Pablo slapped his brother on the back as he stepped outside holding the icy cold bottle of beer he’d chosen from the refrigerator. Hector sat at a round table with a blue umbrella looming over it for shade. Sebastian sat opposite him at the table. Beyond the cemented covered patio lay the gated pool area.
It was too cold for swimming just then. In a few months it would be spring and perhaps warm enough to swim again. He suspected he’d probably still be living at the old house.
He chose the lawn chair closest to Sebastian and plopped down heavily in it. With CeCe living with her husband in Palmdale, and Hector away at school, Mama was by herself. Or had been until he’d moved back. She had her friends and neighbors who’d look after her, but Pablo was glad she had him now. Peter had been a
