Mona Passage: a Novel by Thomas Bardenwerper

Author:Thomas Bardenwerper
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780815655367
Publisher: Syracuse University Press
Published: 2021-10-21T00:00:00+00:00

The medical technician ripped off a sheet of paper, handed it to Yunel, and walked out Teresa’s front door to the van that doubled as an ambulance. He turned off the portable siren and drove away down the dark street.

Teresa sat awake on the couch. She looked several years older, her hair a tangled mess. She drank from a plastic cup of mango juice that Yunel held for her.

Gabriela had the feeling that the whole fiasco was her fault, but she didn’t understand why. It’s not like she had tried to knock over the table. But then again, she had eaten all of the cookies.

“I’m sorry,” she finally said, looking down at her lap.

“It’s okay,” said Yunel, tipping the cup into his mother’s mouth. “It wasn’t your fault. But when she takes her medicine, you have to make sure she eats. You have to promise me that.”

“Okay, I promise.” There were still rice and beans ground between the floor tiles. She hadn’t even cleaned up right.

“You know, Gabriela,” said Yunel. “Maybe it’s time you come live with me.”

“Live with you?” Her pulse quickened and her palms started to sweat.

“Yeah, with me and Lola. I just don’t think this is working, you and my mom.”

“Why isn’t it working?”

“Because you can’t take care of her, and she can’t take care of you.”

Gabriela didn’t say anything, but she could feel tears building. Since Josefina died, getting used to life with just Teresa had been one of the hardest transitions of Gabriela’s life, and she was just finally getting settled. And Yunel was more of a stranger than family. And Lola? She definitely wasn’t family.

“Look,” said Yunel, taking a sip of the mango juice himself. “I know you don’t want to live with me, Gabi, but I talked about it with Galán.”

“You talked about it with Galán? What did he say?” There was no way Galán would let Yunel kick her out of Teresa’s house.

“He said it made sense. Especially if you could go to the day hospital.”

“The day hospital?” Gabriela felt the room start spinning around her. Her doctor had mentioned that place occasionally, and Josefina would always shake her head with an emphatic no. If Gabriela’s mom wasn’t okay with a day hospital, why would Galán be? “I don’t believe you, Yunel. I don’t believe that Galán would say that.”

“Well, that’s what he said.”

“Did he say anything else?” There was no way.

“He did say something about you going to Puerto Rico to live with him, but we both know that wouldn’t work.”

“He said I could live with him?” She had never thought that being together was an actual option. They had always just lived apart on two different sides of the ocean. Being with Galán was just something she dreamt about.

“You know what, forget it. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“I could live with Galán? He really said that?”

Yunel put the cup on the table and ran his hands through his hair. “Yes, he did say that. But only if you promise to be really, really tough.

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