“My restoration work takes four hours every morning,” I said.

“Your restoration work pays pocket change and embarrasses Alejandro,” Doña Victoria said.

“You’ll stay in this house and help the staff.”

She reached out and picked up the silver car keys lying on the entry table.

“You won’t need the estate sedan anymore,” she said, dropping the keys into her silk handbag.

“The city bus stops at the bottom of the hill.”

Paola laughed out loud from the sideboard, her nails tapping faster on the wood.