Summary

Violeta returns to Sacramento. Frustrated by his mother’s ambivalence towards politics, Juan Martín (by now a committed leftist) takes Violeta on a tour of a poor neighborhood. Months later, Roy calls Violeta and asks her to come to Los Angeles. He has found Nieves, who is now living with one of Roy’s close friends. Nieves is pregnant. Violeta relaxes with her daughter, Roy, and Rita Linares, the kind hostess. Several weeks later, Nieves dies during childbirth. Heartbroken, Violeta promises to “be mother, father, and grandmother to [Nieves’] son” (208). Nieves’ son is Camilo, the novel’s addressee. Roy pretends to be Camilo’s father so that Violeta can legally take her grandson back to her home country. Julián is distraught at the death of his beloved daughter.

Rumors continue to circulate about Colonia Esperanza. Juan Martín gains some notoriety...