Page 83 of Till Death Do Us Part
I turned to Viviana. “Whatever you’re cooking smells wonderful.”
“Pozole,” she said, going to the pot and lifting the lid. “It needs to simmer for a few more hours.”
“Hours?” Aléjandro questioned.
She opened the refrigerator. “I haven’t forgotten your appetite, Jano. I’m prepared if you’re hungry.”
While I didn’t recall looking in the refrigerator the last time we were here, my eyes opened wide at the fully stocked appliance. “Goodness. You’ve been shopping.”
“Sí,” she said with a smile. “I’ve cooked pork and beef. I can make you sandwiches?”
“Pork,” Aléjandro said before walking with Silas toward the front office.
“I’ll have roast beef. I can make them,” I volunteered, walking around the counter and wondering where anything was located in my own kitchen.
Viviana shook her head. “It’s my pleasure. We’re happy to be closer to our grandchildren—nietos.”
“Josefina told me that your daughter is in the States.”
“Sí, and we’ll be able to see them more often.” Viviana reached her hand closer to me on the countertop and met my gaze. “When Aléjandro called Silas, I was surprised to hear he was to marry.”
“It was surprising to us all.”
“Silas and I, we watched him grow and always knew he would be a good man.” She smiled. “It took him a little longer. Some boys need to find their way to becoming a man even when it’s mapped out for them. When he looks at you, I see that he’s become what Josefina always knew he could be.”
“A good man,” I said, a lump forming in my throat.
“Sí. And he has Silas working to make your home safe, which means he cares. I believe Silas wants to show you all he’s done.”
“Thank you for accepting Aléjandro’s invitation. I know it was a big move. I don’t know what you’ve heard about me.” I thought honesty was the best. “I was married before. I’m a widow…or was. I’m not sure how that works now that I’m married again. In my first marriage, we didn’t have the means for live-in help or any help, but my husband liked to keep up appearances. I’m capable of cooking and cleaning.”
Her smile softened. “We can work together to make you and Aléjandro happy.”
I nodded. “Just know that if you and Silas need time off to visitsunietos, we’ll manage.”
“Gracias.” She inhaled and straightened her shoulders. “Now, I’ll make sandwiches. From what I’ve seen and heard, you have furniture to buy.”
“I do, and I think Aléjandro’s office needs to be at the top of my list.”
Viviana laughed. “Silas has been working on a folding table and sitting on a milk crate.”
Office furniture was definitely on my agenda.
Turning to the stairs, I remembered the break-in. “I’m sorry our bedroom was such a mess.”
“That reminds me. Let me show you something we found.”
“You found?”
She nodded. “It’s upstairs.”
I followed Viviana up the staircase and into the bedroom I’d decided to make an exercise room. The large picture window that looked out over the ocean would be the perfect place for a treadmill with a view.
“I put it in here,” she said, opening a drawer within the closet and removing my jewelry box.
My eyes widened as I gasped and reached out. “I thought they took this.”
“It is yours?”