chapter 7

Isabella

“Mrs. Delgado, I just wanted to call about your son’s test results,” a woman’s voice croons through my phone speaker.

I’m too nervous to correct her that it’s not missus Delgado but doctor. “Okay. Excellent,” I say, my heart beating faster.

“Is now a bad time?”

“No, it’s a great time,” I say, shifting my phone to my shoulder and digging through my purse for my car keys. I’ve been waiting on pins and needles for this phone call for days, I’m not about to stop just because I’m walking out of the hospital to my car. “I’m all ears.”

“Well, I’m pleased to inform you –’

Yes.

“Leo’s passed with flying colors. He’s a very bright boy. We think he’d be a great addition to next year’s class.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “That’s… that’s wonderful.”

The woman I’m speaking to is the headmistress of Tremain Day School, one of the only non-religiously affiliated private schools in the county. My mother wants Leo to attend a Catholic school, of course. To that, I said, “Heck no,” since “hell”