28. Si Tu Supieras #2
Diego’s words don’t just cut; they’re a massacre, hitting every major artery and Karina bleeds out in seconds.
She’s taken aback by the ferocity of his reply; her eyes widen and her lips still as all the color drains from her face.
Even Dimitrio and Beni stop what they’re doing to exchange uncomfortable looks in silence.
“Ven, nina,” Dona Ana crosses the room and picks up Allegra. “Vamos a lavarte las manos.”
Allegra gives a little frown as she’s carried out of the room, clueless and confused.
Karina pushes out her chair and murmurs, “I think we need a lighter.”
A whole minute passes before anyone knows what to do with themselves.
Mauricio helps Lettie put new film in Dad’s camera and Dimitrio and Beni finish hanging streamers near the windows.
Dahlia and I set out enough forks and plates for the ten of us.
Once we’re done, she picks up the last few candles Allegra hadn’t put on the cake yet and finishes placing them.
“Ready?” she asks.
My brother doesn’t meet her gaze and gives a curt nod.
“Diego,” she says.
He waits a beat before looking up. I can tell he’s afraid to.
“I know she’s legally your wife and all but if you ever talk to my cousin like that again, I’m taking a sledgehammer to your face and pounding until you look like hamburger meat. Got it?”
His throat works with a swallow as his eyes drop to his lap. This time he bows his head, signaling his understanding.
I dismiss myself and head downstairs to the kitchen where I find Karina in the butler’s pantry.
She has her back to me and before I can announce my presence, she throws a cabinet door shut and slams her hands down on the counter.
A choked cry leaves her lips and she presses a hand against her mouth to suppress it.
“Kay.”
She startles and almost turns around but stops herself.
“Sorry.” I watch as she aggressively drags her hands across her cheeks. “I still can’t find a lighter.”
I close the door behind me before entering the room. I look down at the counter and point. “You mean the lighter right there?”
She grabs it and thrusts it in my direction without looking up. I gently set it back down and lean against the counter to face her. “Kay.”
She drags a hand across her wet cheek. “Every day he reminds me I’m an outsider in this family.”
“Eso no es cierto—”
Her head whips around. “?Por supuesto que lo es!”
“You are just as much a member of this family as he is.”
She shakes her head. “No I’m not. Allegra is Diego’s daughter and Dahlia is your wife; one was born a Narvaez and the other was chosen. No one chose me. I’m here by accident. A complete afterthought. If I wasn’t Lela’s mother, no one would even notice.”
“I would notice.” I tell her. “I’ve always looked out for you. Even before Lela was born.”
Fresh tears fall and she wipes her face again. I open a bottom cabinet and grab a box of tissues. I extend a handful and she rolls her eyes before accepting.
“Sometimes I don’t mind as much. Diego is Allegra’s father and the only person he needs to be concerned about is her. But it’d be easier if I wasn’t so disliked by everyone.”
“That’s not true,” I frown. “Who dislikes you?”
She scoffs a bit. “My self-esteem is in tatters and you want me to give you a list?”
“No one here dislikes you.”
“Your sister is indifferent.”
“My sister would sell me for a James Galanos dress and Diego for a diamond tennis bracelet. Don’t take it personally.”
“Pedro and Oscar avoid me.”
“They avoid everyone. They hate working.”
The light in her eyes dim. “And Dahlia?”
It takes me a minute to respond. “Dahlia loves you more than anyone else in the world. Even more than me. She just doesn’t understand you anymore and it frustrates her.”
Her bottom lip quivers and she bites down on the inside of her cheek. She whispers, “Sometimes it feels like they’ll punish me forever.”
“Punish you for what?”
“For Brent.”
She inhales shakily and lifts a hand to her forehead, shielding part of her face. After a few deep breaths and a visible effort to contain herself, her shoulders cease to tremble but her voice betrays the emotion her body will not.
“I’m human too. I’m trying.” She hiccups and chokes on another smothered cry. “Diego he’s just…he’s so—”
“Quién los entiende. Mírate,” I shake my head. “Muriendo de amor por él por dentro pero sin decir nada. Son un par de idiotas los dos.”
“I wish everyone would stop saying that.” She sniffles. “It’s not true.”
I lift a brow. “Oh no? You’re not so sick with love for my brother that you’re making the rest of us miserable because of it? For Christ’s sake, Karina, he’s married to you.”
“On paper only. He has other girls—”
“No he doesn’t. You know he doesn’t.”
Karina presses her lips together.
“Sus ojos solo te buscan a ti y a nadie más. Ni siquiera se le ocurre mirar a otra.”
“He doesn’t love me, Alex. He pities me. I’m a wounded bird with a broken wing he wants to heal.”
“Ay, Karina,” I rake a hand through my hair. “Si tu supieras…”
“We only got married because everyone was pressuring us to do so. He deserves better.”
“Who better than the mother of his child?”
“I don’t want to be loved because I’m Allegra’s mother!” she exclaims, almost desperately. “I want him to love me because—”
She stops herself. A switch goes off inside Karina and as impassioned as she was a moment ago is how calm she is now. Her eyes dry and the color returns to her cheeks. After a few deep, steadying breaths, she faces me completely.
“We should go upstairs now.”
“Kay—”
She leaves with the lighter and I’m left to wonder what’s really going on between Diego and Karina.