“I’m not that kind of excitement for him, señor. I’m his mother. Surely, you know that a baby has a need for his mother’s touch, especially at this time. It will only help him get stronger faster. Besides, señor, I can give him the milk he needs. Breast-fed babies are healthier. Surely—”
“He is being breast-fed,” he said.
“What? How?”
“I have hired someone whom Mrs. Newell recommended. We can be sure he is getting good mother’s milk.”
“But not his own mother’s milk!” I cried.
He didn’t reply. Then he nodded at me. “Have you signed the paper? Is that why you brought me the envelope?”
“I brought it to ask you to have your attorney add something before I sign it.”
“What?”
“It doesn’t provide for me to have any visiting privileges after I leave the hacienda.”
“You don’t need that.”
“I’d like it nevertheless, señor. Then I would be more inclined to sign it,” I added. I tried to sound as firm as I could.
He thought for a long moment and then reached out. “Give it to me, and I’ll see to it,” he said.
“Gracias, señor.”
I handed it to him.
“Have you chosen a nursing school?”
“I am thinking about one of the schools in Los Angeles.”
He didn’t look happy about that, but he nodded.
“Give me the application as soon as possible, and we’ll see to what you need.”
“Gracias, señor. I have one more favor to ask of you.”
“What is it?”
“Please, please, ask Mrs. Newell to permit me to see Adan Jr. It’s torture for me to know that he’s just upstairs and I am unable to see him.”
“When she feels he’s ready for that, she will tell me. Don’t annoy her or do anything that would cause her to resign,” he warned. “She was on the verge of doing that just before you had your episode and nearly lost our baby. I won’t stand for anything like it.”
“But—”
“I have some other news for you. Better news,” he added. “I have made some headway with the future of this boy, Ignacio Davila.”
“You have?”
“Sí. His situation is finally before someone who has the power to help, but it must be done very carefully, subtly, so as not to stir up a hornet’s nest. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Sí, señor.”
I understood all too well what he was saying: I must do exactly what he wanted, or else.
“But surely, my seeing my baby—”
“I’m very busy, Delia. Please, have patience. I’ll have this document for you tomorrow to sign. Then I will release the funds, and you can start to move on with your life more intelligently.” He reached for his phone. “Do we have an understanding?”