The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina (61)

“I’m confused. Are you from the hotel?”

Ana Cruz laughed and waved her many-ringed fingers in the air like she was swatting a fly. “I’m sorry, you’ve never met me so of course you look surprised. Orquídea was my sister. I’m your grand aunt. Or is it great-aunt? I don’t remember how it goes. Here we say, tía abuela.”

Then it clicked. Ana Cruz Buenasuerte. Marimar remembered being in the old house’s dining room when the Buenasuertes arrived. Learning of Orquídea’s first secret family had been the least surprising moment of that night. Orquídea had asked for Ana Cruz, but she couldn’t remember why she’d stayed behind.

“Wow! You didn’t have to come all the way here. There’s a shuttle taxi coming from the hotel.”

“As soon as Silvia called and said that you were staying at a hotel I said, no way. You’re family. You’re Orquídea’s babies. So, she cancelled your reservation and you’re going to stay with me.”

“Oh, how lovely,” Tatinelly said. She kissed Mike’s cheek. The trip had drained him, pronouncing the circles under his eyes. “Isn’t that nice?”

Nice is one way of putting it, Marimar thought. “When did you talk to her?”

“While you were flying. My sister has been on my mind lately and I reached out on a whim to connect,” Ana Cruz said, and stacked her hands against her heart, like she was praying. “I know, it’s a little bit strange. But family is strange. I wish I had been there to see her one more time. But I’m the youngest of my siblings, and I had to stay with my father. I couldn’t be there for her then, but I hope I can be with you now.”

“Thank you, but—” Marimar began to say before getting cut off by Rey.

“Give us a moment, Ana Cruz.”

The Montoyas and Sullivans huddled together.

“Before you say anything, Mari,” Rey continued, “I’m tired. I’m hungry. We have human remains in our bag. But remember we’re here to learn more about Orquídea. Doesn’t this feel like—”

“If you say destiny, I swear to god.”

Rey winked at Rhiannon who giggled at Marimar’s threat. “Fine. Doesn’t this feel like a highly improbable but welcome coincidence?”

“It would be nice to have some help,” Tati suggested.

Then it was agreed. They were going with Ana Cruz to the Buenasuerte house. Marimar put her phone away. The automatic doors hissed. She heard the rapid flutter of wings again, and this time she saw them. Hummingbirds flitting around them, welcoming them. They hovered by Rey’s hand, Rhiannon’s brow, her throat, and then they were gone before she could gasp.

Marimar noticed the humidity first. It clung to her skin. Curled the ends of her hair right away. Clouds rolled in across the twilight sky. Even though sunrise was fast approaching, stars blinked for attention. They cut across the full parking lot, and Rey handed his roller bag and duffle to Mike, before getting in the front seat with a cheerful, “Shotgun!”

“I’m so glad Rhiannon has a playmate her own age,” Marimar mumbled as she climbed in behind the driver’s seat.

When they were all buckled in, Ana Cruz peeled out of the lot, stopping only once to pay for her parking ticket.

“Sorry, I drive fast. I want to beat traffic and make sure you all get some sleep before everything you have to do.”

“Speed demon, I love it,” Rey said.

As they drove, they kept the windows rolled down. Guayaquil was alive despite the hour. When Ana Cruz warned about her driving, Marimar could understand why. Cars sped against each other, sometimes foregoing turn signals entirely. It was twice as heart-stopping as a drag race through Times Square. Highway lamps cast an amber glow along the roads. The yellow, blue, and red flag of Ecuador waved beside a pale blue and white one. What Orquídea hadn’t taught her, Marimar had learned by doing her own research. But the sight that drew her eye was the colorful houses layered on top of each other like the world’s brightest cake. If she stood still and tried to count the number of houses or floors, she’d never get close. Something at the very top sparkled with light, and Ana Cruz pointed out the lighthouse at the top of the cerro Santa Ana.

They went through a tunnel. In the back seat, Mike was asleep, but the others had gotten their second wind. When the car emerged from the other side, the city came alive with the rising sun.

“Who’s that?” Rhiannon pointed at a monument of two indigenous figures nestled at a traffic circle. The man held a spear and rested a hand on the woman’s back. She was topless and clutched a baby in her arms. A jaguar crept at their feet like a giant house cat.

“That’s Guayas and Quil,” Ana Cruz said. “They were leaders of this territory. My father used to say they were Inca royalty, but when I went to school, they taught us they were Huancavilca indians. They fought the Incas and the Spanish, too. Legend says Guayas killed Quil and later himself so they wouldn’t be captured, and the city was named after them, but there are so many stories. It’s impossible to say what is true and what is legend.”

“How romantic, question mark?” Rey said.

“Daddy would have loved this. Is this Orquídea’s river?” Tatinelly asked, her voice rising over the horns and wind.

“Sort of. Part of it. The Guayas River cuts down the coast of the city. Orquídea’s old neighborhood is just a tiny part of it.”