“Julia.”
The drawer of thoughts closes. Her boss, Luis, stands at the front of the workshop. “May I speak with you?”
Julia follows Luis through the workshop to his small office. He closes the door and motions for her to sit.
“I want you to see this, before someone else does.” He hands Julia a newspaper and points to a photo.
The caption reads:
America’s Distinguished Sons—Nicholas Van Dorn, son of embassy diplomat, and Daniel Matheson, son of Texas oil baron, attend the fashion gala at the U.S. Embassy. The model wears a gown from the Pedro Rodríguez boutique at the Castellana Hilton.
Julia stares at the photo. Some people appear awkward in glamorous clothing. Ana is not one of them. She wears the expensive dress more naturally than her threadbare clothes or hotel uniform.
Julia looks at the tall, dark-haired Texan. Ana mentioned that she is assigned to his family for the summer. She did not mention his looks. Handsome. His suit is expensive, privately cut, and expertly tailored to his strong frame. His tie is imported from Italy; Julia can tell by the size of the knot.
The photo speaks a private language. Ana leans toward the Texan. The Texan leans toward Ana.
“I saw the photo and nearly fell off my chair. At first glance I swore it was your mother. She looks so much like her,” says Luis.
Julia smiles softly. “She looks exactly like her. She’s beautiful.”
“And that one. He’s the one you told me about?” asks Luis.
Julia sighs and points to Nick Van Dorn. “Yes, he’s the one.”
45
“I have an important meeting. I am not to be disturbed. Do you understand, Purificación?”
“Yes, Sister,” says Puri. “But . . . did the boy find my surprise from Ratoncito Pérez?”
“Indeed. He was overjoyed.” Sister Hortensia removes a small envelope from her desk drawer and hands it to Puri. “I’m going to trust you with something important. While I am in my meeting, take the tooth downstairs and put it in the boy’s file. The file number is on the envelope. Are you responsible enough to handle this?”
“Yes, Sister.” Puri slips the small envelope with the tooth into the pocket of her apron.
“Good.” Sister removes a large ring of keys from her rope belt and extends a key to Puri. “You will give the keys to Sister Pilar when you are finished.”
Puri swells with pride. She has won Sister’s trust. As long as Puri can remember, her parents have been overprotective, not allowing or trusting her to explore on her own.
The locked file room, located underground, is generally off-limits to anyone but the doctors, nuns, and priests. The dark basement is much cooler than the upper floors. The heavy keys echo in the windowless space as Puri unlocks the door. Her hand feels along the rough stone wall for a light switch. She pushes the button and a dim, caged light glows from above. Puri decides it’s best to do her work in private. She shuts the door.
Rows of wooden filing cabinets create aisles in the room. Puri walks down the lines of cabinets, looking for the range of numbers that will house the envelope in her hand. She finds the drawer and pulls it open. The files are neatly arranged in numeric order.
“There you are,” says Puri, retrieving a file. She puts the envelope with the tooth in the file. She pauses, curious. What sort of information is kept in the files? She begins to leaf through. The file contains the child’s arrival form, annual medical summaries, classroom reports, and various other notations and correspondence. A postmarked envelope addressed to Sister Hortensia is included in the file. Should she? Puri peeks inside.
Thank you for your letter, Sister. I am happy to hear that José is a good little boy and that you feel he is gifted and smart. Unfortunately, we cannot accept him back at home. We have seven other children and no means to care for them. José will be better off with an adoptive family. Since he is smart, he will be able to make his own way in life.
Puri’s heart sinks. How could parents not want their son back? How can a six-year-old make his own way in life? Adopting couples and families want newborns, perfect infants they can raise as their own. Chances are very slim that a family will adopt the sweet boy. This means that José may never feel truly wanted or loved. She returns the file to the cabinet and closes the drawer. Puri is grateful for the information. She will dote on little José. It is her duty to serve the children.
Heartsick, Puri suddenly thinks of Clover. She makes her way down the cabinets and looks for 20 116. She finds files for 20 115 and 20 117. The file for 20 116 is missing. Perhaps Sister Hortensia has the file in her office because she is so actively looking for a good home for Clover?
Near the door, Puri spies a table with several files. Maybe Clover’s is among them. She opens an unmarked file and sees columns with the assigned numbers that correspond to each orphan. In a row to the right of each number is a list labeled ADOPTION FEES.
They can’t be correct.
Puri looks at the numbers more closely. The figures are astronomically high.
She scrolls the list to find 20 116. She runs her finger across the line and lands on Clover’s adoption fee. There has to be a mistake.
200,000 pesetas.
46
Rafa steps into the dark confessional box. He kneels and awaits the priest. Bound by the sacramental seal of confession, Rafa knows the Vallecas priest will not divulge his sins. The words spoken in confession are guarded by complete confidentiality.
The small square window slides open and through the latticed screen, Rafa sees the silhouette of Father Fernández. He greets the priest with the sign of the cross.
“Hail Mary the Purest.”
“Conceived without sin,” replies the priest.
“It has been seven days since my last confession.” Rafa takes a breath. “Padre, I have trespassed upon another’s property.”
“And where were these sins committed?”
“In the pasture of Don José Isasa Cuadros, Padre.”
The priest remains silent.
“Oh, and I fibbed again to my sisters. They still don’t know about my girlfriend.”
Rafa clears his throat. “For these and all my sins, I ask pardon of God, penance, and absolution of you, Padre,” he recites.
Rafa hears the priest breathing behind the screen. He issues the penance.
Rafa begins. “I am deeply sorry for all of my sins and for offending Thee, my God, who art deserving of all my love. I detest my sins and will make efforts to do better.”