Page 46 of Fortune's Kiss
“Maybe we can help each other out, hmm?”
“Oh.And how can we do that?”he replied.
Lo laughed.There was something about the Banker that made him easy to talk to.Something almost familiar, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.She playfully looked out toward the hall, needing those precious few seconds to choose her words carefully.The long hallway was barren, save for a large mirror at the end.She turned back to him.“Well, you see, I—”
Wait.
She glanced back at the hallway.No longer was there a mirror, if there had even been one in the first place: a woman stood with her back to her.With her voluptuous curls, the color of dulce de leche, she could have been Lo’s reflection, her double.But she wasn’t, and that was the most terrifying part.Becauseat that moment, Lo knew she wasn’t looking at some mysterious doppelgänger, but someone very familiar.“M-Mamá?”she choked.She rushed out of the elevator, forgetting about the Banker and everything else.She stumbled over her gown.When she looked back up, the figure was gone.
“Wha—”
A door slammed.
Cursing the lacy frills of her dress, Lo scooped them up and followed the sound.She turned the corner and found a single door.She yanked it open and barreled inside.But what she found was an empty room.Completely empty.White walls.A wood floor.No windows.
No Mamá.
The door slammed shut behind her.She whirled around and jiggled the doorknob, but the door wouldn’t budge.No.This couldn’t be happening.She tried the knob again, before pounding and kicking at the door.She was trapped.
When she turned back around, her heart stopped.The room had completely changed.No longer empty, it was Mamá’s suite in their hacienda.
Sometimes when Lo closed her eyes and concentrated hard enough, she could remember times when Mamá was still around.Softly singing alabados as Lo fell asleep in her arms.Sitting at Lo’s bedside and soaking rags in water mixed with Alivio Frío and putting them on Lo’s forehead whenever she was sick with a fever.Laughing until she snorted at the silliest of jokes.
But this time, Lo didn’t have to close her eyes for the memories to unfold.
Mamá’s gown fluttered around as she rushed around the suite, packing a small satchel.
“Mamá,”Lo whispered, the memory overtaking her.“What are you doing?”
Mamá whirled around; in the glow of the night, she looked like Santa Belleza.“Oh, Lorena.”The tightness in her bronze face unraveled.
Back then, Lo couldn’t comprehend her facial expression, but thinking back, it was probably a blessing.
“What are you doing awake?”Mamá caught her in a hug.Much tighter and longer than the usual embrace.
Lo hugged herself, desperate to recapture the feelings of comfort and safety.
“I had a bad dream.Why are you awake, Mamá?”Lo asked, clinging to Mother’s dress.“Are you going somewhere?”
“Yes.”Mamá knelt and took Lo’s hands.“But you must not tell anyone.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s a surprise.”
“Oh!”Lo beamed, bouncing on her toes.Surprises were the best.Better than a brand-new dress or the sweetest flan.“I won’t tell anyone.I promise.”
“Good girl.”Mamá kissed her forehead with a loud smooching pop.“My clever, clever girl.”She stroked Lo’s cheek.“I’m going to Fortune’s Kiss.”
“Wow!Really?”Lo’s heart did somersaults inside her chest.Earlier that day she and Mayté had been talking about Fortune’s Kiss.They didn’t know much about it, but it sounded magical and exciting.“Can I come too?”
“Oh, no, no, no.”Mamá shook her head and grasped Lo’s shoulders.“I won’t be gone for long, and I’ll bring back a surprise for you and your sisters; so, remember, you mustn’t tell anyone.”
Back then Lo envisioned gifts.Toys and new dresses.But now she knew the surprise would have been much more meaningful than those.Mamá intended to have enough money for all of them to escape from Father and start a new life together.
“When will you come back?”
Mamá looked away and bit her lip.“I don’t know for sure, but I’ll see you soon.”She looked back at Lo, her smile sincere.“I promise.Okay?”
