The Feria Read Online Free PDF Page B

intertwined. To Soledad, holding hands was powerful. But the most powerful way, the kind she admired in couples, was when their fingers intertwined. It was different from the way you’d simply hold hands with your dad or your friend. Intertwined fingers were a sacred dance saved for the most intimate of lovers.
    Heat danced all over her cheeks, chin, and forehead. “I could consider it.”
    “Don’t consider it. I’ll come get you later tonight.”
    He kissed her hand and turned to go. She froze, remembering the night before, but then a feeling so different, so contradictory to the anger she had felt last night wrapped around her like a blanket, from her head to her toes. That kiss had sparked something in her. She could hear Xavier saying goodbyes to the ladies on the porch. Before his visit tonight, she would make it a point to get to church and offer prayers of gratitude.

Chapter 7
    With sunset threatening, the two old ladies sat on the porch in the cliché of two beautiful wooden rocking chairs. Soledad’s grandfather had made these with his bare hands. One for his wife on her birthday, and then one for Suki on her birthday. He had built many beautiful things up to the day he died, including helping her father build their home in El Paso. Abuelito even built this home in Mexico. He himself was built strong, like a bull, her mother would always say. He was quick to jump when no one else would, and he was quick to defend the powerless. He was fair and kind. And he loved his family with every piece of himself. How God could have let such an amazing man walk this earth for as long as he did, Soledad didn’t know. This is what had comforted her when he died.
    God just couldn’t stand to be away from one of his greatest creations any longer. He had shared him long enough. And since in the Bible it says something like one day to people is like a thousand years to God, then letting her abuelito stay until he was 70 was quite a big deal.
    Soledad paced the porch as her grandmother and Suki sat talking and giggling like two schoolgirls. These were not your typical old knitting ladies. These women were happy off Tequila and practically re-enacting moments from their past. They were so vivid and lively together, Soledad could not help but laugh from the small bit she’d just heard. Something about “ Se encuerdo .” Apparently one time someone got naked, and who that was, Soledad didn’t want to know. They were practically gasping for air as they laughed so hard. Abuelita and Suki had been through so much together. They were more like sisters than anything. She wondered how Suki had felt when Abuelita had gotten married and they had to separate for some time. She was sure it had felt like the end. But look at them now. Together again. No interruptions, until the end. She didn’t want to intrude, but these crazy ladies had already drawn her in.
    They welcomed her to their circle of sisterhood instantly. “Cholita, did your abuela ever tell you about the day she met your grandfather and swallowed a peso?”
    The story could not even go on because these women were about to have heart attacks from the thunder of laughter rolling out between them.
    Apparently, awkward moments with men were hereditary. Soledad felt her face go hot. When Xavier appeared on the porch, she was still living in that moment and found it difficult to greet him. But she didn’t have to. The drunk old ladies were quick to pounce on him with their welcomes.
    Soledad told herself that she would have to save the memory of the underwear on her head to share with her own Suki when she was old and gray. But as of right now, she didn’t have a Suki. The demands of being the best at everything possible left little room for friendships, relationships, and bonding of any sort outside of that she was entitled to from her family. And yet here she was, willing to pull a piece of herself aside from this lifestyle she’d built, something so secure and safe, all