The city is obsessed with the story of Vicente Jesús, the only survivor of what the media has dubbed “the Adoption Massacre.” They have turned Mister into martyr and saint. There are reporters from as far away as Lyon, France, and Sydney, Australia. They are descending on the city. They are coming to see firsthand. They want the world to know. They are inviting themselves to attend Mister Delgado’s funeral.
A few reporters camp themselves in front of Liz and Mister’s house. Liz calls Grace in tears. Grace drives to the house, helps Liz pack her things, and brings her home. On the way out the door, she grabs a reporter by the collar and shames him for the way he practices his profession.
Offers to adopt Vicente Jesús are pouring in from around the country. It is like buying a lottery ticket. Someone has started a home page with Vicente’s picture on it. Mister’s picture also appears on the site.
On the day of the funeral, there is standing room only at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. As Grace walks Liz down the aisle, she is surrounded by a sea of mourners. She knows there are gawkers in attendance, but she also knows her son was greatly loved. She stops and greets an old friend, then another, then another. She sees faces of many former clients. She has never seen many of these people outside her office. She is moved by their presence. She is perfectly composed and gracious. When she sees a face she recognizes, she thanks them for coming. As she embraces a woman she has known since childhood, she is distracted by the flash of a camera. When she looks up, she sees Dave escorting a young man out the door. She pats his arm in gratitude as he walks by. And then, she sees Andrés. He smiles awkwardly. She knows he does not know what to do or say. She looks at him and takes his hand, then squeezes it gently. She looks into his beautiful face. She is looking for her son. She thinks to herself that she will be looking for Mister in the face of every young man she sees.
Liz has made her way to the open casket in front of the church. She kneels and stares into the face of her husband. She wants to be strong. She is thinking of how he was in the habit of kissing her every time he walked into the room. She remembers telling him, “You don’t have to kiss me every time you see me.” She remembers his answer, “Yes, I do.” She does not hear herself wailing.
Grace turns to her daughter-in-law, and leads her away from the casket.