The familiarity in that exchange reached deeper than she expected. Paloma had cared for her through both pregnancies. She had delivered Tomás and Miguel. She had sat beside her through long nights of fever and exhaustion.
Yet she had also kept the letter from Elena.
She had accepted sealed records.
She had chosen caution when truth was needed.
“Why did you keep helping?” Esperanza asked.
Paloma’s hands tightened slightly on the wheel.
“With the children?”
“With everything.”
The doctor waited before answering.
“Because you needed care.”
“That is not the whole answer.”
“No.”
“Then what is?”
Paloma looked toward the road ahead.
“Because I felt responsible.”
“For the first procedure?”
“For introducing the possibility.”
Esperanza studied her reflection in the mirror.
“Did you believe I wanted it?”
“Yes.”
“Did I?”
“At the time, yes.”
“And afterward?”
“You were unsure.”
“Then why did no one tell me when Tomás began?”
