Thank you, MsSchneeheide for beta'ing! This story will probably have 75 chapters total :)

TW: Mentions of abuse

"¡Mamá!" Raiza shouts, skipping over to Blanca in the waiting area.

"Sí, my little love?" Grinning, Blanca leans down and picks her up.

"I wish my life could be like the white girl's on Full House. She's four, too, but she got no problems like I do. I watched it with Christina...she likes it, but I don't."

Blanca's face falls. "¿Casa Llena? That gringo show?" She gives Aleida a look. "You're too young for it, nena."

Aleida shrugs. "Sorry, I didn't realize that."

"It's funny, Miss Blanca!" Christina protests.

"Yeah, like the most wholesome show ever, there ain't even any cussing," Daya chimes in. "It can be boring at times, though..."

"Quiero la vida de Michelle," Raiza insists.

I want Michelle's life.

Maritza raises an eyebrow at her baby sister. "What, you want our mom to be gone forever and only raised by a dad?"

"It's not fun to see pictures of my mom and remind myself that I can never meet her. I don't even have memories of her," Laronne grumbles. "The only time we were together was when I was in her belly. Sometimes, I dream of wrapping my arms around her and kissing her cheek when she picks me up from school and then I wake up crying because she ain't here." He ambles over to Diablo, who scoops him up and gives him a bear hug.

"Oh, buddy," Diablo murmurs, pecking the top of his head. "Lo siento..."

Blanca tousles his hair, looking at him sadly like everyone else in the room is. "Yeah, that's gotta be hard."

"No, but nothing bad happens to the Tanner chicas after their mommy goes to Heaven, not like it did to me and Mari and Laronne." Raiza pouts and fixes her gaze on her knees.

"Terrible things can happen to anyone, mi princesita...including white people," Blanca informs her.

"Mm-hm, their mom was killed by a drunk driver, they never saw her again...the baby didn't know her," Maritza reminds her tiny sister. She goes up to Raiza and rubs her back soothingly. "We're super lucky our mami is still alive, and we have a papi figure in Diablo. I think our situation is much better than theirs, hermanita, in one area, at least...they lost a good person that most of them knew, but me and you never have. It sucks that we didn't meet our big bro or our abuela...pero I feel them with us all the time...they're like angels."

"The gringos on that show weren't ever homeless or abused, but one thing is the same about our familia and theirs...so much love exists," Blanca adds.

Flaca nods. "Very true!"

"Yeah!" Maritza's heart sinks, suddenly seeing Raiza's point. She hasn't really thought of Full House in years, not since Dean sat her down and had her watch it with him when she was nine. She couldn't relate to the program one bit and never saw herself represented. Her favorite characters were Denise and Teddy, but there wasn't a single Hispanic on the show. She wonders now why he enjoyed this particular type of sitcom when he wasn't a family man at all, probably because most of the characters are straight and white. She prefers telenovelas, Kenan and Kel, and George Lopez because they not only make her laugh, but they have diversity, too.

"Lo siento, I ain't comin' to the meeting this time, it's just that Debbie and Nita are our ride," Aleida is telling Blanca as she strolls alongside her, Diablo, Maritza, and Flaca to Lourdes' therapy room. "I got somethin' to share, but every one of the women besides you knows my background and I'm completely aware of theirs. I'll explain it in full detail later once I get Leon on my good side again, but I basically had almost the same shitty childhood as Diane's."

Gloria and Fahri, holding hands, walk ahead. Elena and Ceci are linking arms as they follow the new couple. Raiza is seated on Diablo's shoulders, one of her favorite spots to be, apparently, and Daya balances Armaria on her hip. No matter how much the toddler is struggling to get down, Daya doesn't give in. She's always afraid her child will run off as soon as her little feet hit the floor. Adarsh is next to her. They're in a long, narrow hallway and it's hard to chase after Armaria in such a large space. Aleida pushes a double stroller that contains a babbling Lucy and Eva, who's singing gibberish to herself. Karla is carrying her son piggyback style. The other children-Julio, Benny, Emiliano, Christina, and Laronne-are smart enough to just stay with the group. It also helps that their parents are watching them carefully.

