Chapter 82

After a shower and putting on the clothes that she has no idea where Rafael got, Luz leaves the room, finding her friend with a smile, waiting for her leaning against the wall.

-Better? – she nods with a weak smile and he hugs her -. For all intents and purposes, you are my fiancée and that child is mine.

-But…

-You don’t know Mrs. Williams, it’s better that way. If for some reason she had to leave or go to New York, she will take care of her with her own life if necessary, she is dying for a grandson and you are, from now on, her favorite person.

“You’ll break his heart when he finds out the truth,” she tells him sadly, thinking about the pain that a lie can cause. Rafael starts walking towards the stairs with her without letting go of her —

-Don’t worry, as soon as I make sure you’re okay, I’ll fix that. I already have a candidate for wife and mother of my children.

-Evangeline is a sweet girl and would be perfect for you. I wish you that everything turns out well. -Light?

– Rafael’s mother appears down the hall when they reach the bottom and approaches with open arms -.

Nice to meet you, beautiful Jeres! She gives her a big hug, a kiss on each of her cheeks and puts her arm around her, leading her into the kitchen. -Sit at home dear. At any time, if she wants to eat something or if you don’t like something on the menu, Chloe can prepare anything for you. “Thank you, Mrs. Williams,” she replies shyly. -Oh, don’t call me that, you sound like my son-she looks at Rafael with annoyance-Tell me Kiki.

Luz smiles and Kiki smiles back. Once in the kitchen, he tells her where to sit, stands next to her, and asks Chloe to serve her breakfast. -Thank you, Chloe, for the clothes – Kiki looks at them surprised -. We came without luggage and she gave me her new clothes.

– But… Rafael! Kiki exclaims.

-Don’t start, Mrs. Williams – he answers her very calmly, spreading butter on a piece of toast and leaving it on Luz’s plate -, it will ruin Luz’s breakfast.

Just because of that, Kiki stays silent and asks Luz all sorts of things about her. When she tells him that she wants to study law, the woman gets excited and tells him smiling. -I could contact Gerard Finnick, he is the best lawyer in New York, he can recommend you.

-Okay, thanks – Luz tells him trying not to cry just to hear his name, Rafael just wants to kill his mother -.

I’m consulting with a professor at the university…

-That’s wonderful – he joins his hands and can’t say with emotion overflowing through his pores -, I hope to see you more often, I don’t want to miss my grandson’s birth… I can’t believe Rafael didn’t tell me.

– Because you exaggerate everything, surely you are already thinking of taking Luz to buy half a baby store.

From the woman’s expression, she realizes that it was so, Luz smiles and realizes the enormous difference between her parents and the woman. She, without even knowing her, is beyond excited about the opportunity to be a grandmother.

When they finish eating, Rafael accompanies Luz to the room, to brush her teeth and to ask her what she wants to do.

-I’m afraid that we won’t be able to talk here, I’m sure that in less than five minutes your mother will arrive to invite me to see the house or to buy.

And precisely, someone knocks on the door, Rafael when he opens it makes a gesture of exasperation, because he knows how suffocating his mother can be when something “motivates” her.

-Luz, dear, I wanted to invite you to go shopping.

-I’m sorry, mom, but we already have plans, I want to take her to a special place. – You’ve already had a lot for yourself – she takes Luz by the arm, who looks at Rafael with a face of “save me and your crazy mother” –

-Mom, Luz will stay here indefinitely, so you will have many occasions to go out with her. Now, I want to take her to see the city, she has never been to Baltimore. -Oh, oh… you must take her… -Yes, we’ll go right there. But only if you let her go – Kiki lets go of Luz’s arm and gives her another kiss – -Have a great time, we’ll see each other at dinner, because I doubt they’ll arrive for lunch. The woman leaves the room, Rafael looks at Luz and they both laugh. -Let’s get out of here, before she comes back and she wants to go with us.

They go out… rather, they escape from the house, between complicit laughter. They get in the car and Rafael heads towards Fort McHenry, one of the most beautiful places in the city.

-I know that you don’t like to go to a place just because, so I chose this one that has a lot of history.

You are the best friend that life could give me.

Rafael puffs out his chest proudly at Luz’s words, while she knows that the time is coming to tell her everything that is happening in her life now, she just hopes that he doesn’t judge her for having fallen in love with precisely who she shouldn’t have.