Lima Nights by Marie Arana

Author:Marie Arana [Arana, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-440-33818-5
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2008-12-29T16:00:00+00:00

SHE TOOK OUT THE ROLLERS, tucked them into a drawer, and brushed her hair neatly around the ears, spiking the crown with gel. Every hair was in place, the total effect pleasing. But she could also see something pinched about her eyes, a hard line to her lips—an emerging mask of worry. Carmela's visit had been more than a little disturbing. Was it true that Bluhm was seeing another woman? That he had been seeing other women for years? And that was the reason he refused to talk about her role in his life, refused to seek out a priest, refused to make her a full partner in marriage?

Maria had been worried about it for some months now. Every time he left the house freshly groomed, his collar splashed with cologne, she'd wondered what new salesgirl he was trying to impress. She had had passing temptations herself—the handsome chauffeur next door, the too- friendly electrician. But she had never been unfaithful to Bluhm; she had known what there was to lose.

She switched off the television, slipped on a sweater, tied a bright scarf around her neck. “Don't you know,” Carmela had said, “that before you came along, he had a different girl every week! I spent a good chunk of my life with those four— I ought to know! What on God's earth made you think he could change?”

“He's older now,” Maria had said, “calmer.” And then she added, “So am I.”

“Pah!” Carmela scoffed. “Men don't change. They may alter a quirk here and there to fool you, take up a hobby, but they don't deviate from their basic natures. Just look at Willy! Always a family man. When he wanted to play around, what did he do? He put me in an apartment! He couldn't bring himself to sleep with every tramp he met, the way the others did. I watched them all hop around like fleas! No. He made me into his vision of what sex should be: dependable, homey, and under his own roof. What I didn't understand at the time was how soon it would all end: Whenever the rent stopped, the roof would be gone. Poof! Finished! And that's exactly what happened. He stopped paying rent, kicked over my whole world, and went back to his family. Just as Bluhm has gone back to his old ways.”

“You know this for a fact, Carmela? You've seen it?”

“Believe me, honey, I know what I'm talking about.” She sat back and clucked her tongue. “You sleep in separate rooms, yes or no?”

“You know the answer.”

“Well, let me say something about that. A bed on the other side of his wall won't get you what you want. I've been meaning to tell you that for a while.”

Maria tried to argue, but Carmela barreled ahead. “You're still young! You still have your looks! Why have you given up? Why are you throwing it all away? Just look at you in that robe. And those raggedy slippers! Bluhm didn't fall for a woman who looked like that! You were always so turned out, Maria, so sharp.

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