Texas Troubles by Jean Brashear

Author:Jean Brashear
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Texas, Serials
Publisher: Jean Brashear
Published: 2019-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

‡

“Maria Luisa, your dinner has been waiting. Carlito already ate.”

Luisa set down her briefcase and raised weary eyes to her mother’s frowning face. “I’m not hungry, Mama.”

“Nonsense. Sit down. You must eat. You don’t eat enough to keep a bird alive.”

“Mama, I’m—” A grown woman, she started to say. But her mother was right. She was too tired, but she needed fuel. She still had work in her briefcase. “All right,” she conceded. Then she made an effort to smile. “It smells good, Mama.” Leaning over, she kissed her mother’s cheek.

Consuela merely grunted and gestured toward the table. “Sit down before you fall down.” She carried a bowl of thick, hot soup and set it before Luisa. “Why must you work so hard? What are you trying to prove?”

Luisa closed her eyes and counted to ten. “I’m not trying to prove anything, Mama. I’m trying to keep a roof over our heads.”

“Phffpt, do not try that with me, young lady.” Consuela waved a spoon in her direction. “You explained the tenure provision. Your job is safe. Now explain to me what you are trying to prove that you are not home when your son needs you.”

Luisa set down her spoon immediately. “What’s wrong with Carlito?”

“Did I say anything was wrong?” She waved her hands vaguely. “Perhaps there is. It is only a feeling.”

Luisa half-rose. “Is he in his room?”

“Sit down and eat, Maria Luisa. He will be back soon. You will have to wait.”

“Where did he go? How did he get there?”

“He is with his father.” Consuela crossed herself, muttering a prayer.

“Why? Ramon didn’t call to ask me.”

“Do you forget that your son’s sixteenth birthday is tomorrow? Has your work wiped that from your head? Ramon is giving him his birthday present.”

Luisa waved aside her mother’s insinuations. “What did he give him?”

“Am I a bruja that I can see what happens elsewhere?”

“When will he be back?”

“Soon, Maria Luisa. I heard Carlito tell his father that he had homework to do. Now sit down and eat.”

Although it was the last thing she wanted to do, Luisa obeyed her mother. The soup was delicious and not eating wouldn’t bring Carlos home any sooner.

Just after she finished, she heard the back door open. Carlos walked into the kitchen, his hands empty.

“Where is your father?”

She could see her son stiffen. “He…left.”

“What did he give you?”

“Uh, Mama, I need to talk to you.”

“All right.”

He glanced at his grandmother, then indicated the living room with his head. “Alone?”

Consuela’s eyebrows lifted. Luisa frowned and rose from the table, following her son from the room. “Are you excited about taking your driver’s license test tomorrow?” He’d been practicing for weeks and had excelled in his driver’s education class.

“Yeah. Uh, yes.” He was distracted, pacing the room and rubbing his hands on his pants.

“What is it, Carlit—Carlos?”

“Sit down, Mama, please.”

She sat down, mentally steeling herself. “All right, I’m sitting. What is it, mijo?”

“Mama, you’ve got to understand something. This isn’t meant to hurt you, all right?”

Her heart turned to lead.

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