9. The Front Door
We arrived just after seven.
Rosa’s car was in the driveway.
My car.
Or rather, the car I’d been paying for.
Dad parked behind it.
He helped me out.
Then he lifted Mateo from the back seat.
I held my son’s little blanket against my chest as we approached the front door.
Rosa opened it before we knocked.
Her expression immediately hardened.
“Camila, where have you been?”
Then she saw Dad.
“Oh. Rafael.”
He nodded.
“Rosa.”
She looked at my ankle support.
“What happened to you?”
I stared at her.
“You saw me fall yesterday.”
She shrugged.
“I didn’t know it was that serious.”
Dad spoke calmly.
“We need to collect Camila’s belongings.”
Rosa blinked.
“What?”
“She and Mateo are staying with me.”
Her face changed.
“Absolutely not. Luis needs to agree to that.”
Dad looked at her.
“Camila is an adult. She can decide where she lives.”
10. The Man at the Table
Ernesto appeared behind Rosa.
He looked surprised to see my father.
“Rafael?”
Dad greeted him.
Then he asked whether Luis was home.
“He’s upstairs,” Ernesto said.
Rosa folded her arms.
“You can’t just come here and take people out of my house.”
Dad looked at her for a moment.
“Your house?”
She lifted her chin.
“Yes.”
He didn’t argue.
Instead, he took out his phone and opened a document.
“Rosa, this property is managed by Administradora del Norte.”
Her expression shifted.
“Yes. So?”
“I’m the owner.”
The hallway went silent.
Ernesto stared at him.
Rosa gave a short laugh.
“That’s impossible.”
Dad showed her the property information.
“Your lease is with the management company acting on my behalf.”
Her eyes moved across the screen.
Then back to his face.
The color drained from her cheeks.
11. What He Actually Said
Dad didn’t threaten to throw them out.
He didn’t demand that they leave that night.
He didn’t raise his voice.
He simply said, “The lease remains in effect. Your rights as tenants haven’t changed.”
Rosa looked confused.
“Then why are you telling me this?”
“Because you’ve been telling my daughter that she should be grateful you’re allowing her to live here. I wanted you to understand that your position as a tenant doesn’t give you the right to control her.”
Ernesto lowered his eyes.
Rosa’s mouth opened.
Then closed.
Dad continued.
“I’m not here to use the property against you. I’m here to take my daughter and grandson somewhere they feel safe.”
For the first time since I’d moved in, Rosa had no answer.
