Chapter 5
Maria jumped and nearly screamed when a horn sounded from behind her. The truck had moved several car lengths ahead and merged onto the slow moving expressway. When she tried to put the van into gear, her hands shook so badly she had to try twice.
"What are you saying to me, Mama? I'm not playing; this isn't something to joke about. You're scaring me half to death."
"You should be scared," her mother said, switching to Romanian. She hadn't done that for years, and it only drove the trembling deeper into Maria's gut. "I'd hoped to never go through this with you."
"Well, you are. Right now, no more games. I have an appointment with a genetic specialist the day after I get back to LA, and I damned well intend to keep it."
"My sweet Maria, no," her mother said, crossing herself
