"Because little Mexican kids' lives aren't as important as my own?"

"I didn't say that."

Leslie jumped in. "Just relax, both of you." She turned to Marisa. "I think he's just worried about you, that's all." She turned to Nate and said, "Right?"

He sat back in his chair. "I just wish you'd chosen somewhere less dangerous."

She started to defend herself and her choices, then stopped. She didn't have to justify herself to Nate or Leslie. She could understand his worry. If anybody had asked her nine years ago where she thought she'd be now, she certainly wouldn't have guessed this. But despite Nate's fears, Marisa felt she lived right where she was supposed to. She wasn't sure what she believed about God or destiny or whatever, but Ana was meant to be her daughter. And if all the craziness after Vinnie's murder eight years before was the price to find her precious girl, Marisa would gladly pay it again.

She watched Ana run after a bird into the pretty gardens surrounding the pool, waited until she returned poolside, and turned to Leslie.

"Tell me what happened."

Leslie shared a horrifying tale. Someone had broken into her house in the middle of the night and threatened her. Marisa felt the details deep in her soul. Marisa had never been threatened in that way exactly, but hadn't she lived with the fear of it for years? Hadn't she worried that any minute, some gun-wielding crazy person would find her, threaten her, hurt her? The fear of it had been bad enough.

Leslie had lived it.

Marisa had to do what she could to help her sister, as long as she could also keep Ana safe.

Ana. She jolted upright in her seat. How much time had passed? She'd been so caught up in her sister's story, she'd forgotten about Ana. Her daughter wasn't in the pool, wasn't beside it. Where was she?

Nate reached across the table and patted her hand. She looked at him, then followed his pointed finger. "She found a playmate. See?"

Indeed, Ana and another little girl ran from the gardens. They jumped onto the top step and into the shallow pool. Their laughter filled the space.

"Thank you."

He nodded, and Marisa turned back to Leslie. "So they think you have the money?"

"No. They think you have it, and they thought I could get it from you."

"But I don't have it. I don't know who does."

Leslie took Marisa's hand. "Listen, I never thought you stole it, not back then. But they seemed convinced. If you did, if you come clean now, we can figure out what to do."

"Come clean?" Marisa yanked her hand away. "Come clean! You think I stole it? After everything—"

"Don't be angry," Leslie said, all big-sister-like. "I'm just saying that maybe—"

"You flew all the way to Mexico to call me a thief and a liar?" Marisa looked at Nate, whose jaw had lowered.