A New Leaf (8)

"Next stop! Salinas de Hidalgo, San Luis Potosi!" The train attendant yelled. Mauricia started gathering her belongings over one shoulder and propped a sleeping Teresa over the other. Once again, Mauricia had to figure out how she would locate her way to the address she had in her hand. Mauricia asked the woman at the ticket window, at the train station, the direction she should be heading. The woman told her to go through the main doors and there would be buses that could take her where she needed to go. Mauricia heads out the front doors but is perplexed by the commotion in the streets. She feels disoriented and stops a fruit vendor to ask which bus can she take that will drop her off closer to her father's home. The fruit vendor tells her to catch the bus named "La Novia", which translates to "the girlfriend", and to let the driver know her destination so he can drop her off at the right place.

"La Novia" comes around the corner and the bus driver starts honking to warn passengers of its arrival. Mauricia hurries to get in line. As Mauricia gets in to sit down, she tells the driver her father's address and he assures her he knows where to go and have a seat. "I'll yell at you when we get close by, ok?" as the bus driver confirms with Mauricia. Ten blocks into the drive the bus driver says, "Lady! The colonia is right over there to the left passing this church. Once you walk two blocks down that street, Calle Ordon should be on your right." "Thank you sir for your help!" Mauricia says as she gets off.

By now Teresa is awake and fussy but luckily Mauricia split the sweet bread into pieces for her to eat in intervals. Mauricia pulls out another piece of sweet bread and hands it over to Teresa telling her, "Please Teresa, wait a little bit longer and I'll feed you, can you wait?" "Si mama." Teresa responds as she shoves the bread in her mouth. When they turn the corner to get to Calle Ordon, Mauricia notices a grocery store at the corner with the name Delgado on top. Mauricia smiles at Teresa and says, "Teresa, we must be rich!"

Mauricia walks into the grocery store as that is the location of the address Cipriana gave her. A tall, heavy set, man walks to the front of the store and asks what she needed. Mauricia responds to him, "My name is Mauricia Delgado and I am looking for Leopoldo Delgado, I am his daughter." The man's eyes widen as he comes around the counter and hugs Mauricia while telling her he is Leopoldo Delgado. In Leopoldo's elation he tells Mauricia, "I never thought I would see you! I would have personally picked you up myself if I knew where you were when your mother died." Mauricia pushes him away slightly and says, "I am sorry Mr. Delgado, I need some space. A couple of days ago I found out the man I thought was my father was not. I was then told about your relationship with my mother and your identity. I do not mean to disrespect you in any way, I am getting used to this situation and I appreciate you taking my daughter and myself into your home. I hope I do not cause any problems within your household." Mr. Delgado guarantees there is no problem as he tells her a little about his home life. "Mauricia, let me tell you, I loved your mother and did not intend to hurt her. My marriage was never a true relationship, and my wife always had lovers. I was always busy with work, as a distributor, and when I found out about her secrets, I knew I deserved to be with someone that loved me. I met your mother and intended to divorce Carmela, due to infidelity, but when your mother found out I was still married, she cut all communication with me and moved to another area. Now that I have said my piece, I hope we can establish some kind of relationship." Mauricia responded, "Of course, we'll have more than enough time to talk about things." Mr. Delgado informed Mauricia she had two half brothers and half sisters. Their names were, Maria Guadalupe, Maria Del Carmen, Andres, and Miguel.

Mr. Delgado tells Mauricia to stay in the store with him until it is time to shut down so he can introduce her appropriately to the family. Mr. Delgado makes Mauricia and Teresa sandwiches. While they are eating Mauricia asked, "Do they know I exist?" Mr. Delgado responded, "They know about you. I told everyone about you when we had our last child, Maria del Carmen, a year after your birth. I was tired of living a lie and I promised to stay in this marriage for the children. Now that they are older, and beginning to lead their own paths, Carmela and I live separate lives. Carmela has never changed and she doesn't have any say so about you staying with us. If she bothers you, tell me Mauricia." The chime on the clock goes off as it is 9:00 p.m. Mr. Delgado turns off the lights and begins to walk Mauricia to the front of the store to lock the door and says, "It's time for us to go home, can I carry my granddaughter?"

Around the corner of the family grocery store was the house. The house was two stories and a beautiful shade of blue, dark, and striking. Mauricia was holding her breath wondering what was awaiting her behind the front doors. Mr. Delgado announces he is home and within a couple of minutes her half brothers and sisters run out to see the stranger that arrived with their father. I would like for you to meet your sister, Mauricia and your niece, Teresa. Everyone cordially shake her hand and greet Teresa. Mauricia's half brother's are more distant but observant through the whole situation. Maria Guadalupe the eldest daughter seems more aloof. She tells Mauricia, "Oh hello, how are you? So your the daughter father had in that town somewhere in the mountains? Hmmm, interesting, as she inspects Mauricia's attire from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. Maria Del Carmen pushes her sister out of the way and immediately offers to take Mauricia's things to their room when their eyes meet. Mauricia says, "We look alike." "So we do", laughs Ma. del Carmen. Mauricia is astounded at the similarities and happily walks with Ma. del Carmen back to her room for a good nights rest.

