“Yes, you, Delia, but I have a few things to arrange first for afterward.”
We went from the hospital to a bank and from the bank to a brokerage house, where my recently acquired portfolio was being held. Edward helped me make arrangements to get to my money whenever and wherever I wanted. He thought it wise for me to carry a considerable sum of money as well, so we withdrew nearly four thousand dolla
rs. He said he wanted everything as far away from Señor Bovio’s control as possible as quickly as possible. After all of that, we had lunch and talked.
“As you can see from the way my mother gets things done, what’s just and right is often forgotten, so don’t think anything will change for you in that regard, Delia. What I think should be done is the only thing to do now.”
“I’m frightened, Edward,” I told him, “and not just for myself. I’m frightened for you as well. The more you have to do with me, the more trouble you get into, especially if we do what you are suggesting.”
“You’re doing me a favor by letting me help you,” he replied. “I haven’t done anything I consider worthwhile in my life for some time. In fact, this might be the very first thing.”
“Are you really sure we should do this, Edward?”
“Do you want your baby to be with you?”
“Con todo mi corazón. With all my heart,” I replied.
“Then it’s settled,” he said, slapping his palm on the table. “Let’s go.”
Despite his confidence and determination, I couldn’t stop the trembling inside me. We drove back to Fani’s apartment so I could get my things and my car. Edward thought we should use my car, since it was bigger than his sports car. Fani came to the door as soon as we stepped off the elevator and started down the hallway.
“Where have you been?” she asked. She looked at Edward. “What’s going on?”
“Sophia’s doing better. Thanks for asking,” he replied dryly.
“I know how she’s doing. I called the hospital. What are you doing?” she asked me.
“I’ve got to get my things,” I said.
“Why?”
I didn’t answer. I hurried into the bedroom and quickly took off the clothes she had bought for me. I changed into my own clothes, closed my suitcases, and came out. She and Edward were still standing near the doorway.
“Thanks for not saying anything that would get me into trouble,” she told me. To Edward, she said, “Thanks for advising me to get an attorney, too.”
“Then you did give my sister the drugs?” Edward asked, pouncing quickly like a prosecutor in a courtroom.
“I didn’t give her anything, Edward. She took what she wanted while I was doing something for Delia in the bathroom. What happened afterward was not my fault, either. I’m not and never have been your sister’s keeper.”
“We’ll discuss all of this some other time,” he said, taking my suitcases.
“Are you moving in with him already?” she asked me. “Because I’m not chasing you out.”
“What she does now isn’t really your business, Fani.”
“Oh, really? You’re both sick,” she said angrily. “You probably do belong together.”
“We know we don’t belong here with you,” he retorted, nodded to me, and started out.
“You’re making a mistake, Delia,” Fani said.
“I’ve made so many. One more won’t matter,” I told her.
“I’m the best friend you could have. The best friend you ever will have!” she shouted after me as soon as I walked out. Edward gazed back at her, and she shut the door.
“I’ve never trusted Fani,” he said. “She lives in another dimension.”
When we stepped into the elevator, I told him I couldn’t help feeling sorry for Fani because of what was going on between her parents.