Audrey Hepburn's Pearls: Part I

Chapter 76.1: 1995, Georgina

Chapter 76.1: 1995, Georgina

The sound of heavy porcelain bowl bottoms hitting the wood top of the dinner table was beginning to become deeply comforting to me. Those bowls were full of corn, mixed cheeses, and good, hearty sliced tomatoes. A final thunk accompanied a medium-sized casserole dish. There were great spiced beef and beans in there, waiting to be scooped into burritos and maybe piled with corn, cheese, and tomatoes to add that extra something. I knew I'd be piling a burrito high in seconds. This was becoming one of my favorite meals.

When first served this, I questioned the corn. But Cha Cha explained to me the sweetness it could add, and upon first bite I was sold for life. It all smelled so good.

We were beginning to have a small conversation about the day when a key bit into the front door's lock. I knew that noise. I anticipated it every day, but the person I anticipated was sitting next to me. There was only time to look at Cha Cha wide eyed before the door swung open and I became terrified by Cha Cha's confused face.

But who was behind that door...

We both watched as a heavy suitcase was thrown into the hallway from the door. Then another one. Then the grief filled voice "Ay dios mio, no puedo manejar esto!" and Cha Cha rocketed out of her seat. 

Poking into the hallway now was Ruiz's too tired face, her arms heaving another giant suitcase over the threshold of the front door. Bags. Ruiz. What was going on?

"What's all this? Ruiz?" Cha Cha gasped, getting to her and heaving the first two suitcases further into the hallway securely.

But Ruiz was out of breath. She rested her forehead on the wall and leaned her arms on it soon after, obviously exhausted. It was so surreal. But before there could be much of a pause, she slammed her fist on the wall and Cha Cha looked completely taken aback, her eyes wide.

"Ruiz, what-" But she was interrupted as Ruiz let out a noise like a raging wild animal and hit her forehead on the wall hard. 

I got up at this, rushing to her as fast as I could while maintaining my safety. I had my hands on her shoulders before she could react and with my touch I felt them ease immediately. And just like that, she was hugging me and weeping, pressing her now surely sore forehead to the side of my neck, like an angry and overwhelmed child.

I didn't say anything, but Cha Cha was looking at me with those still wide, shocked eyes. I had no doubt my expression was similar.

What in the world was going on?

"Come on into the kitchen," Cha Cha tried to say soothingly, one hand on the small of Ruiz's back. Ruiz shifted on me at this, and together we led her to the kitchen table, where all of that fresh food was just waiting for her. We led her to the chair next to mine, and Cha Cha took her place at the head of the table on the otherside of her.

This was a good thing, because the first words out of Ruiz's mouth upon seeing all of that food was a desperate, "oh god, I'm so hungry" in a drawn out sob. I didn't have to be told anything more. I took my still new, untouched plate and began loading it with good food for her and before another word could come out I'd set it before her.

This made her weep harder, making her cover her face in her hands, overcome. I laid my hand between her shoulderblades and began to rub like I remembered she liked. Her shoulders rocked in her mysterious grief as Cha Cha stared on. She looked unsure what to do, but her maturity shone in her eyes, always surprising me, never expecting her to be so grown up.

Finally after a small while, Ruiz began to speak and I couldn't believe my ears after only these few words out of her mouth.

"I had to go! I had to leave, oh god, I don't know... My Mama said... she said such awful things! What she thinks... I can't stand it! Its too much! What she said... I couldn't stay there!" she dissolved into her grief, leaning forward on her elbows. 

I rubbed her back, listening intently. Cha Cha didn't know what to say, pausing, so I took over. I just wanted Ruiz to eat. That was the most important thing to me right now. Maybe if she could calm down she could talk later, and in order to do that she needed to eat.

I was hesistant to speak to her, remembering the last time, how scared she'd been. But there was no time for hesitation. This was not the same situation. 

"Eat," I said as simply as possible, gesturing to her plate.

She sniffed hard, uncovering her pretty face and turning it to me. She looked innocently surprised. "What?" she asked in a tiny voice, caught off guard. 

"Eat," I repeated gently, sliding her plate a little closer to her.

"O-oh," she sniffled, miraculously understanding. She looked like somebody who'd just come out of a deep dream, such was her distant and confused expression.

Cha Cha came to life at this, getting up and making her way to the cabinets. "Si, you need to eat. You said you're hungry? We were about to eat when you came in," she offered.

"Oh...I'm sorry," Ruiz said, surrendering completely. I felt her shoulders just drop.

"Don't be sorry," Cha Cha assured, turning to her as she swung a cabinet open. I watched her remove another plate with hesitation.

My hand felt Ruiz fall apart before it happened. "I'm intruding! Where do I go...?" Ruiz suddenly burst out in a voice of pure despair, sounding so lost. I was definitely startled, but I regained control quickly. I had to because of that tone in her voice.

"Here," I reassured her gently, my hand never leaving that soothing place for her between her shoulderblades. At this she relaxed visibly, taking to her weeping with abandon again. I hugged her then, cradling her in my arms as if we'd never been apart over these past months, hoping to provide her with some small comfort as ever in her time of need.