Nikita’s spirits seemed lifted by this, and so her good mood made up for the quiet tension between the other two as they all enjoyed Babá’s special cake. Gertie was too numb inside to taste it, but she ate it anyway. After Hector had left, and Gertie and Nikita were alone in their room with the lamp out, Nikita said, “I’m sorry about earlier.” “It’s okay.” A few seconds later, Nikita asked, “So it really wasn’t a date?” “No, it wasn’t.” Nikita turned on her side to face Gertie. “Can you tell me what you two talked about?” “He told me the story of his birth—about his parents.” “Oh.” “That night on the ferry, when he jumped in, I thought he was trying to kill himself,” Gertie explained. “I don’t know how I thought I could help, but I jumped in after him.