Blanca frowns, pressing her lips together tightly. "Oh, no...that really sucks! ¡Eso es horrible! ¿Leon lo sabe?"

That's awful! Does Leon know?

Aleida shakes her head. "Nah, and neither does Daya...or Lourdes. I only told Gloria, Karla, and Diane...we was swappin' horror stories at work one day since we were the only four in the staff lounge. Gloria started venting and then the rest of us joined in."

Maritza's relieved that the older Latina had never mentioned speaking to her about it in passing, because then Blanca would wonder why. Even if Aleida is Maritza's tía figure, it's a very personal thing to just bring up out of the blue. Blanca would think it's weird. Maritza is satisfied with only knowing the basic facts of Aleida's nightmarish teenage life.

"Now you got me curious!" Flaca whispers. Maritza jabs her girlfriend softly. With a disapproving glance, she shushes Flaca, putting her finger to her lips.

"Don't be. ¿Nadie te dijo que la curiosidad mata al gato?" Aleida hisses. She eyes both Maritza and Flaca, a somber expression on her face. "Solo ten suerte de tener buenas mamás que te cuidan, ¿me oyes? No matter how bad y'all's financial problems get."

Didn't anyone tell you that curiosity kills the cat? Just be lucky you got good moms who look out for you, you hear me?

"We are!" Maritza exclaims. Flaca nods in agreement with a smile.

Karla glances over her shoulder and beams at them. "Wise words, Lei!"

"Yeah!" Gloria chimes in without turning around.

"Mm-hm," the men murmur. Diablo winks at Blanca and then switches his friendly gaze to Maritza. "Tu mamá is pretty spectacular."

"¡Lo sé!"

"So is yours, mijo, that's why I love her." Ramón ruffles Benji's hair and quickly presses his lips to Karla's temple.

"Aaaawww," the ladies say in unison, giggling along with Karla.

Fahri kisses Gloria's hand, the one he's holding and smiles at her kids. "Your mom's awesome!"

"Yay!" her little boys cheer. Ceci rolls her eyes, but she grins anyway.

"Cool! I'm glad you're a good dude who won't hurt her." Elena nudges her older sister. "Hey, at least he ain't nothin' like that poisonous Arturo or those other toxic pendejos she was with before."

"Sí...ha sido un buen amigo para ti y fue dulce contigo en la cena anoche." It seems like Ceci is warming to the idea of Gloria being with Fahri, just like Maritza had about her own mother and Diablo. "I suppose I'm defrosting a bit."

Yes...he's been such a good friend to you, and he was sweet with you at dinner last night.

Gloria beams. "We've known each other for years...he really cares about me."

Ceci glances at her mom's boyfriend. "You're surprisingly all right, Fahri."

His grin gets wider. "Thank you, and I promise, I won't-"

"You said that already...see, words don't convince me, actions do, and yours have seemed genuine thus far. So..." The eldest Mendoza shrugs. "You got my approval."

"Okay!"

Gloria chuckles and pulls Ceci to her side. "Oh, sweetie, I'm so happy!"

"Calm down, Ma..." She twists out of Gloria's grasp, but stays close by her. "It's great that Ellie and I are rebuilding our relationship with you, but maybe like, let me come to you first? Otherwise it just seems weird...like you're rushing me or whatever. I know it's not intentional, but that's how it feels. We're really waaaay too used to the space you gave us."

"Entiendo," Gloria murmurs.

Elena loops her arm through her mother's. "¡Me alegra de que se quedara a dormir el miércoles por la noche...even if we were already sleeping...you were there for us...y luego cenó con nosotras el jueves as a surprise! It was awesome that you brought Fahri. Is it okay if I stay over at Karla's and watch a movie with you guys? I don't mean to intrude...but she said we can visit whenever, since you're our mamá and all."

