"Yes..." she answered. She figured out that Layla must have told Macarena of what she was doing here. It could be the only way these two strangers could have something to talk about. "Please don't tell mom." She shook her head as she approached her.
"She doesn't know? But she has to know Elena." Macarena cried out, happiness all over her face.
"Know what? That I'm carrying a child, that was made out of r*pe?"
"I'm sorry... WHAT?"
With a soft voice after a long pause, Elena asked. "You don't know?"
"Know? Know what?"
"That I... was... raped?"
"Elena..." she cried out. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know..." tears immediately stroke the sides of her face.
"Mom, dad... they never told you?"
"Never," she answered as she wiped away her tears. "Elena who did this to you? Who did that to you!" There was an uproar of anger in her voice. Elena turned to the window and saw Lance and Layla conversing.
"Is it him?" Maca asked, grinding her teeth in anger. She cursed him in Spanish.
"No, it wasn't him auntie." She told her as she held Maca's arms. "It was her son."
"What?" Macarena hissed. She looked out at Layla and gulped.
"What lies did she tell you?" Elena asked worriedly.
"That you were pregnant with her son's baby and that you were running away from him. She said that she wanted to talk to you."
"That's true," Elena answered. "But she left out that major detail out Aunt Maca." Elena snuffed, tears begging to come out. "She said she was coming here to take me back to The States. Please don't let her take me away. Please."
Macarena wiped off Elena's tears. "No one is taking my dark flower anywhere. No one." She told her. "Don't cry my little dark flower. You're safe with me... no one is taking you."
"Please don't tell mom and dad." Elena cried out.
"Elena, they have to know. They're your parents and you are my niece."
"Auntie please..."
"Why don't you want them to know? And don't lie to me..."
"Um... uh, it's not a problem with my dad, it's about my mother."
"Okay... what about my sister-in-law?"
"Mom would hate me and the baby."
"She would?" Maca asked, confused.
"Mom never liked the baby's father... the man that you know? Raped me."
"Elena it wasn't your fault... don't blame yourself for this. So don't be scared to tell her about the baby, she'll understand."
"The last time I listened to advice from you grownups, I had to run away to come and hide in this country. I'm not about to make the same mistake again."
"Okay, as you wish my dear," Macarena told her feeling outwitted by her. But they'll find out. Even if it's not from me, what about her?" She was referring to Layla who was busy conversing with Lance at the gate.
"I'm going to talk to her. And I want you to convince her not to tell them. And also not to take me away from here."
"She's not going to lay a hand on you... I promise." Macarena brushed Elena's back hair. "So I guess that's why you're here in the country."
"Yeah?"
"After you have the baby then you're gonna go back?" Maca asked, worriedly.
"No." She said, shaking her head coherently. "I'm never going back."
"You're wha- Why?"
"I'm embarrassed, among other things. You have no idea of how harsh life has been for me aunt. I just can't stay there. Not after all that has happened."
"Elena, why are you doing this to yourself?" Macarena asked.
"If you were in my shoes, you would understand." She finished. Elena's face was painted with one paint; worry. Her heartbeat faster inside her chest as it dared to set itself loose, and she felt her body turn red hot. "You wouldn't understand."
***********************
"So, Mrs. Purcell what are you really doing in Mexico? Elena told me that you had called earlier to ask for an apology for what Ethan did to her." Lance told her as they trekked their way to the gate.
"Apology?" She asked. "No, that's not what I'm here for."
"Then mind filling in the blanks?"
Layla scoffed as she toured her eyes on his face. "How do you feel Lance, now that Elena's finally with you?"
"I told you that there were better things to talk about than my relationship with Elena."
"That is the only thing to talk about with you right now."
"I'm not putting up with this," Lance mumbled.
"No, tell me... how does it feel that she's finally dating you and not my son? How does it feel that he's out of the way for you two to enjoy your years together?"
"It feels good, I want to be honest with you. What Ethan did to her... it was bad and he had to pay for it."
"You made sure that happened in court, no doubt about that."
"Why? Are you angry now? That I did the right thing?"
"Was it for her benefit or yours?" Layla inquired.
"Your son did her wrong... don't question the judge. I mean how do you force yourself on a woman like her? He hurt her a lot, and he's where he needs to be. Tell me... how do you feel every day that people know your son did as something as horrible as that to her?"
She paused for a long while, eyes searching for answers from her memory. "It's scary... it's disappointing to have been put in such a position in life you know... but a mother is a mother... she'll fight for her kids, no matter what."
Lance looked at her daringly and smirked. "Tell me something, do you really believe that Ethan raped her. Or are you too 'motherly' to accept the truth?"
"I know what was said in court Lance. I know all the horrible facts against him that were said and trust me... I don't buy any of those statements."
"So you're saying he's an innocent man?" Lance asked.
"Innocent than ever."
"Elena should hear this," Lance mumbled. "Six weeks on and you still act like he's a victim."
"That's because he is..." Layla answered.
"What?" Lance asked, confused.
"Come, forward son," Layla told him, and Lance approached her, away from the gate. "I know we've never been the best of friends Lance but I want you to reason with me."
"Okay, I'm all ears."
"During the farewell party, was there a moment that you felt kind of funny like you were out of your mind?"
"Funny? Out of my mind?" He asked.
"Yeah... was there no moment at all during the party that you felt that you had blacked out?"
"Um, no... why ask?"
"Because that's what my son felt that night." She paused for a while. "I think he was drugged and he has a suspect who might have landed him in that situation."
Lance's eyes widened as his heart rate increased. His head felt hot and uneasy as the statement burrowed inside his conflicted and troubled mind. He wondered if she had already pieced in everything together. The chip, the timing, the evidence, and the facts. Did she know already? Layla looked at him with cunning eyes. She saw the fear that was already in his eyes, not to forget his changed breathing pattern.
"Who?" He asked, fear in his voice.