Only my sheer force of will propels me to leave Kim and go to the orchard, because given the choice, I’d rather submit to a sadist trying out gruesome and barbaric equipment from the medieval torture museum than leave her alone with her ex-boyfriend. I need him around like I need a third cojon. Does he want to get back together with her?

But while I want to stick as close to her as a pick-pocketer, if she asks me to go, I’ll go. I trust her. I’ve never trusted anyone like her. Unlike the Alhambra, no fortifications surround my heart. I built no walls against her to protect it, armed it with no snipers to attack. She has me by the heart, by the balls, and I’ve never felt more unguarded in my life.

With my hands in my pockets, I head to the casita to change into my boots. When I emerge, Guillermo’s running up.

“Can I come with you?”

I scowl at him. I’d rather be alone. “Don’t you have class?”

He shrugs and grins. Ah, the little rat.

I give in. “Fine.” As we make our way through the wide-planted trees, I push through the leaves and check the ripeness of our fruit. Guillermo follows suit.

“I think they’re ready, Gustavo, what do you think?” He’s buried behind branches, calling from the next tree over. “They’re really dark.”

“Yeah, I agree, hermano.” And that’s both a relief and a stressor, since it’s now time to face our fate. Will we earn enough money to not only survive next year, but pay off Mr. Molinero?

The alternative is unfathomable. Either way, we’ll know by next week.

The financial pressure I’m under makes the enormous and heavy granite rollers that grind the oil to its initial paste look like paperweights. Not just that.

Kim makes me dizzy like the centrifuge that extracts the oil from the paste in a spinning drum. How are we going to make this work? Two countries. Unsupportive parents. Little money. Lots of dreams. A baby on the way.

And me falling in love.

As if not only reading my thoughts, but also jabbing with me with them, Guillermo asks, “Who is that guy with Kim?”

“It’s her ex-boyfriend,” I mutter.

Thankfully, Guillermo has the decency to look puzzled. He strokes his chin. “I thought she liked you.”

“She does.”

“Then why is he here?”

“I don’t know.”

He rubs his nose with the back of his hand, leaving dirt on it. “That guy looks like a plastic action figure.”

I glare at him. Shane and Kim don’t go together at all, and I don’t understand why they ever were. He’s like her Instagram account filled with Starbucks drinks, not the joy of her travels. He can’t give her what she needs and wants—experiences, emotions, discovery. He couldn’t show her an adventure if it was scripted for him in advance.

My dagger-eyes make Guillermo throw up his hands like he’s being arrested. “What? I’m not saying that’s good.”

“It pisses me off because I don’t know why he’s here,” I admit.

“Don’t worry, Tavo. I’m sure it’ll all be fine.”

I nod, and we keep inspecting. As we keep going, trying to calculate how long it will take to harvest and how many people and how much equipment we need, I calm down by focusing on the work.

Once we get to the end of the first row, Guillermo starts talking about the harvest. “The trees on this slope aren’t as ripe as the ones facing the other way. We’ll have to start over there first.”

He’s right. “How many liters do you think we’ll get this year.”

“I think yields will be up. Look here.” He tugs at an especially ripe olive, oily in the cold sun.

When we’re done, we head back up to the house and stop to talk to my mother who is driving into town. While I’m kicking off the dust from my boots, she’s dressed in an impeccable skirt and blouse with a blazer. As usual.

“How are the trees?” She holds her hand over her eyes and peers out at them.

“They’re just about ready,” says Guillermo.

“Bien.” Her eyes narrow, and she crosses her arms. “Why aren’t you in school?”

“Uh. Um,” he stammers.

“Go to class.” He races away to grab his backpack.

She puts her key in her car and unlocks the door. “At least that distraction is leaving soon.”

I don’t like the way she said that, and I have no idea what she’s talking about. Why is Kim leaving? “What do you mean?”

“You let that girl go with her novio.”

“I did nothing of the sort. And he’s not her novio. He’s an amigo. Or not even that.”

“I’m not so sure about that. He said amigo, but I think he means novio. They’ve been talking in her room.”