I'm happy you slept over on Wednesday night and then had dinner with us on Thursday!

Gloria leans down to kiss her youngest daughter's cheek. "Of course, mi bebé. I'm also searching for low-rent apartments in the area for the five of us, and Fahri is happy to build you kids bunk beds once we get a new place. No sé cuánto tiempo tomará, pero no me rendiré hasta que podamos vivir todos juntos."

I don't know how long it'll take, but I won't give up until we can all live together.

"¡Te ayudaré en la búsqueda!" Elena says brightly.

I'll help you look!

"¡Gracias!"

"Tal vez si Gloria y Fahri duran un año, les pediría a todos que se muden con él," Maritza whispers to her girlfriend, crossing her fingers behind her back.

Maybe if Gloria and Fahri last a year, he'd just ask them all to move in with him.

Flaca grins. "¡Su casa es ciertamente lo suficientemente grande!"

His house is certainly big enough!

"Welcome to our rape and domestic violence support group," Lourdes announces as she sits down at the head of the table. "First, I'd like everyone to go around in a circle and say their names."

"Blanca."

"Diablo."

"Karla."

"Ramón."

"Debbie."

"Nita."

"Gloria."

"Fahri."

"Diane."

"Charles."

They each give Lourdes a nod in greeting and a two fingered wave. The children are in the waiting room with Maritza, Flaca, Elena, Ceci, and Aleida. Katie is at home with Alex.

"Whoever would like to start, go ahead!"

Karla scoots closer to Ramón and they hold hands as she tells her story of her gang rape in a shaky voice, but she doesn't cry. Blanca remembers their conversation in the mall's food court about how she met Ramón after that nightmarish experience and started going on group dates with him half a year later. She understands why she wasn't included, because Karla hated Dean, but that fact was insulting to her at the time.

"He's actually the first nice guy I've ever met who's interested in me...like, he seemed okay in the beginning, not too pushy or anything. He's still like that...he respects my space and only talks to me if it's class related. He called me Karli...he said, 'sorry, I saw you wrote that on your paper...¿puedo llamarte Karli?' ...he was really sweet about it, too. I nodded slightly and cracked a small smile. He can't help the crush he has on me, though...he got me your last name, if you know what I mean." She blushes and presses her lips together, her eyes sparkling with excitement. They're conversing between bites of burritos full of beans, rice, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, medium salsa, and chicken.

Can I call you Karli?

"I do." Blanca grins at her shorter friend. "Estoy contenta para ti."

I'm happy for you.

"Gracias."

"De nada. Entonces, ¿tu primera cita individual con él es...?"

So, your first one-on-one date is...?

"Este fin de semana. Nosotros vamos al cine," Karla wears a pleasant expression. "I dunno why, but I got a powerful feeling he's the one."

This weekend. We're going to the movies.

"Dean is, too...he takes good care of me. I can't believe you ripped up his apology note, hermana. There go my wishes of going on double dates with you and Ramón."

Karla's face falls. "Mira, no quiero pelear contigo. No puedo perdonarlo. Supongo que eres más amable que yo. I understand, though...you've never been violated like I was. You were with me at the hospital, you held me when I cried, pero no conoces la sensación de ser violado no solo por uno, sino por cinco animales."

I don't wanna fight with you. I can't forgive him. I guess you're nicer than me. you don't know the feeling of being raped by not just one, but five animals.

Blanca narrows her eyes, irritated. "Dean didn't do that to you! He wouldn't. Su amigo Carlos Litvack lo hizo. Mi novio said he was sorry for laughing at you and touching you without your permission," she reminds Karla.

His friend Carlos Litvack did.

Karla bites her lip and lowers her gaze. "It's not okay. Lo siento, querida, pero he's dead to me."

"That's a little harsh-"

"¡Detener, basta!" She puts her hands up and rises. "I'm done talking about it. Should we get Diablo to settle this dispute? I'm sure he'd take my side, considering how well he treats the both of us. I prefer you with him over Dean, by the way."

