Free It's Just Lola by Dixiane Hallaj

“ You’ll be pleased to know that mean rooster that used to chase you around the yard is now a nice chicken broth.” 
    Lola frowned and turned her head. “I can’t, Pilar.  I ’ ll be sick.”
    “I understand.  It happens sometimes when a woman is pregnant.”  
    Reality rolled over Lola again in a wave of despair.   “Does everyone know?”
    “ No, I’m sure there are people in Lima who haven’t heard—and Señora Juana ’ s in Ecuador, so I don’t think she knows y et . ”  
    Lola had to smile.  “Victoria says ladies don’t get pregnant they get…they are…I forget the word , but it ’ s French.”
    Pilar laughed so hard she had to put the broth on the table to keep from spilling it.  “Lola my innocent lamb, ladies get just as pregnant as anyone else when a man plants his seed in them—even French ladies.” Pilar picked up the spoon again .  “You take your broth and I ’ ll explain what Enriqueta meant by nei ther of you marrying Rudolfo.”  Obediently Lola opened her mouth and swallowed a spoonful of broth.  Her stomach churned, but the feeling soon faded to insignificance as she listened to Pilar.   “When you swooned your father realized what had happened.  He grabbed his horse whip and stormed out to find Rudolfo.”
    “Did he…?”  Lola was too afraid of the possible answer to finish the question .
    “…beat him to death?  No.  Rudolfo was gone —and so was your father’s favorite mare .  T he men said that they saw Rudolfo riding away just after siesta.”
    “Then he never meant to marry either one of us, did he?” Lola beg a n to sob again.  “Why?”
    “Who knows ? ” Pilar wiped the tears from Lola’s face.  “M any m en have appetites so powerful that the y can ’ t control them.  I ’ ve known that for many years.”  She brought another spoonful of broth to Lola’s mouth.  “It could be that Rudolfo couldn ’ t control his lust.  Or something else entirely , like a way to get back at your father.”
    “ Get back at Papa for what?  I thought Papa liked him .   Why else would he train him as distillery master?  Rudolfo said Papa wanted him for a son-in-law.”
    “Rudolfo said a lot of things,” said Pilar . “ Juan told me your father called him a lazy wastrel —in front of the men.  Juan said that Rudolfo turned white with anger, but t he next day he acted like nothing had happened.”   The spoon clinked against the bowl.  “Well, look at this , t he broth is all gone.  Now just try to sip the tea and then get some rest.  It ’ ll take time f or your body to gain strength .”
    “Was I really asleep for days?”
    “Yes, Lamb, it ’ s been two long days.  Your poor sister never left your side.  Poor lambs the both of you.”  Pilar gathered up the tray, promising to return later with more food.  “Your father tossed me the keys as he left, and I intend to feed you two all sorts of good things.  There’s nothing like good food to get a body moving again.” 
    At the thought of food Lola’s stomach reminded her that it was still queasy.  She lay down to quiet it and was soon in a natural, though restless, sleep.
    “Lola!  Don’t leave me again!”
    Lola’s eyes flew open and her breath came out in a whoosh as her sister landed on top of her.  Her hands came up almost automatically and began tickling—a defense she had learned years ago when she realized she ’ d never be able to best Enriqueta in any physical struggle.  The two wriggled and squirmed on the narrow bed until Enriqueta slid off and landed in a giggling heap on the floor.
    “ Don’t frighten me like that , ” Enriqueta said when she got her breath back.
    “I was just asleep .   Can’t I ever sleep again as long as I live?” I t felt so good to be friends with Enriqueta again—in spite of everything.   “Pilar told me that Rudolfo ran away.” 
    “ He slithered away like the snake that he is to crawl under a rock somewhere.