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it.”
    “Well, I’m just glad Carlos found your necklace. Your mom would have been pretty upset, yes?”
    My chest caved. It was like somebody punched me in the stomach. No matter how much time passed, it never got any easier. In a way, for me at least, it got harder. Each time somebody asked, it was almost like reliving it. “My mom passed away five years ago.” I was grateful that my voice stayed steady.
    Elena’s eyes grew wide but then softened in the same instant. “Oh,” she exhaled. Then she swallowed. “I’m so sorry, Grace.” She paused. “Your father, then?”
    “He died too.” I cleared my throat. “They died together. Car crash on I-10. They were coming back from Tucson.” I didn’t mention to her that they were driving back early from a last-minute vacation for my birthday surprise party, planned by Kathryn. Everything with my parents was always last-minute, one of the drawbacks to owning a family business. You took vacations when you could squeeze them in and rarely took them at all. But mostly you didn’t plan on a ten-car freeway pileup because of a freak dust storm.
    Elena’s hand lifted to my shoulder. Her fingers squeezed my arm, gently. “I am so very sorry, Grace,” she whispered. “That must have been awful. And I didn’t mean to pry.” Her hand dropped to her side, and I could tell from the pain that flashed across her eyes that she would have rather swallowed back every one of her words.
    I forced another smile, a different one, but couldn’t hide the tiny crack in my voice. “S’okay, Elena. You wouldn’t have known.”
    “Our mother died two years ago now in June.” She paused. “Ovarian cancer.” Then she inhaled, deeply. “I keep waiting to be able to say the words without crying inside.” Her breath hitched and I instinctively wanted to reach out to hug her, to let her know that I understood. But I wished I didn’t understand. I’d have given anything to be clueless.
    “Me, too,” I said finally. “I’m so sorry to hear about your mom, for you and Carlos.” Carefully, I asked, “And your father?”
    “He’s still alive, but part of him died with her.” Her eyes looked through me. “He hasn’t been the same since. He lives with Carlos and me. Rarely leaves his bedroom. Just sits in his chair and pretends to read.” She blinked, focusing on my face again. Then her mouth curved upwards in a smile but it was hardly a smile. I knew that look. I’d lived it lots of times. It was gut-wrenching pain and I felt it, right through every inch of my chest. She missed her mother.
    “I am so sorry, Elena.”
    Elena nodded. Her lips pressed together. I envied her, her strength.
    Gym members began to stream inside, passing us on both sides.
    She reached for my hand and held it, her skin soft and reassuring. “Well, I better let you get on with your workout. Maybe we’ll talk some other time?” Her tone was hopeful.
    “Yes, I’d like that, and you and your brother should stop by our place. I told him that coffee and pastries are on the house and that goes for you too.” I picked up the gym bag at my feet. “Maybe we could share some recipes? I’d love to hear more about some of your grandmother’s specialties. I’m a bit of a baking geek.”
    Elena’s eyes sparkled again, the color returning to her cheeks. “Me, too.” Her laughter was airy and genuine. “That would be fun. We’ll plan on it one evening, if we ever get a free evening around here.” Her eyes rolled playfully.
    “I understand. Well, I better get a move-on and start burning some calories.” I patted the side of my leg. It jiggled a little beneath my hand, a painful reminder.
    “The gym just got some new treadmills.” Elena pointed toward the mirrors. “You’ll be one of the first to break them in.”
    I glanced toward the aerobic room, hopeful that they’d be close to the free weights and Max Kramer, preferably directly behind his dreamy dimpled shoulders. “As long as I don’t