For a few minutes, the room felt normal.
That normality helped.
It reminded Esperanza that the journey ahead was not a departure from her life. It was part of caring for the life she already had.
“When I return,” she said, “I may know who they are connected to by blood.”
Lucía glanced at the children.
“They will still be connected to you by every morning, every fever, every song, every night you walked the floor with them.”
“But if Elena is their biological mother—”
“Then that truth will matter.”
Esperanza waited.
Lucía met her eyes.
“But it will not erase the other truth.”
Tomás held up a wider bread tower.
“Look!”
Esperanza smiled.
“That one is strong.”
He beamed.
Lucía reached across the table and squeezed Esperanza’s wrist.
“So are you.”
Doctor Paloma arrived just after evening prayers.
She found Mother Caridad in the office preparing travel papers.