That sojourn to the orchard did nothing, because the red rage immediately returns, its flames burning in my veins. I’m getting ready to sprint for the house, when my mother reaches out the car door and puts her hand on my arm. “Gustavo. As I’ve said, she cannot be good for you. She’s a dalliance, perhaps, while she’s here. Let her go back to the United States.”

I hear the scuffling of feet, and Kim walks out of the house with a empty clothes basket to go to the laundry house.

My hands clench and release and my tone is sharp. “Yes, yes, Madre. I know you think that.”

Kim stares at me and enters the laundry room.

I continue. “But you’re wrong.” Might as well tell her. “I’m in love with her.”

My mother’s jaw drops down. “In love with her? With la guiri? Don’t be ridiculous.” She waves dismissively.

Stepping closer to my mother, my voice gets low. “I’m as serious as a bureaucrat.”

She raises her voice. “You’re not in love, this is lust. You’re letting your pants take over your brain.”

I grip my wrists behind my back, restraining myself. “No, Madre, I am not—”

“Here is the thing about passion,” she says coldly. “It fizzles out. And then you’re left with the cold ashes of a fire long gone.”

She’s wrong, she must be wrong. She has to be wrong. I look her directly in the eye. “Not if you figure out a way to keep igniting it.”

Her nostrils flare. “Then you get burned, Tavo. Then you get burned.”

She puts the key in the ignition and turns the car on, driving away into town. I watch her leave and start to head to the house, but I see Kim out of the corner of my eye leaving the laundry room with a full basket of clean laundry. Raising my hand, I wave at her, but she frowns and keeps going toward the house.

I stand for a moment watching her, then sprint after her calling, “Kim! Wait!”

Kim’s dumped her laundry on her bed and is stooped over to fold it, while Shane sits at her desk. My old desk.

I hate him.

When I walk in, she swallows hard and grimaces. What happened?

Giving her head a tiny shake, she pulls up her shoulders and smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Tavo, we were thinking of going into Granada so Shane could see the sights. Do you want to come?”

Do I want to come with my girlfriend who is carrying my baby to show her ex-boyfriend around my town? To show him the places I showed her. All the nooks we’ve kissed in. All the places we’ve held hands.

After she’s spent a week practically comatose and hurt? And while she’s being distant now?

No, I don’t want to come with them. I want to put him on a trebuchet and sling him back to the Madrid airport so I have her all to myself.

But my mouth says, “Sure,” because I’ll do anything for her.

We drive in my car to Granada. We tour the Cathedral, with Kim pointing out where King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella are buried. We walk through the Alcazar, skipping by the shop with scarves—I still need to put ours to good use. We venture up to the Alhambra on the hill and meander up the Generalife gardens.

And the entire time, I’m going berserk.

What is he doing here? Why hasn’t she kicked him out? Does she want to get back together with him? How is her pregnancy today?

Does she love me back? She does, right?

For the rest of the day, I cannot talk to Kim without Shane. My mother even brought extra blankets and a pillow into Kim’s room for him to sleep there. I may string up mi madre and Shane on the rack before I allow him to sleep in the same room with Kim. She’s staying with me.

Once I get rid of the fucking cockblocker long enough to talk to her.

But the Universe conspires against me. Everyone is at dinner, even Sonia and her father.

Because life is not fair and I can’t get what I want, the only place for me to sit is by Sonia.

At first she doesn’t say anything, but then she starts asking questions. “Who is this American?”

I hope she’s interested in him, not me. “He’s a friend of Kim’s.”

She gets a shrewd expression on her face. “He’s got a nice body. Is he her novio?”

“No. He was.”

“Was? Is he here for—”

“I don’t know why he’s here,” I hiss.

Sonia’s eyebrows go up, and she scoots closer to me. Her talon draws along my arm, and she whispers in my ear. “Do you need someone to talk to?”

“No,” I whisper back in hers.

“I’m available if you need me, Tavo. Any way you like.”

