“Okay, that’s it. Stop. Now.” Solie planted herself right in the pathway of the four and six-year-old, determined to put an end to the torture. “Go watch some TV or something. Give your poor old auntie a break.”
That made Carina laugh. “You’re not old. You don’t even have gray hair.”
“Yeah, not old.” Perez shook his head then looked to his older sister as if for confirmation. “Tia Solie is not like abuelita.”
“Come here, you two. So cute.” Solie knelt down and pulled them into a big bear hug. “I may not be as old as Grandma but I still have to protect my sanity and with all this noise you guys are making," she shook her head as she laughed, “I’m this close to going insane.”
“What is insane?” Perez looked at her with curious brown eyes.
“It means ‘loco’,” Carina said, pulling away and giving her brother a look of disdain. “Everybody knows that.”
Solie chuckled and lifted a finger to touch her on the tip of her nose. “Not everybody, Carina. Remember what I told you about not teasing your brother. You’re in a higher grade than he is. You’re bound to know more words.”
“ ‘Cause I practice all the time. I always speak in English, Tia Solie, especially with my teacher at school.” She nodded vigorously, her eyes shining with pride.
“And you’re doing great. You both are.” Solie got up and, resting her hands on their shoulders, she turned the children to face the open back door. “Now go out into the yard and do all the screaming you want.” A tiny shove sent them on their way.
Solie was still smiling as she watched the children dash out onto the grass where they continued their chants of ‘Feliz Navidad’, even louder than before. Thank goodness she’d got them to go outside before they turned up the volume.
Solie had arrived in Panama three days earlier, in good time to help prepare the traditional Christmas Day dinner that was held at her mother’s house. She’d hit the market the first day she landed, stocking up on good chicken stock, rice and spices for the pollo con arroz, eggs and nutmegs for the Ron Ponche, and raison, prunes and dark rum for the Christmas cake.
Now everything was ready, her sisters were here, Caridad's husband would soon be back from a quick run to the nearby liquor store and it would soon be time to gather at the table. The one thing Solie needed to do now was get her mother away from the mirror and into her dress. If there was one occasion for which Niurka insisted on dressing up it was for the family Christmas dinner. And that process, unfortunately, could take a very long time.
Solie tapped at her mother’s door then gently pushed it open. As expected, Niurka was nowhere near ready. Hair still in curlers and wearing only her full slip and stockings she was busy applying shadow to her eyelids.
“Mama, what’ve you been doing all this time?” Solie practically wailed. “I can’t believe you haven’t even combed your hair yet.”
“Stop complaining, hija, and come and help me.” Niurka waved her over and pointed to the curlers on top of her head. “I always have so much to do, Soledad. That is why I do not get the chance to get ready.”
Solie could have rolled her eyes but she didn’t. Her mother had probably been in her room procrastinating the whole time. She was notorious for getting distracted and sneaking in an episode of ‘Betty La Fea’ on the TV in her room when she should have been getting ready.
“It’s okay, Ma. I’ll help you.” She began to pull the curlers from her mother’s hair, dropping them one by one onto the dressing table in front of her.
“You did not talk to me since you came, hija.” Niurka gave her a little pout. “How is Fort Lauderdale? Are you keeping in touch with your uncle? When was the last time you visited him?”
Now Solie did have to roll her eyes. “Mama, why do you always insist that I visit Tio Jose? He’s so cranky. I hate going there.”
“But he is my brother. He is family. You have to visit him.”
Solie gave a noncommittal grunt. She knew her mother would not rest until she gave both time and date when she would be paying her uncle a visit.
“And how is it that you cannot find time to visit my poor brother when you have time to help this man next door? Are you still doing that?”
Solie almost coughed. She’d told her mother about Ransom? When had she done that? More important, why?
“Uh, I…no. Not anymore. He’s…fine now.” Then, wanting to dig without it being too obvious, she said. “What else did I tell you…about Ransom?”
“Ransom? That’s his name?” Niurka began to brush loose powder onto her face then she turned to look up at Solie standing over her. “Now that we’re talking about it, I have some questions for you. Who is that man, anyway?”
“Man? What man?” Solie decided her best line of defense was to play dumb.
“That one. Ransom,” her mother said, looking exasperated. “When I called that time you said you were rushing over to help him with something. Is he your friend?”
Solie cleared her throat, her fingers going still in Niurka’s hair. “You could say that.”
“But you did not sound like you were friends that time. Did he hire you, then?”
“No, I was just helping.” Solie went back to pulling out the curlers, her mind racing. She wanted to change the subject so bad. She was definitely not ready to talk about Ransom, not to her family. She was busy trying to work things out in her mind. Now was not the time to be talking about the man who was entangling her heart in so many wonderful webs. She didn’t know whether to give in and love him or give up and leave him.
A slight smile curled her lips as she thought about it. She already knew what her choice would be. And it was while she was standing there, her fingers in her mother’s hair, that she began to admit it to herself – she was falling madly and wonderfully into the web of love that Ransom had cast. She was in love and there was no nicer feeling in the whole world.