The Fountains of Silence(93)

Daniel stares at the bellboy, trying to process the information: Lorenza has been writing notes to Ana?

Rafa was dating Lorenza?

Lorenza’s father is a Crow. Ben’s words return to him:

Steer clear of those fire engine lips. You don’t know who she’s flapping them to.

“Thanks, Buttons. Your help is worth more than a pail of pesetas.” He removes a large bill from his wallet and gives it to Carlitos.

His attempts at maturity thin and Carlitos bounces with excitement. He pistols his fingers at Daniel. “Tex-has. Pow! Pow!”

Daniel walks through the lobby to Nick, whose face is still mottled with remnants of the alley incident.

“Hola, cowboy,” says Nick. “Rough days, eh?”

Daniel sits to face him. “I spoke to your dad. After your fight he said he owed me a favor. So I asked him to get Ana rehired.”

Truth and regret rise to Nick’s face. “Oh, Dan, I—”

“Don’t worry. I figured it out on my own. Ben filled in the rest.”

“It’s just—Ana and I—we made a promise.” Nick looks around before speaking. “It’s so complicated. The embassy, my mom, it’s embarrassing for both of us.”

“I understand.”

“No, I don’t think you do,” says Nick. His tone softens. “I see your parents together. Your father’s a steady guy, an honorable guy. My dad? Shep’s a lech. I can’t even bring a girl home. He’s awful and humiliating. It’s a game for him. And sometimes people get hurt. Me. My mother. Ana. Have you spoken to her?”

“Just did.”

“And?”

Daniel shakes his head, struggling to hold his emotions in place. “Nick, talk to her for me. Please. I can’t let things end like this.”

“Sure. I can try,” says Nick earnestly. “I want to help. What do you want me to tell her?”

“Tell her to meet me for dinner. A real dinner. Have her meet me at Lhardy at nine tomorrow. Will you do that? I just need a few hours with her, to talk things through.”

“Okay, I’ll do it.”

Daniel stares at Nick. Can he trust him? “Nick, promise me you’ll get Ana there.”

“I will. I owe you that and more.”

Nick Van Dorn does owe him. But he just told Daniel that he doesn’t understand. Nick, Fuga, Ana. They all say he doesn’t understand. But he’s sure he does. What is he missing?

“Say . . . Dan,” stammers Nick. “There’s something I want to run by you.”

Laura Beth appears in the lobby. She strides toward them in an emerald-green dress and white gloves. “Well, hello there. Daniel, I’ve asked Nick to show me around Madrid.”

Nick looks to Daniel and shrugs sheepishly.





122



“What do you mean, we’re leaving?”

“The deal is done, Dan. It was quicker than I thought. Franco wanted to finish things before his fishing trip. We’re anxious to get home now. We’ve booked a flight for the day after tomorrow.”

“Well, I’m sorry. I need to stay. Just for a few more weeks. That was the plan.”

His mother comes to him on the sofa. “The plan has changed a bit. We’ll need you at home, tesoro.”

“Are you not feeling well?”

“On the contrary. I’m feeling wonderful.”

“We’ll need you, well, because we have some news,” says his father. “It’s mighty exciting.”

His mother gently takes his hands in hers. “Daniel, my love,” her face fills with light, “it is exciting news. Your father tells me that you knew of our communication with the orphanage, but now it’s confirmed. We’ve adopted a baby.”





123



Ana cries at the table. Lali cries in her box.

“Padre,” gasps Julia, staring at the priest. “Rafa. Fuga. Please, tell me it’s not true.”

“I’m sorry, my child.” The priest leaves their shack, a small man freighted with duty.

Julia turns pale as paper. She reaches for the table to steady herself. Small movements travel through her limbs until her entire body is quaking.

“Julia,” sobs Ana. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t cry. I’m here,” whispers her sister, staring into nothingness. “Father Fernández says they will release Rafa in a few weeks.”

Despite her sister’s pleadings, Ana and Rafa have failed her. It’s not fair of life to ask so much of Julia, to sacrifice so much. The words return to Ana, haunting her heart: We have five mouths at the table now. No one can lose their job.

The world at the hotel is a fairy tale. That is not our world.

Julia warned her. Repeatedly. But despite the warnings, Ana began to dream from the deepest part of her heart. A trustworthy, honorable young man treated her with kindness and respect. She finally felt safe. She allowed herself to love him. But that was selfish. She put her own hopes and dreams before her family and now they will all suffer because of it.

Ana wipes her tears and lifts her niece from the orange crate, kissing her head and soothing her cries. She must help her sister. She must distract herself from the searing pain of losing her job, of losing Daniel.