Chapter 19: Fernanda Soares

Girls in Brazil celebrate Festa de Quinze Anos, literally “Fifteenth Birthday Party” in Portuguese. It is similar to the quinceañeras celebrations held for age 15 Latinas (girls). A year before the Baileys were orphaned, Leah and Val attended a Quinze for Abel’s “cousin,” Fernanda Soares.

Abel’s mother, Carolina, had overheard Fernanda’s Brazilian mother, Beatriz, speaking Portuguese at the parish several years prior. Bea and Carolina became fast friends, and their families interacted often. Fernanda, Abel, and Val were all the same age.

Fernanda checked the calendar and decided she should check with Abel.

“Do you know anything about Val’s Sweet 16 party?”

“I don’t know anything.”

His voice was sour; she didn’t like it.

“What? You had a fight? With Val?”

“Yeah, it was something stupid. I probably won’t be invited to her party.”

“The fuck? What did you say to her?”

“Oh, what did I say? Forget this.”

He hung up. He was angry that Fernanda had assumed he was in the wrong, even though he felt that she was actually correct.

Fernanda was shocked. Abel was usually pretty easygoing. Then, as these things usually go, Fernanda asked her mother Beatriz, who asked Abel’s mother Carolina, who asked Abel.

Carolina got nowhere with her son.

Next up, then, was Leah.

“Leah, hi, it’s Carolina. Can you tell me what’s happening between Val and Abel?”

“I don’t know of anything. I guess I need to talk to her. Her sixteenth birthday’s coming up too. I need to find out what she wants, a party or, I don’t know. It’s going to be hard since this is her first birthday without...”

“Of course, I get it. Just let me know what you find out, and I’ll pass it on to Bea and Fernanda.”