Chapter 10 - PALOMA'S DECISION
Three weeks passed.
Rafael showed up every day.
At six in the morning.
At midnight.
During feedings.
During diaper disasters.
During fevers.
During the strange chaos of four babies learning to crawl at the same time.
He didn't ask Paloma to forgive him.
That helped more than asking would have.
Gustavo offered Rafael a job.
Rafael refused.
"Why?"
"I can't work for you."
"You exposed corruption inside my company."
"And my family almost starved while I did it."
"That wasn't your fault."
"Part of it was."
Gustavo respected the answer.
Rafael found work at a small warehouse instead.
Less money.
No prestige.
But every evening he came home.
Or rather, to Gustavo's guesthouse after repairs were completed.
Paloma found work too.
Gustavo's housekeeper, Teresa, discovered Paloma had bookkeeping experience.
She had worked in a small medical office before the quadruplets were born.
Gustavo offered her a position.
Paloma crossed her arms.
"Because you feel sorry for me?"
"No."
"Because you rescued me?"
"No."
"Because I'm qualified?"
"That's the only answer that won't get me yelled at, isn't it?"
Paloma smiled.
"You're learning."
She accepted.
But with conditions.
A real salary.
No gifts disguised as bonuses.
Normal working hours.
And childcare deducted fairly.
Gustavo agreed.
Two months later, Paloma received her first paycheck.
She stared at it for almost a minute.
It wasn't enormous.
But it was hers.
That evening, she bought groceries.
With her own money.
Then diapers.
Then four tiny stuffed animals.
At the checkout, she began crying.
The cashier panicked.
"Ma'am, are you okay?"
Paloma laughed through her tears.
"Yes."
For once, she actually meant it.
Victor's case moved quickly because the evidence was overwhelming.
He faced charges related to fraud, intimidation, document forgery, and financial crimes.
Eduardo cooperated fully.
He accepted responsibility for his role.
Gustavo visited him once before sentencing.
"Do you hate me?"
Eduardo asked.
"No."
"That almost feels worse."
"It should."
Eduardo looked down.
Gustavo continued.
"You wanted money you didn't earn."
"Yes."
"And when the warning signs appeared, you ignored them."
"Yes."
"But you eventually tried to stop Victor."
Eduardo looked up.
"Does that matter?"
"It matters."
"Does it erase anything?"
"No."
Eduardo nodded.
"Then I guess that's fair."
Meanwhile, Paloma began saving.
Every paycheck.
Every extra dollar.
She had one goal.
A home.
Not Gustavo's guesthouse.
Not a motel.
Not a shelter.
Hers.
One evening, Gustavo found a folder on his desk.
Inside was a rental application.
Paloma had been approved for a small three-bedroom house.
He walked to the guesthouse.
"You're leaving?"
Paloma nodded.
"Next month."
"You can stay here."
"I know."
"Rent-free."
"I know."
"Then why leave?"
Paloma looked around the little house that had saved her.
"Because this was where I recovered."
She smiled.
"But I need somewhere I chose."
Gustavo understood.
"When do you move?"
"Saturday."
"I own a truck."
Paloma raised an eyebrow.
"Of course you do."
He laughed.
Then she surprised him.
She hugged him.
Only for a moment.
"Thank you for stopping."
Gustavo swallowed.
"Thank you for getting in the car."
But the next morning, Paloma received a letter.
May you like
It was from Victor.
And what he wrote threatened to reopen every wound she thought was finally beginning to heal.
