The Red Umbrella (8 page)

“You don’t really mean that anyone who doesn’t support Fidel should be killed, right?” The image of Doc Machado, hanging, flashed before my eyes.

Manuel looked at me and then back at Raúl. “Well, no, I mean only if they deserve it.”

Somehow, Manuel didn’t look like a movie star anymore. He started looking more and more like all the other
brigadistas
.

He leaned over and whispered into my ear,
“Tranquila
, you’ve just got to say what they want to hear.”

I pulled back and looked into his eyes. Maybe it was the same thing my family was now doing. Playing the game.

I smiled and nodded, understanding what he meant.

“So, you ready for Monday, Ivette?” Manuel asked.

Ivette almost spit up the punch she was drinking. She started to cough.

I looked back at Manuel. “What else is happening on Monday?”

“Didn’t she tell you?” Raúl patted his sister on the back. “She joined our brigade troop. We’re all shipping out together. First we go to Varadero for some extra training, then we get our assignments.”

I stared at Ivette, who had started to regain her composure. “
¿Qué?
You joined the brigades?”

“I—I,” Ivette stammered.

“And you didn’t tell me? You’re leaving in two days and you didn’t even tell me!”

“I didn’t even know until a couple of days ago. I wasn’t planning on leaving so soon, but Mother thought it was best if I went with Raúl.” Ivette rolled her eyes. “She says it’s my duty. I was going to tell you yesterday, but I didn’t know how. Then my mother told me what you’d seen in the park and that you were upset. I thought I’d just tell you after the dance. I didn’t want to make you feel worse.” She reached for my arm.

I yanked it away. “I can’t believe you. Keeping something this big from me. I thought you were my best friend.”

“I am.”

I looked around. “I need to get some air.”

Manuel took my hand. “C’mon. We’ll go outside.”

I followed him out a side door, happy to leave Ivette and her lies behind me. The crisp night air felt good as it filled my lungs. Slowly it doused my anger.

“Don’t blame Ivette. It’s hard to say good-bye, even if it’s only for a few months.” Manuel led me to a bench near the golf course.

We sat down.

“She never seemed to be into the revolution. I feel like I don’t even know her. And when did she join? She could’ve told me then, right?”

Manuel smiled. “You know you really look very
beautiful tonight, Lucía.” He pushed a strand of hair away from my face.

Suddenly I realized that I was outside, on a beautiful clear night, with a million stars twinkling above me, sitting on a bench next to Manuel.
The
Manuel. My heart started pounding so hard that I was afraid Manuel might be able to hear it.

Slowly he leaned over and put his lips on mine. I felt the electricity run up and down my spine.

Who cared about Ivette? I had just had my first kiss … and it was perfect!

After a moment, I pulled back and smiled.

“We should go back in. People will wonder where we are,” I whispered.

Manuel inched closer to me. “Why? Your mother isn’t even here yet.” He kissed me again, but harder this time.

I turned my head. “Manuel, I don’t—”

“Shhh.” He pushed me against the edge of the bench’s arm. “Don’t you want me to remember you while I’m gone?”

“Yes, but …,” I whispered.

The look in Manuel’s eyes told me he wasn’t listening. He licked his lips and leaned over me.

“Manuel.” I tried to get out from under him. “Please don’t.”

He laughed and tightened his grip. He straddled me to keep me from moving. One of his hands slipped down my neck toward my chest. As he tried to kiss me again,
I twisted away, my knee accidentally catching him squarely between the legs.

“Uh!” Manuel grunted as he fell to the ground. He glared up at me. “You stupid
gusana
. You’re a worm just like your father!”

I jumped off the bench and ran toward the front of the building, tears building up in my eyes.

I quickly spotted Tío leaning against his convertible, talking to a soldier. I wiped my eyes and calmly walked toward them.

“Tío, I want to go home,” I said, a little out of breath.

He looked at his watch. “Now? It’s still early. Go back in and have some fun.” He turned his attention back to the soldier.

I grabbed his arm. “No, Tío. I want to leave now.”