“I don’t,” I say in an undertone, and look over at Kim, who has a strange look in her eye. I plead with her silently. The last thing I want is for her to get jealous of Sonia sitting next to me. Just because Sonia attaches herself to me like a leech doesn’t mean I want her there. I don’t know how many times I have to send her away.

Since Shane is here, we linger extra-long with even more courses than usual. Mari Carmen and Tía Valeria must have cooked for hours. I’m beginning to think that Kim’s previous hasty eating makes more sense than our meals that take millenia.

Finally, we finish, and I corner her, asking her to come talk with me. She walks with me to my casita in silence.

All day, her mood’s been lighter than she’s been since she found out she’s pregnant, while I’ve been dour. Stewing.

I barely wait until the door is closed before I grit out, “Why is he here?”

My bitter tone of voice makes her come closer and hug me, but I take a half-step away from her. Her face drops, and she looks sincere. “He just needed to talk with me.”

This. This, I don’t get. “Talk with you about something that he couldn’t just call you?”

“No, he couldn’t. But it’s all set, now.”

“It’s all set now,” I repeat in a monotone. “Can you tell me what’s set now?”

Kim shakes her head, and for the first time she looks sad. “No. I’m sorry, I can’t.” She lets out a breath and her expression softens. “His reason for coming here is not mine to tell.”

I take a deep breath. “Thank you, but you have to understand how this seems. Your fiancé shows up and—”

“Ex-fiancé—”

“The one who gave you a ring. And you can’t tell me why, but you’re happier now.”

She presses her hand to my chest and looks up, those lush lips saying the right words. “Tavo, you need to understand. Him coming here, had nothing to do with me. It’s all to do with him.” She pauses. “While I was here, I figured out some things for myself. And he figured out some things for himself. He wanted to tell me in person because it’s a big deal to him. But in a lot of ways, it doesn’t affect me at all. I broke up with him. He knows. I gave him back the ring.”

I pause for a moment. “Okay. That’s good, I think.” Right?

Smiling, she says, “Yeah. It is. He had to deal with some things, and it’s much better now. It’s all good.”

My breath blows up the hair on my forehead. “Okay. But Kim, we haven’t talked about the baby. Do you … are you going to keep it?”

“Yes, of course. I’m sorry I made you think otherwise. It freaked me out completely.”

“It freaked me out, too. It still does.”

“Yeah. Yes, we’re keeping it. I mean, that’s what you want, too, right?” Her sweet face lifts to mine like she’s hanging on my next words.

“Yes. More than anything.”

She smiles with my assurance. “It feels right to me, too.”

I let out a sigh of relief. “We need to talk, though. Make arrangements for where you live after this semester. I’m open to suggestions.”

“I’m not sure your mother thinks you’re open.”

“Let me deal with her. Come stay with me tonight. Leave Shane.”

She leans in closer and puts her hand flat on my chest, peering up at me. “Yes, of course. Let me go get my things in the house, and I’ll come back.”

“Okay.” I want to follow her, but I need to trust her. Whatever is going on with her and her ex-boyfriend, while I don’t like it, I believe her.

Before she goes, she asks, “What was Sonia saying to you at dinner.”

I can’t help but let out an exasperated snort. “Kim, dios mio, the usual. How she’s available to me. How she wants me. I cannot get rid of her. I’m so sorry, I was telling her I didn’t want her.”

“I figured she was saying something like that. But is she still aiming to marry you?”

“I haven’t given her any impression that I would. I’ve told her no every time she brought it up.”

“But what does your mother say.”

“My mother still wants me to be with her,” I admit.

A cloud passes through Kim’s eyes. “So you are still under financial pressure.”

I nod. “Unfortunately. But maybe this harvest—this cosecha—will be profitable and we can pay Señor Molinero off.”

She shrugs. “Maybe.” But she looks worried as she heads toward the main house to get her things.

While I wait for her, I step outside. As always, my feet point me toward the huerta, which is as much of a beauty as it is a jail. Tonight, while clouds overhead obscure the stars, a cold wind whistles that makes me think it will be clear later.

