Page 34 of Prisoner of War
“Adán,” Karen said softly and shook her head.
“What?” he demanded, his hands spread before him, looking innocent.
Carmen drank half her champagne in one swallow. “You mother is delicately trying to tell you that Minnie and Idon’t get along and you should butt out. After all, this is a wedding, no?” She gave him a dazzling smile. “God forbid we spoil the celebration with something as banal as an argument.” She swallowed the last half of her champagne in one gulp and reached for the bottle sitting on the table.
Minnie bit her tongue and stayed silent. Carmen was spoiling for a fight and for Calli’s sake, Minnie wouldnot start it.
Adán looked shocked. “You do not get along? Why on earth not?”
“I suspect it’s because they’re so much alike,” Karen said.
Minnie blinked, staring at the older woman. She was too shocked to do anything else.
Carmen had been leaning back on her chair. Now she let it drop back to the tiles with a thunk. “Wash your mouth out, Abuela.” The words were mild but Carmen’s expressionwas sour enough to pickle onions.
Minnie recalled then that Carmen had not once throughout the day let loose with one of her more pithy, vernacular-filled observations. Was graceful Abuela Karen the reason for this display of decorum?
Nick’s subterranean chuckle earned him a glare from Carmen, which made him laugh harder. Calli rested her hand on his forearm in warning and it just made him laughharder still.
Adán stared at his cousin then grinned, too. “This is true?” he asked. “These two ladies are so alike?”
“I am a foot taller than her,” Carmen objected.
Minnie heard Karen whisper to her son, “Do not begin with physical comparisons, I beg you,” but Minnie kept her eyes on Carmen, who was watching Adán with strange intensity despite her unsteady, alcohol-hazed reactions.
Was itAdán who had the power to change Carmen’s spots?
Minnie thoughtfully sipped her champagne, using the drink as an excuse not to join the banter around the table.
Adán lifted his drink toward Minnie. “I did not think it was possible for there to be another like Carmen in the world. I am surprised to find her double comes wrapped in such an agreeable package. May I say, Miss Minnie, that you bestowa refreshing beauty upon this table?” He lifted his glass in salute to her and sipped.
Carmen stood abruptly, her chair scraping across the terracotta tiles with a sour note. She glared at Adán as he swiveled back to face her, surprise skittering across his face as he saw her thunderous expression.
“Why, what did I say, Carmen?” he asked reasonably.
“You drink to the health of this...this...Americanwoman? You shame me.”
She turned on one heel, her head high. Minnie knew she intended to stalk from the restaurant, to make as dramatic an exit as she could manage, but a few steps from the table, she staggered. It was a tiny misstep, but enough to ruin the drama of the moment.
Adán watched her go then looked at Nick and chuckled. “She has not changed an inch.”
“You were seeing her good side,”Nick said, his tone one of agreement.
Karen winced and brought her fingertips to her temple. “Carmen at her worst would be an experience, I imagine.”
“For one, her vocabulary is considerably more colorful,” Nick said gravely.
Adán chuckled again. “I must see if I can get her swearing before I leave. It’s not a successful trip if I haven’t coaxed Carmen into showing her true nature before Igo.”
Minnie dropped her gaze to her lap, feeling her cheeks burn. Adán’s compliments to her had clearly been empty ones, designed only to rouse Carmen’s ire. She wished she could sweep from the room like Carmen, her head held high.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up. Her father stood close behind her chair. “There’s a government official waiting to speak to us,” he said, murmuringclose to her ear.
“Here? Now? It’s a family wedding, for goodness’ sake.”
He nodded. “I believe that was conveyed to him but he’s a bit insistent.”
“Have we done something? What’s it about?”
