67. Daniela

“Good luck with your history test,” I tell Valentina as she leaves for school.

“Easy peasy,” she says, flashing me a confident grin. “Since it’s the weekend, can we make popcorn and watch a movie tonight?”

“I would love that.”

“Do you think I could invite someone from school to sleep over? You promised that I could.”

Santi shakes his head.

“I did promise. But I never said anything about tonight. Let me think about it. There are only five of you, and I don’t want anyone’s feelings to be hurt.” Or yours.

Which is why I need to buy a little time.

“Oh,” she says, frowning. “I didn’t think about that. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, either. Can we invite everyone?”

I smile, and hand her a raincoat and an umbrella. “That might be better. With a little more notice, they could bring their things with them to school and stay when it’s over. They don’t exactly live around the corner. Let’s plan for next weekend,” I promise, eyeing Santi, who doesn’t blink.

“I love you, Lala,” Valentina cries, throwing her arms around me.

It’s been so long since we’ve had a moment like this. I feel like all we ever do is argue. I squeeze her tight and inhale the fruity scent of her shampoo. “I love you, too, baby. I’ll get some face masks and some polish, and we can have a spa night while we watch our movie.”

She’s still smiling when she strolls out the door with Santi and Mia.

Maybe I’ll make some cookies or cupcakes for tonight, too.

“I’d like to go to the store at some point today,” I tell Duarte, as I pour us each a cup of coffee.

“For polish and masks?” he says, with a tiny smirk.

I nod.

“I’m sorry, senhora,” he says sincerely. “But you can’t leave the property. Someone will get what you need.”

“Alma isn’t here, and I haven’t hired any staff. So I’m not sure who’ll be visiting the beauty aisle for me. Unless you plan on it?”

He shakes his head. “I would be happy to pick you up whatever you need, but I don’t go anywhere without you, and you don’t go anywhere. Make a list, and one of the guards will get everything. And maybe some nice tea with sugar cubes. My wife and daughters always have lemon tea with lavender sugar cubes when they have a spa day.”

Duarte has a charming way of lessening any blow. I knew he had a wife and children, but I don’t know anything about them. But before I can ask him about his family, his phone rings.

“You can let her come,” he says before hanging up.

“Lara’s here,” Duarte tells me. The guards at the gate have checked her vehicle, and she’s been cleared.

With mail.I suppress a groan. I should have told her not to come. Although maybe she won’t mind going out for face masks and nail polish. Whatever she gets will be better than what one of the guards buys.

“Did you trade in your cute little car for a van?” Duarte asks, when he opens the door.

“God no. That’s my neighbor’s van. He let me borrow it because I had so much mail to bring, not to mention the packages. Plus, Victor sent some things for Valentina. My car’s just a two-seater, and the trunk leaks like a sieve when it rains. Not very useful on a day like today,” she mutters. “Where should I park so that everything doesn’t get wet when we carry it in?”

“The garage,” Duarte instructs. “I’ll open the door for you. Park in the bay closest to the house.”

A van full of mail. Lucky me.