La Mujer de Lalo (Lalo's Woman)

Forgive and Forget

Back at Lalo's, Ana and Nacho helped place Lalo on his bed. She removed his shirt and threw it away. She then removed his pants and belt and shoes, threw them all and asked Nacho to burn them.

"Ana, what's wrong with you?" Nacho shouted. "We've brought him here. Our job is done. Let's go."

"No. This is where I'll be staying from now. My place is by his side."

"Hermanita, you're not thinking straight. After the horrible thing he's done, do you still want to take his side?"

Ana had brought a wet wipe and started cleaning Lalo's face tenderly. The wrinkles and fine lines on his face were cleaned by her soft smooth hands.

"Just do what I say." Was all she told him.

Anger arose inside Nacho. He pulled her away from the bed and shouted, "Get going. We're leaving. This is it. It's over now. I can't let you ruin your life Ana. No. You'll leave Albuquerque tomorrow. You'll go to New York and start fresh. You'll forget about Lalo."

"How dare you? Who are you to decide what's good for me?" She questioned.

"Who am I? I'm your brother damn it."

"That doesn't give you any rights to make decisions for me. I'm the one who makes my own decisions. And right now, I want you to take these, shove them into the fireplace and burn them to char." Ana retaliated with furiously.

Nacho was shook. How did his little sister became like this? "No, Ana." He said and went to pull her away. He tried to drag her, but she put all her strength into stopping him. He almost brought her over to the door, when she freed herself.

"I'm not asking you as your sister. I'm asking as your jefa (boss). You will respect my wishes."

"Tu no eres mi jefa!" Nacho raised his hand yo slap Ana for her stupid remarks, when a hand stopped him. It was Lalo's. They both looked at him in shock. He still hadn't regained his full mortar skills, but had enough to stop the nonsense that was going on between the cousins.

"No te atrevas a levantar las manos contra mi mujer." (Don't you dare raise your hands against my woman) Lalo spat at Nacho.

As he was about to sway and fall, Ana caught him in time, and took him back to bed.

"Lie down. You're not well."

"Lo siento, Ana. Lo siento mucho." (I'm sorry Ana. I'm very sorry.)

"Esta bien, mi amore." (It's ok my love)

She kissed him and covered him. He saw that his soiled clothes were on the ground next to the bed.

"I'm going to burn them all. Just telling you." She said.

Lalo just nodded in agreement. His head was throbbing like a hammer against a nail. Ana spent that whole night with him. Taking care of him.

----

When Ana woke up the next day, Lalo wasn't next to her in bed. She went down and spotted him rustling in the kitchen.

"Buenos Dias, Ana. Did you sleep well?" He questioned her with his usual quirky zeal.

She smiled and nodded, happy that he was back to normal. He served them some bread and scrambled eggs with some orange juice. They silently finished their breakfast.

"About last night..." Ana started.

"A poor judgement from my side. I should have known better when your ex invited me. Don't worry muñeca, it won't happen again."

"Mm. Do you remember anything?"

"Everything, that they said and did. A mistake from their side to assume that I wouldn't be in a state of mind to know what's around me. I've been drugged plenty of times. Voluntarily and otherwise. I have a good threshold for it."