Standing outside in the dark just for a few minutes makes me feel better. While not entirely at peace, I’m getting there. My problems seem insignificant when I look up at the sky. Maybe the finances will figure themselves out. Or if we lose this place, maybe that will be a freedom, too. Like when people have a house burned down, while it’s a tragedy, they rebuild. We can rebuild, too.

With a lighter heart I return to my casita. Maybe I’ll play some music while I wait for Kim to come.

I open my door.

And hear “There you are,” in Spanish.

A hand masturbates between two long, bare, spread legs. The other arm is stretched behind her, handcuffed to the iron headboard.

Sonia lies naked in my bed, smiling lasciviously. Then she drops her head back and opens her mouth.

It takes me a second to process.

Why? What? No!

“What the hell are you doing here?” I roar, manic desperation in my voice.

Sonia keeps her fingers on her crotch, and I avert my eyes. I’m in fight-or-flight mode, but I also don’t know what to do. I don’t want to touch her. I don’t want to talk to her. I don’t even want to look at her. But I want her gone.

Now. Yesterday. Forever.

Her wannabe sultry voice is an assault on my nerves. “You know you like what you see, Tavo. You know you’re frustrated. You know you need me. My pussy’s so wet for you. Only you. Come fuck me. Do what you did before.”

I turn my back to her and yell, “No!” to the floor.

Her feline purr makes my hair stand on end—the bad way. “You know it’s been too long. I’m waiting here for you. Open. Ready. Wet.”

“Jamás. Never again—”

“I saw you leave to go in the huerta alone. I saw your American go to her room with her American boyfriend. She’ll be going back to America. You’ll be lonely when she’s gone, and you’ll want me soon enough. So why not now?”

“Get out of here!” No way am I looking at her. No way am I getting near her. Just leave. Please.

“I can’t.” I hear the sickening sneer in her voice. “Only you have the key, Tavo. Just like you have the key to my heart.”

That’s it.

Like the coin dropping in the jukebox in the movies, her voice engages me into action, and I’m frantic, scrambling, rifling through drawers for the handcuff key. I’m so livid I’m shaking, trying to keep my temper under control. While I can have a fiery temper, it’s normally under wraps. Right now though, I want to rip her arm off and throw her away.

Those toys are not for her. This is not a fantasy I have with her. Those are Kim’s, and Sonia’s violated my precious, sexy memory.

My room needs an exorcism now.

I find the key and head toward her, still keeping my eyes off of her.

As I lean over her, my hands fumbling to unlock the handcuffs, I mutter with as much contempt as I can, “You’re insane. You are absolutely crazy. You know I don’t want anything to do with you.”

And I stop for a second. She looks up at me with those red-brown eyes, the black in them now spikes. Then they become subdued, and she bites her lip.

Tears form in her eyes.

Manipulative crocodile tears.

I’m not falling for them. I never want to hurt a woman, but she is mentally unbalanced. For real.

This isn’t a childhood crush gone past childhood. She’s sick. Or evil.

I’m voting on evil.

“I’m taking these off of you, and you’re going home and never coming back. We don’t need you or your father’s money.” With a click the handcuffs finally pop open, and she brings her hand down, rubbing her wrists.

She’s still sprawled on my bed, naked, while I’m leaning over her. One leg wraps around my waist, and then another. I’m straining, yanking myself away from her when the door behind me swings open.

With Kim in the doorway.

Kim’s dazed eyes freeze open, and she steps back, reaching out for the door jamb to hold. She’s trembling, and her skin is so pale, I fear she’s going to faint. The noise that comes out of her mouth sounds like she’s drowning and can’t get a breath. Her jaw opens and closes. “Oh, God! Seriously, Sonia?” She turns and runs out the way she came.

I pull away from this snake in my bed and tear off after Kim in the dark night lit by the string of lights between the house and the windows of the buildings. I bellow, “Kim! Wait! Wait!”

Before I get to her, she’s collided into my mother, and they both hold each other by the arms for a moment before releasing.

“Hostia,” says my mother, looking bewildered, then angry. “What is going on here? Why all the yelling?”

