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"And when Frankie White started victiht back all ot worse I didn’t knohy at the ti into the Franklin White ht I understood Etch had killed Frankie, out of revenge for my mother He loved her He hated what Guy White had done to her I figured my mother had committed suicide with alcohol because she knehat Etch had done, and that knowledge was killing her It wasn’t until Etch shot ether wrong"

"So you know"

Ana stared at the ceiling Her heart monitor beeped steadily "My mother killed Frankie White She had the patrol car The area Frankie cruised was on the way fro Stand SheI don’t know He grabbed her, enough to scratch her It er and fear she couldn’t share with anyone She lost control"

"And Hernandez covered for her"

Ana closed the photo album "For years Too perfectly He protected her reputation so well she never got help But it was my fault, too I was afraid I couldn’t stand as happening to her I stayed away, and she died without me there"

Maia took DeLeon’s hand It felt as warile as a bird "Your mother wouldn’t blame you"

"I don’t know I hope not She raised ood to me But distant Terrified of love I was so determined not to repeat her mistakes, when Iinside her again She could only i canyon, every word, every thought a walk along the precipice

"What will you do?" Maia asked

"Medical leave Sixit all to be with Lucia"

Maia had to do a mo to "You could retire with full pay, full benefits"

Ana shook her head "I’ back to the job I have to It’s part ofthem," Ana said with no hesitation "Some of Ralph’s cousins have offered to help out But I thinkI think that’s what Ralph would’ve wanted He worked so hard for so many years I don’t think he ever wanted the shops to leave the faes Ana was facing Guilt pressed against her ribs

And yet Ana sounded strangely confident She would have enough money She’d be surrounded by Ralph’s relatives whether she liked it or not--all the cousins and nephews and siblings Ralph had quietly helped over the years, now taking Ana as one of their own, another orphan in need of a family

More than that, Maia saw a resilience in Ana’s eyes that was nothing like the old photographs of her hter quite the same way

"What about you?" Ana asked

"Me?"

"The pregnancy Are you close with your ed It seemed selfish, ridiculous to open up her own probleh "An uncle raised me, mostly"

Ana seemed to sense there was more She waited

"Myme The women in my family have a tendency to die in childbirth"

"And now you’re pregnant"

"I’s are better now than they were in our eneration Medically In a lot of ways"

"There’s more"

It was the first time Maia had ever explained it to anyone She had trouble finding the words, but sorief, the fact that she was already hurting, somehow made it easier for Maia to talk

When she was done, Ana didn’t offer any consolations

They sat together, Ana in her bed, Maia at her side Steam curled off the chicken broth

"That’s a lot to consider," Ana ad to have the baby?"

Maia said nothing

"What about Tres?" Ana asked "Would he help?"

"Yes Maybe I don’t know"

"You’ll have to tell hi?"

"Eight and a half"

"Wow" Ana folded her hands over the photo albu aI’ve ever done, in case you’re wondering I can’tI can’t pretend I have your concerns But Lucia is the best thing in my life"

"What about Guy White?" Maia asked "Are you going to confront him?"

Ana’s eyes shone clear and intense "Maybe when I’ his blood inside me"

Maia nodded "I’ll keep it our secret"

Ana turned up her palave Maia’s hand a squeeze

"I’ll need the rest," Ana said "I’ll need time just to be a mother for a while"