Chapter 13 Without Sin Conceived #2
“Hector will drive you,” he continues, his tone is all business. “Have Consuelo let him know what time you need to get going.”
I want to tell him I'd rather drive myself, but I don’t want to push my luck, plus he’s already halfway out of the room. His mind clearly on the next item on his never ending agenda. But then I remember my other promise, the one I made to a crying little girl.
“Wait.” I reach out and grab his arm, my fingers closing around the fine wool of his suit jacket.
He freezes, his body going rigid at my touch.
He looks down at where my hand is and then up at my face, his eyebrow raised in a silent, but dangerous question.
I quickly let go, my hand dropping to my side.
“It’s about Camilla,” I say, my voice steady despite the warning in his eyes.
“What about her?”
“You need to talk to her before you leave for work,” I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts.
“Last night…it wasn’t just about a broken promise, Ernesto.
That little girl loves you more than anything in this world.
One day you’ll look up and she’ll be grown, and you’ll have missed all these important days in her life.
Is a job really more important than her? ”
I half expect him to lash out again, to tell me to remember my place. But he just looks at me, a long, silent appraisal. I see a flicker of something behind his mask–not guilt, but a deep weariness—the weight of his load, visible for just an instant.
“I’ll go talk to her right now.” Ernesto turns and walks out of the bedroom, shutting the door quietly behind him.
I stand in place, dumbfounded. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Oh my god he listened, he actually listened to me.
Maybe this whole arrangement won’t be so bad after all.
If I have to give him blowjobs to get him to be this man, the one who listens and has a soft spot, it won’t be so bad and then maybe I can survive this marriage.
Heading to my nightstand I quickly take my phone off its charger and dial my dad’s number. He answers on the second ring, as always, his voice raspy from sleep but filled with warmth.
“Alejandra, mija, I was just thinking about you.”
“Hola Papi, how have you been feeling?”
“Igual, mija. Cansado, pero ahí andamos. Irma even brought me breakfast in bed yesterday. Vivo como rey entre estas dos mujeres que me cuidan.”
I smile at his words. “Good. Te lo mereces papi. Listen, I'm going with you to your appointment today. It’s still at one right?”
“You are? Oh, mija, you know you don’t have to. I know you’re…busy now.” There’s a hesitation in his voice and it sounds alarms in my mind.
“No te preocupes papi, I want to go with you. And afterwards, we can get lunch together. I need you to talk to you about something.” I need to tell him about the marriage and frame it in a way that he’ll accept it.
“Bueno, pues, mija, ahí te dejo que se me va a enfriar la comida.”
“Dios santo, not your food getting cold,” I tell him sarcastically as I laugh. “Te quiero mucho papi.”
“Y yo a ti, mija,” he says before hanging up the call.
I make my way downstairs and the scent of coffee and toasted bread fills the air.
In the dining room, Ernesto is sitting at the breakfast table with Camilla on his lap, her head resting against his chest, and her small hands playing with the buttons on his suit jacket.
She’s smiling and not crying so that’s a good sign.
“Ale!”
“Good Morning, princess.” I take her hand and guide her back to the table, pulling out a chair for her to sit and then one for me. “Did you sleep well?”
She nods with a lot of enthusiasm as she climbs onto her seat. “Papi says he’s sorry he missed my ball. He says he had to fight a dragon at work, but he promised he’ll come to the next one!”
I glance over to Ernesto with an incredulous look. A dragon really? He just continues sipping his black coffee, expression neutral, but his eyes meet mine over the rim of the cup—a silent acknowledgment between us.
Breakfast ends up being a quiet, happy, time. Once the food is done and the table cleaned Ernesto gets up from the table and gets ready to leave. “Come on princesa, time for school.”
Camilla hops down from her chair, grabbing her sparkly pink backpack and gives me a quick peck on the cheek. “Bye, Ale! Don’t forget about my cookies for tomorrow's project.”
I wave goodbye to her from my seat watching as she skips happily behind her dad. Suddenly the house is too quiet.
“Consuelo could you please let Hector know Ernesto says for him to drive me to my dad’s house today?
We need to leave before twelve. But now what am I supposed to do until then?
” I asked her, suddenly feeling lost. I’ve worked since I was sixteen years old and when I wasn’t working I was studying for school.
I haven’t even been in this house for a full week and I already feel like I’m going crazy not having to do anything.
Consuelo turns to me, her expression as gentle as always, and dries her hands on her apron. “Lo que usted quiera, Senora. The house is yours. I will let Hector know.”
A few minutes later I find myself wandering through the downstairs rooms, my footsteps echoing softly on the marble floors. After a few turns, I end up in the library.
I run my fingers along the spines of the books, reading the titles.
First editions, classics, history books on Mexico and the United States, philosophy, and to my surprise poetry.
And tucked away in a dark corner, a collection of romance novels.
A smile touches my lips as I pull one out, a thick volume with a bright pink cover. This has to be Veronica’s stash.
Just as I’m settling into the plush armchair, my phone buzzes on the coffee table. I look at the name on the screen and my heart stops.
KARI
I answer immediately, a grin spreading across my face. “Oh my god, I was just thinking about calling you today!”
“Don’t you fucking ‘oh my god’ me Alejandra Sofia Carrillo! Or should I be calling MRS. DAMOS!”