Free Invisible by Ginny L. Yttrup Page B

her hips and her black curls bouncing. “What’s it going to be, Chica? It’s your choice.”
    I sigh and shake my head, then put the phone back up to my ear. “I’m sorry, Dr. Becker—”
    â€œPlease, it’s Miles.”
    â€œMiles . . .”
    Rosa glares at me.
    â€œAs I was saying, I don’t really date. But a cup of coffee with a friend would be nice.” I stick my tongue out at Rosa.
    I then have the same conversation with Dr. Beck—I mean, Miles —that I had with Sabina. I invite him to the café on Wednesday afternoon.
    When I hang up, I’m so angry with Rosa that I want to put my hands around her little neck and . . .
    â€œWhoa, you stop!” She turns and runs.
    â€œRosa!” I follow her back into the kitchen where I see her standing behind Paco. “How could you? You have no business—I need to set some boundaries with you. I can do that. I can set boundaries. I have a book on just that topic. Somewhere.”
    Paco holds up one hand. “Bella, she has your best interest at heart. We all do. Dr. Becker is a good man.”
    â€œYou told Paco?” Then I turn and look at the rest of those gathered around the table. All eyes are on me. “You told them all? Rosa . . .” My anger starts to wane as Paco shakes his head.
    â€œWe love you, Bella. We want the best for you.”
    â€œWhat makes you all so sure a man is what’s best for me? I know what’s best for me. I’m free to make those decisions myself. Anyway, he just wants to be friends.”
    Right?
    Rosa comes out from behind Paco—a look of contrition on her face. She comes toward me and then takes one of my hands in both of hers.
    â€œI sorry, Ellyn. You right. You free to make choices yourself. I shouldn’t meddle.” She looks at the floor as she speaks.
    â€œLook at me. Rosa, look at me.” When she looks up, there’s a sly smile on her face.
    â€œTruly . . .” She drops my hand and crosses her heart. “I very sorry.”
    â€œYou’re not sorry at all. Anyway, it’s too late. Now I’m stuck. Not with one coffee date, but two. Sabina and Miles.”
    Rosa nods. “Yes. Yes, you are.” She smiles at Paco and then goes and sits back at her place at the table. I see she’s served dessert while I was on the phone. I reach for a plate with a large slice of flourless chocolate-rum torte with lemon creme anglaise and then pick up a fork. I take a bite and my heart rate begins to slow.
    By the time I take the last bite, and swipe my finger across the plate to get the last drop of lemon creme, I’ve calmed down.
    So, okay . . .
    It won’t kill me to have coffee with the man just once.
    At least, I don’t think it will.
    And Sabina? She’s interesting. Coffee with her might just be fun.
    So yes. I have two dates . . . no, appointments . . . um, meetings with friends.
    Whatever!

You are God and Lord of all you have created.
    Saint Augustine
    Chapter Eleven
    Twila

    Wednesdays I’m at Corners of the Mouth all day. The wind blows so hard today that the wood doors at the front of the store open a crack every few minutes and fill the entry with cold sea air. I turn the gas pot-bellied stove on to heat the place. The store is like, so quiet this morning. I guess most people are saving their errands until the wind dies down, though here, it could be spring before that happens.
    I lean against the counter where the registers are and read a new pamphlet on the cancer-fighting properties of broccoli sprouts. I know most of the information, but make a note to order some of the pamphlets to keep in the choir loft/herb room next to the seeds for sprouting.
    I hear one of the front doors bang again and move to shut it tight, but then I see Ellyn standing in front of the refrigerator case in the foyer. “Hi.”
    â€œTwila, hi, I was hoping you’d be here.”
    She’s pulling long