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wagging.
    â€œWhy, Susana!” He laughed as he recognized me. “What’re you doing here this time of night?”
    â€œHi,” I giggled shakily. “Oh, my goodness, am I glad to see you! I forgot about the dogs or I wouldn’t have come.” I eyed them and moved closer to Ernesto. “I was at Grandma LeBaron’s, and I decided since I was so close I’d come and see Carmela. Is she home?”
    My voice sounded phony, but Ernesto didn’t seem to notice. His smile flashed in the darkness, and in perfect English he answered, “She’s doing the dishes. Come on in.”
    Ernesto was about five foot four, with teasing black eyes, a perfect set of white, even teeth and deep dimples. His smile would melt almost any girl’s insides. But I remembered what Jay had told me about Carmela’s brothers spying on her, and I was privately seething. Tonight Ernesto’s charms annoyed me.
    As we entered the dimly-lit kitchen, Carmela looked up in surprise.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” she asked when Ernesto was out of earshot.
    In a hurried whisper, I explained. Her lovely face turned grave as she rinsed a glass over and over. “How in the world does he expect me to leave here?” she whispered dejectedly. “Alma’s ordered Ernesto and the twin to follow me wherever I go. I can hardly go to the outhouse in peace! It’s just not possible.” She threw her hands up in the air, splattering dishwater all over the counter.
    â€œCarmela!” I threw a cautious look at the curtained doorway through which Ernesto had disappeared. “Are you going to let Alma force you around? Nobody, but nobody would make me give up my true love and marry some old man I couldn’t stand. Don’t let him do this to you! If you do, you’ll pay for it the rest of your life. You love Jay, don’t you? Then be willing to take some chances.”
    She scrubbed a huge pan in silence, her face pale in the poor light. Finally she cast a glance at the doorway behind her and whispered, “What have you got in mind?”
    As I hurriedly helped her finish the dishes, we talked and laughed loudly about colony gossip for Ernesto’s benefit. When we were through we traipsed past a reading Ernesto and on to Carmela’s tiny room. We closed the door, and Carmela leaned against it. “What if they catch us?” she moaned.
    â€œHave you heard about Francisca and Alma D.?” I asked loud enough for Ernesto to hear. I motioned fiercely for Carmela to hurry. “They’re going out together at least twice a week . . .”
    As I rattled on, Carmela turned up the radio to cover the sound of the bedroom window sliding open. She slipped her legs over the ledge and dashed across the dark yard. Once she was out of the gate, she called softly for the dogs. The two huge mutts padded after her as she raced down the road toward Grandma’s.
    â€œOh, Carmela,” I continued my monologue, my heart pounding with fright. “I just don’t know what to do about Lane. I like him a lot, but Estela’s so horrible . . .” I rattled on until I was sure Carmela had reached the corner of the road, then leaving the radio on, I followed her out the window and sprinted away from the house. Soon the two of us were jogging through the streets of Colonia LeBaron. The dogs bounded along with us until we reached the last corner; then, Carmela commanded them to go home.
    In a matter of minutes we stood panting inside Jay’s little house. Jay looked at me over the top of Carmela’s head, his blue eyes dark with gratitude. As I left them alone, Carmela was saying, “Oh, Jay, you really built all this for me? What color are we going to paint the kitchen?”
    I stood guard in the shadows outside. Across the street I could see Mom’s bedroom light, and I wondered if she was worrying about me. Wrapping my arms around my shoulders against the chilly air,