“I don’t have any business left with Theo Ganas. He was my employer, and now he’s not, so there is no reason for us to talk ever again.” I pressed a hand to my stomach; that nausea was probably from having two granola bars for lunch.

“That boy looked like he thought his business with you was far from over, Albita,” my grandmother whispered in my ear with the same exact tone she used when she was catching me up on the latest drama of her favorite telenovela. Apparently, he also tried to interrogate my grandmother about my situation in Dallas and when I’d be back. Probably because he couldn’t figure out when to scratch his ass without me putting it on his schedule.

“Mimita, I don’t want to talk about Theo Ganas, that’s old news.” The mere mention of the man’s name made our last conversation pop back into my head. Just like it had ten times a day since we’d talked. A confusing cocktail of regret and satisfaction churning inside me as I recalled the yearning in his voice. If I didn’t know the man was a cold-stone bastard I’d almost believe he missed me. I forced myself to redirect. Today was too important to get bogged down by my confusing feelings about Theo. “I called to ask if you have someone to take you to do the compra today.”

“Yes, querida. Your little sister said she’ll take me after school today.”

“Oh,” I said, surprised. I’d mentioned it to Evie and was certain she’d flake on it, but it seemed she had it under control. “That’s good.” Every Thursday—my day off—I’d take my grandmother on her tour of every food retailer in Corona, Queens, aka grocery shopping. My abuela didn’t just got to the ShopRite and get her food. Oh no. She had a place for the meat, another for the fish, the Korean market for the produce, the Dominican spot for the sazón, and don’t even get me started on the expeditions required to purchase paper towels and cleaning products. I loathed food shopping with every fiber in my being, but it was also my quality time with her. It felt odd to know that my sister was now going to do it with her. It was incredibly dumb to feel slighted by the fact that my family seemed to be doing okay in my absence, but I was all over the place these days. Still, I was glad that my sister would take her. Evie was on track for the three-jobs-plus-school life and I knew making time to take Mimita shopping was likely costing her a shift somewhere. I should text her and ask her how she was doing.

“Mija, you still there?” my abuela asked as I fretted about my sister.

“I’m here, just thinking.”