So I sucked back the emotion choking me and schooled the utter pain threatening to turn me into a puddle of salty tears.
“That’s good enough,” Sister Lupita snapped. Her Spanish accent made her sound mean, but she was the sweetest woman. “Get her hair dried so I can dress her.”
“Okay, okay.” Sister Theresa turned the water off and squeezed my long locks to get out the excess, then she grabbed a towel. “How are you doing, Vee?”
“I’m good.” A total lie, of course. For sure, I’d be going to hell.
“Listen to her lying to us.” Sister Lupita made a tsk-tsk sound. “It’s okay to be afraid, my love. You have every right to be, just don’t show it.”
“Don’t tell her that!” Sister Theresa glared. “Our Vee has a tender heart. Don’t make her harden it.”
“If I’m soft it’s because of the both of you. I have Avila blood in my veins. We’re stubborn and ruthless.”
Both nuns sighed and shook their heads.
“Hush now.” Sister Theresa raised her hand in front of her to make me stop. “I don’t want to hear this stubborn and ruthless nonsense. You’re a good girl. Tell her Lupita.”
“She’s right. You are not like your brothers. God has shown you favor. He’s blessed you. When you are free, you do good, Vee.”
I had no intention of disagreeing with them. They loved me and it showed in their brown depths every time they looked at me. I may never see them again after today. Why go and argue with them? Break their hearts on this dangerous day?
No, I wouldn’t disappoint them now or ever.
Several minutes later, I was wearing a long white T-shirt they took from the handyman who lived on the property. It hit mid-thigh. I’d never shown so much of my legs before. What were they thinking dressing me like this?
“Put on your school shoes,” Lupita said.
“Don’t you have anything else for me to wear?” The black Mary Janes were what I wore every single day of my life. They were part of the uniform my brother insisted I wear, even though I wasn’t in private school anymore.
“No,” Lupita replied. “They’re all we have.”
“Okay.” Disappointedly, I slipped on the shoes. They made me feel like a child. A twenty-two-year-old child who’d just graduated in May with my bachelor’s degree in early childhood development. Not my choosing for a degree. Miguel had picked it so I would learn how to be a good mother. Naturally, I was expected to be fruitful and multiply to make my husband happy.
Misogyny at its finest.
What if I didn’t want children? It wouldn’t matter. Only what my husband wanted mattered.
“Put my scarf around your waist like a belt.” Sister Theresa handed me the pretty floral material. “You need to appear as secular as possible.”
I cringed inside, hearing the wordsecular. I was sure she meant mainstream. Regular clothing would have been enough to achieve their goals. My fake red hair would draw attention. I should tell them as much, but again, why add to their stress?
“Fifteen minutes!” Bruno, my brother’s right-hand man, hollered on the other side of the door.
We all froze, and dread washed over me.
“Did you hear? Fifteen minutes!” He pounded his fist against the mahogany door.
“She’s almost ready,” Theresa said in a calm voice. She took my hand and led me toward the window at the back of the room. “It’s time for you to go, my love.”
“Now?” The tears I’d been holding back started to fall.
“Yes. Now.” Lupita handed me a brown leather purse. “This has all you need for now. Don’t lose it. When you find a safe place, stay put until the dust settles.”
“Thank you both so much.” I wrapped my arms around both of them.
“No time for good-byes. You must run.” Theresa pushed me to climb out of the window. “Through the orchard and head east out of your brother’s territory. Away from the Bay Area. Get out of California as soon as you can.”
“I will.” Although I wasn’t a very good driver. I’d only practiced driving on a riding lawnmower. And watched lots of videos online. I didn’t have a cell phone with a GPS, only a paper map I’d been studying since yesterday. I sure prayed the Lord found favor in me. I was going to need all the help I could get.
