There wasn’t a lot to be said about how Maria and Iris became friends. There was no shining moment when lights of heaven came down and it was official. It just sort of happened.
Their relationship was based largely around Maria assisting Iris, in ways that Iris knew -and in some ways she didn’t. Perhaps their connection became so strong without a lot of time passing because of their psychological differences. That’s what Maria was sure her ex, Rayne, would say.
Iris and Maria both grew up without mothers, only Iris had the fall back of her father Joe to care for her. Maria had been taking care of her sick mother at least a year before she passed, and after that had grown up learning to take care of herself -and others. She would sooner nurture, than be nurtured. For Iris, it was the opposite. Instead of filling the void of a mother by being maternal for others, she sought out that nurturing behavior in others.
So it worked; smoothly and without complaint. Maria took a long time to fully open herself up to anyone, to allow herself to count on them. However she developed a sense of caring and affection for people quickly, so Iris was really none the wiser about Maria keeping secrets. Or at least, she forgave Maria and was willing to look past that.
There had been enough implied about the latina’s experiences to spike Iris’ curiosity, but also her understanding that if Maria needed to keep some things locked up, she had more or less earned the right to. Besides, even if Maria never poured her own heart back out to Iris after she opened up, the woman did always seem to know what to say, or what to cook, or where to massage or rub to make Iris feel better.
Curiosity about Barry’s family and childhood aside, perhaps what really drove the girls’ connection home was the simple fact that Iris was missing someone to take care of her and with the miscarriage, Maria had quite literally lost someone to take care of.
“You are a goddess among men.” Iris said with a grin as Maria walked back into the living room, holding two plates and a big bowl of salad in her hands. She was laying on the couch in a robe, her wet toenails held apart by cotton balls, her feet propped up on a pillow.
“Men? Where are you keeping them, behind the tv?” Maria then faked shock, her jaw dropping as she pretended to look around in a panic, drawing her own robe farther shut. Iris giggled and made as if to throw the pillow behind her head at Maria.
“Uh! Well fine, I’ll take this salad back into the kitchen and eat it all by myself.” Maria comically shoved her nose in the air, spinning on her heel to leave.
“I’ll end up like Popeye after all these greens -you’ll see me bench pressing cars and joining the circus.” She continued, turning to look over at Iris, trying to look annoyed but unable to suppress the smirk on her lips.
Iris immediately popped up onto her knees, leaning over the couch so her chin rested on the back, her arms hanging over it as she pouted at Maria. “Noooo… you promised me I’d get to be the first to try the dressing.”
Maria rolled her eyes and did an overly dramatic sigh. “Fine. But quit fooling around -I’m not redoing your toes again. Don’t screw ‘em up.” She said walking back over and hitting Isis lightly on the leg to get her to prop her feet up again. Maria then set the salad bowl and plates on the coffee table, starting to dish it out as she settled on the floor leaning against the couch where Iris was.
