Canary Island Song by Robin Jones Gunn

Author:Robin Jones Gunn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Howard Books
Published: 2011-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

“Donde caben dos, caben tres.”

“Where there is room for two, there is room for three.”

CAROLYN CAUGHT THE slight scent of smoke as her mother’s morning prayer candle was extinguished in the adjacent room of the small apartment. She could hear her mother’s footsteps as she made her way into the living room and uncovered the birdcage, poured the tiny seeds into the bird’s dish, and opened the window all the way.

The peace that had come to Carolyn after their deep-hearted conversation in the night had remained. This was indeed a new day.

Someone needed to make the coffee. Willingly taking on the task, Carolyn made herself at home in the kitchen, and soon the fragrance of dark coffee filled the air, joined by the comforting scent of fresh bread turning warm and crisp in the toaster. With ease and contentment, Carolyn and her mother passed each other in and out of the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen. It was dance lesson’s morning, and her mother was determined not to be late.

They were just about ready to walk out the door to catch a taxi to Lydia’s home when the phone rang.

“Let it ring,” Carolyn’s mother said. She had her purse in her hand and was ready to leave.

“Are you sure? It might be important.”

“And it might be one of my sisters.”

Carolyn hesitated, looking at the phone and then back at her mom. Reluctantly, her mother gave in and picked up the phone on the fifth ring. By her tone, Carolyn could tell it was not one of the aunts. The call was short, and when Abuela Teresa hung up, she looked as if her morning energy source had been unplugged.

“What is it, Mom? What happened?”

“Nothing bad has happened. It was Lydia. She had to cancel the dance lesson for today. I am so disappointed.”

If Carolyn doubted her mother’s enthusiasm for these lessons, all skepticism was put aside. It surprised her that the dancing meant that much to her mom.

“What should we do instead? Would you like to go somewhere? We could go shopping.” Carolyn was thinking of finding something new at Curvas Peligrosas to wear tonight.

Apparently her mother had forgotten Carolyn’s shopping request from last night because she said, “What would we shop for? You just bought groceries. I have everything I need, and more gifts than I can fit on my shelves.”

“We can stay here, then. I’ll help you around the apartment. Is there anything that needs to be done?”

“No. And I do not want to spend your visit cleaning out my closets or my cupboards.”

“Okay, then what should we do?”

“Vamos a la playa.”

Carolyn knew that Spanish phrase from her last visit. “You want to go to the beach?”

“Yes, let’s go to Las Canteras. I have wanted to spend a day at the beach for a very long time. It is not something anyone else likes to do as much as I. That’s why I made Isobel take me to my birthday party early. I wanted to sit and watch the people.

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