“I’m so sorry,” Kim breathes, holding her stomach. “I didn’t mean—” Then she sees me, and her anger explodes. “I can’t believe Sonia’s in your room! Naked! On your bed!”

Astonished, my mother turns to me. “Sonia is naked in your house?”

My eyes roll to the heavens. “Madre, I don’t need you here. I need to talk to Kim.”

“Fine. Talk to her.” She steps back, but doesn’t leave.

Kim shivers in the cold, and I reach out to hold her, but she pulls away from me, muttering, “This is just too much.”

“I need you to go,” I say to my mother. “You’ve been nothing but against me and Kim. You can’t solve this. I’ve made up my own mind to be with her.”

But Kim shakes her head.

“I know what’s best for you,” my mother starts, but Antonio and Guillermo come sprinting out of the house.

Fuck.

“No you don’t!” I tell my mother.

“What is going on?” Guillermo asks.

“Nada,” I say. Kim tries to get around my mom, and I run and square off to her, my eyes searching for hers. “It wasn’t what it looked like.”

She bursts into tears. “It looked really bad, Tavo. You have to see it from my point of view. I come here, and I learn that you’re supposed to marry her. I know you don’t want to, or say you don’t want to, but I’ve seen you kiss her. You admit you fucked her.” Antonio and my mother have a collective intake of breath while Guillermo looks pissed. “And right now I find you with her when she’s naked in your bed. You’re on top of her. We just talked about it. I believe you. I trust you. But this is … it’s too far, Tavo.”

“Kim, she was like that when I walked in there. I didn’t do anything.”

She nods, but Guillermo steps forward, his face full of fury and his hands in fists. “Wait, you were fucking Sonia again? You told me you didn’t even like her, cojon. Me cago en la puta.”

Jesus, will this ever end?

“I didn’t. This is all a mistake,” I start, but my abuelo and Mari Carmen come walking briskly up.

No. Fuck, no.

“What’s all this racket?” my abuelo says. “Why is everyone yelling?”

Leche. No audience. Just get me with Kim. I need to be alone with Kim. I’m safe when I’m with Kim.

No such luck. Now everyone circles around us.

“You have to believe me,” I plead to Kim.

She bursts into tears. “I do. I did. I don’t know what is going on. I thought what we had was real.”

“It is real, amor.”

Kim shakes her head. “There’s so much going on here, I don’t know where to start.”

My mother gestures to Kim. “Why are you making such a scene?”

“Why are you blaming her?” I yell. “¡Qué mala leche!”

Spinning to face my mother, fury in her eyes, Kim screeches, “Why are you having an affair with Mr. Molinero while you force your son to get married to his daughter?”

Leaves rustle in the dark evening night. An owl hoots in the distance.

Then the crowd explodes—my mother first.

“What?” my mother gasps. “How did you find out about that?”

I do a double take, turning to my mother. “What is this? What the actual fuck, Madre? You wanted me to marry Sonia, and now I find out you’re sleeping with Señor Molinero?”

My mother opens her mouth. “That’s different. That has nothing to do with it.”

As if he heard his name—and he certainly couldn’t miss the commotion—Señor Molinero comes running over.

“That isn’t the half of it!” Kim’s eyes are wild. “I heard you agree with your mother earlier that I am just a frivolidad, Tavo. A dalliance.”

“Wait—”

“I heard you, and you didn’t deny it.”

“She is a dalliance,” Tavo,” says my madre. I’m about to unleash my fury on her when Sonia comes running up, thankfully dressed. “Tavo! I’m so sorry!”

“Get out of here!” I yell at her.

“This is a fucking telenovela,” says Antonio, wide-eyed.

This whole disaster is in both Spanish and English, and I don’t know what Kim understands and what she doesn’t. I’m just trying to hold onto her.

Kim looks at me. “I’m keeping you from saving your family. All of these people. I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt you like that. And I can’t deal with all this craziness. With Sonia. With your mother. You’re up against tremendous financial pressure. Me being here makes it so that you’re going to lose this entire place. I can’t do that to you or your family.” Tears run down her face and she wipes them with the back of her hand.

