"Yes ... but where's Angelina? The house has been badly damaged."
"She's upstairs, in bed. She's..."
"Is she ill? Was she hurt? Why wasn't word sent to me!"
"She feels weak, after the quakes, the volcano smoke. We had it bad here."
"Take the honey bear, Chavela. Keep it for Vicente."
She unwrapped her damp hands and grasped the bear, frowning; she hated all pets, feeling that they stole food from the mouths of children. Her arms smothered the bear, and it clawed futilely.
Without saying more, Raul ascended the stairs, glad Angelina had not met the victoria, knowing how painful the sight of it would have been to her....
Above Angelina's bed, there was a jagged plaster crack, where a picture had hung. Propped against bolsters, she held out her hand to him.
"Raul, how are you?"
"My shoulder's about well."