They were standing near the counter while Tía Julieta sorted through the supplies. The small room behind the kitchen smelled faintly of vinegar, herbs, and cooked meat.
Shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling, stacked with jars and cans that Tía Julieta prepared herself for the Hyde community. Every household received a monthly ration, and today Iyisha and Marybeth had come to collect Abuela's share.
Cans of meat. Pickled vegetables. A few jars carefully wrapped in cloth.
Iyisha picked up some of the cans and placed them into a basket.
"Tía Julieta," Marybeth started, leaning on the counter. "We're leaving any day now. Can we take some cans for the road?"
She paused, then added with a hopeful grin, "I miss your pickles."
Iyisha smiled quietly as she kept stacking the cans.
Tía Julieta did not even look up at first.
"Oh, mija," she said, shaking her head as she wiped her hands on a towel. "I told you not to go out anymore. You should find someone here and stay."