He gave me a stern look. “Lucía, I brought you all the way out here. Now I’m having an important conversation with Capitán García. We’ll leave in a little while.”

I turned around, not knowing where to go. I couldn’t go back to the party and face Manuel, and I was too afraid to walk home by myself. I’d have to hide in the bathroom. I rushed into the building and ran toward the bathroom door.

“Lucy!” Ivette chased after me.

I grabbed the handle and hurried inside.

“Lucía, please.” Ivette followed me in. She pulled me by the elbow, spinning me around. “You’re crying! What’s wrong? What happened?”

I shook my head. Everything had gone wrong. I’d acted like a little girl in front of Manuel, and now I was humiliated.

Ivette peered into my eyes. “I’m sorry for not telling you about the brigades. I should’ve. Talk to me.”

I balled up some toilet paper and wiped my eyes. “I’m sorry, too.” I looked at myself in the mirror. All dressed up, pretending to be grown-up, and inside I couldn’t even handle a kiss. In between blowing my nose and splashing water on my face, I told Ivette everything that had happened, play-by-play. When I was done, I expected her to tell me that next time I’d be more prepared, that I wouldn’t get so scared by a boy trying to make out with me.

“
¿Qué se cree él?
Does he really think he’s all that? I’m going to give him a piece of my mind!” Anger blazed across Ivette’s eyes.

“No,” I said, looking down.

“You sure? I can really make his life miserable … somehow.”

I shook my head. She was truly my best friend. “I just want to go home, but Tío won’t leave.”

“Okay, stay here.” Ivette yanked open the door. “I’ll find my mom and tell her we both feel sick. That we must’ve eaten bad shrimp or something.”

I nodded and leaned against the bathroom sink. How could this night get any worse?

On the drive home, I kept my eyes closed. Ivette’s mom probably thought I really was sick, but all I was doing was replaying the entire scene with Manuel over and over again. The way we’d danced and held hands. How he changed when we were alone. The scorn in his face when he called me a
gusana
. How could someone seem so perfect and then rip out your heart?

“¡Ay! ¿Qué habrá pasado?”
Ivette’s mother exclaimed as she pulled the car into the driveway.

I opened my eyes to see two police and military vehicles parked in front of my house. Thoughts of Señor Betafil and Doc Machado filled my head.

I jumped out of the car and ran to the front door, Ivette and her mother only steps behind me. “Papá! Mamá!” I shouted.

A soldier opened the door.

“¡Mi hija!
We’re here!” Mamá called out.

Inside, soldiers were making a mess of the house. There were drawers emptied out onto the tables. Furniture was moved. The loose tile on the floor was lifted up.

Papá sat at the dining room table with his hands cuffed behind him.

“Ven acá
, Lucía. Stay with me.” Mamá sat on the sofa holding Frankie, his eyes wide with fear.

A policeman stood over them. Hands on his rifle.

I rushed over and sat next to Mamá.

“¿Por qué …?”
I tried to absorb everything. “Why are they here?”

Mamá opened her mouth to speak, but Ivette and her mother walked into the room.

“Sonia,
¿qué pasó?
What did you do?” Ivette’s mother asked.

“We
did nothing,” Mamá answered.

The officer chuckled. “Nothing, eh? Illegally withdrawing items from the bank, hoarding cash and jewelry. Probably working with the underground.” He looked over at Ivette’s mother. “That sound like nothing to you, Marcela?”

“I tried to warn them.” She pulled Ivette toward her. “You see. This is what I’ve been telling you. You can’t trust people like this.”

“People like this?” Mamá stood up. There was fire in her eyes. “You mean good people who you’ve known
your whole life. People who don’t follow every little thing Fidel says. Who actually have minds and question what is happening?”

Ivette’s mother threw up her hands.
“Vámonos
, Ivette. There’s no getting through to them. They’re just like the Yankee
imperialistas.”

Ivette stood frozen by the doorway as her mother walked out. She stared at me and then at the hole in the floor. I couldn’t tell if her gaze was one of pity, fear, or guilt. She slowly turned to leave.

Mamá smoothed back her hair and sat down. “How could anyone have known about the jewelry?” she muttered. “No one knew. We never said a word … to anyone.”