Stop, stop!

"No, Karlita, espera...we're not children. We don't need anyone else stepping in. This can just be something we don't agree on. You don't like my boyfriend." She sighs disappointedly. "Whatever, it ain't the end of the world."

Rolling her eyes with a frown, Karla folds her arms across her chest. She shakes her head defeatedly. "I worry about you, that's all."

"You don't have to. I can handle myself. Soy una chica grande."

I'm a big girl.

She wheels Blanca away from the table once they finish their lunch and then they go shopping for her first date.

Ramón kisses his wife's hand as she completes her horrifying tale. Everyone gazes on sadly and Blanca raises her bowed head, blinking back tears. "Siento mucho lo que pasó. ¡Qué montón de imbéciles!" Diablo exclaims.

I'm so sorry that happened. What a bunch of assholes!

"Y lamento que me lavaron el cerebro y aún lo amaba a pesar de lo que te hizo, Karlita, like I said before," Blanca puts in. "That's been weighing on me for a while…"

And I'm sorry I was brainwashed and still loved him despite what he did to you, Karlita.

"No te preocupes." Karla sniffles and cracks a small smile at her. "I forgive you."

"I was seriously so stupid back then," Blanca mumbles, ashamed. "I'd miss school a lot 'cause I let my abusive ex make me skip class and I got detention for it. So did he, but he never really showed up. I'd do my homework and read in there..." Another memory comes over her.

"Crud!" Dean grumbles as someone unlocks the janitor's closet. He pulls out of Blanca immediately and pulls on his boxer shorts while blocking her from their view. "Would you just let us get decent, hombre?"

"Oh, gracias a dios," Blanca whispers under her breath so he won't hear her. She quickly redresses.

"I better not find you kids in here again!" the Hispanic janitor warns them.

Blanca follows Dean out. "I'm really sorry," she apologizes over her shoulder. The words help me are stuck in her throat. She's even afraid to say it in Spanish. There are students everywhere and she could just start screaming, but she doesn't.

"Hey, it's not that big of a deal." Dean sniggers and pulls her along so she stumbles in her step. "That's just where we like to fuck."

"I know, but it felt...disrespectful." Blanca swallows hard. "Maybe a private location is better? Then no one interrupts us..." She trails off, inhaling and exhaling deeply, letting out a few squeaks of anguish.

"That works for when we're at my place, but not in school. That pussy's gotta be stretched out every few hours to fit my thick man meat."

She cringes, then rolls her eyes internally. "It's not comfortable in there since there's no padding," she tells him in a small voice. "Lying on the floor is dirty, too..."

"I know, that's why I'm always going to be on top." Dean licks his lips and waggles his eyebrows at her. "Your ass is so fat that it's a good enough cushion." He leans down, his mouth at her ear. "We'll find a new spot where no one will interfere. That cunt can't shrink, otherwise I'll shove it back open with a baseball bat." She flinches when he twists his hands in her tangled locks and yanks them back out with repulsion. "Brush this shit, it's ugly. Your overall stench is nauseating." He walks a few steps ahead of her and stops abruptly. She looses her footing and falls against him, but catches herself on the back of his shirt. "Fuckin' watch it!" he booms, shrugging her off him. "You're too close, what are you, my groupie?" The kids milling around them gawk, but he flips them off. She wishes Diablo and Karla and their friends frequented this part of the school.

"I apologize," she whispers, backing away. "I-I'll shower when we get home." Her eyes are blurring with tears and she clears them with the palms of her hands. He grabs her arm painfully, turns her so she's facing him and then he gives her a menacing stare. She breathes in and out shakily.

"Good, I'll watch you in there."

Shivering, she forces a nod and a smile.

Linda comes up to them with Carlos in tow. "I can totally do your hair so it's nice and straight!" Blanca doesn't want Linda anywhere near her with a hot iron. That bitch isn't cautious at all and doesn't care if Blanca gets burned. In fact, she laughed as Blanca shrieked in agony last time.

