How Tía Lola Ended Up Starting Over by Julia Álvarez Read Free Book Online

Essie’s middle name if she had one.
    “Tía Lola, I’m so glad you’ve come,” Juanita admits, stopping just short of saying that she wishes she were back home in her own bedroom. After making such a big deal about running away, she has to hold out, at least for one night.
    At bedtime, Víctor stops by to wish her good night. He apologizes for his daughters’ arguing. “Sometimes theycan be a pain in the
fundillo
, you know?” Juanita has to agree that the Swords can be a pain in the butt sometimes. “But they’re good kids. They’ll settle down once they get used to Vermont. Meanwhile, I want to thank you, Juanita. You’ve been such a help, not to mention a great example.”
    Juanita’s heart swells with pride. Maybe, even if Víctor and Mami end up marrying, Juanita will feel like she does right this moment: loved and appreciated for herself alone. Just this feeling is worth having run away from home for.

    On Friday afternoon, all the children get off the bus in town, including Miguel. Parked in front of Tía Lola’s B&B are several cars with out-of-state plates, including a car with New York plates. If only it were Papi’s rental car and Juanita had her whole birthday weekend to do all over again!
    She takes a deep breath. It’s autumn. The air smells like wood fires and minty evergreens. Juanita feels a sudden rush of happiness. Yes, even with her parents divorcing and having to move away from friends like Ming, Juanita is so lucky to be ten and living in a beautiful place with so many new friends and Tía Lola to help with the difficult parts now and then.
    Entering through the kitchen door, Juanita hears a familiar voice she can’t quite place. Could it be? It’s only when she hears the adult voices with their Chinese accents that she is sure! “Ming!” she screams. And then she is running toward the front parlor just as her friend is running into the hallway, screaming back, “Juanita!”
    Thank goodness, the colonel has already woken up.Otherwise, he’d think he was back in a battlefield, shouting orders to his men, having to fight some war all over again.

    That night, the two girls are tucked in together in Juanita’s canopy bed back in her own bedroom in her very own house.
    “This is the coolest bedroom!” Ming has pronounced several times. “If I had a bedroom like this, I’d never run away from home!”
    Juanita decides not to remind her friend that it was she, Ming, who recommended running away. But, of course, that was before Ming had come for a visit and seen Juanita’s fabulous bedroom.
    The lights are off, but there’s a soft glow coming in from the hall. Mami has peeked in several times, saying, “Girls, tomorrow’s a long day.” But the two friends can’t help talking into the wee hours. There are so many stories to tell. Ming recounts how her parents finally decided to come up for a visit.
    “Your mom called up my mom and told her you were going to run away to New York if I didn’t come to see you.”
    So, it was Mami who thought up this special treat for Juanita! Her birthday has indeed stretched out to a whole second weekend.
    “My dad called up your dad for driving directions,” Ming goes on. “He also asked for the name of a hotel where we could stay. Your dad told my dad about how Tía Lola had started a wonderful B&B. Except my dad couldn’tfind it listed anywhere. But there was this other B&B right on your road, so my parents called there.”
    “Oh no!” Juanita says. “That’s Mrs. Beauregard’s B&B! She isn’t very friendly. I’m so glad you didn’t go to her place.” Tía Lola’s B&B was already full, so they couldn’t stay there either. Thank goodness Ming’s parents finally accepted Mami’s invitation to stay in the farmhouse. This way, the girls could be together.
    “But the strange thing is that Mrs. Beau-whatever-her-name-is told my dad that Tía Lola’s B&B had been closed down by the authorities.”
    “That’s a lie!” Juanita