The German Girl

The family’s lawyer, Señor Dannón, comes to visit for a last time. His legal practice has been taken over. That night Hortensia receives a call from her sister and leaves the house. Later, she calls and says that a woman named Catalina will be taking over her duties. Catalina is a “descendant of African slaves mixed with Spaniards during the colonial period” (301). She fills the house with sunflowers and also plants mint, basil, and star jasmine on the patio. A week later, Hortensia and her sister Esperanza appear late one night without warning. Soldiers arrested Esperanza’s son Rafael because he is a Jehovah’s Witness. He has been forced to work at a labor camp on the island. Esperanza tells Hannah’s mother that her son Gustavo was a member of delegation “concerned about the prisoners’ conditions” and begs for help saving Rafael’s life (303). She wants Alma to talk to Gustavo on their behalf. Hortensia and Esperanza leave, and Alma goes to bed.

Aunt Hannah explains to Anna and her mother that it was a year before Rafael was released from the forced labor camp. Hannah’s mother experienced deep guilt over not helping Rafael in any way. Gustavo and Viera appeared at the house one day to announce that they were going to a distant country as ambassadors.