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Back Salt and Sugar Save as PDF
Chapters (56)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. About the Author
  4. Dedication
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. EPILOGUE
  56. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

She hurries back into Salt as if running from the neighborhood.

30

MONDAY, MAY 30

Pedro doesn’t show up for any of our classes for the rest of the day. I guess that means the bake-off is canceled this afternoon.

I spend the morning wondering if I should get his number from Cintia or Victor to text him about Seu Romário, but it didn’t seem appropriate.

It must have been difficult for Mom to help the Molinas today. I mean, it was the right thing to do, and I don’t think it was ever a question for her, whether to help or not. But that’s the man she’s hated her whole life. I guess seeing him as anything other than the pain he’s caused must have been confusing.

I know it’s confusing to me.

Seu Romário could make Grandma lose her temper in a heartbeat, even though she was the most patient woman on earth. He challenged her over and over, leaving her feeling like she wasn’t herself for yelling, for getting angry, for letting him get to her.

But he’s also...

Someone who must have respected Grandma to some extent, enough to give us his condolences. And I don’t know what to make of these different versions of him. Which one is the truth? The man who made Grandma cry, or the man who cried over her death?

Cintia practically jumps at me the moment I walk into the club.

“There you are! Were you going to forfeit the bake-off?”

“I didn’t think we were having it today,” I say.

She looks confused. “Why not?”

I have no idea if she heard about Pedro’s family emergency this morning, and I don’t know if he wants to keep it private. I’m racking my brain for a quick excuse, when Victor says, “I just texted Pedro and he’s on his way.”

That has to be a good sign! Pedro wouldn’t be coming if his grandfather were still at the hospital. Relief washes over me.

Feeling a little more at ease, I notice the way Victor’s dressed this afternoon. He’s changed into one of those neon yellow shirts, black shorts, and knee-high black socks like he’s a soccer referee.

Cintia catches me staring. “I told him it wasn’t necessary,” she says, rolling her eyes. “But he never listens.”

He flashes his brightest smile. “Don’t I look cool?”

“Why are you dressed like a ref?” I ask.

Victor suddenly blows his whistle, making Cintia and me wince. “In the spirit of friendship!” he says, getting more and more excited. “It’s important to remain friendly during bake-offs, you know, and I’ll make sure that’s the case today.”