Mariana liked those kinds of moments, unforced, natural, the kind that happen when no one is pretending. Ricardo watched them from his office window.
He closed his computer without realizing it.
He stood there watching as Emiliano showed off his robot like it was a trophy. Mariana applauded it as if it were a true work of art. Sofía showed her drawing, and Mariana hugged her quietly.
She just hugged her like someone who knows how much that
« That’s a good moment. »
Ricardo ran his hand over his face. Something was itching in his chest. Later, Mariana brought in a tray of cookies that she had baked with the children the day before.
She asked them if they wanted one. Emiliano took two. Sofía only took one, but she ate it all. Mariana pretended not to be excited, she just…
He gave her a glass of milk and continued playing. Then they played soccer. Mariana was the goalkeeper.
Sofia screamed every time Emiliano scored a goal. Mariana threw herself down on the grass, pretending she couldn’t get up.
The children laughed. The ball rolled across the lawn. Ricardo looked out the window again. This face didn’t go away; he just stayed there, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, saying nothing.
Nothing. As it began to get dark, Mariana cleaned everything up with the children’s help. She didn’t ask them to.
They did it on their own. They put away the supplies, took the glasses to the kitchen, and washed their hands.
Chayo didn’t interfere, but she watched them out of the corner of her eye. In Minions, there was something odd about her face, as if she didn’t know whether she was annoyed or surprised.
Back in the living room, Mariana let them watch an episode of cartoons.
They sat on the floor with cushions. Emiliano fell asleep.
Sofía leaned against Mariana without saying a word. When Ricardo came in and saw them like that, he remained silent.
Mariana gestured for him to be quiet. He just nodded. Mariana walked him to the hallway. Ricardo didn’t look her in the eye, he just said, « Thank you. » Mariana looked down. « I didn’t do anything. »
“Special.” Ricardo took a deep breath. “You did so much.
I don’t know how, but you did.” They were silent for a second. Mariana broke the silence.
“Tomorrow I want to take you to the market. I want you to choose your food.” Ricardo hesitated. “To a market with people?” Mariana nodded. “With life.” Ricardo didn’t say yes or no, he just left.
That night the children slept
Without asking for stories.
Mariana covered them up, kissed them on the forehead, and left the room without complaining about being tired.
Outside, the sky had cleared. There was a moon. The kind of night that feels different, even if nothing happens, even if everything remains the same. But something stirred inside, and that was enough to say that
That was a different kind of afternoon. The house had places no one ever went into. Mariana had already noticed this.
There were locked doors, curtains that were never drawn, and rooms that even the children never mentioned.
One afternoon, while the twins were taking a long nap after running around the garden, Mariana took the opportunity to clean a little on her own. She went upstairs and began to
She checked a hallway she’d never walked all the way down.
There she found a door unlike any other. It was made of darker wood with an old-fashioned lock and a small, almost invisible sign. It said, « Studio. »
The door wasn’t locked. It was only locked from the inside. Mariana pushed carefully, opening it slowly. Inside, it smelled like something that had been stored away for years.
It hasn’t rotted, but time has stopped.
It was a medium-sized room with a desk piled high with papers, a swivel chair, framed photos, and a coat rack with a sweater hanging on it.
Everything was in its place as if someone still used it. On the walls were children’s drawings, some signed in crayon. For Mom, with love. Mariana
She felt a pang in her stomach.
There was Lucía, not physically, but in everything. There were photos of her with the twin babies on the beach, in the garden of the house. Lucía was smiling in all of them; she looked alive, she looked happy. Mariana couldn’t help but approach. She touched a picture frame carefully, as if moving it might disturb something.
Important. On the desk was a notebook.
It wasn’t a diary, but it had handwritten notes. Recipes, to-do lists, notes about the children. Mariana turned the pages carefully. One said, “Emiliano hates eggs, but he loves cinnamon bread.
Sofía prefers to be quiet, but she draws everything she feels. Mariana
She kept reading it over and over.
It was as if Lucía were still there, guiding her from a thousand miles away.
She didn’t know how long she’d been in the room when she heard footsteps in the hallway. She quickly closed her notebook and took a step back. The door burst open. It was Ricardo. His eyes were hard, his mouth tight. « What
“What are you doing here?” he said, not shouting, but with a voice that hurt. Mariana swallowed. She was cleaning.
The door wasn’t locked; she just wanted it to be. Ricardo raised his hand. “This room is off-limits.”
Mariana wanted to explain, but he was already inside. He went to the desk, took the notebook, and put it in a drawer. Then he locked it. No one comes in here. Period.
