‘Where was your house?’
‘In the barrio in Tucson that was torn down before the convention center was built. We had a big old house, not modern and convenient like this one, but comfortable, with a garden and fruit trees. And then I got pregnant right away. When Pilar was born, I said, “This household needs sorting out.” And Vicente said, “Tell me what’s wrong, and I’ll fix it.” That was when the really good years began. For me, that is – some of the children didn’t see it quite the same way. Luz and Guillermo were particularly outraged at the idea that they couldn’t come into my house and help themselves to whatever they wanted there. Since their mother’s death they had had the run of the place, under the pretext of helping out. Luz would say, “I’ve come to weed the garden,” and go home with whatever was ripe.’ Remembering, she shook her head ruefully.
Sarah used her momentary silence to get back to what she wanted to know. ‘Everybody else in the family seems to be sure Frank Martin would never steal. Do you have an opinion about the embezzlement?’
‘I’m afraid not. To me he was always completely mysterious.’
‘How so?’
‘All those favors he did for people, and yet he didn’t really have friends. He would do the good works, then roll up his apron or put his tools in the box and go home. If there was a meal afterward, he hardly ever stayed for that.’
‘And Ed? Did you know him better?’
‘Not in the early years. I thought it was terrible that he lived with Frank.’
‘Really? All the other Garcías have said how much they loved each other.’
‘Maybe so. But what a life, being this quiet, creepy kid who followed his uncle around to all the charities and then went home. After he got into games, made some teams and then got on the police force, he had a more normal life. When he married Angela, though, that’s when he blossomed.’
‘Yet when his uncle killed himself, it seems he fell apart.’
‘Yes … I’m not a psychiatrist, so I guess my opinion about that is not worth much.’
‘Oh, so far I think your opinions are right on the money.’ Sarah smiled encouragement, waited, and finally said, ‘You think maybe Frank was a little … too possessive?’
‘To put it politely, yes. After Ed grew up and had that great career with the police force, I used to look at him and wonder how he had managed to escape that smothering embrace. But when he went to hell I realized he had not made it all the way out after all.’
Sarah sighed. ‘I’m raising my niece because my sister became addicted to drugs and other foolishness. It seems to me that parenthood is very humbling.’
‘Indeed – the perfect word. I used to say to Vicente, “Why didn’t I try something easy, like hiking the Arizona Trail in bare feet?” And he said, “Imagine how I feel, Dovey. I raised seven children before I met you. I swear I treated them all the same, and I’ve no idea why are they all so different.”’
‘He called you Dovey?’
She nodded, smiling. ‘He said I reminded him of a little brown Inca dove, the one with spots on the sides and the gentle call.’ She sighed, remembering. ‘The grand thing about marrying an older man is that in his eyes I was always young and beautiful. I miss that, of course. I went from young and beautiful to old and useless overnight.’
‘Oh, I don’t think you should consign yourself to the dustbin quite yet. May I ask – do you have any idea why Angela would kill herself? I mean, I know Ed just died, but—’
‘But he was her ex-husband, wasn’t he? And she could not have grieved over his death any more than I did when Vicente died, but I never thought of killing myself. I didn’t know Angela well, but honestly I can’t imagine her hanging herself in a closet. I think she must have surprised a burglar in that apartment … it’s not a very nice neighborhood, you know.’
‘I guess not. Burglars don’t usually stay long enough to make nooses, though, do they?’
‘Perhaps not. You know more about burglars than I do.’
‘Next question: your daughters are indeed very different. Do Pilar and Cecelia get along?’
‘They pull together sometimes when they want to win a point against the older siblings. By themselves, they fight like sharks.’
‘And with their brother?’
‘Pilar will have nothing to do with Joey. Cecelia seems to find him amusing, off and on.’ She sighed. ‘I suppose you’ve heard that Joey is the family bad boy. My fault, I guess. He was adorable when he was small and I could never say no to him and make it stick. Vicente was equally hopeless, just putty in his hands.’