Blinding Mirror Page 3

  “Do you think he’ll hurt you?”

  “No, he won’t. But I’m sure he’ll have one of his henchmen do the dirty work for him. They wouldn’t kill me I don’t believe. Just try and teach me a lesson by roughing me up. Maybe I should go back to my maiden name, Carvalho. It’s probably not too wise to still use his name. But his name opens even more doors than my family’s.”

  “Why don’t you give up the money, Pilar? You said you have some from your inheritance and alimony. It’s not like you need it.”

  “No, but I want it. And I’m going to keep it. I always get what I want. Always.”

  Oliva saw the stubborn set of Pilar’s face and knew it was futile to try and convince her further.

  “I’ll just continue to ride out the storm. I’m also lying low from someone else, too. I had a little affair with a man and it was nothing serious. However, it was serious enough for his wife. She is completely psychotic. I didn’t find out she was until after she broke the windows out of my old car and slashed the tires. She was following me around town. I’d be doing some shopping and I would look up to find her staring at me from an aisle away. She didn’t do anything but stare at me but after she did that a few times it creeped me out so bad I just wanted to get away. I needed a reprieve from the stress for a while. Anyway, it feels good to have told you that. It’s like a load off, you know?”

  “I’m glad you trust me enough to have told me.”

  “Now let’s talk about you.”

  “What about me?”

  “You’ve never invited me to your house and I wondered why, so I asked someone which house was yours. Once I saw it I understood. Most of the homes in the area are somewhat rundown but yours is especially so.”

  Oliva’s cheeks were touched with the hot fire of embarrassment and anger at Pilar’s words. She stared down to her lap.

  “Don’t be mad at me, sweetheart. I’m only bringing this up because I have a plan for you. When I’m free to leave here I want you to come with me.”

  Oliva’s head shot up and she looked at Pilar. She wasn’t sure if she’d heard correctly. Pilar saw the question in Oliva’s eyes and answered. “Yes, I want to take you with me. From the moment I saw you, I could tell you were different from many around here. It’s almost as if fate has played a cruel joke on you because you don’t belong in this world. You deserve so much more and I want to help you get it.”

  “How?”

  “You’re going to reinvent yourself for starters.”

  “How will I do that?”

  “I know how you feel about your parents. Do you think you would be able to leave all that you know now–including them, to start over as someone else?”

  Oliva didn’t even have to think about the question. Leaving all she knew was what she dreamt about.

  “In a heartbeat. I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

  Pilar beamed at Oliva. It was just the response she was hoping for.

  “Remember when you asked if you could pass for Portuguese? I think that’s what your new identity should be. You know that I don’t give a fig what you are. Unfortunately, there are people who do. They will not be accepting of your Mexican or Black heritage but Portuguese is a different matter. As a White European it’ll be easier for you to move in certain circles. I’ve thought about this over the last few days and I’ve already started forming plans. For starters, make a slight change to your name. Change it to Olivia because the pronunciation of your name—O-leeva sounds way too ethnic. And I’ve always like the name Olivia anyway. We’ll come up with a last name later on.”

  “Olivia. I like it!”

  “This is out of sight. Trust me on this, Oliva—I mean Olivia, and you won’t regret it.”

  “I’m so excited about this. I’ve always wished I could have a brand new life. But how do I handle getting a new name?”

  “Oh, that’s simple. There are always people who can work that out for a price. You can change your name legally but since you’re looking for a whole new identity you’ll have to go outside the law. Acquaintances told me about an LA connect named Jojo. He hangs out around Mann’s Chinese Theatre. Once we head out there we’ll look him up.”

  Oliva stared into space. She was entranced by the new possibilities being presented to her.

  “When it’s safe for you to leave here that’s where we’ll go?”

  “Yes, darling.”

  “So you’re just going to pack up all this stuff all over again?”

  “Yes.”

  “You certainly went through a lot of trouble to just be here temporarily. The new carpet...”

  “Money. With money this is nothing.”

  “And nothing is exactly what I have.”

  “Not for long. I’ll take care of you until you find money in the form of a sugar daddy. Olivia, women like us call the shots in this world. Forgive the tawdriness of what I’m about to say, but what we have between our legs is worth more than gold. There are men who run corporations, destroy nations and yet can be brought to their knees by pussy.”

  “There’s this old guy that’s a friend of my dad’s who actually offered me money to go to bed with him.”

  “Did you do it?”

  Oliva made a face. “Of course not. He’s disgusting.”

  “And if he’s from around here I’m sure that was a piece of change.”

  “Two hundred dollars.”

  “As I said, a piece of change. Don’t ever sell yourself short. There are too many men in this world who will gladly keep us in the lifestyle we deserve to waste precious time with nickel and dime men.”

  “I can’t wait to live that lifestyle. But let’s talk about this some more tomorrow, okay? I have to be getting home.”

  “Chores again?”

  “My father’s birthday is today and my mom wants me to help with getting everything ready. He always wants to make a big deal about his stupid birthday. It’s so fake the way they try and act like this loving couple in front of friends when they hate each other’s guts. I’m sure most of them have heard those two screaming at each other through open windows. I guess I’d better get to the waste of flesh convention.”