Mariana didn’t say anything, she just left the room with a hot face, hurried downstairs, and went into the kitchen. Chayo was there chopping onions. « What did you do now? » she asked, her tone a mix of mockery and annoyance.
Mariana didn’t answer. She just poured herself a glass of water. Chayo glanced at her sideways. « You came in here. »
To the study, right? Mariana nodded silently. Chayo sighed.
No one’s been in there since Lucía died, not even he dares to touch anything, but it seems like you’re getting everything he’s been holding back.
Mariana wasn’t sure if that was a reproach or an observation.
She put her glass down on the table and sat down. Her head was spinning. Lucía wasn’t alive, but she
She felt her presence in every corner, and that presence left no room for anyone else.
Ricardo was still tied to her, that much was clear, but it was also clear that the children were beginning to let go, and he seemed not to know what to do about that change.
That night, Mariana approached the twins while they were putting together a puzzle. She asked them about their mother. Sofía lowered her gaze. Emiliano said…
She sang while she cooked. Mariana smiled.
What was she singing? An old song, the one about the elephants that swayed. Mariana began to sing it softly. Sofia looked at her. Did you know it? Mariana shook her head.
“But I can learn it.” They sang for a little while. Then she took them to bed, kissed them on the forehead, and when she left the room…
She stood outside for a moment. The hallway was dark.
At the end, she could see the closed study door.
Mariana knew she shouldn’t go back in, but she also knew that this room wasn’t just full of memories, it was full of secrets. And sooner or later those secrets were going to come out because
Lucía was gone, but her shadow still held sway.
Morning, Mariana came downstairs with the children after breakfast.
They were happy, laughing about something Emiliano had said about a cat he’d dreamed about. Mariana held their hands, one on each side.
The kitchen smelled of freshly baked bread, and Chayo was in a better mood than usual. She’d even left the radio on softly. Everything seemed to be going well until a voice
A familiar, strong, and commanding voice came from the hallway.
“And this happy scene,” said a slender woman with brown hair, very well dressed for so early in the morning. She wore heels, carried a designer handbag, and wore glasses which she removed with grace.
Mariana didn’t know her, but from the way the children stiffened, she knew she was someone important. Ricardo appeared
right behind her.
Adriana, you’re early, she said with a smile that didn’t seem very genuine.
Adriana, Lucia’s sister, had heard of her, but hadn’t met her in person. Sofia let go of Mariana’s hand and hid a little behind her father. Emiliano remained still. Mariana felt the air
It had gone cold for no apparent reason. Adriana walked purposefully toward the children. She kissed them both on the forehead, but they didn’t react.
Then she looked Mariana up and down.
« And you’re the new nanny? » Mariana nodded. « Nice to meet you, I’m Mariana. » Adriana didn’t return the greeting, just gave her a half-hearted smile. « Ricardo, can we talk in private? »
He hesitated for a second. « Sure. Come with me to the office. »
Before leaving, Ricardo gestured to Mariana as if to say, “Relax.” But she felt she wasn’t. As soon as the office door closed, Chayo approached. “The storm has arrived,” she said softly. Mariana didn’t understand.
“Why do you say that?” Chayo grimaced. “Adriana wants to run this house.”
She’s always wanted this, and she’s not going to like what you’re doing with the children.
Mariana swallowed hard. She was just doing her job, nothing more. But Chayo was right. Adriana didn’t seem comfortable with her there.
That same day, Adriana left the office again with Ricardo. She stayed at the house all day, walking around as if she owned the place. Mariana saw her go into the room of
games, looking through storybooks, or reading the children’s clothes.
At lunchtime, she sat at the head of the table. Ricardo to one side, the children across from her, Mariana at the other end.
« I heard you’re cooking now, » Adriana said, looking at her napkin. « Yes, » Mariana replied calmly. « Do you like it? » Adriana giggled. « Yes, of course. At the same time… »
Entries.
Rich kids always like to play at being poor for a while. Ricardo glanced at her sideways, annoyed.
Mariana took a deep breath. She wasn’t going to take the bait. After lunch, Sofía wanted to draw, but Adriana said she had to change her clothes because they were disheveled.
Emiliano wanted to play in the garden, but
She said she could get sick from the humidity.
Mariana didn’t say anything, but the children looked at her with expressions that said, « Now what? » Later, Mariana went to look for Ricardo.
She found him in the studio. He opened the door looking tired. « Is everything alright? » she asked. Ricardo nodded. « Adriana just comes to make sure everything is normal. »
Mariana looked at him. But things aren’t normal anymore, they’re better. Ricardo lowered his gaze.
That’s what bothers her.
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