“Um, yes, of course…” She had no idea what he was talking about.

Jose rolled his eyes, a small, irritated man. “I mean, seriously, Mom. Our class is going to watch The King and I. That play? Remember?”

“Ah, okay, it’s coming back to me. Mrs. Jones has lunches for you. Right?”

Jose huffed around the living room.

She dropped Jose’s lunch sack on the counter. She’d used the rest of the bread to make him a peanut butter sandwich—now she’d have something to eat for breakfast. Not that she was hungry. Her stomach was full of stress knots. Was it about work? Or the Duke? The King and I … Isn’t that about the nanny and that king? And he’s a jerk?… Huh. Life is funny.

She walked Jose to his elementary school and then returned home to study for an hour before she reported to work at the dreaded clinic. Gabriela called out a hello from the salon, the woman’s hair and makeup fully done, a vision in a pink jumpsuit, set off by a pink stripe in her long black hair.

“You look pretty,” Angel said with a small wave. “Why you here so early?”

Gabriela shrugged, held up an armful of dirty towels. “No one else is gonna do it. Did you get ahold of Duke last night? Such a shame, the two of you not talking when you just finally got laid.”

“Leave it to you to remind me about my sex life. And dirty towels.” Angel followed Gabriela around the room as the hairdresser retrieved supplies. “Hey, I have your stole and bracelet. I shoulda given them to you yesterday, I’m sorry. I can get them right now. And maybe I could throw a couple of towels in with your load? I’m failing at the whole adulting thing lately, big-time.”

“No worries. I’ll pick up my stuff later, and your towels, after Jose gets home. I’m picking him up today, right?”

“Yeah, I’m at the clinic for a twelve-hour shift. I hope you know how much I appreciate all you do, Gabriela. I really do. You’re such a good friend.”

“Sugar, we family. We do family.” She gave Angel a hug. “My sister from another motha, I know everything seems hard and impossible right now, but things will be so much better when you get your degree and you have a steady job. You’ll see. You’re almost there.”

As Angel squeezed the older woman back, she let herself melt into the embrace for a moment, soaking in the unconditional love of a true friend. She almost told Gabriela about Dr. Collins’s ultimatums, but then straightened, pulled away, and blocked off her swirling emotions. No need to burden Gabriela. There was nothing she could do anyway.