Give It To Me. Ana Castillo

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      4

      Two days later she was back in her stucco house in Albuquerque, her cat gone, and the dog still at Ursula’s. Ursula worked nights and hadn’t gotten around to bringing Dog back. Palma could get him but was too worn out from her trip down memory lane. The cat would come around and the dog was fine wherever he was as long as you let him out twice a day and kept him fed. As pets went, hers were loyal only to meals. That made them ideal for Palma because it was about as far as her commitment went. Pepito had bitten her tongue and it blistered. It was the one undeniable sign that she had not imagined their shenanigans in the hotel. There was more evidence about the trip. When Palma went into Abuela’s closet she got out the suitcase her grandmother had carried from Mexico as a young bride. Among other Abuela-deemed tesoros it held were the letters and postcards Palma sent from her own travels. She confiscated them, stashing them inside her bag. Back in Albuquerque, they went in the top bureau drawer. One day the ramblin’ granddaughter would tell her life story.

      Ursula called. She was coming over later with Dog. I’m bringing some Chinese, Ursula said. Okay, Palma said. Do they have papers? Pause. You are most hilarious, the other woman said. Why don’t you audition at the comedy club and stop wasting your talents on a tired-ass dancer like me? Her ass was hardly tired but yes, she really was stripping her way through nursing school. It was Ursula’s night off and she came over with takeout and the dog. What’s that? Palma noticed something different about the mongrel rescue right away. Oh, I took him for his shots, she said. He’s got tags. No, that other tag, Palma said. Yeah, she said. I named him. Romeo? Palma said fingering the brass, bone-shaped tag. Yes, she said. He’s our loverboy, is he not? Why someone would adopt a dog and refuse to name it I haven’t figured out, hon’, Ursula said. She was in a tight exercise top and Spandex shorts. It was hot in the desert. Palma’s lover was slim and well formed with reddish brown hair all gathered up on top of her head. She looked like she had been out on a run, sunburned and sweaty, and pulling off her top she started making her way to the shower. Her boobs were pale compared to the rest, and while Palma was old school and did not approve, the implants looked good. Almost real. Not too big. Palma didn’t mind them small or hothouse tomatoes like her own. Ursula’s were a business investment for the time being, she said. Once she had her nursing degree she’d have them removed.

      Palma caught up to her. She kissed her mouth, moved down to her neck and then each nipple. Her lover had large areolas. They showered together and made love. (Two women making love required a whole lot of patience. More when they were standing up.) Afterward, the couple took their Chinese to bed and watched the latest broadcast of 48 Hours on the laptop. Why do you like to watch that morbid stuff? Ursula said, sleepily. Palma didn’t know. Those murder investigations fed the latent state prosecutor inside her, maybe. Half the time she’d get freaked out and couldn’t stop thinking about how many shows centered on wives who had been killed by their prominent doctor husbands or ministers, proverbial pillars of the community, telling herself that Abuela was right, you couldn’t trust nobody. Especially not among los gringos. Yankees. Gabachos. Gachupines. Güeros. Palma turned off the light.

      I’ve got something to tell you, Ursula whispered. There’s good news and bad news, actually. Which do you want first?

      I could use good news. Palma opted.

      I’m quitting my job, Ursula said.

      Dancing? Palma said, as if her lover had another job.

      Uh-huh, she gave an earlobe nibble and stretched her taut body against Palma’s. That was in fact, super news. Then she said what sounded at first like details about the good news. My mom has offered to pay for my schooling.

      Your mom in Houston? Palma said. It was unlikely that Ursula was talking about any other mom so the fact that she said where Ursula’s mom was revealed that her subconscious guessed the bad news. Her lover was lost without family in Albuquerque. Yes, that mom, Ursula said, the one who said she’d pay for my schooling if I came home. Palma rolled over and Ursula hugged her back, I’ll miss you, she said. Palma patted the other’s hands at her belly, I’ll miss you, too. The truth was she liked Ursula a lot, but unlike Snowball, Palma knew that when she was gone Palma would not love her.