Free Raquel's Abel by Leigh Barbour Page B

grandmother.

    That afternoon, Maria Elena helped me pick out a few new outfits. The thrill was the kind of feeling only an obese person could understand. I was able to get “normal clothes” now. I picked out several regular button-down blouses—even got some shorts. It was, the first time I’d worn anything like that since I was a child.
    As I was checking out, I noticed that Maria Elena was empty-handed. She deserved something, so I decided to get a few things for her, also.
    I went with her to the non-big women’s department and enjoyed looking at the kinds of things I could be wearing in a year or so.
    Maria Elena picked out a few colorful sundresses and shorts, and I was glad to buy them for her. She really seemed to care for my grandmother.
    Afterwards, we stopped in a sandwich shop for a bite to eat. Of course, I had to remove the bread and simply nibble on the vegetables and lean meat. This was a good time to ask her about her child.
    “Maria Elena, I remember what you told me.”
    “I glad you have the operation, Señorita.” She could be very coy when she wanted to.
    “I am too, but…”
    “You already looking very beautiful.”
    “About the child you had in Ecuador.”
    She laid her sandwich down and looked down at her hands.
    “How old is he?”
    “He was very beautiful.” Her lips trembled.
    Maybe I shouldn’t have asked, but if she had a child I wanted her to know she was welcome to bring him here.
    “He live only a few weeks.”
    “I’m so sorry.” I should have respected her attempt to keep it private.
    “It was very long time ago, but I still thinking about his beautiful little face.” She pressed her lips together. “I gave him a lot of love. I don’t know why he die.”
    “What did the doctors say?”
    “They don’t know, but we not having much money.”
    That was odd. I could have sworn Maria Elena told me her father owned a chain of department stores in the town she lived in. Of course, the baby was dead, and there was nothing anybody could do.

    That afternoon, Regina came over, and I couldn’t resist modeling my new clothes. Maria Elena got in on the action, and paraded around in the things I’d gotten for her. Grandmother had a kind word for each item we’d purchased and let us know how much the color and style did for us. Regina, however, remained quiet during our fashion show.
    Finally, when I came to sit next to her, I asked. “How’s Barry?”
    “He’s all right. He’s still crazy about me,” she said a little too defensively.
    “Glad to hear that.” Her bright yellow outfit with matching visor made her dark hair look darker and shinier.
    “What have you been doing to keep yourself busy?” That was always a mystery to me. She never had a hobby or an interest, so I had no idea how she kept herself busy.
    “Well, I’ve been meeting with lawyers about the divorce. It seems Carter isn’t going along with what I want.”
    “Maybe you should get a job or something, you know, to keep yourself busy.”
    “No!” She shot at me. “Besides, Barry wants me to stay with his kids sometimes.”
    I didn’t say anything, but I couldn’t imagine Regina babysitting.
    “They’re all right kids, but they want so much attention.”
    I didn’t say anything. No one had ever paid any attention to Regina when she was a child, so I imagine she had no idea how to treat those kids.
    We talked for a little while longer, but she was so involved in herself she didn’t want to hear about my success with the surgery or how much weight I was losing.
    After a while, she left and as I watched her leave, I wondered how long this thing with Barry would last and what Carter would do to her in the divorce. To the rest of the world, it probably appeared that she deserved what she got, but I knew better. My mother dying when she was so young and my father withholding love had really taken a toll on her. When would she rise above it?

    I enjoyed reading about Teddy Roosevelt’s father as