Summary

Amá takes Julia out to a Chinese restaurant. While Julia was away, Mr. Ingman had called Amá, worried about Julia’s absence from school because Julia is “the best student he’s ever had… an amazing writer” (283). Amá asks why Julia never told her, admitting that she feels ignorant next to her daughter. She affirms her love for Julia with regret about the state of their relationship. She acknowledges her overprotectiveness and hopes Julia can understand that it is out of love. Julia cries and thinks about Amá’s border crossing and wonders how to go on with such secrets on both sides. She finally apologizes for hurting Amá.

When Julia turns on her cell phone for the first time since her return, she finds messages from Connor. She calls him and he echoes Amá, saying “I thought you...