Jealousy
because he didn’t know how to create that connection that seemed so natural between the two. The recordings also revealed something that worried him. Doña Dolores Martínez, the housekeeper who had worked in the house for 20 years, watched Carmen with constant suspicion.
The 62-year-old woman, who had helped raise Carlos himself as a child, clearly disapproved of the younger employee’s methods. “Carmelita, you’re overstepping boundaries,” Carlos heard Dolores say in one of the recordings. “It’s not your job to raise the girl. You were hired to clean the house.”
“Doña Dolores, I’m just trying to help,” Carmelita replied in a soft but firm voice. “Valentina is a very special child, and whether she’s special or not is none of your business. Do your job, period.” The tension was palpable even through the computer screen. Carlos sensed that two different worlds were colliding in his home, and he was caught in the middle of a silent war he hadn’t even known existed. On Thursday of that week, he received a call that would change everything. It was from the director of the
daycare
where Valentina had recently started attending. “Mr. Carlos, I have wonderful news,” said teacher Luisa Hernández. Valentina had finally begun interacting with the other children.
Today she played in the playhouse with three other girls and told stories about how she helps Aunt Carmelita at home. Carlos threw all his papers on the table. “How is that, teacher?” “She said she’s learning to cook, to fix things, that Aunt Carmelita tells stories about princesses who help around the house. It’s amazing how the girl has changed. Have you started any new treatments?” “No, no, not exactly,” Carlos stammered.
“Economical moves.”
“Well, whatever you’re doing, keep it up. It’s a miracle to see Valentina like this.” Carlos canceled all his afternoon meetings and rushed home. He arrived just as Dolores was severely reprimanding Carmelita in the backyard. “I told you not to take the girl out without my permission!” the housekeeper was shouting.
You have no responsibility for this child. Valentina was clinging to Carmelita’s legs, sobbing uncontrollably. It was the first time in months that Carlos had heard his daughter express emotion so intensely. “I don’t want Aunt Carmelita to leave,” the little girl cried between sobs. “I don’t want to, I don’t want to, Valentina, my dear, nobody leaves,” Carmelita said, stroking the girl’s blond hair. “It’s okay, my love.”
“You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep,” Dolores said harshly. “Mr. Carlos, you arrived just in time to see how this girl is manipulating your daughter.” Carlos stood in the garden gate, watching the scene unfold. His daughter was speaking, expressing her feelings, defending herself. After months of silence, she was finally reacting to the world around her.
“What happened here?” he asked, trying to keep his voice calm. “This employee took the girl out to pick flowers without asking permission,” Dolores replied immediately. “And it’s not the first time she’s acted on her own, Mr. Carlos,” Carmelita said, still holding Valentina. “Valentina asked about the flowers in the garden, and I thought it would be educational to show her the differences between them.”
“I didn’t think,” Dolores interrupted. “You’re not paid to think, girl. You’re paid to obey orders.” Carlos looked at his daughter, who was still clinging to Carmelita’s legs, and made a decision that surprised everyone, even himself. “Doña Dolores, could you please leave us alone?” The governess was visibly offended, but she obeyed.
When they were alone, Carlos knelt down next to Valentina. “Daughter, are you okay, Daddy? Aunt Carmelita taught me that red roses mean love,” Valentina said, her eyes still moist. Like the love Mom had for us, Carlos’s heart almost stopped. It was the first time Valentina had mentioned her mother since the accident.
“And what else has Aunt Carmelita taught you? That when we feel nostalgic, we can keep the love in our hearts and share it with others. Just like I do with Aunt Carmelita and Dad.” Carlos looked at Carmelita, whose eyes were filled with tears. “How did you know what to say to her?” he asked. “Mr. Carlos, I also lost my mother when I was Valentina’s age,” Carmen replied softly.
My grandmother raised me, and she always said that love doesn’t go away, it just changes location. That night, after Valentina fell asleep, Carlos called Dolores and Carmen in for a conversation in the office. The tension in the air was almost palpable. “Doña Dolores, you’ve worked here for 20 years,” Carlos began. “You helped raise me.
She cared for this house as if it were her own. I have immense respect for her.” “Thank you, Mr. Carlos,” Dolores replied, clearly expecting him to take her share. “But I also need to acknowledge that Carmen accomplished something none of us could. She brought my daughter back.” “Mr. Carlos,” Dolores interrupted, “this girl is manipulating the child to secure her job.”
It’s not natural for an employee to be so interested in a girl who isn’t her own. Why do you think that? Because she’s very young, very inexperienced, and now I’ve discovered she’s lying about her education. How so? Carlos asked. Dolores took some papers out of her bag. I went to investigate her past.
Carmen Rodríguez has a degree in pedagogy from the Autonomous University of Mexico, but she never practiced the profession. Why would someone with higher education accept a job as a domestic worker, Mr. Carlos? Carmen turned pale. “I can explain,” she said in a trembling voice. “You don’t need to explain to me,” said Carlos, “but I would like to understand.”
When I graduated, my dad lost his job, and I needed to support my family. I have three younger siblings whom I raised after our mom left. I didn’t have time to look for a job in the area because I needed money immediately. And why didn’t you mention your education when you came to work here? Because people get suspicious.
Family games.
They think I’m going to leave at the first opportunity or that I’m up to something. I just wanted to work and help my family. Dolores shook her head. See, she admits she’s only here for the money. That’s not true, Carmen replied firmly. I started working for the money, that’s true, but I really grew fond of Valentina.
She reminds me so much of myself when I was her age. “And how do you plan to support your siblings if you decide to work in education?” Carlos asked. “I don’t plan to, sir. My siblings are my priority. The oldest is already 17 and works part-time. He’ll graduate in two years and can help with the younger ones. Then, maybe I’ll consider changing careers.” Dolores crossed her arms.
Mr. Carlos, this girl is using our Valentina to satisfy her frustrated maternal instincts. That’s not healthy for a child who has already been through so much trauma. Mrs. Dolores, with all due respect, Valentina is better than she has been in the last six months, Carlos replied.
For now, but what if this young woman decides she wants to work in her field, and when she decides to marry and have children of her own? Valentina is going to suffer another loss. Mr. Carlos. The housekeeper was right, and Carlos found himself torn between loyalty to the woman who had helped raise him and the well-being of his daughter.
“I’ll think about this,” she finally said. In the following days, the atmosphere in the house grew even more tense. Dolores began giving Carmen direct orders, limiting her contact with Valentina to the strictly necessary working hours. The girl noticed the change and became quieter again.
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