Across a Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande

Author:Reyna Grande
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria Books

adelina

Adelina sat beside Don Ernesto’s bed and watched him sleep. They’d celebrated his eighty-third birthday two days ago. Frail now, Adelina had invited him to live with her but he had remained at Dracula’s castle, insisting he must continue caring for his animals.

She visited him almost every day, especially now.

Don Ernesto stirred awake and smiled when he saw her. He held his hand up and touched her cheek. Adelina closed her eyes and put her hand over his. She put her head down on his chest and let Don Ernesto massage her scalp.

“What’s the matter, child? You’ve been so thoughtful these last few weeks. Are you still reluctant to have a relationship with your young man?”

Adelina smiled. It always amazed her that Don Ernesto could read her so well. She sat up and looked at him.

“I’ve known you for fourteen years, Adelina. And in all that time I’ve never heard you talk about any young men. You’ve never gone out with anyone, never made friends—”

“I had no time for friends, Don Ernesto. Whatever time I had when not in school I spent looking for my father.”

“Adelina, not even for love can you stop searching for your father?”

“Not even for love.”

“Love is hard to find. You must not let it go. Don’t waste your youth searching for a ghost.”

“My father is not a ghost. I will find him.”

“And when you do, then what? Will you be able to make up for all that wasted time? Will you be able to go back to your young man, hoping he’s waited for you?”

Adelina was quiet for a moment. “I don’t expect anyone to wait for me, Don Ernesto,” she said. “There are things I have done. Things I cannot forget. There were men in my past, and my memories of them will never let me be free.”

Don Ernesto reached for her hand. “Promise me you will give yourself a chance to be happy with this young man.”

“But Don Ernesto—”

“Hush, mi’ja. I am an old man, and I will not be in this world much longer. The only thing I desire is to know you will not be alone. Humor this old man.”

“Está bién, Don Ernesto. I promise. I promise I will try.”

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