Page 73 of Summer on Sunshine Bay

“We couldn’t reach her either. You two need to keep your cell phones on. Ma was beside herself.”

“I’m sorry. I will from now on. But we have bigger things to worry about. Bruno’s here, and he brought Ana.”

Her sister raised her hands to her face and shook her head. “Don’t tell me that. Ma’s already on a tear. She’s making noises—really loud ones—about us removing the wallpaper, and she says she hates the color Jennifer picked for the walls. She’s gone to the hardware store to get a color deck.”

Eva hadn’t been thrilled with the warm butter color Jennifer had chosen, but she trusted her vision for the restaurant. The woman had impeccable taste. “Okay, I’ll phone the hardware store and get them to stall her. Where’s Jennifer?”

“She’s not coming.”

“What do you mean she’s not coming?”

“Don’t yell at me!”

“Sorry, it’s been a morning. But she has to come. She promised she would.” Jennifer had been excited about it. But Eva knew someone who wouldn’t be. “How did she sound?”

“Not as ticked off as you. What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that herculoof a husband wouldn’t let her come,” she said as she slipped on her high heels.

“Eva, what are you going to do?” her sister asked with a nervous hitch in her voice.

“I’m going to get her, and just let her husband try and stop me.” She turned to head for the door and nearly ran into James.

“Where are you going?”

“Yes, Eva, tell him where you’re going,” her sister said. “Hopefully, you can talk some sense into her, James.”

Eva arched an eyebrow at her sister. “Really, G?”

“Hey, since when do I rate just a wave and a hello?” Bruno asked, walking over to join them. Despite the jocular tone of voice, Eva thought he might’ve been a little hurt.

She hugged him and kissed his cheek, and her sister did the same. “We missed you,” Eva said, smiling at the woman at his side. “Hi, Ana. We were very sorry to hear about your mother.”

“Thank you.” She looped her arm through Bruno’s. “It would’ve been much more difficult if I didn’t have this wonderful man with me. He took such great care of me.”

“I’m sure he did,” Eva said, glancing at her sister, wondering if she was also getting the impression that Ana was making a point.

Ana smiled up at Bruno. “Are you going to tell the girls our news, or shall I?”

Bruno stuck his finger under the collar of his buttoned-up chambray shirt as if it were cutting off his airway. “Ana and I are getting married.”

Gia recovered faster than Eva. “That’s wonderful,” she said, and hugged Bruno and then Ana.

Eva’s sister turned to her and made big eyes. “Isn’t that wonderful, Eva?”

“Yes, yes, of course it is,” she said, and hugged them both.

“But you didn’t hear the best part,” Ana said, and Eva stiffened, hearing something in the other woman’s voice she didn’t like. “Bruno.”

Eyes downcast, he murmured, “We’re moving to Puerto Rico.”

“No, Bruno, say it isn’t so,” Eva pleaded. “You can’t leave us.”

“That’s rather selfish of you, don’t you think, Eva? Bruno has devoted his life to you people, and what does he get in return? Your mother—”

Bruno attempted to cut her off. “Ana, not now.”

But Ana ignored him. “—fired him. A man who—”

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