"Perfect!" Dean says, grinning. "She should have it like yours, sleek and smooth."

"Exactly!" Linda high-fives him.

Carlos wrinkles his nose. "God, he's right, you really do stink. You should be lucky you're still with him."

"I agree!" Linda scoffs. "I swear, Dean's never gone out with anyone so disgusting. When we first heard about you two, we thought he was joking! Like, ew!"

Blanca wraps her arms around herself and although she's used to their nasty comments, it stings like a thousand hornets. She wills herself not to crumble. Instead, she chokes out a fake laugh. "I guess he lost a bet."

Dean strokes her throat and she gulps. "Eh, it's alright, man, once she gets her grooming habits under control, she's not that bad."

"Yeah, sure, if you don't mind fucking an ape," Carlos mutters, and Linda chortles at this. "Seriously, dude, you must be embarrassed to be seen with her."

"Well, my pet was born dirty, so she can't help that. I like someone I can control. She's my personal maid, who wouldn't turn that down? When I first saw her, she was sexy in her little bikini and she wanted me bad. Everyone already knows I'm cool, no matter who I'm dating. Those who don't like me or think I'm weird, I don't give a fuck about 'em. I'll see you later, guys. Linda, you can come right after her shower, around five."

"I will!" She squeals annoyingly loud and claps. "Oh, Blanca, I'll turn you into a princess!"

Blanca feigns a smile. "Thanks."

"You're welcome, sista."

"They all bullied me...Dean, Linda Ferguson, and Carlos Litvack...the tormenting didn't stop until I got out. He's spent sixteen years tearing me down so much and his friends would often join him and egg him on...pero, mi Diablo is building me back up again." Blanca slips her hands into her boyfriend's and looks into his eyes with gratefulness and adoration. A tear rolls down her cheek and he wipes it away for her. They press their foreheads together and he kisses her tenderly before separating.

"Oh, girls...I apologize deeply for your struggles!" Tears shine in Diane's eyes and she looks glum. "I feel so bad I never knew about how badly Dean treated you, Blanca. In fact, I had no clue he was an abusive prick…or even still alive…until he barged into Friendly's recently and demanded to know where you were. I should've seen the signs when you were in my class...of course, I didn't even know Alex was part of a drug cartel until I found a packet of heroin in her jeans I was about to wash."

Blanca shrugs. "You were just my teacher back then...it's not like I came to you for help, either. That was idiotic of me...you had a cop for a boyfriend! Even if my injuries happened when I wasn't your student anymore...so yeah, you had no way of finding out, really."

"Well, that's wonderful that you've both found such tremendous partners," Lourdes murmurs, glancing between Blanca and Karla. "However, I'm sorry for all you've been through."

"Thank you," they chorus.

"You're welcome."

"My ex hated my coarse hair, which he called kinky...he would always demand that I straighten it, but I prefer my curls," Blanca informs the group, who appears extremely gloomy because of one of the many broken pieces of her past.

"They're beautiful! Linda told me to cut my locks," Diablo states. "I never did, of course!"

"Well, ¡bueno!" Blanca shakes her head disgustedly. "Nunca dejes que una perra blanca te diga qué hacer con tu cabello, es único y parte de lo que te convierte en Diablo."

Don't ever let a white bitch tell you what to do with your hair, it's unique and part of what makes you Diablo.

"Yeah, I'd never listen to her," he mutters.

"Unfortunately, I had to with Dean." She gulps and looks around at the others uncomfortably.

"I know how that is," Gloria murmurs. "I was so afraid of Arturo whenever he got into one of his moods. You see, two and a half years ago, I had this unsatisfied customer, Francisco...he told me that my candle for St. Peter didn't work. It was supposed to help him get a job. He filled out the application, left it by the candle, and kept it lit for seven days. I was tired of his shit and asked if he gave it to the employer. He said it wasn't part of the instructions." She rolls her eyes along with the others.