Señor Molinero scratches his head.

“No, Kim! You have it all wrong! You are the opposite of a dalliance. There is no frivolidad. I was telling my mother she was wrong!”

Shane comes up, anger in his face.

Me cago en la leche.

Abuelo says, “Todo el mundo, everyone needs to calm down.” He takes his hands, palms facing toward the ground and moves them like he’s pressing down, trying to lower everyone’s voices.

It doesn’t work.

“What are you doing with Mr. Molinero?” asks Antonio.

Guillermo asks, “Why was Sonia naked in your bed?”

“I’m hurting your music career, too. Your dreams of traveling. You can’t be tied down to anyone,” Kim whispers.

My mother faces Kim. “You. You are the cause of all of this.”

I didn’t know I had another gear of anger, but I do, and I shift into it. “No she isn’t, Madre. She’s not the cause of any of this!”

But my mother says, “Go back to Iowa, Kim. You don’t belong here.”

“What?” I detonate at my mother. “Don’t talk to her like that! She’s the love of my life!”

“I want to be the love of your life,” Sonia pipes up.

Everyone turns to her. “Shut up!” I’m not sure who says it. Everyone.

Sonia takes a step back and pouts.

Kim shakes her head over and over again. “María Luisa is right. I’m ruining everything for your family. I have to leave.”

I see only Kim and her tears. I want to stop them. I want to comfort her.

“What’s going on here?” asks Shane.

“Tavo is a fucking two-timing idiot,” says Guillermo.

Mari Carmen whispers, “I don’t even know.”

Having stood in the background all this time, Shane steps forward, flexing his biceps and glaring at everyone. He walks over to Kim and tucks her under his arm. I hiss.

“She deserves better than this. You people have done enough,” Shane says. “Let’s go, Kim. I’m taking you home.”

“No,” I say, but she looks up at me sadly.

“I’m sorry, Tavo. I could never hurt you and your family the way I’m doing.”

And she steps away from him and turns to go into the house.

Shane gets between me and her and faces me. “Haven’t you done enough?”

“I love her,” I say. “I haven’t done anywhere near enough. She needs to know that. She does know that.”

His jaw ticks. “She needs to get away from this craziness. She needs to go home.”

“She doesn’t want you. She told me so.”

“I know. I’m no competition. I’m not her boyfriend. But I am her friend, and I don’t like to see her hurt. Not from all you people.”

He’s big, but I’m fast, and I race past him into the house.

Kim’s in her room, haphazardly throwing her things into her bags. Clothes. Toiletries. Laptop. Notebooks and school papers.

Opening her wallet, she pulls out some Euros and leaves them on the bed. “Pay your mom for the rest of the time I was supposed to be here.”

“No! Kim!” I say, but Shane holds me back from coming in.

“You really need to back off.”

“I’ll never back off unless I hear it from her,” I yowl.

She squeezes her eyes shut and doesn’t say anything.

“Kim. Please don’t go. We can work this out. I love you.”

My beautiful love shakes her head over and over again. “Between my hormones and all this coming out, I need space to think. I need to not be causing any more problems. I want to go.”

Panic makes me blind. Makes me stop breathing. “Go where?”

“Home,” she croaks.

With her bags in her hands, she trudges out the house and to the Fiat. Shane picks one up and follows her. And I run ahead and get between her and the car door.”

“Listen to me—”

“No. I’m done with listening to anyone else. I’ve listened to my heart, and everything is all wrong. I can’t … I need to go.”

“Kim, no. You can’t go home. We need to talk. We can fix this.” My voice breaks. “You’re breaking up with me without giving me a chance?”

“I’m not getting involved with another man who has something keeping him from being with me. I can’t do this to me.” She pauses. “And I can’t do this to you. This isn’t about you, Tavo. It’s about me needing to figure this out. I’m sorry.”

I’m breathing so hard that I’m practically hyperventilating. “Is this what you really want?”

“Yes.” She kisses me softly, her hands lingering on my scruffy face. As she gets in the car, her tears are falling. “I’m so confused, and I’m trying to listen to my heart but it’s all muddled. I need to go. I need to breathe.”

