-How many?
—I don’t remember.
—I will remember it.
Mercedes’ expression hardened.
—What does that mean?
Gabriel took a key out of his pocket and placed it on the table.
It was the key to that house.
Mercedes looked at her.
—It means that since
Today you will not use anything of mine as if it were an extension of your own will. The house will remain your home while we resolve this. I will not leave you homeless. But the accounts, powers of attorney, and authorizations that depend on me will be reviewed.
Mercedes stood up.
—Are you going to punish your mother for a woman you haven’t seen in nineteen years?
Gabriel also got up.
-No.
The letter pointed this out.
—I am ceasing to reward the person who made sure I couldn’t see it.
Mercedes wanted to reply, but Gabriel had already taken the copy of the letter.
Before leaving, she said:
—When those people start asking you for money, you’ll understand why I did what I did.
Gabriel turned around.
—Isabel lived for nineteen years in a house that was still legally linked to me and never came to claim my fortune.
Mercedes received no response.
Gabriel returned to
the farm two days later.
He didn’t arrive with any gifts.
He didn’t bring a new car for Adrian.
He did not promise to fix everything immediately.
He carried the metal box that Isabel had allowed him to take to make copies of some documents.
She left it on the table exactly as she had received it.
—I spoke with Mercedes —he said.
Isabel didn’t ask how he had reacted.
—He admitted it.
Adrian was by the window.
-All?
—He admitted he knew your mother was alive. He admitted he sent the money. He admitted he asked someone to write a letter pretending to be me. And he acknowledged receiving letters from Isabel that he never delivered to me.
Adrian crossed his arms.
-Because?
Gabriel looked directly at him.
—Because she thought you would take away the future she had decided for me.
Adrian exhaled through his nose.
—Well, it seems you did do well.
Gabriel accepted the blow.
—In money, yes.
Adrian waited a
defense that never came.
Gabriel continued.
—But I want you to understand something. I’m not going to use what I have to buy a place in your life.
Isabel watched him attentively.
—So, what do you want?
Gabriel thought before answering.
—I want to take responsibility for what I can change now.
He pointed to the ceiling.
“This property was about to be sold because I signed the paperwork without knowing you lived here. I’ve stopped it. I’m going to check the property so that no one can evict you because of a decision I or my mother made.”
Adrian frowned.
—Are you going to give it to us?
“I don’t yet know the correct procedure on paper. I don’t want to promise anything before I’m sure. But I do know this: it’s not for sale, and you’re not leaving just because I showed up out of nowhere.”
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