Read A Sorority of Angels for Free Online

waiting.”
    In three minutes, the phone rang.
    “Pilar, is that you?” A deep booming voice tinged with warmth for her.
    “Yes, Uncle, it is. How are you?”
    “Now that I know you are home and speak to you, I never felt better. A diplomat from France kept me from the airport. How are you? The children? I can’t tell you how I missed them.”
    “All well and impatient to see you.”
    “And I look forward to that. Did Steinerman tell you I’d like you to spend time at my country home?”
    “He did.”
    “How about this Saturday for at least a week?”
    “This Saturday will be fine.”
    “Excellent. The new retreat is west of San Isidro. You will love it especially the swimming pool and space for the children to run.”
    “I don’t care about the place, Uncle Rafael. I want time with you.”
    He laughed. “Pilar, you always knew how to wrap me around your thumb with sweet words. I love it. Keep it up. As for Saturday, I’ll send a car for you. How is Esmeralda? Are you bringing her also?”
    “Never been without Esmeralda. I would love to bring her.”
    “We have plenty of room. I hoped you’d call earlier.”
    “I did try to call. It’s difficult to get through.”
    “Sometimes I am overprotected. Here, take my private number. It rings to my office. No red tape.” She wrote the number. “Pilar, it’s impossible to see you before Saturday. What are you doing with yourself?”
    “Trying to reacquaint the children. I’m having dinner tonight with Tomayo.”
    “Great. You tell him I’m annoyed with him, never answers my phone calls. I think he’s mad at me for delaying to give him a government position. Ask him to come also for a few days. I want to see him again. We need to talk, to always keep the family together.”
    Fraudulence existed and her uncle functioned blindly in its lengthening shadow.
    “Until Saturday then, Pilar.”
    Pilar felt somewhat relieved. Her uncle was warm, wonderful, and his usual self.
    Argentineans eat late at night starting from ten to two in the morning. If you wonder how they can eat and stay out late, it’s because they take a siesta between six and eight o’clock.
    Pilar did that.

 
    “My, don’t you look handsome.”
    Tomayo wore a blue suit and tie. He resembled Carlos; same height, five-foot eleven and as handsome…a masculine rugged looking handsome. Pilar wondered why she failed to notice before. She pressed her cheek to his. Tomayo relished her fragrance. She wore a black evening dress exposing shoulders.
    “You don’t look bad yourself. Beautiful is an understatement.”
    “Quick. Open the champagne.”
    Tomayo popped the cork holding it. A minimum amount of champagne bubbled over into the ice. He poured two glasses.
    Pilar toasted. “Here’s to Tomayo deLorenzo who I missed most of all.”
    “To you, Pilar, who I missed terribly.”
    Crystal sounded its sustained ring.
    “Tomayo, tonight, I’m a Porteno, want to feel like one again. To eat parrallidas, listen to Argentinean music, dance all night, and run you into the ground until you beg for mercy,” she said enthused.
    Residents of Buenos Aires call themselves Portenos – people of the port.
    Pilar again realized how relaxed and comfortable she felt with Tomayo; no need for pretense; neither had anything to prove to the other; forgot how easy it was to laugh with him.
    “How did your day go?” he asked.
    “Thank you for sending Alejandro. Having him, I felt protected. We all visited Carlos. Then he escorted Esmeralda and the kids to the zoo. I had a lousy day. I spoke to Uncle Rafael and…”
    “Did he call you or did you call him?”
    “He called. Before that, Steinerman was reluctant to put me through to him until I threatened to go to the palace and create a disturbance.”
    He shook his head in accepted frustration.
    “That figures.”
    “Please explain what’s going on? A car followed us today.”
    “Alejandro mentioned it. I promise I will over dinner.” He delayed upsetting