She poured a thimble, as promised, and watched as Nepomuceno patted the dog’s head and fed it a canapé. Then she grabbed the second tray and headed back to the sitting room. When she walked in, Lulú had arrived and was making herself comfortable. Inés smiled, then paused and looked at Lulú with wide eyes.
“Why, Lulú, you seem tired today. Is your blood pressure low? I canbring you a lemonade if it might help you feel better. Or would you like coffee?”
“Tired?” Lulú replied in confusion.
“I’ll be right back. Coffee, yes? One quick cup.”
Lulú nodded. A couple of minutes later Inés shoved a cup of coffee into her hands. Soon all seven members of the committee had seated themselves and were looking admiringly at Ulises.
“Why, I think the last man who came to one of our meetings was Father Anselmo,” said Sarita Novo, touching her hair, as if to make sure she was still well coiffed, smiling at Ulises.
“I hope I’m not intruding, dear ladies. I wished to learn more about the festivities of your town and the important work that you do,” he said in a tone that approximated that of a respectful altar boy.
Inés handed Sarita her coffee and went around the room asking the other ladies if they’d like lemonade, or tea, or something else. Ulises had seated himself next to Lulú and was speaking to her when Inés walked by.
“All I can say is that the best doctors are in Mexico City. No offense, but for serious matters I wouldn’t go to Xalapa,” he told Lulú, with as much confidence as if he were a doctor himself.
It went like that for the next couple of hours. There was discussion about the festival, which consisted mostly of the women talking about the merits or drawbacks of hiring the same band from Córdoba to play in the town square or picking a trio that was cheaper. But for the most part, what Ulises did during the whole meeting, aside from asking a few questions, was keep an attentive eye on Lulú, speaking with her. Lulú’s favorite topic was her health, and Ulises nodded respectfully and made subtle comments about the importance of seeking proper medical care when an illness struck, of the benefits of the facilities in Mexico City.
When the meeting was about to disperse, Lulú stood up and walked quickly out of the sitting room. When she returned, she seemed terrified. Inés supposed the laxative was beginning to take effect.
“You look flushed,” Inés said as the ladies marched out of the room. “Is it too warm in here?”
Lulú clutched her purse with shaky hands and took out a handkerchief, which she dabbed against her brow and her upper lip. “I don’t think I feel right,” Lulú said, in a voice that was almost a squeak.
Ulises immediately took her by the arm, gently directing her to a chair. “It’s no wonder you’re unwell, any changes in the weather would affect someone with a delicate constitution. It is terribly hot today! Inés, why don’t you bring the lady another cup of coffee before she departs? Everyone knows when it’s warm you must drink hot beverages. Nomads do it all the time in the desert.”
“Right away,” Inés said.
She returned quickly with the coffee, which had plenty of laxative mixed in. Lulú took a few sips and looked like she was going to put it down, but Ulises tipped the cup against her lips and shook his head.
“Now, now. Drink it all, so that you may be refreshed. Where is the lady’s hat?”
“I have it,” Inés said.
Ulises gave Lulú his arm and Inés followed them back to the front door, carrying the hat. Lulú thanked Inés for everything, shook Ulises’s hand, and walked away, dabbing her handkerchief against her face. They watched the woman stumble past the iron gates of the house and went back inside.
—
Three days later Inés was again at the bakery when Marisol gave her the news. She stuffed the bolillos into a paper bag at a leisurely pace, since Inés was the lone customer and the baker and his assistant were arguing in the back of the store.
“Lulú and Cándido are off to Mexico City,” Marisol informed her.
“Are they?”
“She’s feeling sick and wanted to see a specialist of some sort. I can’t believe the amount of money that woman spends on remedies. Anyway, they’ll be gone for three weeks.”
“How do you know?”
“Their maid told me.”
Inés’s heart thumped inside her chest. She realized that they were really doing this, they had taken the first steps in their mad plan. Up until now it all had seemed a dream, unreal. It was happening, yet as Inés hurried back home, she thought that there was much to be done if they wanted to achieve their goals.
Could they do it? Couldshedo it? Aunt Perla had been awful to her. Not that her grandfather had been any better, yet they were still family. Could you harm your family like this? Then Inés remembered her aunt’s slights great and small, and she wrapped her arms tighter around the paper bag with the bolillos.
I’m wicked and I don’t much care,she told herself, and laughter bubbled from her lips as she ran.
After hastily dropping off the bread in the kitchen, she flew up the stairs. When she walked into Ulises’s room, he was lying on the bed, fully dressed. He threw her a lazy look and shook his head.