Blinding Mirror Read online

  As Maribel walked briskly down the street going back home, she thought of the many chores she still had left to do before her head hit the pillow. She would have to find the strength to complete them thanks to her visit with Senora Sanchez. That woman is such a little vampire. She sucks the life right out of you. I went over there out of the goodness of my heart to feed her and she wanted me to do a million things. Wash a load of clothes, put another in the dryer, wash the dishes, and change her linen. Aye dios mio! As if I don’t have enough to do at my own house. I’d better have a nice reward for me when that old woman croaks. She knows how much I’ve been coveting that silver and the Blue Willow dish set. And the painting she has in the dining room would be perfect for my home. It would take the place of that cheap piece I had Carlos hang today. Speaking of the devil I wonder what he’s up to now. He’s probably downstairs with those dirty magazines doing something I don’t even want to think about. Humph! He said he built that cellar to store wines. I knew that was a lie from the start because the only liquid that passes those lips is beer. Men are so filthy—minds always in the gutter. I should’ve burned those magazines when I found them. But what good would that do? He would just get more.

  When she got near Pilar’s house she slowed her pace. She could make out two shadowy figures near the window. Her eyes never left the house as she walked past it. Suddenly she stopped in her tracks. She looked around to see if anyone was out. When she saw that the coast was clear, she went to the house toward the side window. She maneuvered around the shrubbery until she was right at the window. There were sheer curtains hanging at that window which gave her a good view inside. Her eyes widened as she saw Oliva and Pilar in a close embrace, dancing. I knew it! Wait until I tell Carlos this.

  Maribel was disgusted at what she was witnessing, yet found it hard to stop looking. She finally tore herself from the display and headed for home. Before she got to her house she decided to make a quick visit elsewhere first.

  Chapter 12

  Oliva paused on the porch before going into her house. She took the scarf from her pocket and tied it on her head, covering her new hairstyle. She then walked up the steps and entered her house. As soon as she stepped inside she knew something was wrong. Something told her to turn around and run but she closed the door behind her. Alphonso and Ines were both sitting on the couch as if they were waiting for her. God, what now? I just want them to go back to ignoring my existence.

  “Where have you been?” demanded Alphonso.

  Since when do you care? “I’ve been over my friend’s house.”

  “What friend? The one who bought you all those clothes?”

  “Yes.”

  Alphonso got up and walked towards her until he was inches from her face. Oliva was instantly frightened. He looked as if he were extremely angry.

  “Are you a fucking queer?”

  “What?!”

  “Are-you-a-fucking-queer?!” he shouted.

  “No!” Oliva took a step back.

  “Your mother and I found out something is going on between you and that woman that moved in down the street! I’ve been worried you were messing around with some man and here you are fooling around with a woman! You freak!”

  Alphonso spat in her face. Oliva quickly wiped the warm saliva from her face with the back of her hand. She started towards her room when she felt her father’s hand viciously grab her throat.

  “I will not have some pervert living in my house!”

  He slammed her body back against the wall. Oliva furiously tugged at his hand, trying to loosen his grip around her neck. After a few moments he finally let go. Oliva gratefully breathed air into her lungs in huge gulps.

  “Maribel said she saw you and that woman rubbing your hands all over each other and kissing!”

  “No!” It was Oliva managed to say. She decided to try and seek refuge in her room. She knew it was futile when she heard her father’s footsteps following close behind her. She felt a push from behind and fell to the floor in the hallway. She looked behind to see her mother push Alphonso to the side and look down to her.

  “We are a good, upstanding family and you’ve brought shame to us! I’d rather you be a prostitute on the street corner than–than what you are!”

  Oliva got up on her knees in an attempt to make another run to her room. Ines grabbed the back of Oliva’s blouse to pull her back and in the process buttons popped off from the force. Somehow Oliva’s scarf came off and Ines saw the new hairdo.

  Alphonso grabbed her by the legs and pulled her in further back into the hallway. He removed his belt and jerked his head to the side, signaling Inès to move out of the way. He began beating Oliva, each lash fueled by the heat of raging anger. Oliva cried out and again tried to crawl away. Ines moved in front of her blocking her way.

  “I’m going to make sure you’re not a sick pervert!” Alphonso shouted. “Because I will beat it out of you!”

  Other than him pushing Oliva the night before, he’d never laid a hand on her. But that night he made up for all the years he had never whipped her as he tried his hardest beat out the demon he feared resided in his daughter.

  Chapter 13

  Oliva woke from an exhaustive slumber. She was on her bed lying on her stomach and in the stickiness of her body’s perspiration. She instantly wanted to regain the refuge of sleep, away from the pain throbbing throughout her backside. She not only felt it from her neck down to her ankles but also on her arms and hands when she had curled up in a fetal position during her father’s attack. With great care she eased off the bed and walked to mirror on her dresser. She unbuttoned the sole button left on her shirt and gingerly removed it. She turned her back to the mirror and looked over her shoulder and surveyed the darkening welts. She then stared in the mirror and wondered how everything could go so wrong. The weekend had started with the promise of it being one of the best of her life and instead became one of the worst. She had gone from being mostly ignored for years by her parents to receiving two straight days of their brutalizing attention.

