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Heaps of my university friends shared houses with strangers.

So far, I’ve only promised Casildo a week.

But a month. A month to do exactly what I want, when I want. Heaven.

I need to do this for me.

That didn’t make calling her mother any easier. Her mother picked up so fast she must have been waiting for the call.

“¿Dónde estás?” Distress, more than anxiety, leaked through her mother’s words.

“I’m at Anna’s apartment. It’s empty”—or it had been when she’d arrived, shocks were better broken into small pieces—“and Anna asked me to keep an eye on it.”

Anna had asked her to move in, dangling the taste of freedom before her. Bea’s gut-deep desire to accept had jolted her. Anticipating her mother’s unhappiness, she’d refused.

“So you’ll be home for dinner?” Straight for the jugular.

“No, Mamá. I’ve decided to stay for a few days.”

Maybe longer.

She crossed her fingers behind her back, positive her mother could see what she was doing through the ether.

“Your sisters said you were angry. ¿Qué dijeron ellas?”

“I’m not going to repeat what they said, Mamá.”

“I’m sorry they hurt you.” Did her mother know what her sisters had said? They hadn’t believed Beatriz would leave. Truth be told, they probably hadn’t believed she had anywheretogo.

My fault for behaving like a doormat around them.

“They’re adults, Mamá. They’re the ones who should be sorry. Not you.”

“You’re right.” Her mother’s admission soothed the ache in her heart. Maybe Bea hadn’t hid her growing anger with her younger sisters’ selfishness as well as she’d thought.

“It won’t hurt any of us to be apart for a while,” Bea said.

“A while is longer than a few days.” English might be her mother’s second language, but she didn’t miss a single subtlety. “I’m sorry about the promotion. You work so hard.”

Bea didn’t mind the hard work. Jackson’s sneakiness and his sense of entitlement made her want to smash things.He stole my work. A little of her anger was reserved for the in-house convenor of the interview panel who hadn’t recognised Bea’s hand in the ideas Jackson had presented.

“I’ll come by tomorrow and collect a few things. I might stay the full month Anna is away,” she blurted out.

Anna planned to rent the apartment longer term because Hunter’s place suited the couple better. Their race to the altar meant Anna hadn’t had time to sort out her furniture and belongings.

“I’ll tell Papá.” That made it official.

“Thank you. And, Mamá, I’ve got more ideas to make money.”A return to hospitality shifts, maybe some freelance work.“I’m housesitting for Anna, not paying rent.”

“I’m not worried about the money.” Her mother’s regret slid into Bea and, in a strange way, strengthened her resolve to take this short break for herself. “I’m worried about you. You’re a good girl. We’ve always depended on you.” Her mother’s voice dropped lower, so Bea was unsure, but it sounded like Mamá said “Too much. For too long.”

“Te quiero, Mamá.”I love you.

“I know you do. I’ll be on my own here tomorrow morning around ten. Come then. Hasta luego.”Until then.Her mother hadn’t asked her to come home.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Mamá didn’t need to know Casildo was sharing the apartment with her. After all, it was a trial. In a week he could be gone. Or he might stay?