Page 68 of Till Death Do Us Part
“Only a little older than I was, twenty.”
“I don’t think Jano was ready to marry that young. I was only seventeen when Jorge and I wed. I had no idea how to be a wife. Now you and Jano are older and wiser. That’s why I know the two of you will be happy.” She scoffed. “Throw that rock overboard. Let him sink to the bottom of the ocean.”
‘You’re not him.’
Josefina continued, “I can’t imagine your situation, but think of it in reverse. Would you like Jano to compare you to other women he’s known before?”
Beneath my sunglasses, my eyes prickled.
Other women.
Younger.
Thinner.
Virgins.
I knew my answer. “No.”
“Doesn’t he deserve the same?”
“Has he said anything to you…about me?”
She shook her head. “I watch and listen. I’m older and wiser than I look.”
“You are.Gracias. I’ll try to do better.”
“No. I never said you weren’t doing your best. And that is all Jano can ask.”
“You love Jorge?” I asked, using his name for the first time with her.
“Sí, with all my heart. It took time. Thankfully, that is what we all have.”
During the next three to four hours, we alternated between talking and reading. Somewhere during that time, I found a new peace with my marriage. I even felt a bit sad for Catalina. None of the women in the famiglia did what Josefina was doing, not even my mother. I should have reached out to her and worked to make her feel wanted. It was a mistake on my part that I would try to rectify in the future.
While it occurred to me to ask what, if anything, Josefina knew about Liliana and Gerardo Ruiz, I was still finding my own way. As much as I wanted to help the young girl, I knew I needed to be on solid ground before I could be of any assistance to her.
The time was around four-thirty when Jorge made an appearance on the pool deck. I had a sudden flashback of the first time I saw him at my mother’s pool. I quickly reached for my cover-up.
Jorge went straight to his wife, giving her a kiss. They lingered longer than I expected.
I stared in awe, wondering if I’d ever in my entire life seen that kind of affection between my parents. When he turned in my direction, he smiled. “Mia, I’m glad you’re comfortable. Unlike your father, I don’t see the need for you to cover yourself. Unless it makes you more comfortable, then by all means, do it.”
“Gracias,” I said, deciding my Spanish was improving by one word a day. At that rate, I’d be fluent by the time Aléjandro and I had grandchildren. “Have you heard from Aléjandro or Rei?”
He nodded. “They have been busy, and” —he gestured— “they will be back before dark.”
I let out a breath. “Thank you. Are…? Will…?” I shook my head. “Do you know when it will be safe for us to return to our home?”
“Silas and Viviana arrived today. Jano is working to make it safe for hisnovia.”
“Bride,” Josefina whispered.
I nodded, content that Aléjandro was coming back to me and that he and this Silas would make sure our home was safe.
After Jorge walked away, Josefina began gathering her things. “I love the sun, but it makes me sleepy. You’re welcome to stay here or roam wherever you’d like on Bella. I’m going to rest and then get ready for dinner. I’d say eight thirty, based on Jorge’s timetable.”
“Thank you again for making me feel welcome.”