Ordinary Seductions: The House on Palmas Street Summary

Celia is waiting for her two granddaughters, Luz and Milagro and reflects on the spring before she met Jorge. She fell in love with a married Spanish lawyer, Gustavo Sierra de Armas from Granada. He visits her often where she worked, but finally left Cuba, after which Celia went into a deep depression, though she still wears the pearl earrings he gave her. Her great aunt calls a santera, who predicts she will survive the hard times and will live by the water. Jorge is fourteen years older than Celia, who has known him her whole life. He tells her to write Gustavo and if he does not respond, she will marry Jorge instead. He does not respond, but Celia writes Jorge every month on the 11th for the next 25 years...