Chapter 41
Westminster – Massachusetts
“Do you usually ski?”
“I used to, but after I found out Valentina was coming, I stopped. I didn’t want to be away.”
“Tell me about it. I mean, if it’s not an uncomfortable subject.”
“It’s not a time I like to remember. I was young when my mother got pregnant with my siblings, but when she was expecting Martina, due to our age difference, I witnessed almost everything.
” I run my hand through my hair, trying to explain without bringing Layla’s name into it, but it’s complicated.
“What I’m saying is that my mother loved Martina from the moment she found out about the pregnancy, but I could see the same didn’t apply to Layla.
So I was afraid she might try to get rid of my daughter. ”
“Oh, my God!” She seems shocked, but Olívia has no idea what the months waiting for Valentina to be born were like for me.
The anxiety I felt. “Look,” she continues, “I’ll admit it must have been quite a shock for her to get pregnant so young, but I can’t imagine a mother not wanting her baby.
That’s why I’m not eager to find my biological mother. ”
I nod in agreement, but I feel my body immediately tense up. We’re walking on thin ice now. Secrets are just a step below the surface.
“So, is this the first time you’ve traveled with her?”
“Yes, but my princess had so much fun today that I plan to come back when the snow arrives.”
We’re sitting by the lake. Valentina is asleep in the stroller. She went crazy when we got some bits of bread to feed the fish. I swear my girl is the smartest kid there is.
“Why not?”
“What? I think I missed something.”
“Why have you never traveled with her before?”
“Circumstances, I guess. Life goes by, you know? The daily routine, responsibilities . . . You’ll never hear me complain about too much work, but I feel guilty most of the time, like I’m not giving Nina the attention she deserves.”
“You’re a wonderful father, Guillermo. Besides, your whole family loves Nina. I’m sure she’ll grow up knowing how loved she is.”
“Would you like to come back when the snow starts falling?”
She looks at her hands. “Do you think it’s a good thing for me to become so present in her life?”
I walk over to where Olívia is and pick her up, sitting back down in the chair with her in my arms. “Can I answer differently?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t think it’s a good thing for you to go anywhere far from me. Far from us.”
Boston
Caldwell-Oviedo Tower Hotel
Returning to Boston was a reality check. In the little universe we created this weekend, everything seemed right in my life, more right than it’s been for a long time, but now that we’re back to work, tension has spread within me once again.
As I walk hand in hand with Olívia through the hotel lobby, I notice heads turning, albeit discreetly, to see us pass.
It’s the first time she’s been back at work here after the grotesque episode she was a victim of, since on the day of the press conference, as soon as we finished with the media, she decided to work from home.
During our time in the mountains, we reached an agreement about her pursuing what she loves.
Olívia loves cooking and everything related to gastronomy, and I told her I thought it was a waste to hide her talents behind a job that didn’t stimulate her.
After much arguing, she decided to apply to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts next semester.
It’s a highly regarded culinary university worldwide.
She’s scared but also very excited about the idea, and she sent a message to Julien telling him the news.
They’ve formed an unlikely friendship, as our chef tends to be irritable with most humans. When he praised her from the first day they met, it was like witnessing a miracle. So when Olívia told me after the call that Julien invited her to do an internship in his kitchen, I wasn’t surprised.
I noticed she was worried about the debts she’d incurred to pay for her mother’s medical expenses. That’s why she hesitated to start college, even with the Caldwell-Oviedo group covering the scholarship.
I had already resolved this issue, but with the storm we were involuntarily part of in the past few days, I forgot to reveal this secret.
When I told her everything was paid for, she got angry and told me I didn’t have the right to pay off her debts without discussing it with her first. Of course, she was right.
I apologized but confessed I wasn’t sorry.
I just wanted to relieve her of that huge burden.
Olívia would never have been able to finish the installments with her salary, or rather, it would have taken many years to do so. Maybe a lifetime.
She was upset for a few hours, but in the end, she forgave me.
There are many good things about our country, but the healthcare system is not one of them.
Even with excellent health insurance, if you or a family member gets sick for a long period, the chance of accumulating thousands of dollars in debt is huge.
That’s what happened to her. She owed about half a million in medical expenses.
“They’re staring at me,” she says as we walk.
“Don’t lower your head. Look at them, too.”
“I’m not that brave.”
“Don’t let them see you’re scared. Some people live to smell others’ fear.” I make her stop walking and hold her face. “You’re very strong, little firecracker.”
To my relief, she starts laughing.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m remembering the reporters’ faces when you called me that last week.” She wraps her arms around my waist and rests her head on my chest. “Thank you for being so amazing.”
“I’m the one who got you into this mess.”
“No, Guillermo, it was that crazy woman. Speaking of which, how are things going? Have the accomplices confessed?”
“One of them, the woman, Charlotte, provided a text exchange between her and Kathleen. It seems she wasn’t the first person my ex-secretary asked to participate in the scheme. Just the only one who agreed.”
“But why? I never did anything to her!”
“Who knows? Some people don’t need excuses to be cruel.”
“This is a bit beyond cruelty. I could have been arrested and faced charges in court when both knew I was innocent. What kind of human being does that?”
“A selfish one. Without conscience.”
“And now, what happens?”
“She must have read the news, but I’m not sure if she knows one of her accomplices has betrayed her.
She’s been called to my office today. The lawyer will be present, as will Charlotte.
First, I’ll terminate her employment contract, then we’ll take legal action to ensure everyone involved in the scheme is punished. ”
“What time will she come? I want to be part of that meeting.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“You bet I am. She played with my life, Guillermo. She won’t get away before I say everything I think about her.”