The priest clears his throat, and so does Eva in a mock effort to be serious. Santiago hands Elena over to her and whispers in her ear for her to behave, but I see the wink he gives her.

Elena should have been baptized months ago, but with all that was going on, well, we didn’t even think about it.

Santiago takes my hand, winding his fingers with mine, and we watch as the priest performs the ceremony in perfect Latin. Elena only fusses when he dribbles water over her forehead, her chubby little arms wriggling, hands fisted, cheeks getting bright red as she prepares to let out a howl of indignation. It makes me smile. She's so much like her father, and I have to squeeze his hand to stop him from going forward and stopping the priest.

The ceremony is over quickly, and soon, we’re wrapping her up in a blanket.

Mercedes comes to congratulate us and hands Santiago a small gift. Judge then escorts her out. I know she wants to stay and some part of me wants to tell her she can. But today is about Elena. Not Mercedes. As everyone begins to make their way to the reception room, Santiago and I hold back along with the priest as Jonathan approaches, taking something out of the breast pocket of his jacket.

“It is lovely to see you, my dear,” he says to me, taking my elbow and leaning in to kiss my cheek.

“I didn’t realize you’d be here,” I answer. “It’s very nice to see you, too.”

“It is a happy surprise, old man,” Santiago says as they shake hands. “I hope you’ll come to the house for dinner one of these nights.”

“When I heard about the christening, I volunteered to represent The Society, and as far as dinner, I would be honored.” Jonathan runs the back of his finger over Elena’s cheek. “She is a beauty,” he says. “Like her mother.”

“Thank you,” I say.

“I had a little to do with it,” Santiago adds. “But I am glad she only seems to have inherited the color of my eyes.”

“Well, there is her temper,” I add.

Santiago gives me a look.

“Then you have your hands full,” Jonathan says. He holds the box out toward us and opens it.

I’d almost forgotten this part. The bracelet for all little girls born within IVI.

“Thank you,” Santiago says.

Jonathan nods, and he and the priest take their leave.

Santiago clasps the chain around Elena’s pudgy wrist.

I try to process what I feel about this, and in a way, it’s strange. I feel nothing. At least not right now. Maybe later I will. There’s one thing I’ve realized in the last year. The Society is a sort of extended family. And if you are on good terms with them, then they’re a powerful support system.