She never said that anything hurt or that she was tired.
But suddenly I understood something very simple.
Just because someone doesn’t complain… doesn’t mean they aren’t suffering.
I looked into the kitchen.
The light was still on.
Lucía was surely listening to everything.
I took a deep breath again.
“I’m not here to discuss who has done the most for the family,” I said. I’m just saying something very clear.
I went one step closer.
“My wife is pregnant. And I’m not going to allow him to continue working as if he wasn’t.
Patricia rodó los ojos.
“Then let him rest, who prevents him?”
“You,” I answered.
All three looked at me at the same time.
“Every time they come,” I continued, “Lucia ends up cooking, serving, and cleaning everything. And no one lifts a finger.
Carmen raised her voice:
“Because that’s how it’s always been in this house!”
“Well, that’s over.
The silence fell again.
My mother stared at me.
“Are you saying that your sisters are no longer welcome here?”
I shook my head.
“I’m saying that if they come… they help.
Patricia let out a short laugh.
“Just look… The child is now grown.
I felt the insult hidden in those words.
But I didn’t answer.
Isabel watched me for a few seconds.
Then he said something he didn’t expect.
“All this… for a woman?
He did not raise his voice.
But the contempt was there.
Something inside me was definitely broken.
“No,” I replied.
I looked her straight in the eye.
“For my family.”
The silence was immediate.
Because for the first time… I had made it clear who my family was.
My wife.
And the son who was on the way.
At that moment we heard a noise behind us.
We all turned around.
Lucia was standing at the entrance to the room.
He had left his apron on the kitchen table.
His eyes were moist.
I didn’t know how long I had been listening.
He walked slowly towards us.
“Diego,” he said in a low voice. You didn’t need to argue for me.
I felt a lump in my throat.
“Of course it was necessary.
She shook her head softly.
“I don’t want to cause trouble among your family.
I held his hands.
They were cold.
“Lucia,” I said. You are my family.
No one said anything.
Not even my sisters.
Not even my mother.
Lucía looked at me as if she didn’t know what to do with those words.
Then something happened that no one expected.
My mother got up.
He walked slowly towards Lucia.
We all watched in silence.
For a second I thought I was going to scold her.
But instead… He took the sponge from the nearby table.