Waking Up (7)

"Mama, mama, wake up!" Teresa said as she poked Mauricia from under the covers. Mauricia tugs back at the covers hiding her face from the sunlight. "Stop Teresa, un momento", Mauricia responds in a groggy voice. She starts to regain her thoughts and musters the courage to get out of bed. Teresa whined "I'm hungry". "Alright, mi niña." Mauricia lovingly responded. Mauricia tidied up the room and dressed Teresa and herself before heading out to the kitchen.

Cipriana and Eduardo sat in the kitchen finishing breakfast when Mauricia and Teresa walk in. "Good morning Mauricia," Cipriana announces and gives Teresa a kiss on the cheek as she reaches over to hug her. Cipriana informs Mauricia, "Lucia left early this morning to San Juan, she told me what happened last night. My dear God, Mauricia, I am so sorry." Mauricia stopped Cipriana before she went any further into the conversation and said, "I have felt sorry for myself too long and I do not want any more pity. Please Cipriana, let's not discuss this topic any further." Cipriana agreed, "As you wish Mauricia, just convince Eduardo not to attack Francisco for hurting your pride." Eduardo exclaims, "Don't let me see him alone in the streets! He deserves a good beating for the humiliation he's put you through!" Mauricia responds, "You won't do such a thing! Not one of us will act as depraved as he or his family did. What's done is done, I am hurt, yes but today is another day and Francisco is a married man. Whatever happened was a horrible nightmare, but now I am awake and ready to move on. Beating Francisco will only get you or the family into problems." "That's true Eduardo." Cipriana interjects as she puts her arm on his shoulder to calm him down.

As Mauricia is washing dishes after breakfast, she begins to tell Cipriana what she is planning. "Cipriana, I am not a coward, nor do I run away from my problems. I left this town before because it reminded me of how much pain I had gone through. Now that Francisco is married, and the humiliation of seeing him or any of his family anywhere in town will only hurt me more. Cipriana, I am tired of fighting the world, I am tired, I want to leave." Cipriana said, "I knew you might say that, and now is a better time to tell you what I was intending to inform you the night of your dilemma. Mauricia, your father, Manuel, was not your real father." Mauricia in shock asks, "What are you talking about? Why did my mother not say anything? Why?" Cipriana puts her hand up and says, "Stop asking questions and listen! Let me finish." Cipriana proceeded to tell Mauricia, "Manuel married your mother after you were born, and Delgado is not his grandmother's family name as they told you. Delgado is your true father's last name, his name is Leopoldo Delgado. Your mother met your father as he traveled for business, as a distributor, and she fell in love with him. One of his co-workers told her he was married and she cut off the relationship while she was pregnant with you. Your mother was very hurt that he lied but proceeded to go on with her life when she met Manuel. Manuel could never have children and he recognized you as his child, in his eye's you were his child. That is why, Mauricia, there were no other children until after his death." Mauricia was speechless, Cipriana continued to say, "Recently, your real father has inquired about your whereabouts when he heard you were in town. He found out about your mother's death but was not aware about what happened to you. I have corresponded with him about you and Teresa, and he is very interested in meeting you both. Mauricia, think about this and let me know if you would like to go to Salinas." Cipriana gets up and goes back to her room to rest as the sun and the conversation had physically and emotionally tired her.

Mauricia paces back and forth in her room as Teresa is playing with her stuffed doll on the bed. "Should I go see this man that I've never known, who is my real father or should I go to a new town to look for a better life alone?" Mauricia thought about it over and over, as Teresa is very young. The risks she would take to go to a new town alone outweighed the risks of her meeting her father and any family she has in Salinas. Mauricia prayed about it and made up her mind, "Teresa, we're going to Salinas."

That night Mauricia talked to Cipriana and Eduardo about her decision. Cipriana provided the information she needed to find her father in Salinas. Mauricia thanked them for helping her and Teresa and accepting them into their family. Cipriana gave Mauricia some money and prepared some tacos and put sweet bread in a pail for her to take on the trip.

Early Monday morning everyone is at the train station. Mauricia is anxiously waiting for the train to arrive as the morning breeze is too cool for Cipriana and Teresa to tolerate. "The train is here!" Eduardo yells out and hurries Mauricia and Teresa, with their belongings, to the train. Mauricia gives Cipriana a hug as Cipriana blesses both of them and Mauricia promises to keep in touch. As Mauricia gets on the train and sits down, she looks back and wonders if this will be the last time she sees Cipriana. Mauricia begins to cry as she is leaving behind the only family life she ever experienced. She hugs Teresa tightly, and buries her head in her small torso, praying that the decision she has made is the correct one.