She Had No Choice (25 page)

If Eva timed it just right, she figured she could arrive at her mother’s house right after Carlos left and before the school bus came. Sofía had no way of knowing what day her daughter would come back for them, but each day she hoped
this
would be the day. Because there was no safe means of letting her know, Sofía knew Eva would just have to show up when she had things worked out.

Eva parked her car off to the side of the main road and watched for the truckload of workers to drive out of the encampment. She kept her head down so no one would see her as the truck passed by. Carlos would not know her car.

Once Eva was certain Carlos had left, she pulled onto the dirt driveway and drove to the little shacks. She parked her car, looked around and approached the door. Knocking with eagerness, she was anxious to give her mother the good news.

Mama opened the door slightly and peered out. A big smile spread across her face when she saw it was Eva. She swung the door open wide to let her in. Sofía hoped this meant Eva had good news for her.

Eva’s brothers and sister were surprised to see a visitor so early in the morning. They excitedly started asking Mama questions, one after another. “Who is this woman?” “Why is she here?” “Why’s she here so early in the morning?”

Mama thought she’d better explain to them who Eva was. They hadn’t seen their big sister in eight years. Once she introduced Eva to them, they were all so surprised and excited that they started firing off another round of questions.

When Eva married and left the area, Hector was seven, Miguel was only two, and Christina was just a little baby. Miguel and Christina didn’t really even know Eva, but they had heard about her from Mama and Lydia, as well as the older brothers. Even Hector didn’t really remember his older sister very well. Though he was seven when she married, he was only five when she moved out of the house. After that, she was forbidden contact with her siblings.

Once the excitement died down a little, Mama tried to get the kids busy doing something else so she and Eva could talk. She pulled her eldest daughter over to the couch and they sat down. If Eva had good news for her, she felt there would be plenty of time for them to get reacquainted.

“
Go back in the kitchen and finish your breakfast, muchachos,” Mama said, “the school bus will be here soon.”

Eva did have good news for her mother, news that would change their lives.

“
I’ve found a house for you, Mama, for you and the kids,” Eva told her quietly, trying to keep her own excitement in check.

Mama was overjoyed. She had barely even let herself hope. Tears began to flow, and she could hardly contain herself. She grabbed the corner of her apron and wiped her eyes.

“
Could it be true?” she wondered. “Could she finally be free?” She took hold of Eva and hugged her for a long time. “Oh, Eva…  Oh, Eva…” was all she could say.

Finally, Mama released her grasp and stood up quickly. All of a sudden she realized she needed to keep the children from getting on the school bus. She was afraid to tell them the truth of what was happening just yet, fearful they would be too afraid of Carlos to go with her. So, she told the kids they were not going to school that day. Instead, she told them, they were going on a special trip with her and Eva.

“
We’re going on an adventure,” Eva explained, trying to make it sound fun.

“
I’m letting you have a day off from school because your big sister is in town,” Mama told them. “We’re going to have a fun day!”

The kids looked at each other, not sure what to think of that. It didn’t sound like Mama. But any day they didn’t have to go to school was a good day, they decided.

When the school bus drove up, Sofía ran out and told the driver to go on, the kids were all sick today and she was keeping them home from school. Then, she and Eva set about shoving all of their clothes in cotton flour sacks she had saved to make some play clothes for Christina. Now these sacks had a much more important use.

Eva picked up the bags of clothes, and the few other belongings they had, and loaded them into the trunk of her car.

“
All right, now. Everyone in the car!” Eva ordered, and they all climbed in. She drove down the driveway, kicking up dust, watching the shacks slowly shrink in her rear-view mirror.

Sofía turned around and watched the row of old houses fade from view behind her. She had escaped, and now she was free.

As Eva turned onto the main road, Sofía saw the last of what felt like a prison camp in which she had spent so many years. With that camp gone from view, she began to feel the tension releasing from her body. The fear that had held her hostage for all those years was beginning to dissipate. She knew it would take time to truly be free of it, but it felt so good to experience that gripping fear slipping away.

Drawing in a long, deep breath, Sofía let out a huge sigh of relief.  She and Eva exchanged smiles. Then, she turned back around in her seat and faced forward, concentrating on what was before her, never to look back again.

As Eva drove, she thought about Carlos, and she was sure he would be angry when he found them gone. She wondered if he would come looking for them. Certainly he would be mad that Sofía had left, but not because he loved her. His anger would be, instead, because he would now have no one to wash his clothes and cook his meals. He would have no one to warm his bed or be his punching bag. Carlos would also be furious that Sofía took his children from him.

“
Where are we going, Eva?” Mama asked. Eva had promised to find them a place to live, but Sofía had no idea where it was or what is was going to be like.

“
We’re going to Park Hill, just up the hill from Main Street. I found a house big enough for all of you. And the price was right. It’s not a beautiful house, but it will be a lot better than where you came from.”

“
What are you talking about, Eva?” Hector asked. “I thought we were going on an adventure.”

“
We are, little brother. A big adventure. You’re moving to a new house.”

“
What?!” The kids looked confused and fearful of what Papa would say.

“
Don’t worry, everything will be fine. You’ll see.” Eva explained to her brothers and sister that they were going to live in a new home with Mama, and they wouldn’t have to be afraid of their father anymore.

