"You're lovely, just the way you are."
"You don't understand. I want to meet someone. Not everyone feels the way you do."
"Tampa has a great history with Cuban-Americans," Sandy said. "You mean you felt prejudice over there?"
"Not until after I came out. In a club one night, someone said to my date, 'Hey, Sister, looks like you're going to get some of that Cube stuff tonight." They were joking and didn't mean to hurt, yet it was said."
"A crude remark, but I don't see 'Cube' as a slur. Still, I'm from up north and not in your shoes, so possibly it is. You know, sometimes a thoughtless remark is just a thoughtless remark.
"I know, and they didn't say it to be mean. They were just dumb to say it that way. Yet there it was. If you asked me, am I proud to be part Cuban, I'd say sure. Still, I was a bit different, and I didn't want to be any different. Consequently, I changed the spelling of my name and moved to Park Beach."
"But down here you hear jokes about Georgia rednecks, never any about Cuban-Americans."
"But down here I'm like every other Georgian who's called a redneck, not something different."
"You'll find someone."
"You don't just go into a bar and walk out with Miss America."
"You are special, and your Latin blood gives you an attractive, exotic look. I wish I had your flashing dark eyes."
Sandy could see it now, she had guessed at Linda's loneliness. Here was distress beyond what she had imagined. Linda would be willing to change her name and move a thousand miles, a thousand times, if it would bring her the person she wanted. "I think you have it wrong, Linda. Miss Right is out there. She could show up tomorrow."
"Sure." Linda gave her a tolerant look. "Let's get off it."
"And you made up what you told me about your past; the part about a girlfriend, her boyfriend, a dead dog and a fire?"
"No." She laughed. "That was real, except it happened in Tampa not Georgia. I was a mechanic for Uncle Luis. Who else is going to hire a teenage girl as a mechanic?"
Sandy still wondered about La Familia. "So, the Tampa-Georgia location thing was your only lie to me about your background?"
"Sorry. Remember I didn't know you back then. You know, you're right Sandy, everyone underestimates you."
Sandy was afraid of setting her off again, but she had to ask, "Linda, what about La Familia?"
"I don't speak much Cuban, but everyone knows it means family."
That sounded innocent. Anyway, was it critical? Was it actually important? Maybe she didn't want to hear anything that involved Linda in any plot. Maybe Sandy had enough, she didn't have to solve Towson's murder, she just has to get Raymond out of it, and go on living. His transfer to the county jail was about to happen; no point in holding any info back now.