My head lolls to the side, and the life begins to slip from my body with one last fleeting thought. My wife truly is a Moreno, and she just gave me the kiss of death.

34

Ivy

I spend the next ten minutes sitting on the lush velvet couch in the bathroom, listening to the sound of music and laughter and people coming from beyond the door. I know I have to get back. He’s definitely missing me by now, and I’m surprised no one is banging the door down.

Reluctantly I get up, look at my reflection, and reapply lipstick, a deep red that I’m sure my mother would approve of. Mercedes made sure I took the tube with me so I could freshen up. She doesn’t want me looking bad. It would make people talk, and since I’m a De La Rosa now, it matters, so I smear it off with the back of my hand. A small rebellion.

I hear another gong, and with a groan, I go to the door. But just as I get there, I hear a woman’s scream, the shrillness of it sending a chill through me that stops me in my tracks.

Mercedes?

I turn the lock on the door and twist the handle, but when I do, nothing happens.

Loud voices and another scream pierce the strange silence that seems to have fallen just beyond my door.

“Santiago?” I call out, a panic seizing me as I try the handle again only to find it jammed. “Is anyone there?” I cry out, banging on the door, trying the handle again and again to no avail.

Something shatters outside like a server has just dropped a tray of crystal champagne glasses.

I yank off my mask and throw it to the floor.

“Mercedes?” I call out, my purse slipping to the floor as I bang with both fists. “Santiago!”

I bang and bang, but I chose this bathroom because it was the farthest from the room where long tables were set for dinner, so maybe there's no one here.

“Someone let me out!” Just as I say the words, I turn the handle for the hundredth time, and this time, it gives, and I’m not expecting it to so when the door flies open, I stumble backward falling against the wall.

I straighten, then run through the door to where a crowd of people have gathered. Where someone is barking orders. I know the sirens I hear are coming toward us as I shove my way through, knowing I have to see. Feeling deep in my belly that whatever has just happened is very bad.

And when I get there, when I see, I can’t process right at first.