Free The Love of a Latino by A. B. Ewing Page B

asked.
    “So you know her. Good!  But
I’m sorry I cannot discuss that with anyone. I must speak to Dahlia herself.”
The woman explained. She sounded almost urgent.
    What was this woman doing
here, acting as if someone had just died? “Well maybe if you give me your name
and a contact number, I could have her call you.” Dahlia suggested, hoping the
woman would give some hint as to who she was.
    The woman’s face became
serious, the nervous look disappeared. Eyeballing Dahlia the woman hissed,
“Maybe you don’t understand me, young lady. Either you know where Dahlia is or
you don’t. I will speak to her and only her. I did not fly all the way
from New York to be toyed with.” It was now that Dahlia saw the maturity in her
face. She was older than she looked, but she was beautiful and just for a
moment Dahlia thought she looked familiar.
    Realizing that this woman’s
business was indeed urgent Dahlia said flatly, “I am Dahlia. Who are you? What
do you want with me?”
    The woman paused, the tension
from her face disappeared, a friendly smile replacing it. “Thank God, I have
found you. You and I have a lot to talk about. I must say you are as beautiful
as he said.”
    Warning bells sounded in
Dahlia’s head at the woman’s words. But before she could prepare herself the
chestnut colored hair woman said. “It is good to finally meet you Dahlia Moore.
My name is Lauralyn Lopéz Cavos. Raphael Cavos is my son. Shall you invite me
in?”
    Dahlia felt the blood drain
from her face. Her body slumped against the cold iron of the gate, long fingers
pulling her deeper into the black vortex. The last thing she remembered was
Lauralyn Cavos calling her name.
    ****

Chapter 7
     
    She was more beautiful than
he professed, Lauralyn thought, looking at the girl on the bed.  She swallowed
a lump that formed in her throat, swiping at a stray tear that rolled down her
cheek. Her gazed travelled to the little bump carefully concealed under the cotton
dress. Dahlia was pregnant and if Lauralyn had her dates correct, she would be
a grandmother in about four and a half months. Her heart swelled at the
possibility.
    The bedroom door opened and
Dahlia’s sister came in holding a glass of water in one hand and a glass of
soda in the other. Accepting the soda Lauralyn offered a whispered thank you
and watched as Natasha placed the glass of water on the bedside table, going to
her sister to brush a strand of hair from her forehead.  She knew she would
need to be very cautious as to how she handled this situation.
    “Is the baby alright?” The
older woman asked, breaking the mind numbing silence in the room.
    Natasha straightened up and
glared at her, looking like a snake ready to strike. “Yes, the baby’s fine.”
She snapped.
    “I’m sorry for showing up
like this, but I had no other way of contacting her. I didn’t mean to upset
her.” Lauralyn apologized trying to convince the woman she wasn’t a threat to
her or her sister.
    When Dahlia had swooned and
fainted on the other side of the gate, Lauralyn had a sheer moment of panic.
Any attempt to assist her resulted in the large dog’s vicious barks and
drooling sneer.  Fearful that she would not be able to help Dahlia, Lauralyn’s
heart soared when Natasha came rushing out of the house. Thank God the dog had
made such a commotion.
    With the animal carefully
locked away, they had enlisted the help of the taxi driver to get Dahlia to her
bed. Now she rested comfortably in what seemed like her childhood room. She
looked like a child. Still unconscious from her faint she lay amidst a pile of
stuffed toys. Her hair was beautiful just as Rafe had said. She smiled at the
memory of her son’s description.
    “Did he send you?” It was a
simple question. Natasha made clear her opposition to the other woman being
here in those few words.
    “No, he doesn’t know I’m
here.” Lauralyn took a sip from her soda savoring the feel of the cold liquid
as it slid down her parched