"Flora Sanchez"

"Oh, she's new here, isn't she? I just saw her in the reading room. She said she was waiting for family. Are you...?" asked the receptionist.

"Yes, I am...I'm her son. I'm adopted." Matt said knowingly, smiling. Growing up, he was almost always with the Sanchez family especially when his parents were out of town which was often. Since of course he was no where close to looking like her or her family, the on going joke was that he was adopted. As far as Matt was concerned, Nanny Flora was always there for him. She always introduced Matt as her son. Although he knew that she was not, she might as well have been his mother.

"Go down that hallway and make a left, the reading room is the second door on the left." the receptionist said pointing to the hallway.

Matt thanked the young receptionist as he reached to hold Betty's hand. "This is my surprise for you. I wanted you to meet my Mama Flora." Betty was slightly nervous but quite certain this time this meeting would not be at all like when she met Matt's mother, Victoria Hartley.

Betty was right. As soon as the door opened, Flora who was facing the door, called out in a high pitched shriek,"Oh mijo, mijo!" Matt knelt down by her wheelchair and gave her a big embrace. Flora held him for two more seconds longer. Tears of joy rolling down her face. "Mama', don't cry, Matt said. "Don't you think you cried enough for today?" She said,"It's OK. I'm crying because I'm so happy. Two visits in one day from my son!" Then she looks up to Betty. Matt still kneeling looks up towards Betty and introduces her, "Mama, this is Betty, my girlfriend."

"Mijo, she's so beautiful." Flora says looking at Betty then looks at Matt with her smile of approval on her face. Betty smiles, blushing, her braces glimmering.

Flora is a thin and fragile looking lady, only in her early 60's, she looks somewhat older than her age. She has had a hard life, evidenced by the deep wrinkles on her forehead, around her eyes and mouth, and rough hands. She was not able to finish high school and in Mexico City where she grew up, she had to work at an early age. She worked in the homes of wealthy Mexican families like her parents did, to provide for their family.

Flora eyes Betty and gestures with her hands, waving to Betty, "Come here, come here, mija. Let me take a closer look at you." Betty starts to walk but trips over her feet, Matt tries to catch her but she lands right in front of Flora. She attempts to get up, says right away,"I'm OK, I'm OK" but Flora pulls Betty toward herself and hugs her. Matt watches all of this and smiles.

Flora told Matt and Betty how she came to be employed at the Hartley family. "Matt's father Mr. Cal and his father frequented Mexico for business, Flora started. Father Hartley and Mr. Cal were guests of the wealthy family I worked for. That evening I was assigned to cook. I made a sumptuous meal of Mexican and Spanish delicacies. Father Hartley was so impressed that he wanted to meet the chef. After I met with them, Father Hartley asked me if there was anyone who I would recommend for them to hire and bring back to New York to be their cook. Of course I said I did and actually meant myself. Because the family I worked for, was willing to do anything for their American clients; they worked it out and had their lawyers do the necessary paper work so I could legally work in New York. About three weeks later, I was in New York cooking my mouth watering Mexican/Spanish dishes for Father and Mother Hartley, their son, Cal and his girlfriend Victoria Friedman," Flora said proudly.

"Now, tell me Betty how did you and Matt meet?"

" Mama, I told you how we met...!" Matt starts to say."

"I want Betty to tell me." She interrupts him.

Flora felt very happy. She listened to Betty and Matt tell her how their life together has been. She watched how Betty and Matt looked at each other, smiled and laughed. She loved how Matt would kiss Betty on her forehead or cheek every now and again. Flora realized that Matt has found his partner in life. She felt content; as only a mother could feel.

"Betty, have you heard Matt play music?" Flora asks.

"Oh, yes, he's very talented. He plays the piano for me almost every evening." Betty proudly announces.

"I have nothing to offer here...do you want some coffee?" Flora asks. "They should have some in the kitchen."

"I'll get it." Matt says as he gets up. "Mama, do you still take it black?"

"Yes, mijo. Thank you." Flora says.

"Have you heard him play the trumpet and saxophone?" Flora adds as Matt leaves the reading room. Betty looked surprised, she was not aware he played those other instruments.

"You know, Betty, Matt was sickly as a baby and young child. It was during this time that Mother Hartley asked me to take care of Matt. So I became his nanny. I was right there with him ever since he was brought home from the hospital. I stayed up with him when he was sick at home or every time we had to go to the Emergency Room. Have you ever seen a six month old lose his voice? Well, Matt did! His asthma was pretty bad and his doctors recommended him learning an instrument that would help strengthen his lungs. So when he was old enough he learned the saxophone then the trumpet."

" You know, Mrs. Victoria adored her son but she was not a very nurturing mother. I think she didn't have the mothering instincts. Because of Matt, I went with the family everywhere and anywhere they went, whether it was for business or for pleasure. Matt cried for me and not for his mother when he was sent away to boarding school at age 10 or 11." Flora says smiling. We didn't see him much after that; only when he came to visit during the holidays and summer vacations. By this time Mrs. Victoria and Mr. Cal were divorced. Matt divided his time between his mother and father. When he stayed with his father, Matt would always come to visit me and my family. Until he was 16.

Betty was amused to learn so much about Matt's childhood. She didn't have to ask questions. The stories just poured out of Flora.

Flora had her back facing the door. When the door cracked open, Betty was expecting Matt with the coffees but a woman came in. 'Oh, it's Carissa.' Betty said to herself. She was wearing a plain white T-shirt and jeans. Her hair unkempt and curlier now falling in her face. Betty was surprised to see her in this manner. She had some blemishes on her cheeks and dark circles around her eyes that Betty didn't notice before.

"Oh, hello, Carissa. How's your kids?" Betty asked.

Betty could see Flora starting to shake and turn pale. As she turned around in her wheelchair, she whispered, "What are you doing here? Please go. Matt is here." Flora starts to cry. "Mija, please go."

"Mama', I want to see him and ask forgiveness, please, please, Mama' she says.

Betty is totally confused and shocked, hearing what was being said. She stares at this woman who had just come in. Betty had no idea what was going on.

"One day you might be able to see him and ask forgiveness but not now. PLEASE, please go! Flora says begging.

The woman leaves. The door shuts behind her.

Betty is beside herself, her eyes tearing up, unsure why. Uncertain what to think, Betty asks, "Who was that?"

Flora tries to stifle her tears, trembling, she tells Betty that that was not Carissa.