She hesitated.
That hesitation answered everything.
My eyes filled.
“When?”
“I cannot tell you.”
“Cannot or will not?”
“Both.”
I laughed bitterly.
“My son is sick. My daughter is hungry. I came here because I had nothing left. And now I find the one object that belonged to my dead brother hanging around your employer’s neck.”
Mrs. Alvarez looked genuinely shaken.
“I am sorry.”
“That doesn’t help.”
“No.”
She reached into her pocket.
“Take this.”
She handed me an envelope.
I didn’t open it.
“What is it?”
“Your first week’s salary.”
“I worked two hours.”
“Mr. Bennett pays caregivers weekly in advance.”
My hands trembled.
“How much?”
“Five thousand dollars.”
I stared at her.
I thought I had misheard.
“
Five thousand?”