marlena, then come back and water the plants. Tell her to take care of the car. And remember, don’t make plans with her in the mornings this week. I know you two are old friends and dying to see each other. But this is business and I need your total focus. Don’t let me down.” He takes off.

I see Marlena walking toward me in long hurried strides.

She reaches me, “Scrunchy,” and spreads her arms wide for an embrace. I take a few steps back. What an awkward thing to call me after what she did.

“Not even a hug?” Her eyes show concern.

I shake off my anxiety and give her a quick hug then back away instantly. She smells exactly the same as when I last saw her at the airport: watermelon candy.

“I’ve missed you,” she says. Confusion stirs within me. She’s missed me?

“Come on,” I tell her. “Let’s go to the back so we can talk in private.” She follows me as she lights up a cigarette, which grosses me out, but it’s not the time to talk about that.

She leans against the back porch. “You’re more beautiful than ever. I can’t believe I’m here with you again. It’s been so long.” Her eyes become cloudy. “Why didn’t you call me back? Why wouldn’t you text me? I’ve been dying to see you, and it’s been hard giving you your space. I broke down today and just couldn’t stop myself from coming over.”

I feel my muscles tightening around my jaw. “I wish you hadn’t.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what I was doing when I broke up with you. As time went on, I realized you were right. Love of any kind is a good thing. You made me think long and hard. I’ll never forget the lessons learned.”

“Good for you.”

I don’t want to stay on the topic of us and ask her about her life. She gets to talking about how much freedom she’s got now that she’s not living at home. She asks about me. I tell her I just broke up with London but he still thinks we’re together. “He never takes me seriously.”

She tells me she’s pregnant with a girl. “I’d like to call her Elless, a secret name no one will decipher. The name is comprised of your initials: L and S’s, for Shai Sofia Lorena.”

I gulp hard and try not to show any emotion. “That’s such a pretty name.”

She states she’s happily married without drama or emotional upheaval, but she can’t forget me.

“You’re always on my mind. Even though my life is great, I can’t stop thinking about you. Rick’s been offered an excellent job in Miami with triple the pay he’s getting in Puerto Rico. We’re thinking of coming back. If we do, I’ll be going to U of M. They accepted me!”

“Great,” I state with a half smile. I definitely don’t want her back here, now that I’m getting my life together.

“I told my family I prayed every night so you’d find a boyfriend and you did. They think you’ve changed too. No one hounds me anymore. They believe I’m in love with Rick, and what I went through was a phase of confusion. This means you and I can be together again.”

“Really? Don’t I have a say in this matter?” I let out a nervous chuckle. “What if I’m not interested in you anymore?”

“I know you still love me, Scrunchy.” The sides of her mouth curl up in a confident smile. “Love between your first girlfriend never dies. I still adore you with all my heart. I’ve never stopped thinking of you. Stay with London. You’ve got to go back with him. We’ll go on double dates and no one will need to know our secret. When Rick’s not home, we’ll make love. I really miss being with you. There’s no one like you.”

I turn my face away from her, not sure how to respond.

“You’ll baptize Elless and be her godmother. We’ll be together like we always dreamed of.”

Before I can respond, she grabs my arm and pulls me with her inside the house. “My uncle said these people are away two weeks. I’m glad the door was left open for him to come and go.”

She puffs the cigarette and walks a few steps toward me. “So. You haven’t missed me?”

My insides tremble. “I . . . I . . . I did at first but not anymore.” I take a few steps back from her. “The cigarette stinks. It’s terrible for Elless. Put it out.” I’d never date or even be remotely attracted to anyone who smoked. That’s disgusting.

“I barely smoke. I’m just nervous about seeing you and stole one from my aunt,” she says with eyes as beautiful as gleaming daggers. She presses her lips against mine for a sensual kiss.

I allow myself to let go for a moment, but then separate my mouth from hers. “I can’t do this right now.”

She flicks and shoots the cigarette outside the open door a few feet away from her. Marlena’s mannerisms have changed so drastically I barely recognize her. It suddenly hits me she’s wearing a blouse I’d given her for her birthday a while back and violet pants that match the color of her eyes. She’s gained weight and being a little pregnant looks stunning on her.