For a few seconds after my mother said she could not congratulate me for “defying God’s will,” no one moved.

called.

I answered immediately. “Papá?”

His voice sounded older. “Your mother is not home.”

“What?”

“She left after you did. I thought she went to the church. She is not answering.”

Andrés sat up beside me.

My father continued, “Mariana, did she send something to people?”

I closed my eyes. “Yes.”

He cursed softly, something I had heard him do only twice in continue reading …