on my shins and knees. Bending forward, I tried to reach the tender spots on my back, but I was pretty sure I was disinfecting the shirt.
“Let me do it,” Ms. Vera said, taking the tube from me. She was gentle and quick as she treated the scrapes.
I wondered if Maximo blamed her for my escape, and guilt hit me hard.
“You didn’t get in trouble, did you?” I asked even though I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer.
“You need to eat.” I thought she was dismissing my nosy question, which did not bode well, but then she added, “And I’ll tell you a story.”
Using the scooter, I got myself into the sitting room and flopped onto the couch. I didn’t bother to lift the metal dome and just zeroed in on the coffee. It was small, but better than nothing. I added some sugar and cream before clutching the warm mug as I sat back to savor the deliciousness.
Vera didn’t sit and instead flitted around the room to do her dusting as she spoke. “There was a very mean, crooked man. He worked for bad people and did bad things.”
Is she talking about Maximo?
“One of those bad things he did was come to America to try to spread his boss’ power. When he was caught—and it happened fast because he was not a smart man—he fled home, bringing the danger to his wife. A wife he cheated on, beat, and was cruel to.”
Definitely not Maximo.
But poor Ms. Vera.
Why did the men we trusted to take care of us—albeit in very different ways—fail us so miserably?
“The man he’d tried to ruin came and killed the evil man, but he didn’t kill his wife. Knowing she was a victim of her husband’s cruelty, he offered her a choice and a threat. She could stay there or she could come work for him.”
“And the threat?”
“That if she ever crossed him or even thought about avenging her husband’s death, he’d kill her with zero hesitation.”
“But you never did.”
It wasn’t a question, but still Ms. Vera dropped the façade and answered. “Never. He offered me kindness instead of cruelty. A job.” She gave me a pointed look. “A home instead of a hovel. Life instead of pain and struggles.”
Not-so-subtle message received.
“To answer your earlier question, he did not punish me for your actions. The fact you are here is proof that Mr. Maximo is a fair man who doesn’t believe in punishing people for others’ mistakes.” She paused, scanning the beautiful room before continuing. “And running was a mistake. One I hope you don’t make again, sweet girl. Because along with being fair, Mr. Maximo is no fool. And next time you will not be as incredibly lucky as you’ve been.”
Not-so-subtle threat received, too.
“Now eat,” she ordered. “I’ll be back.”
As Ms. Vera left, I pulled the dome off and grimaced.
Sausage patties and egg whites.
I guess someone decided I need to be extra-healthy when healing.
Damn them.
I drank my coffee and ate my small bowl of berries before choking down the eggs and the sausage. When I’d eaten all I could, I scootered into the bathroom to brush the sage taste out of my mouth. And then I scootered around because I was bored.
When my legs hurt too bad to continue, I went back to the couch to watch TV.
But it was just my luck that the one time I wanted to watch, the cable was out. I flipped through fuzzy channel after fuzzy channel, but I only had access to a few crappy daytime talk shows or fake court dramas. I settled in to wait for The Price is Right.
Maybe I’ll just doze.
_______________
It felt like I’d just drifted off when Ms. Vera was back with a goon. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the handsome one. Extra unfortunately, it was the guy who used to ignored me but had taken to glaring.
Apparently, he’s holding a grudge about being locked in a room.
I was about to apologize but bit my tongue and returned his glare.
Now he knows how it feels.
He picked up my old tray and left as Ms. Vera put down the new one.
“I just had breakfast,” I pointed out.
“Four hours ago.”
Okay, so I did more than doze.
Ms. Vera left before I could mention the cable being out.
Oh well, I’ll ask at dinner.
Since my breakfast had been less than appetizing, my stomach grumbled, happy to eat again. I removed the dome and my empty stomach sank. Thick white bread sandwiched lettuce, tomato, cheese, and—so gross—tuna salad. It smelled like