Chapter 11

• The following day, while everyone at La Gondola is occupied eating, she is attempting to keep herself busy at work. She's still dealing with the awkwardness of Jessica's brief call from last night. Then she considered the worst-case scenario: perhaps Jessica finds Bruce appealing and decides she likes him. Suddenly, she felt a little nervous about Jessica because she is already a high achiever who is independent, mature, and extremely emancipated.
• She is not even able to compare herself to what she has already accomplished in her life. She was contemplating her own desires for her life. Jessica made her feel really insecure, but what could she do when that was all she had to offer? Then she pondered that maybe she was only being negative; Bruce really cares about her and she doesn’t have to worry at all.
• She wanted to chat with her mother, Carmen, about her day at work when she got home late that night. Carmen is a single mother who raised Annika and her brothers all by herself. Annika was never told by Carmen who her biological father was. She only knew that her father was different from those her siblings. She seems different from what they do. Her mother's second marriage has left her a widow. It was never once spoken of in their house.