“You have a new family now,” she said past the growing lump in her throat. She had known this is how it would end. The moment she had seen him playing with his new baby sister she had known.
“We have a new family now,” he corrected her. “Dad isn’t what you think he is. Beth isn’t Ma, but she’s nice. You two have a lot in common, you’ll see when you talk to her.”
“Arturo, I don’t think I can stay here,” Valentina said.
“Dad will work something out,” Arturo said. “Ana María and I fill out the child quota, but you’re practically an adult anyway. He can find a job for you, then you can stay.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Valentina said. “It doesn’t feel right.”
“You just got here. Give it a chance, OK?”
“Have you been to other parts of the city? Have you seen how other people live here? It