"I left my post at my bodega's counter and got mi tía." Exchanging a smile with her aunt, she continues. "In the backroom, candles burned at a small altar. Tía Lourdes was performing a ritual in front of a man and she chanted in Lucumi when giving him a blessing and hit his back with a bouquet of basil as I entered. She told me Francisco needed a cleaning, but he just wanted his money back. He had forces working against him or somethin'.

"Anyway...I walked out of the backroom and found Arturo waiting. A customer opened a refrigerator while Francisco idled nearby. I remember being happy to see Arturo because he hadn't spoken like a pedophile for a really long time...and I really thought he'd changed. He installed a door in the back that locks itself since he assumed that I didn't remember to, but I left it open for the kids so they can get upstairs. He told me he thought it was unsafe and didn't want me to get robbed, but really just wanted to control me! I was wearing a light blue polo shirt, a matching headband with multicolored zig zags, silver hoops in my ears, and a pearl necklace.

"A delivery of eggs came and I asked him to help me unload boxes. He did, he called me mistress. A customer entered and set his beer and his one-hundred dollar EBT card on the counter, but I informed him he couldn't buy beer with food stamps. Arturo looked over and the guy told me to give him fifty bucks and everyone was aware I did this. I wasn't up to it that day, so I stared at him firmly and said he got the wrong store. I slapped a hand over his card and took out money from the cash register anyway.

"After the dude left, Arturo approached me and scolded me for talking so harshly to that customer. I reminded him he was broke as shit and shouldn't be acting like he's my boss, but then, he hit me because he hated the fact that I was more successful than him. He even got mad and struck me for the first time when I opened a jar and he couldn't. I avoided his angry gaze as he yelled at me, snapping that he raised my kids like his own, only...he called 'em brats. I was so upset and I spit a piece of hair from my mouth that flew in when he slapped me across the face! I apologized like a dumbass and gulped because I was so scared of him!

"At Bennett Park, I was sporting a black eye and Lourdes told me to call the cops and get him deported. She snapped off my sunglasses and sarcastically asked if his abuse meant he really loved me. Of course it didn't, she was right...we watched Benny and Julio run around the playground...this structure with a yellow sun above a red castle painted on the blue backdrop. Benny chased after Julio and I told Lourdes the police can't be involved, ya know...'cause of my food stamp fraud. I remember I had on a blue and pink plaid jacket over a yellow cami and jeans and a white headband in my hair. Lourdes was in a sequined blue shirt and cardigan and a long red skirt...she carried a gold bag and had a matching bracelet around her wrist...she told me to think of the boys, but I stupidly insisted he'd never harm them." Gloria gestures to her aunt. "She pointed it out to me that he's setting a real bad example for the boys...they could think mistreating a woman is normal and just fine.

"The asshole himself appeared before us and asked if he could speak to me. Lourdes rose up from the bench, blocking me from his view. I had no desire to discuss anything with that monster and I really tried to stand up for myself, but he manipulated me back into his snake-like arms. He was aware of his problems and claimed to be working on them, but Lourdes simply wanted him to go to hell. Benny ran over and hugged him...bless his soul, he was so naive at the time...we were all fooled, except Lourdes, really. She called Benito over and herded him and Julio away from Arturo. I went up to my ex, even when Lourdes called me Florecita...hoping to stop me, I guess.

"I stood face-to-face with my abuser and told him he had one minute to explain. He whined about not having a fuckin' clue what was the matter with him, but he just had to be with me...he took my hands and I let go. He wrapped his arms around my waist while bending down at my feet, like he was begging for my forgiveness...I teared up, closing my eyes. He'd sucked me back in again. Lourdes was praying for me...that Dios would rescue me. My little Benny...he asked Lourdes who she was prayin' for and she answered with 'Tu mamá.' Arturo slid his hands up my body and started kissing me...I just cried out and felt so helpless.

