“I was told you and Carol had words the other day,” Ricardo’s mother said a few days later.
They were all staying in Aunt Georgina’s house, though his aunt had yet to make an appearance today. His father and Fabio had gone out for a run, and he, his sister and mother were having breakfast together.
Ricardo stared down at his empty mug, ignoring all the protests and excuses his mother’s words invoked.
“Well?” she prompted when he said nothing.
“I didn’t know Darlene was a double agent,” he said, lighting a cigarette. All his effort in quitting were thrown out the window whenever Carol came along. He wasn’t blaming her for his vice exactly, but he could place the reason for his frazzled nerves at her feet without a twinge on his conscience.
“Don’t smartass me.”
“Was I?” he asked, a puf
