Chapter 14: The Question
He found her in the garden, watering the flowers the girls had planted.
“Rosa,” he said. “Can we talk?”
She turned, and something in his expression made her put the watering can down.
Emiliano took a deep breath.
“My daughters asked me something today,” he said. “They want you to stay. Not as their housekeeper. As their mother. If you’re willing.”
Rosa’s eyes filled with tears.
“I’m not their mother,” she whispered.
“No,” Emiliano said gently. “But you’ve been more of one than anyone else has in a long time. And I… I’ve fallen in love with you. Slowly. Quietly. Without even realizing it until now.”
He stepped closer.
“I’m not asking you to decide tonight. But I want you to know that this house… this family… it doesn’t feel complete without you.”
Rosa looked at him for a long time.
May you like
Then she smiled — a real, soft smile he had rarely seen.
“I don’t need time,” she said. “My answer is yes.”
