chapter
27
Only my children could make riding a Metro bus fun. I’d pushed aside worry about Paco, rested in the gratitude that my oldest was home, then joined my children in their joy.
We’d sung as we walked to the bus stop, laughed as we transferred to the second bus that took me to work, and danced as we made our way up to the Markham Hotel.
I really should have moved closer to my job, but Miguel attended Yes Prep Southwest, a charter school where the administration didn’t ask questions and just believed in educating young minds. Since I wasn’t in the business of giving answers, the school was perfect. I didn’t want to risk the public system, and besides, my son was thriving there.
“Come on, children,” I said once we reached the revolving doors that led into the hotel lobby.
“How long before we get to the zoo?” Alejandro whined.
“Sweetie, I told you we’re going to go pick up my paycheck. I’ll go cash it, and then we’ll have lunch before we go to the zoo.”
“Okay,” he said, dejected.
“Just have patience, sweetheart,” I reminded him. “We’re going to have a fantastic day.” I tousled his curly black hair, then made my way inside the hotel where I’d been working for the last six years. It wasn’t the best of jobs, but the pay was decent. I liked the people that I worked with, and the woman who had referred me for the job, Rosa, was one of my closest friends.
“Hey, Wayne,” I said to the front desk clerk, who always greeted me with a smile.
“Good morning, pretty lady,” he said. “I thought you were off today.”
“I am.”
Then he snapped his fingers. “Oh yeah, it’s payday.”
“It must be nice to forget that,” I laughed.
“No, I’m just in the modern age. I have direct deposit. I don’t know why you don’t set it up.”
“One day,” I replied. I didn’t do direct deposits because I didn’t do banks. As long as Herman at the corner store cashed my check, I was perfectly fine.
“Is Lois in the back?” I said, asking about our human resources director.
He nodded. “She is.”
“Thanks.”
I turned to my children. “Kids, have a seat over there.” I pointed to the chairs by the entrance. “Mommy will be right back and then we’ll have a fantastic day.”
Alejandro was about to protest, but thankfully Miguel stepped up. “Come on, bubba,” Miguel said, taking his hand. “Let’s play I Spy until Mom comes back.”
“I love you guys,” I said, blowing them kisses.
“We love you, too, Mom,” Maria said, catching my kiss and putting it over her heart—one of our favorite games. “Now, hurry.”
“Of course!” I darted across the lobby and toward the back offices. I had just rounded the corner when I bumped into my supervisor, Sergio.
“Oh, my God, Anna,” he said. “I am so glad to see you.”
“Hello, Sergio. How are you doing today?” I said. My over-the-top French boss was so extra, but I liked him a lot.
“Horrible!” he screamed. “Mary Louise just threw up all over the second floor because she has some kind of virus, and Valencia called out. I need you to work.”
My eyes bucked. Normally, I would’ve never turned down work, but I just couldn’t today.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I can’t. I just came to pick up my check. I have my kids and we’re going to the zoo and spending the rest of the day together.”
He grasped both of my hands. “Anna, I am desperate,” he said. “I have a big conference coming to check in in a couple of hours.”
“No, no, no,” I muttered, shaking my head and suddenly wishing I had direct deposit.
“Please?” he said. Then, before I could respond, he continued, “When you needed to take time off the books to deal with Paco, who was there? Who took care of you with Corporate? Who lets you leave without being docked every time one of your kids is sick?”
I bit my bottom lip, fighting off curse words at the carrot that he’d just dangled. “Please don’t do this to me, Sergio.”
“Anna, I’m just asking for an hour. Please? You work fast, so that’s all it will take. Rosa is the only one here. And there is no way she can get all these rooms done on time. We had a full house last night. I’m cleaning rooms,” he said, motioning to a cart behind him. “And you know I haven’t cleaned rooms in five years.”
I nodded. That was the truth. Since they made Sergio a supervisor, he was excellent at supervising. And that was it.
“I am desperate, Anna,” he said.
I sighed and he seized the moment.
“Just do your normal. The rooms on the third floor. We’ve already knocked out the first two floors, and cleaned up that disgusting mess from Mary Louise. If you could do the third and fourth floors, that would be great.”
“Sergio . . .”
“You can be out of here in an hour—two, tops. I promise I’ll make it up to you. I’ll give you that time off for the state fair.”
I groaned. Sergio knew how badly I had wanted to go to the state fair in Dallas. One of my church members had given the kids and me tickets to the fair and vouchers for food and rides. Since we never got to go anywhere, I thought it would be a great outing for us as a family. But two other people had requested that day off before I did.