  “Do me a solid.”

  “Sure, what’s that?”

  “Try and come over as early as you can. I’m going to do some shopping and I want you to come with me. The day after tomorrow my brother is coming and I want us to spend as much alone time as possible in the next day before he gets here.”

  “Cool.”

  “Plus, we need to confab some more on how you’re going to snag a millionaire.”

  “I can hardly wait.”

  Pilar gave her their usual good-bye hugs followed by a soft, lingering kiss on the lips.

  Chapter 7

  Oliva put the various foods into the serve ware borrowed from Maribel for the occasion. She’d spent the last hour and a half tuning out her mother’s cussing and fussing.

  “You’re off spending all this time with some friend that you haven’t even introduced us to and have the nerve to just casually walk up in here two whole hours after you were supposed to be here! You act as if whatever the hell you’re doing is more important! You’re such a selfish little bitch! One day you’re going to realize your family is all you have.”

  Oliva’s foot hit against something under the table. She stepped and looked under the table to see what it was.

  “You’d better be telling the truth about spending your time with a female friend by the way. Your father and I will kick you to the corner in a heartbeat if you’re messing around with some boy and come up pregnant.”

  Oliva reached down under the table to get the item her foot made contact with.

  “It’s already a struggle with the three of us much less adding a bastard child to the mix.”

  “What do you want me to do with this?” Oliva asked as she held up one of Pumpkin’s old food bowls.

  A surge of glee coursed through her at the wounded expression on her mother’s fac
e.

  “Jus-just throw it away.” Her bottom lip quivered and her eyes welled with tears. “You finish up the rest. I’m going to lie down for a minute before people start arriving.”

  As soon as her mother turned to leave, Oliva broke into a grin. Instead of throwing it out as her mother requested, she put the doggie bowl back under the table and went back to readying the food dishes. She started singing. “I was made for dancing, all, all, all, all night long. Yes, I was made for dancing, all, all, all, all night long...”

  Oliva gave herself one last once over in the mirror before joining the party. Everything she wore was courtesy of Pilar; her mint colored Dittos jeans with a matching colored halter-top, Cherokee wedges, hoop earrings and bangles. Her favorite item was the mood ring Pilar gave to her. Pilar bought it a few years before and was about to toss it out one day when Oliva stopped her and asked if she could have it. Oliva knew she would always cherish it because it was something once worn by Pilar.

  Pilar decided her image needed a major overhaul. She told her that although she turned heads, with the right clothes and attitude she could command a room. She decided that tonight would be the test. Pilar gave her a few make-up lessons. She didn’t need much but what she used accentuated her already beautiful features. Her hair fell down her back and was scented by “Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific” shampoo. After tonight ponytails would be worn only on rare occasion. She was about to go after the life she always wanted and from tonight on she would look the part.

  She fluffed her hair one last time and took a deep breath.

  Oliva walked down the hallway to the living room where everyone was congregated and stood inside the archway. An album by Herb Alpert was playing on the stereo. As soon as one person noticed Oliva, it caused a ripple effect throughout the room and all chatter and laughter ceased. The men gave her appreciative stares and most of the women, jealous ones. She even noticed her mother appear uncomfortable as she self-consciously smoothed out the bottom of her blouse. Her father was already so high that if she were an alien exiting a spaceship, she doubted he would have even noticed.

  She sauntered through the room over to the dining room where the punch bowl was and ladled some punch into a plastic cup. Her back was to everyone and though light chatter picked up again, she could still feel eyes burning into her. She threw her hip to the side and put her hand on it and sipped the punch.

  “Hi, Oliva.”

  Oliva turned to see Carlos’s nephew Ricardo.

  “Hey, Ric.”

  He reached for a cup and didn’t take his eyes off of Oliva except to pour.

  “You look—wow!”

  Oliva flipped her hair over her shoulder and gave him a winning smile.

  “Thanks. Nice of you to notice.”

  “Yeah, I’m not only one. You have a modeling shoot or something?” He teased.

  She used to have a crush on Ric when she was a freshman, though she never let him know it. He was always nice to her, even in her awkward looks stage. He even stopped some of the kids from picking on her whenever he was around. If he had any money she would have targeted him. But he was as poor as her family. Flirting was all he was going to get from her. But before she could work more of her charm on him, his girlfriend Sherry interrupted them.

  “Ric, come sit back with me,” she whined, as she glanced at Oliva suspiciously.

  Oliva looked her up and down, taking in her competition for Ric’s attention. She’s cute but nowhere near as beautiful as I am. If I were her I’d be jealous of me too.

  Ric reluctantly let Sherry lead him back to the couch, throwing backwards glances as he did so.

  Inès sidled up next to her a moment later and opened up a bag of chips to pour into a bowl.

  “Who do you think you are strutting up in here like some slut?” She asked in a lowered voice.

  “What do you mean, Mother?”

  “Don’t play innocent with me. You know exactly what I mean. Where do you get off walking up in here with those tight and revealing clothes? How dare you embarrass us like this? You go into your room and change into something more decent right now.”

