As we walked, sweet and spicy aromas from the cafés wafted across the street, and I realized I was starving. Mayflower led us to one she said Hans had said was good and clean.

“Good and clean is important to Hans,” Mayflower laughed. “He never lets me forget he’s German.”

“Can we sit outside?” I said, anxious not to miss a minute of the activity on the street.

We sat in the shade and ordered spicy, chicken-filled tacos with lemonade. I had come to enjoy these new foods, especially the jalapeño peppers, which sent hot waves of flavor up my nostrils and down my throat. I’d never tasted the like of them in New York, and certainly not in Donegal. As we sat, the sound of singing, shouting and laughter drifted out from the saloon next door, and the street was filled with accents of all kinds.

“That’s where Daddy stays,” said Lily, pointing up to the Kearney Hotel. Then her attention jumped back to the empty plate before her. “I’m thirsty,” she announced. “Can I go in and get a soda?”

“I’ll go with you,” I said, standing up.

She put her hands on her hips and stuck out her bottom lip. “I can order it myself, Miss Delia,” she said. “I’m a big girl now.”

“Oh, what harm can it do?” said Mayflower, giving Lily a coin.

“But . . .” I began to protest, but the child had already run inside the café. I made to follow her, but Mayflower grabbed my arm. “Stay here, darlin’” she said. “I have to go see the dressmaker right quick.” I sighed and sat down. I looked over at the Kearney Hotel and up to where Lily had pointed. I imagined Aidan looking out one of the windows, shirt unbuttoned and hair falling over his forehead. I imagined I came up beside him and he smiled and whispered sweet words in my ear.

“Should I check on Lily?” Mayflower’s return called me back to reality. I shot to my feet.

“I’ll go,” I said. “She’s been gone a while.”

“Probably prattling to the owner,” Mayflower said. “That child could talk the leg off a table.”

A bad feeling settled in the pit of my stomach and I rushed into the café. There was no sign of Lily. In alarm, I asked the owner and customers if they’d seen a small blond girl drinking a soda. They shook their heads. Almost hysterical now, I ran outside to Mayflower.

“Did she come out?”

Mayflower shook her head.

My voice grew shrill. “Oh, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, she’s gone!”

Mayflower stood up. “No need for panic just yet, Delia. Lily was always wandering off when she was a little ’un. Drove poor Mary crazy. I’ll bet she went over to the hotel to see if she could find her pa.”