Chapter 21

Wait

After all, it was all thanks to Gianfranco. Mom would never have been persuaded if the Hemingways' invitation hadn't been an occasion to see her son who was now working in Havana.

It was rather laborious to obtain the visa. We also had to get an "affidavit," that is, a certificate proving that we were not going to Cuba to look for work but that we were expected there as guests. I had made an effort to be precise in sending the information necessary for the affidavit. I had not always succeeded. "Now I made fun of you for fun" Papa had written to me. "Now I'm kidding you for fun. To make sure they didn't arrive wrong by telegram, you sent all the details of numbers, dates, etc. in the mail and you clearly have written your mother's year of birth: 1848. This makes her 102 years old. Give Miss Dora heartfelt congratulations from me, Mary and all of Cuba."

Meanwhile, preparations were in full swing at the Finca. "Mary is clearing the house to redo it so that it is worthy for your mother, for you and Gio. The masons arrive, destroy, rebuild, followed by the painters. First we had to leave the laundry room (which means nothing to me) then the dining room is destroyed and we eat in the library. We are like refugees, in the library, with two people...