Chapter 14 - THIS ISN'T GRATITUDE
Two years after Rodrigo found Valentina in the chicken coop, El Nogal looked different.
Flowers lined the entrance.
The rebuilt barn stood red against the hills.
Sofía ran through the yard chasing chickens.
“Fía!”
Mateo shouted.
“Don't eat that!”
Sofía looked at the handful of dirt she had been preparing to taste.
Then ran away laughing.
Tomás chased her.
Valentina stood beneath the walnut trees watching them.
Rodrigo approached.
“You're smiling.”
“Am I not allowed?”
“Just checking.”
He stood beside her.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Rodrigo took her hand.
Valentina looked down at their fingers.
“This isn't gratitude anymore.”
Her heart stopped.
Rodrigo looked at her.
“It hasn't been for a long time.”
“Rodrigo—”
“I loved Carmen.”
“I know.”
“I'll always love her.”
“I know.”
“And somehow…”
His voice broke.
“I love you too.”
Valentina's eyes filled.
Rodrigo continued before fear could stop him.
“I don't know when it happened.”
“Maybe the peaches.”
He laughed.
“Maybe.”
“Maybe the storm.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe when you found me sleeping with chickens.”
“Definitely not.”
She laughed.
Then Rodrigo became serious.
“I don't want you because you fixed this family.”
“You didn't.”
“We fixed each other.”
Valentina looked toward Mateo and Tomás.
Toward Sofía.
Toward the house that had once felt like a museum of grief.
Then back at Rodrigo.
“I love you too.”
He kissed her beneath the walnut trees.
From across the yard came Mateo's disgusted voice.
“Oh, come on!”
Tomás laughed.
Sofía clapped because everyone else was making noise.
Valentina pulled away, laughing.
Rodrigo shouted toward the boys.
“You'll survive.”
Mateo yelled back.
“Unfortunately!”
May you like
And for once, the past didn't feel like a shadow.
It felt like the road that had brought all of them here.