My madre comes up. “Kim needs to go.”

“No, Madre. She doesn’t. She needs to be with me always.”

“I wish I could be,” says Kim. “But she’s right. I’ve made things worse for your family by coming here. You deserve better.” She turns to my mother. “I was so happy here, and I was starting to feel like you all were becoming my family. All I want is what’s best for your son and your family. I’m sorry, María Luisa, I’ll go. Thank you for your hospitality. I’ll go now.”

“Kim,” I whisper.

“I’m sorry, Tavo, but I think this is for the best,” Kim says.

I open my mouth to say something. But what comes out is, “If this is your decision, Kim, I will abide by it.”

She nods sadly. “I can’t stand to leave you, and I’m going to miss you so much. But please just let me do something for you for a change. Your family needs you.”

Shane turns the ignition on and backs up the car then turns, leaving dust and gravel in his wake.

I turn to my mother, the fury drained out of me and now I know nothing but despair. “There goes my life and my baby driving away from me forever.”

My mothers eyes sharpen. “Your baby? As in—”

“Madre, she’s pregnant with my baby.”

Her eyes get wide, and she presses her hand to her heart. “A grandbaby? Oh my God!”

As Kim disappears out of sight, I turn to my family. I’m so broken and angry and drained and done.

“Are you happy? Are you all happy? Witnessing my heart being torn out?”

No one says anything.

Guillermo kicks the dirt under his shoe.

“Well, are you? Because that was the love of my life. The woman I was meant for. Who was meant for me. And your insanity drove her off. The decisions of my father to mortgage this land drove her off. She’s pregnant with my baby, and she’s leaving me!”

Stunned silence follows this.

Then everyone erupts, talking. I don’t know who is saying what. I don’t care. I want to get in my car and follow Kim, but the only thing keeping me away from her is her.

And if she says to stay back. I will.

In the midst of all the commotion, Mr. Molinero whistles. Everyone shuts up.

“You,” I sneer. “You’re the one who caused all of this.”

He shakes his head. “No, but I can see what happened. I will settle this here and now.”

What?

“First, what is this about me foreclosing on your property?”

My mother turns to him, a quizzical look on her face. “Sonia told me that if we did not make the balloon payment by the due date that you would foreclose.”

He jerks his head back and shakes it. Then he turns to Sonia. “My daughter, why did you tell María Luisa that?”

This is a spotlight that Sonia does not enjoy. She stares down at the ground and twists her finger in her mouth. “Because it’s true.”

“It is not true.” He addresses everyone. “I would never threaten foreclosure on your family. Our families have a partnership that goes back generations. We work with each other. Why would we want to jeopardize that?”

“But you told my mother that if I married Sonia you’d forgive the debt.”

“That’s because I thought that you and she were affectionate to each each other. She told me you liked her.” Realization dawns on his face and he turns to me. “Gustavo, I apologize. My daughter manipulated you. And me. I did not know it was a manipulation. I thought you wanted to marry her, and I thought I was doing you a favor.”

“Then why would my mother say that you were going to foreclose?”

“Because Sonia told me that,” my madre says.

“Querida, I’m so sorry,” he says to her. Then he addresses me and my siblings. “Your mother has been so tense and worried lately, but she would not tell me what for. She did not want to talk about it. Was this it?” he asks her.

She nods.

“Why did you never bring it up?”

“Because I was so scared. Sonia made me think that you would not listen to a negotiation. And our relationship felt so fragile. After all these years, finally …” She trails off.

“I apologize for my daughter. Growing up without a mother has made her spoiled. She is my princess and used to getting what she wants. But this is too much.”

“I’m not spoiled.” Sonia reaches toward her father then drops her hand.

“Sonia, why would you want to hurt this family? You did not tell me that Tavo did not want you.”

“I’m sorry, Papi.”

He faces us. “I must have mentioned it to Sonia, and she used it for her advantage. I would never call your loan. In fact, I can tear it up if you like. I will cancel it.”

