Selah waved a hand, dismissing the accusation. “That’s not true! I do your laundry. I fix dinner every night. I drop you off at soccer practice and pick you up. You’ve been spoiled.”
Alicia’s young face twisted with hurt. “When was the last time you came to one of my soccer games, Mamá? You used to come.”
“I don’t have time.”
“Papá makes time. He comes when he doesn’t have to work late. But you? You never have time anymore. Sammy is always your excuse. It’s too hot. He needs to play, and he can’t do that in a stroller. He needs a diaper change.” Her voice rose. “It’s always about what the baby needs.”
Angry and defensive, Selah looked between her children. “I’m always here for you! You’re both almost grown up already. You don’t need me anymore.”
“You used to sit and talk with me after school every day, Mamá.” Alicia leaned forward, hands fisted in her lap. “All you care about is Samuel, and he isn’t even yours!”
Selah looked as though she’d been slapped.
Ruben turned to his son. “What about you, Javier? Do you have something to tell your mother?” When Javier shrugged, Ruben told him to speak up.
“I’m graduating in June and—”
“Yes,” Selah interrupted, impatient. “And you’ll go off to college and have a life of your own.”
“I’m not going to college next year, Mamá. I’m enlisting in the Army.”
Selah stared at him, then shook her head. “No, you’re not. That’s not even funny. Tell him, Ruben!”
“He’s eighteen. He can speak for himself.” Ruben leaned back in his chair, his hands gripping the arms, the only sign of his tension.
Javier leaned forward. “The Army will pay my way through university, Mamá.”
“You’ll go to the junior college and work.” She turned away from Javier and faced Grace again. “We have other things to talk about tonight.”
“More important things than your own children!” Alicia started to rise again, but one look from Ruben had her sitting. She turned her face away.
Javier shrugged. “Maybe she’ll believe me when I get on the bus to boot camp.”
Alicia erupted again. Selah grew defensive.
Grace didn’t want to be in the middle of their family crisis. Maybe caring for Samuel had been Selah’s way of fighting off the inevitable loss of her own children. They all began talking in Spanish at once. Grace got up quietly and walked down the hall. Samuel awakened when she lifted him. “Mama . . .”
Her heart melted. Oh, Lord, thank You. He knows I’m his mother. He rested his head on her shoulder and fell back to sleep. She had reached the front door when Selah came into the foyer.
“You can’t take him.”
“Mi amor! Stop this!” Ruben grasped her arm. “Samuel is her son. We agreed to help—”
She wrenched her arm from Ruben’s grip and took a step toward Grace, arms outstretched. Grace spread her hand on Samuel’s back and backed away. Ruben caught Selah by the shoulders. “Go,” he ordered Grace as Selah became hysterical.
A wave of grief overwhelmed Grace. Maybe if she’d tried harder, or worked things out differently, this family wouldn’t be suffering now. “I’m sorry, Ruben. I’m so sorry.” She fled, Selah crying out behind her. Opening the car door, Grace fumbled with the straps to secure Samuel in his seat.
“Grace, espera.” Ruben came down the walk. Selah stood on the threshold, arms wrapped around herself, sobbing.
Closing the car door, Grace stood in front of it. “You’re not keeping him, Ruben. I’m sorry Selah is so upset.” She started to cry. “Samuel is my son, and I’m not giving him up. I told you both at the hospital, right after he was born.”
He held up his hands. “It’s all right, chiquita. I knew this day would come. I warned her. She knows a child belongs with his mother.”
Looking past him to Selah, Grace shook her head.
“My wife has been living a dream. She’s awake now.” Sorrow etched his kind face. “You have a good job and a beautiful place to raise your son.” When he held out his arms, Grace went into them.
Grace thought better of telling him she had no job or home and no idea what she was going to do in the days ahead.
Grace had left all of Samuel’s things at the cottage, and taken nothing from the Garcias. She stopped at a Walmart and picked up what she needed for a couple of nights before going back to Shanice’s. While Samuel slept, Grace composed a letter of resignation and apology to Roman. She told him she fully understood as per their rental agreement she would have to forfeit the security deposit and last month’s rent she’d paid.