Chapter 38 #2
I glance uncertainly at Rocío. “Aunt,” she explains. “Tita means aunt.”
I hold out a hand. “I’m Kieran,” I say. “I’m, um, Isabel’s boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” Tita Vanessa echoes. She shakes my hand.
“I wish we were meeting under better circumstances,” I say.
“Will either of you please tell me what happened?”
Rocío launches into a retelling, possibly even angrier than mine. Her voice drips with vitriol each time she mentions Natalia’s name. Tita Vanessa’s eyes water. Her heart visibly breaks on her face.
Isabel lays her head on Tita Vanessa’s lap.
“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry,” Tita Vanessa whispers into Isabel’s hair. “I’m so sorry, anak.”
“I’m gonna kill her,” Rocío grumbles.
Tita Vanessa strokes Isabel’s hair until Isabel’s sobs fade into sniffles.
I wish there was more I could do, something I could say that would take away her hurt.
It’s all my fault; I should’ve been honest with Natalia from the start.
I shouldn’t have let it get this far. We shouldn’t have had to hide.
“Come,” Tita Vanessa says, helping Isabel up and leading her upstairs to her room. They disappear for a while; no doubt she’s tucking Isabel into bed. When Tita Vanessa returns, she’s got a grim look on her face.
“Thank you for bringing her home,” she says to Rocío.
“Of course, Tita.” Rocío stands and hugs Tita Vanessa, who chokes out a sob. She covers her mouth with her hand.
“I shouldn’t have pushed her,” Tita Vanessa says. “I just thought—”
“It’s okay, Tita. It’s not your fault.”
“I threw her into the lion’s den.”
Rocío only tightens her grip around Tita Vanessa.
When they pull away, Tita Vanessa swipes at her nose and says, “Can you stay here and watch over her? There’s something I have to do.”
I stand, alert, prepared to keep guard all night if I have to. Rocío and I nod.
“It won’t take long,” Tita Vanessa says. She looks at me. “We’ll talk later.”
A shiver runs down my spine. She’s going to tell me she doesn’t approve, that I’m no good for her daughter. I swallow thickly and brace myself for it.
Tita Vanessa picks up her bag and swipes at her eyes. She presses her cheek against Rocío’s in goodbye, then mine. When she leaves, Rocío points to the stairs.
“I’m gonna go check on her.”
I sit back down on the couch. I’ve never felt so miserable in my life. I want to crawl into bed next to Isabel, to hold her and let her sleep until the hurt is over.
I love her so much. I can’t help but feel like I’ve failed her somehow.
The townhouse is lit by a dimming fluorescent light. There are cream curtains drawn against the night. The leather couch is cracked in some places. It’s a far cry from the extravagance of the Aranaz home, but I like it. It’s lived in. Homey.
Cisco
wru?
Cisco
u ok?
I ignore his texts. I don’t feel like talking to him. If there was anything to say, he should have said it then.
It’s past midnight when Rocío steps out of the room. I must’ve dozed off from exhaustion. She shakes me awake. “Are you hungry?” she asks. “Want to order Jollibee?”
* * *
We sit around the table, Isabel having come out of hiding. Paper bags of fast food are strewn about. Fried chicken, spaghetti (sweeter than I was expecting), fries, and tall cups of Coke. Rocío lays Isabel’s food out in front of her. She still hasn’t spoken, but at least she’s eating.
I’m almost afraid to talk to her. It’s like she’s here, but shrunken deep inside herself, somewhere out of my reach.
“How are you feeling?” Rocío asks. I glance at Isabel, who nibbles on her fry quietly.
“Sabs?” I prompt.
“No, you,” Rocío says.
“Oh, me?” I ask. “Um. I’m just—I’m worried about Isabel.” Isabel is still staring down at the table, a distant look in her red-rimmed glassy eyes.
“How could you ever stand to be their friend? Seriously,” Rocío says.
“I know,” I say. “I know.” I’ve excused so much. Looked the other way when they were cruel. Now I’m reaping what I’ve sowed. Each time I didn’t speak up in defense of someone they bullied led them to believe they could all treat Isabel the same way.
“They’re such fucking assholes!” Rocío exclaims. Isabel drops her fry and flees upstairs. I stand, but Rocío stops me.
“Let her. She needs space. She’ll be okay.”
I hesitate but sit back down. Rocío knows her better than me. I have no choice but to follow her lead.
* * *
Tita Vanessa arrives past three in the morning. She looks exhausted as she sets her bag down on a chair by the dining table.
“How are you, Tita?” Rocío asks.
“I’m okay,” Tita Vanessa answers. “You should go home. Get some rest.”
Rocío turns to me. “We have a guest room—”
I shake my head. “I’d like to stay here, if that’s okay. I want to be here in case Isabel needs me.”
“There isn’t enough space,” Tita Vanessa says.
“I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“You can stay with us. It’s really not a problem,” Rocío says.
“He can stay,” Isabel croaks out from the stair landing. My spirit lifts, it soars.
“Okay,” Tita Vanessa says. “I’ll get you some blankets.”
Isabel approaches me. She holds out her arms and I draw her to me. All the tears I’ve held at bay come spilling out. “I’m sorry,” I whisper into her hair in between kisses planted on top of her head. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
Her tears soak through my shirt. I don’t care. I’m here. We’re here—together. Kieran and Isabel, Isabel and Kieran. I’m never going anywhere. Not now, not ever.