On New Year’s Eve, back in Maryland, Luisito woke up to shrieks and laughter. Elena was holding a letter from Abuela postmarked early December.
Dear Luisito, my beautiful daughter Elena, and my wonderful son-in-law Miguel,
I hope you are preparing for this wonderful time when we await the birth of el Niño, Jesus! Prepare, prepare! Muchos cariños, all my love, to my sister Maricusa, Rosie, and the whole family. I am fine. Do not worry about me. This is the season of hope and the new year will bring with it many good things.
Hugs and kisses, Abuela
Exodus 32:1–35
“There she goes again!” Luisito exclaimed. “This is the part of the clue that we haven’t figured out yet. We need to prepare for something!”
“I wonder what she is talking about?” Elena said.
“Well, whatever it is, she is way smarter than all of us because none of us can decipher it,” Tommy added.
“I will call Father René de Jesús and let him know that she is still mentioning it,” Luisito said, reaching for the phone.
Everyone paused for a moment, but then they continued taking turns wondering what Abuela meant by the message in the letter.
“Father René de Jesús can’t figure it out, either,” Luisito said after finishing his phone call. “I spoke to his secretary, Sister Therese, and she said not knowing the code makes her feel very uneasy.”
Preparations for New Year’s Eve continued. Luisito was separating groups of twelve grapes into tiny bowls for all the family and friends who were gathered at Rosie’s house for the celebration. It was a Hispanic tradition that when the clock struck midnight, they would all eat their grapes and make wishes for the new year.
Sherry was invited to the gathering. She was wearing a bright lime-green dress. Luisito wore one of Tommy’s dark brown suits.
“You should be so proud of yourself, Lewis,” Sherry said. “Your family must be very pleased that you were able to help keep the statue of our Lady safe! Really, how many times does anyone have the opportunity to do something so meaningful? My life is boring compared to yours!”
“Everyone’s life is meaningful,” Luisito said, smiling. “We all have a purpose that only God knows.”
Five minutes before midnight Sonia lowered the music, and everyone gathered around the TV set to see the New Year’s countdown from New York’s Times Square. Even the lights were lowered so that only the glow of the color TV brightened the dim room.
“Three, two, one . . . Happy New Year! 1980!” Everyone in the room cheered. Luisito gave Sherry a hug.
“I have your Christmas present,” he said. “I know it’s late, but I wanted you to have this.” He took out a small package and handed it to her.
Sherry tore off the wrapping paper and opened the small box. Inside she found a gold chain with a beautiful, delicate medal of Our Lady of Charity.
“It’s beautiful!” she whispered. “It will always remind me of the brave Cuban boy I know.”
Luisito reached out and gave her a hug. Her hair smelled of lavender. She smiled back at him and they walked over toward Elena and Miguel on the other side of the room. Luisito saw the tears in his mother’s eyes and knew that she was sharing in his mixed feelings about this new year. He was sure that great things would happen in 1980, but there was always the uncertainty of tomorrow. Who would have known that last year would involve an escape from Cuba and a move to the United States? What would happen to Abuela in the coming year?
“Everything is going to be all right, Mami,” Luisito said. He wasn’t sure he believed his own words, but somehow in a strange way he trusted. He hugged his parents.
The chatter continued and the music played. Luisito went to get his bowl of grapes. He had only one wish— that Abuela would be safe.