“Ugh,” I groaned. “Okay, fine. Let me go tell my kids.”
“You are a lifesaver,” he said, kissing me on the cheek and darting off down the hall.
I took a deep breath, then walked back into the lobby. My kids jumped up when they saw me.
“Time to go to the zoo,” Alejandro sang.
The look on my face wiped the excited expression off theirs.
“Uh, Mom, what’s up?” Miguel asked.
I sighed. “Kids, Mommy has to work.”
“What?” all three of them said in unison.
“Not long,” I quickly interjected. “Just a couple of hours.”
“Mommy . . .” Alejandro whined.
“Please?” I said. “Just be patient. Here,” I said, reaching into my purse, which was wrapped around my body, and pulling out a twenty-dollar bill. “Miguel, take them across the street to get some ice cream.”
“Ice cream in the morning?” Miguel said.
“Yes. Is that okay with you?” I smiled, hoping it would ease their frustration.
“It’s great,” he said, welcoming the consolation prize. I was a stickler on how they ate, so the fact that I was encouraging ice cream before noon was a rare occurrence.
“Good. I love you all.” I took all three of them by the hand and kissed them each on the cheek. “We’re going to have a great time today. Just give me a little bit. I need to help out around here. Get the ice cream and then come right back and sit here in the lobby and eat it.”
Thankfully, the thought of ice cream for breakfast had soothed them, and they bounced out.
I went into the back, where I stored my things in my locker, put on the extra cleaning uniform I kept on hand, grabbed a cart, and made my way up to the third floor.
Rosa was already at work. “Anna, what are you doing here?” she said when she spotted me. “I thought you were off today and taking the kids out somewhere.”
“I thought so, too,” I said, removing my cleaning supplies from the cart. “Sergio sucked me in because he said Valencia called out.”
I didn’t even like Valencia. Or rather, she didn’t like me. She claimed that I’d gotten her suspended because she was smoking on the job and I’d refused to cover for her. So ever since that incident last month, she couldn’t stand me.
But I told myself this was about helping Sergio, not Valencia.
“Chica, it has been an absolute nightmare around here. It seems like the whole third floor had a wild party last night.”
“Mierda!”
Rosa laughed. “Wow, Sergio has you cursing.” She shook her head. “Let’s just knock it out so you can get back to your babies. I’ve already done the rooms on this side. You can take your usual,” she said, pointing to the even rooms on the other side of the hall.
I immediately went about my usual routine, scrubbing and cleaning. Rosa was right, these rooms were unusually dirty. I saw why Sergio was freaking out. After I finished 320 and 318, I headed to Room 316. This seemed to be the only room in halfway decent order. I changed the sheets on the bed, then ran the vacuum. That’s when I saw an old tattered book on the floor next to the desk chair. I picked it up. This was that book that lady from the news station had asked me about. I flipped it open and started reading.
My eyes scanned some of my favorite passages.
“He shall direct thy paths,” I read, stopping on one in particular because it took me back to my days in Hidalgo.
I shivered as I recalled the small pink Bible my mother placed in my hands the night Julio and I left.
“Child, stop your crying,” my mother whispered. She used her hand to wipe away my tears.
“But why can’t you and Daddy come with us?” I cried.
“Because we are too old to make this journey. Plus, your brother is in critical condition.”
Just thinking of my brother, gunned down by the drug cartel for God only knows what, I knew why we were leaving. We had to go before they claimed someone else we loved.
“You must go with your husband and child now,” my mother continued.
I’d been excited the whole time Julio had been planning our escape to America. He knew someone who knew someone, who arranged everything. Call me young and naive, but it never dawned on me that my parents weren’t coming, too.
“But—”
“No buts,” she said, cutting me off. “You are a woman now. A mother. And your family must always come first. You must go with your husband in search of a better life.”
I looked back over my shoulder at Julio, who was waiting in the back of the room, a backpack with all of our belongings swung across his shoulder. He was so patient. I imagined I looked like a blubbering idiot.
“Take this,” my mother said, pressing the Bible into my hand. “This shall be your roadmap to guide you on your journey.”
I wondered how in the world a Bible was supposed to guide me.
As if she read my mind, my mother said, “If you’re scared, this will help. If your faith wavers, this will help. Just keep it close and know that He will make your paths straight.”
I nodded as I held the Bible close. “When will I see you and Papa again?” I asked.
She put her hand to my face. “Soon. After you create this wonderful new life, we’ll come and visit.”
Of course, I never saw my parents again.
And my path had yet to be made straight.
As a faithful woman, I knew God was capable of anything, but that was one area where I didn’t see Him working His magic.