  I can’t believe they did this to me. I wish that they were dead. “Good, upstanding family.” What a joke. They’re nothing but trash. This whole neighborhood and everyone in it with the exception of Pilar is trash. I can’t wait until I’m far away from here. I swear to God that once I leave I will never look back. I’ve always detested Maribel and I hate her even more now!

  She walked into the hallway to the bathroom. She wanted to take a bath but she knew it would be too much to bear so instead she washed up as best she could in the sink. After going back to her room, she pulled out an old t-shirt from the bureau and put it on. It was big on her and didn’t cling too much to her sore skin. After going through the house and seeing that no one was home, she went to the phone in the kitchen and dialed.

  “Hello?”

  “Pilar, it’s me.”

  “Oliva? You sound different. Are you okay?”

  “Look, I won’t be able to come over later. In fact I probably won’t be able to come down there for a few days.”

  “Why?! What happened?”

  “I can’t talk right now. I’ll tell you whenever I see you.”

  “Tell me something! You can’t let me just wonder like this. What did they do to you now?! I know they did something! Bastards! I’m coming down there.”

  “No! Please, Pilar. Don’t do that. If you care anything about me you’ll just wait until I can come see you. I’m begging you,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “You’ll just make everything so much worse for me. Be patient. Is your brother there?”

  “No, he had to delay his trip but he’ll be here next week.”

  She heard the loud motor of her father’s Ford Pinto pulling into the driveway. “I have to go. I’ll see you soon.”

  “I love you, O—”

  Oliva hung up the phone and as fast as she could move walked back to her bedroom. She turned the box fan on and went and lay on her side. She blocked out everything from he
r parents to even Pilar. She closed her eyes and fell asleep. Except for getting up to use the bathroom she slept for a day and a half.

  Chapter 14

  Maribel was giddy with excitement as she made her trek home from Señora Sanchez’s. She decided to not make Maribel wait until her death to inherit one of the pieces from her Blue Willow set. Maribel held on to the Blue Willow meat platter like a child with a long wished for toy. Señora Sanchez estimated the piece to be from the 1800’s. Maribel planned to keep it for as long as she possibly could before selling it. She knew exactly where she wanted the platter to go; in the middle the top shelf of the curio cabinet that held other dishes she’d been collecting over the years.

  As she did the week before, she slowed down as she neared Pilar’s house. There seemed to be no one at home and therefore nothing to see and gossip about so she quickened her pace once more. When she got to her house she went around to the back door and saw the light in the back of the house was out. Why must I always remind Carlos to turn on the lights once it’s dark? He’s probably busy being filthy in the cellar. She fished her keys from her pocket with one hand as she held the platter close to her chest with the other. When she put the key in the lock a deafening blow hit her right ear. As pain from the blow to her ear vibrated through her head, the quiet early evening was broken by the sound of the prized Blue Willow platter shattering as it hit the ground. Maribel felt something like a scarf cover her mouth. She was forcefully yanked backward and dragged behind the garage. There she was pummeled and kicked by her assailant until she nearly lost consciousness.

  Over the next few days Oliva was relieved when things went back to normal and unless it was a command, her parents barely spoke to her. One day they left to go to the flea market and to the store to replace her father’s black slacks and shirt that had come up missing. Alphonso accused his wife of leaving them behind at the coin laundry.

  Oliva decided it was a good time to go see Pilar. She knew her parents would spend hours at the flea market alone so they would be gone for a while.

  The closer she got to Pilar’s house the more she looked about. She darted up the sidewalk to the porch where she rang the bell.

  Come on, Pilar. Hurry.

  A moment later the door opened but instead of Pilar there was a young man standing there.

  “Yes?” He looked Oliva up and down.

  “Is Pilar here?”

  “No, she’s gone shopping.”

  “Do you know how long she will be?”

  “There’s no telling. My sister is a master shopper.”

  “Sister? You’re Tony?”

  “Yeah,” he answered with a raised brow. “Wait, are you Oliva?”

  Oliva nodded.

  “Well, well, well. So you’re the girl she’s been worried about.”

  Oliva looked about quickly. “Can I come in, please?”

  “Of course. Excuse my manners.” He stepped aside to let her in. He tried to assess her figure under her shabby, loose clothing. Even though she didn’t have on a stitch of makeup and tousled hair, she looked quite a beauty. I can see why my sister is so enthralled. She’s definitely a diamond in the rough.

  “Would you like something to eat?”

  “Um-no. Well, what do you have?”

  “I have some leftovers heating in the oven,” he informed her as they walked to the kitchen. “I told Pilar to get with the program and buy a microwave. Anyway, I’m heating up some lamb chops, wild rice and vegetables. Sound good?”

  “Very.” Almost as if on cue Oliva’s stomach began to growl with hunger. She hadn’t eaten much since the last incident with her parents but suddenly her appetite was back with a vengeance.

  Oliva took a place at the table while Tony set out dishes and silverware. Oliva covertly gave him a once over. He was well- groomed and was wearing designer jeans, suede Adidas shoes and shirt. Pilar was right—he isn’t much to look at but he does have a certain appeal. He’s just like Pilar, so cool and self-assured.