Blanca's heart sinks for her as she's transported into another world, seeing her friend's similar dark past float through her mind. Gloria is describing it all so heartbreakingly well. She buries her head in Fahri's shoulder and he hugs her tight as she goes on. There seems to be a mutual need to keep holding on. The rest of Gloria's audience continues listening with somber expressions on their faces.

"Lourdes flipped a sign on the bodega's door to read closed...she turned to find my sons and me. I was wearing a green polo shirt and blue jeans...a yellow, pink, purple striped headband sat in my hair...the word love was written in cursive on my gold hoop earrings...my black eye was still there and he'd added another injury...a split upper lip. I was finally gonna leave him for good...I had enough money to, since he'd find and kill us. He hit Benny because my son was tryin' to protect his mama...using himself as a shield, fierce like the green dragon on his camouflaged orange and yellow shirt...Julio held a blue and purple kickball and he wore a green top and khaki shorts...he looked terrified. He stood with his hand on his hip and his other on the counter. Lourdes was wearing a long light purple skirt..."

Closing her tearful eyes and nodding, Blanca recalls Maritza hurting herself because she was defending her mother against Dean, and Raiza peering at them from her hiding place with widened, horrified eyes.

"I planned to live with Lourdes' friends from Florida, Frankie and Rita. I took a wooden box out from behind the counter...it was food stamp money I'd been saving up. See, I'd buy food stamps and charge the government for shit I didn't sell. Only candles and herbs wouldn't help me get away from Arturo. He entered from the back and I closed my box of cash. He was apologizing, but none of us believed his bullshit! Lourdes demanded that he stay far away from me with his lizard lips. He bumped into a crate with candles in them and got irate with me again...Lourdes retorted that she was feeding the Orishas to send him back to Santo Domingo. She called him a beaner and didn't care that the slur was only for Mexicans."

A shudder comes over Blanca, knowing that this beast was Dominican and violent. She doesn't want to share her heritage with anyone like that, so she tries to forget about it and just focus on the fact that he traumatized Gloria and her family. There are other Dominicans who aren't like him at all.

"He saw police outside, but they were for me, not him, since that jerk Francisco tattled...Arturo escaped, he ran out the back after threatening to kill Lourdes y yo. Only one cop went to follow where Arturo went. He was black...but the white pigs arrested me for fraud. One of the officers handcuffed me and escorted me out...Lourdes followed. While crying, I told her not to use any of the money on bail, just take care of the boys for me. Tears were sliding down her cheeks as she told me they wouldn't lock me up since I'm a motha. As I sat in the cruiser, Francisco appeared on the street corner and Lourdes noticed him watching the scene. She said she'd light a candle from Santa Barbara to destroy him for this and he said her candles didn't work and to eat caca. The cruiser pulled away, Francisco headed off, and while sobbing, Lourdes clutched Benny and ushered him and Julio inside. She needed the money to move to Florida with my sons."

"Dios mío...that's horrible!" Blanca exclaims, pressing her hand to her chest.

"You were really gonna be stuck behind bars for seven years after all that?" Diane asks incredulously.

Gloria shakes her head no. "Some anonymous donor must've seen him attack me in the middle of the store or heard my conversation with Lourdes and then him at the park...they took pity on me and paid my bail...I explained my story and the cop who arrested Arturo let me off with a warning. One more infraction and I land in the big house for real. So I never did anything like that again. Arturo went to jail for a year, but unfortunately not prison...Tía Lourdes moved back to Florida since she already bought a plane ticket for herself. Once I was out, the boys wanted to stay with me. When he tried to get back with me again, my aunt not in the picture this time, we ran away and ended up on the streets. Tía Lourdes just happened to be flying in for Thanksgiving...the year before, it was too snow-stormy and the airports were inaccessible."

"I'm just glad you're back with us, Glo," Fahri tells her and she beams at him emotionally. "I feel so bad that you suffered!"

"Gracias," she murmurs, turning around in his arms to face the others.

"Sí, the most important thing is that you survived, Florecita!" Lourdes states.

"Yeah!" everyone else choruses.

Thank you for reviewing, Juliette45!