My mother’s eyes widen. “You would? Why would you do that?”

“Because I am in love with you.”

Electricity zings about.

Now the attention has turned from me to my mother and Señor Molinero. “Wait, what?”

“We need to tell you something,” he says. “Long ago, your mother and I were sweethearts. Our feelings grew strong. But my parents prohibited me from seeing her. In rebellion, I dated a lot of women, and I ended up getting Sonia’s mother pregnant. While she lost that baby, the damage had been done. Your mother found your father, and married him. So meanwhile, I lived next door to my love, who was married to another. I had to watch as she gave birth to a daughter, then a son. Then another son. And finally my wife had a daughter, but my wife died in childbirth. Meanwhile, your mother had another son.”

“This is true,” says abuelo.

“I respected your father very much. I never reminded your mother of what we had. And I stayed away after he died, because I did not want to hurt her. But when she came over to talk about you and Sonia, we started reminiscing about old times. It is only recently that we reunited. And one thing lead to another, and we are in love.” He turns to her. “I wish you would have talked to me about the loan, though.”

“I did not know,” she whispers, and then she lifts her chin up. Pride through and through.

“My fault has been spoiling Sonia too much.” Sonia’s eyes fly wide open. “Without a mother, she was my only companion. She needs to pay for this.”

“¡Papi!”

“You will spend the next year working for free for the de la Guerra family. You will do all of the orchard work. You will pay for the harm that you did to our neighbors.”

“Papi, I don’t know the first thing about it,” says Sonia.

“I’ll show her around,” says Guillermo.

“She’s crazy,” I say in an undertone.

“She’s my kind of crazy.”

I shake my head in disbelief. Guess he’ll have to learn that lesson for himself.

Sonia turns to me. “Tavo, I’ve always wanted you. I wanted you to want me. When you finally paid attention to me, I thought I had you for real.”

“No, Sonia. That was a mistake.” I suppose I understand. If she feels for me anything like what I feel for Kim, those emotions can make you do crazy things.

“You’ve just never paid any attention to me.”

“Sonia, don’t do anything like this ever again. Don’t hurt my brother. Or anyone.”

“I won’t,” she says. And while I don’t want to forgive her, I do in my heart. Because I don’t want to hold her vileness inside me. She’s not worth it.

My mother gazes at me and swivels to look at each of my siblings “I loved your father very much. I still do. But Eduardo is good for me. Maybe it’s better that we’re with each other now.” And she looks at me. “I still think you and Sonia would be good for each other.”

I erupt again. “Mother! Have you seen the way she acted toward me? How can you wish that on me?”

Her eyes flash at me. She’s not backing down. Stubborn, stubborn woman.

I may be exactly like her.

Señor Molinero steps forward. “María Luisa, I want to marry you. That’s a good way of ensuring that this property remains in both of our families. And I will rip up the promissory note.”

We all take in our collective breaths. Yet again.

Abuelo steps forward. “You have my blessing, Señor Molinero. You are a good man. But keep a sturdy leash on your daughter.”

“So was that what your speech was about at our harvest dinner? The union was you and my mother,” I ask.

He nods. “Yes. I desire to marry your mother. So, María Luisa. Will you marry me?”

Tears drip down my mother’s face, and she casts her eyes up at him adoringly. She presses her hands to her heart and breathes in and out a few times.

We all wait for her to answer.

“Yes, Eduardo. Yes. And because I love you and we made mistakes when we were young and took different paths. But this, going forward, this is right.”

Nervous smiles appear on everyone’s faces, and then Antonio claps. We all begin clapping, and Señor Molinero kisses my mother then they grin at all of us.

Finally, after an eternity, everyone disburses.

I return to my casita, and while some things are fixed, my heart is not. I’m so tired and wasted, but I can’t sleep in my bed. Not without doing a ritual. So I lie on the floor, covered in a blanket that smells like Kim, but I don’t sleep. I can’t, not without her. And I hear the sound of my heart breaking into a million pieces, one by one, all night long.

There’s no way I can pick up the pieces without Kim.