"Hi. Hey, Cindy," I said to Cynthia on the phone as soon as I got in the taxi. After Lucy's call, I had briefly explained to Ashley that Doña Esperanza wanted to see me. I rushed out, and sure enough, a taxi was already waiting for me.

—Alice, what's up? They must be working themselves to death over there with all that work—he joked.

—Sorry for taking so long to call you—I apologized.

"No, girl. Don't do that. There's no need to apologize, sweetheart. How have you been? There were days when I s