I looked over at Ivette walking out. She knew. She’d heard me say it was in the floor.

I stood up. “I need to talk to Ivette. Can I go outside a moment?”

The police officer motioned for me to go ahead, but I wasn’t talking to him. I looked at Mamá and she nodded. Guilt washed over me as I realized that this was all my fault. If only I hadn’t trusted my best friend.

I hurried outside and grabbed Ivette by the shoulder before she stepped off the porch.

“Lucy, I’m so—”

“Save it!” I said in a low voice. “I know it was you! How could you? I thought you were my friend!”

“What? You don’t think I—”

“You’re the only one who knew. You lied about the
brigadistas
, about leaving. Did you think this would get you bonus points with your new
comrades?
I’m sure you and Manuel will have a big laugh about all of this!”

Ivette’s mother honked the car horn, and Ivette motioned for her to wait just one more minute.

“Lucy, you’re not serious. We’re best friends—”

“You said it was wrong for us to hide our things.”

“Yeah, but I’d never—”

“No one else knew.” I shook my head. “Only you. And look what your mother thinks of us!”

“So, this is the thanks I get after defending you for weeks! Fine. I certainly don’t need to stand here and be accused of something I didn’t do! Go back to your traitor family. See if I care!” Ivette stormed off the porch and ran back to her mother’s waiting car.

“I never want to see you again!” I shouted as the car pulled out of the driveway.

I turned and walked back into the chaos.

Papá was being told to stand up.

“Wait!” I ran toward him.

A soldier blocked me.

“Tranquila
, Lucy. They just want to ask me some questions at the station. Everything’ll be fine.” Papá tried to smile.

But I’d heard stories of people being arrested and never coming back. Of the
paredón
. The firing squad.

“No! Please.” Tears stung my eyes.

An officer grabbed me by the arms before I could move. I looked back at Mamá, frozen on the sofa holding Frankie, who had hidden his face in her chest. A soldier had his rifle aimed directly at them.

Papá marched right by me, his head held up high. Quietly he whispered, “I’ll be fine. Take care of your mother.”

Huge tears ran down my cheeks. The lump in my throat barely allowed me to breathe. I nodded as Papá was led out of our house.

Seconds passed, but it felt like years.

As the last of the soldiers walked out, one of them looked at our terrified faces and laughed. Before leaving, he turned and spat on the floor.
“¡Gusanos!”
he said.

The door slammed shut.

Mamá turned to look out the window. “Fernaaando!” she wailed, but he was already gone.

“Gracias
, Antonio. Anything you can do.” Mamá wrapped the phone cord around her hand. “It’s just that it’s been over twenty-four hours and they haven’t told us anything. We’ve been so worried.”

I looked at Mamá’s eyes. There seemed to be a sense of relief in them. I waited for her to finish.

“No, no. Don’t worry. I won’t say a word. I know he has his pride. Yes, I’ll make sure to tell her.
Adiós.”
Mamá hung up and placed a hand over her heart.

“Well? What did he say?” I asked.

“Your uncle talked to some friends he has on the police force. He says Papá’s fine. That they haven’t officially charged him with anything yet.” Mamá ran her fingers through her hair. “It’ll all be fine. He’ll be home soon.”

“He will? When? Today?” Frankie ran down the stairs.

“I’m not sure,
mi hijo
. But soon. And Lucía, Antonio also apologized for not bringing you home from the dance. Said he didn’t know that you weren’t feeling well.” Mamá gave me a small smile. “You must’ve given him quite a scare when he realized you were gone.” She looked down as she went to twist her wedding ring and realized it wasn’t there. “I keep forgetting.” She shook her head.

“I’m sorry they took it,” I said.

Mamá put an arm around me. “Nothing for you to be sorry about. It’s not your fault. Antonio even thinks they might return it. Although whatever we had hidden away they’ll probably keep … just to prove a point.”

I looked down. It was my fault. I’d confided in Ivette. Even letting it slip that Papá had hidden things in the floor. Guilt ate me up inside. But how could I tell my parents that this was all because of me?