Carolena Torres

"Dust on Their Hearts": when the Dust of Mexico Falls Upon Your Heart, You Will Never Be the Same. Carolena Torres

The courtyard is where it all began. It was where the four women first met and shared their stories about their work, their lives and loves. BERNICE - retired from twenty-six years as an Army nurse, had looked forward eagerly to a new job as a cook and companion to a man building a big home overlooking a picturesque lake in Mexico. MARGARET - soft-spoken and shy, met and married a sailor in Long Beach, California and the next year their son was born with an unfortunate birth defect. Angry disagreements arose about his future care. Fearing the family would take her son from her, she made a desperate move and ran away with him. LINDA LOU - blond and beautiful, was a professional pageant contestant and model. Furious at finding her manager-boyfriend in a janitor's closet with a rival pageant contestant, she scanned the departure screen at the airport and picked the first plane going anywhere. JUANA - lives near Lake Chapala, Mexico. Unexpectedly orphaned at five years old, she was raised by her housekeeper. She married a man she adored and had one son, then sudden tragedy brought her unforeseen change and responsibility. She owns the small restaurant where the brunch takes place. She is not happy when her son meets and becomes infatuated with a blond 'foreigner'. These women came together during a bountiful Sunday Brunch, each telling a remarkable tale of their journey and describing some of the people they have met. Their lives entwined and their friendships blossomed changing their lives forever.