What's Mine and Yours(68)

“And what reason is that?” Margarita said. “Besides that none of us has anything better to do? Mama isn’t dying. We’re not the ones filling up her IV, giving her shots. Tell me, why are we all here?”

“To be together,” Diane said. “Isn’t that obvious? That’s what families do in times of crisis. They come together.”

“That’s beautiful,” Margarita said. “You should put it on a card. Did you ever think of that as a side hustle besides your little dog camp? You were born to write Hallmark cards, Diane.”

Diane looked stunned. Usually, Margarita didn’t come after her with such force. Margarita seemed to balk at herself, too. She looked away from her sisters, out the window. It was a bright day, the leaves green and gold. Pedestrians ambled along the street. The converted tobacco factories were pristine, all glass and brick office buildings and condominiums now. She observed the serene lunch hour outside. When she looked back at the table, Noelle was fuming, Diane wiping her eyes quietly with her fist.

“You’re right,” Noelle said. “I have nothing better to do. I left you all because I wanted to build my own life. The life I built is falling apart. I quit my job. I had a miscarriage. Nelson is cheating on me.”

Margarita awakened to the news from her sister. Noelle went on.

“But that doesn’t mean I was wrong to leave. And neither were you. I’ve been thinking. Our parents are always going to have their problems, but that doesn’t mean we have to stay away from each other. We can be family on our own terms.”

Noelle put her hand on the table, palm up. She was waiting for Margarita to take it.

“What are you talking about?” Margarita said. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know why I’m always so hard on you. I was thinking about it today, while I was out with Diane. And I think it’s just because I’m angry. I hate being here. But that’s not your fault. You didn’t make it that way.”

“You all were talking about me?”

“It wasn’t like that,” Diane said. She was sniffling.

Margarita thrust a napkin at her. “Oh, go on, cry it out. The baby needs to feel her feelings.”

“That’s enough,” Noelle said. “Why are you turning on her?”

“I don’t need you to stick up for me,” Diane said. “I’m twenty-seven years old, and I’m tired of being stuck between you two.”

Diane was whispering at them, but her voice was hard. It rose above the happy chatter of the restaurant.

“You all see me like someone who will always be around. Like some pathetic kid who hasn’t grown up, who just wants everyone to get along. And I do. But I don’t need it to happen. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll be fine. I don’t need any of you anymore. I’ve got a family of my own. Alma.”

“No offense, sweetie, but all that stuff about friends forever is a sham,” Margarita said. “Friends break up just like lovers do. Friends let you down, too.”

“I’m not talking about friendship. Alma isn’t my friend. She’s my partner.”

Her sisters stared at her. Diane felt herself shake under the table, but she wasn’t frightened. She was enraged. She felt the charge surge through her limbs.

Noelle was the first to speak. “That’s wonderful,” she said softly and reached for her sister. Diane swatted her away.

“I’m leaving,” she said. “I’ve had enough of both of you and your problems for one day. It’s not just Mama and Papi and Hank. The two of you are a burden. I’m taking the truck, and I’m leaving. The two of you find Papi. I’m out. And, Margarita, you better fix my fucking car.”

Diane shot up and sent the water glasses on the table toppling. She slapped down her napkin and headed for the door. Her sisters didn’t try to stop her. They watched her through the glass. She climbed into Alma’s truck, revved up the engine, and peeled away.

The server returned with Margarita’s food, her little cup of sake. Noelle and Margarita sat in silence, both of them peering out the window, watching the vacant spot their sister had left. Eventually another car pulled into it; another family piled out of the van and onto the street.

“Go ahead and eat up,” Noelle finally said. “We’ve got to find Papi.” She took the cup of sake from in front of Margarita. She took a sip. “I’ll drive.”



They left Diane’s car at the garage and walked a mile together to the rental place. Noelle took out a car in her name, and together they cruised around Valentine, wondering where else they should check.

“So, it was going to be a boy?”

“I never actually checked. Nelson wanted it to be a surprise. And once it was gone, it didn’t make sense to know.”

“How far along were you? Like, was it a baby or just a clump of cells?”

“I was at the beginning of my second trimester. I’d felt him move.”

“Did it feel like butterflies? That’s what they say.”

Noelle smiled at her sister. “It felt like gas.”

They laughed. Noelle kept driving.

“You stopped following me online,” Margarita said.

“I did.”

“How come?”

“You seemed so happy, but I knew you weren’t. It depressed me.”