The children all looked at each other for a few moments, stunned by what Eva had just told them. It took some convincing by Eva that they were safe and did not need to worry. It took several minutes for them to process what she said, then Hector spoke up first.

“
Where are we gonna sleep?” he asked.

“
I’m hungry,” little Christina piped in.

“
We’re almost there, muchachos.” Eva said. “Look, there!” as she pointed up the street. “See the big truck that’s backing up to that house? That’s it! They’re bringing the furniture.”

Sofía had been so focused on getting safely away from Carlos that she really hadn’t thought about beds and tables and sofas. Her eyes grew wide, and she was speechless. The children, too, were looking at the truck, their mouths dropping open. “Where did all that stuff come from?” Miguel asked.

“
You’ll see, you’ll see,” Eva answered.

She parked the car across the street and the kids jumped out and ran to the house. Eva and Sofía made their way across the street, as well, and over to the men getting out of the moving truck.

“
Mama, this is George,” Eva said, as she introduced Sofía to one of their benefactors.

George introduced the other two men that had come to help him unload all the furniture and carry it into the house. Sofía was overcome with gratitude and wanted to know what she could do to help. The men told her they would take care of everything. But the boys wanted to pitch in, so they let Hector and Miguel help by carrying the smaller items, like the dining chairs.

Eva unlocked the door and swung it wide open. Little Christina was the first inside and made herself at home, marveling at her good fortune. Sofía was still stunned and amazed, standing out in the yard watching the men unload. It was all used furniture, but to her it was beautiful.

As they carried the furnishings in, Eva and Christina directed the men to which rooms they wanted them to put the items in. There was even an old brass bed delivered for the cottage, along with a small dresser and sofa, for the times Eva and her kids would come to visit.

She walked back out into the front yard and stood with her mother watching the men bring in the last of the furnishings. Eva put her arm around Sofía and gave her a little hug.

“
Eva?” a young man’s voice yelled from the yard next door.

Eva turned around to see who was calling her name.

“
Alex? What are
you
doing here?”

“
Is that any way to greet an old friend?” he asked, as he hopped the low white picket fence that separated the two yards and walked over to Eva and her mother.

“
I’m just so surprised to see you.” She hadn’t seen him since he hugged her and congratulated her at her wedding reception.

“
It just so happens I live next door,” Alex replied, a little smile spreading across his lips.

“
Mama, this is Alex,” Eva said, introducing them. “He and I went to school together. Alex, this is my mother, Sofía Gonzalez.”

“
It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Gonzalez.”

“
Thank you,” Sofía replied softly, not very comfortable with social graces.

“
And where’s your husband?” Alex asked, looking down at the wedding ring still on Eva’s finger.

“
He’s at Ford Ord right now,” she said. “And I have two children now.”

“
Where are they?” Alex asked.

“
They’re with my sister. She’s keeping them from being under foot during the move. They’ll be here later, for dinner.”

“
I’d love to meet them.”

“
Why don’t you come by later and eat with us?” Eva offered, trying to be polite.

“
No, no. I’m sure you’ll all be tired from the move today.”

“
Oh, we haven’t been doing much but watching the men haul the furniture into the house. I just point to where I want them to set things down,” Eva explained.  “Once we get the beds made up, we just need to unpack the dishes and silverware and wash them. There’s not really much for us to do.”

“
What about making dinner? I don’t want you to have to cook for another person.”

“
Oh, my sister, Lydia, is bringing the food. So there. You have no more excuses.” Eva said with a grin.

“
Are you sure there’ll be enough?” Alex said, not wanting to impose.

“
Yes, we’re sure,” Sofía assured him, feeling more comfortable with him. “Please, come.”

“
Well, I do love Mexican food. And I would like to get to know my new neighbors.”

“
It’s settled, then,” Eva said.

“
So, tell me, which one of you is moving in?” Alex inquired.

“
My mother is, along with two of my little brothers and my little sister,” Eva offered.

“
Good to know. Well, I’ll get out of your hair and let you finish up here. Be back about six?”

“
Yes, that would be good,” Eva answered as Alex began to walk away.

She turned her attention back to her mama, placing an arm around her shoulders again. They watched the last bit of furnishings being unloaded, confident her little sister, Christina, would tell them where to put the last of the items.

Eva was still overwhelmed by Alice’s and George’s kindness and generosity to her mother. The women thanked the men over and over again until they were finally unloaded and gone.

Lydia and Manuel brought Rory and Angie to the house that evening, along with dinner for the whole family. Lydia had spent the afternoon making tamales and refried beans. Eva washed the donated dishes and silverware and Christina stacked them on the table.

There was a firm knock at the door. Sofía jumped, and her eyes instantly got wide. Eva could see Mama thought it might be Carlos coming for her.

“
That must be Alex, Mama, it’s all right,” Eva said, as she walked toward the door, trying to calm her mother down.

Eva thought, just for a fleeting moment, that it might be Carlos, too. But she pushed that thought out of her head and opened the door. She was relieved when she saw it was Alex.

“
Come on in, you’re just in time.”

Eva led Alex into the kitchen where everyone had gathered. She introduce him to Lydia and Manuel first, and then to Hector, Miguel and Christina.

“
And these are my children, Angie and Rory.”

Alex crouched down and put one knee on the floor, so he would be at their eye level. “Hello, Angie and Rory. It’s very nice to meet you.” The children smiled back at him, unsure of who he was.