  Oliva turned to her mother. “No,” she replied defiantly.

  Inès struggled to remain composed in front of the guests. She stared Oliva down for a minute before walking away.

  Oliva was sure she would be in for a huge scream-filled verbal barrage later, but she didn’t care. This was her moment—her debut of sorts. She wasn’t going to let anyone, especially her mother ruin it for her. She went and sat down in a chair not too far from where Maribel, her sister Yolanda and friend Susan were sitting. Even over the music that was playing she could hear them talking about her.

  “It’s just shameful the way these young ladies—and I use the term ladies very lightly—are dressing these days,” huffed Maribel.

  “No, common decency or self-respect,” Yolanda added. “I’m surprised she can even sit down in those tight pants.” She looked over at her husband whose eyes were trained on Oliva, as most of the men were. As if he felt his wife’s burning gaze, he quickly averted his eyes.

  Oliva listened to the comments with cool detachment. If you hags had my youth and body, you’d be dressing the same way. Jealous old bitches. And that goes for dear old Mother, too. She just can’t stand it that I’m getting of this attention and she looks even more of a cow compared to me. This is only the beginning. I’m about to set the world ablaze.

  “Oliva!” shouted Ric from across the room. “Come take a picture!”

  Oliva saw him holding a Polaroid camera. She walked over and stood in front of Ric and posed with her hands on her hips. Ric took two more pictures of her.

  “Ricky, don’t waste all the film on one person,” said Sherry, exasperated. “Try to get some of other people, too.”

  “Mr. and Mrs. Delgado, come get into the next one. I want a family photo.”

  Oliva was not happy about doing that in the least. She folded her arms and waited for her parents to get into the picture. Her mother stood on her right with her arms folded as well. Her father stood to her left with one hand in his pocket and holding a beer with the other.

  “Why don’t you all put your arms around each other?” Ric suggested.

  Silence was their response. Ric took three photos before Oliva abruptly walked away and sat down.

  A short time later she grew bored. The room was already hot even with two fans going and all the added body heat didn’t help matters. She didn’t understand why they didn’t hold the party outside. She went over to Ric and asked for one of the photos of her standing alone to give to Pilar. After he gave it to her, she went to her room.

  Chapter 8

  Later that night, Oliva was jolted awake by the light being turned on. She sat up and saw her father standing in the doorway and her mother going through her closet.

  “What are you doing?!”

  Her mother swung around, her face contorted in anger.

  “I’m here to teach you a lesson you little tramp! The next time you refuse me and tell me no—you’ll be breathing your last breath!” She turned back to the closet and began pulling clothes off their racks and onto the floor.

  Oliva got up and ran towards the closet to stop Inès. Alphonso lunged forward and with both hands, and pushed her backward on the bed with such force it temporarily knocked the wind from her. She slid from the bed down to the floor. As she was trying to catch her breath felt a mighty slap from Inès.

  “Who gave you all of these clothes?! I know you’re not making that much money from babysitting to afford all of these things! Answer me!” She screamed.

  Oliva had her hand to her chest and was still trying to catch her breath. “M-my, my fr-friend P-P-Pilar bought- bought them.”

  “Your friend Pilar my ass! Why would she buy you all of these clothes? You’re whoring yourself to some man to get these—I just know it!”

  “Who is it?!” Alphonso demanded. “I’ll find him and blow his brains out whoe
ver it is!”

  “I’ll bet its Ric,” Inès suggested. “I saw the way he was ogling her at the party.”

  “There is no man!” Oliva answered, finally catching her breath. “I swear my friend bought me those clothes!”

  Inès turned back to the closet and resumed emptying it out until only an old jacket, a skirt and blouse remained on hangers. She looked down and began throwing pairs of shoes onto the pile. She then picked up an armload and left the room.

  “Grab the rest of it!” she shouted to her husband from the hallway.

  Alphonso did as he was told and began scooping up the remaining clothes and shoes. Oliva stood up to follow them out.

  “You stay here!” Alphonso commanded. “Don’t move!”

  Oliva sat back on the bed. Her body shivered from fear and anger.

  A few minutes later, Inès returned to Oliva’s room.

  “Come here.”

  Oliva looked up at her but didn’t move.

  “Now!”

  Oliva got up and followed her mother. They went to the kitchen and Inès walked over to the window with a view to the backyard. Oliva felt sick. Inès pulled her in front of the window and stood behind her.

  “You see what happens when you have a sassy mouth? You come walking into the party like you were belle of the ball. Not so full of yourself now, are you?”

  Oliva looked out the window and for the first time in years began to cry as she watched her father throw her remaining clothes into a tin garbage pail that was lit ablaze. She was so entranced by the fire she didn’t notice her father had come back inside. Suddenly she felt a violent pull of her hair as her mother snatched it and pulled her by it towards the back of the house. When they got to her parents’ room, her mother pushed her on the bed on her stomach and pounced on her back and straddled her. All the weight from Inès instantly took Oliva’s breath away. With one hand Inès mashed Oliva’s face into the mattress. She leaned over to the drawer of the nightstand and fumbled in it until her hand came upon what it was looking for.