  Tony took his place at the table opposite Oliva, sitting in the chair sideways. He crossed his legs and propped an arm on the table and drummed his fingers. He then averted an intense gaze to Oliva. She shifted a bit in her chair as she became uncomfortable being under scrutiny.

  “You’re very beautiful, you know that?” Tony asked as he placed his hand under his chin.

  Oliva looked down in her lap. It wasn’t that long ago she would’ve answered, “yes” but the confidence about her looks was no longer there.

  Tony instantly picked up on her lack of confidence and decided to lay it on even more thick. Nothing appealed to him more than a woman who was insecure. Getting women like that into bed was a shoo-in and, since tomorrow would be his last day in town, he didn’t have much time. He knew he was no Shaun Cassidy or John Travolta but if there was one thing he did well besides make money, it was getting a woman into bed. Oliva was on his radar and he was determined to have her. He didn’t care what was going on between her and his sister. He’d bedded models, actresses as well as almost every woman who’d graced the inside of Studio 54, so getting an insecure, poor-as-dirt girl would be cinch. He was getting aroused just looking at her.

  “You are, Oliva. You literally took my breath away when I saw you standing there when I opened the door. My heart almost jumped out of my chest.” He smiled and shook his head. “I can’t believe that just came out of my mouth. I’ve never said that to a woman before.” In reality it was the standard line he used. “Let me check on the food. I don’t want it dry out in the oven.” He got up and removed the dishes from the oven and put them on top of the stove.

  “You know you saved me from being a pig. I heated up enough for two or three people.” He got a plate from the table, took it back to the stove and put food on it. “Here you go, my lady.” Tony put the plate in front of her.

  Oliva picked up her fork and was about to dig in but didn’t want to be rude so she waited for Tony.

  “Want something to drink?”

  “Yes. What’s in the fridge?”

  Tony set his plate down then went to the refrigerator. He opened it and bent down to look inside.

  “Let’s see. We have Tab, orange juice, Cactus Cooler--”

  “Cactus Cooler, please.”

  He opened the soda and poured her a glass. He sat down and poured himself a glass of wine and took a sip. Oliva noticed the look on his face.

  “You don’t like your wine?”

  “Pilar has always been terrible at picking out wines. She’s practically surrounded by vineyards and still can’t pick a decent Cabernet Sauvignon to save her life.”

  Oliva cut into her lamb chop and ignored the comment. She didn’t like him criticizing Pilar.

  “Tell me about yourself. I’m surprised some man hasn’t swept you off somewhere.”

  “There’s nothing much to say except I’m ready to leave this town.”

  “I can’t say I blame you. There’s not much around here. Where do you want to go?”

  “Everywhere. Anywhere but here.”

  “You’re pretty vague. What’s your life here like?”

  Oliva stopped eating and looked him square in the eye.

  “I have no life here,” she stated firmly.

  Oliva intrigued Tony because there was obviously much more to her than she let on. He saw a lot of pain and anger in her eyes. And he also saw even more determination. He had no doubt her talk about leaving her hometown was not just talk. She would leave it all behind and probably not think twice about doing it.

  “I wish you could’ve come by here sooner. I’m leaving for New York tomorrow afternoon. I would love to have spent more time with you. I want to get to know you.”

  “I wanted to come for a visit your first day here but I couldn’t. If I can, I’ll come by to see you tomorrow before you leave.”

  “I’m looking forward to it. What happened to your hands?”

  Oliva looked at her bruised knuckles. “I was working out in th
e yard.”

  Tony took her hand in his. “A woman like you shouldn’t be doing manual labor.”

  Pilar never made it back in time to see Oliva before she had to leave for home. Tony spent the time they had together wooing Oliva enough to where she’d do whatever it took to come see him the next day. Oliva looked at the clock and decided she’d better get back home. Tony walked her to the door.

  “You’re not going to stand me up tomorrow and have me leave for New York without seeing you again are you?”

  “I’ll do everything I can to make it back over to see you. What time are you leaving?”

  “Not until later in the afternoon, so the earlier you can come over the better. If you can, try and be here around 12:30.”

  “All right.”

  “Pilar told me a woman in the neighborhood was attacked a couple weeks back. Do you need me to see you home?”

  Oliva chuckled lightly. “No, I’ll be just fine.”

  Tony stood in the door watching her walk away and wondering what she found so humorous about his offer.

  Chapter 15

  Oliva was not the least bit experienced when it came to men, yet she was savvy enough to know when one was trying to get her in the sack. She knew not only from what Pilar told her about her brother that he was a slick one, her instincts told her that as well. Still, Tony was fascinating, charming and worldly. He had traveled to even more places than his sister. She had a strong inkling he would play an even more important role in her life than Pilar.

  Oliva knocked on the door and within seconds Tony had opened it.

  “Hi!”

  “Hello.” This time Oliva didn’t wait for him to invite her inside. She just stepped in and brushed past him. “I hope Pilar’s car is in the garage and she’s home.”

  “Nope, she’s not,” Tony said as he closed the door. “I’m glad you were able to make it.”