Rafael’s eyes moved from Lucía’s face to Daniel’s, and even though he couldn’t speak, Daniel could read the gratitude and relief and love in his father’s expression.
Daniel set down his luggage and walked quietly to the other side of his father’s bed, taking the old man’s hand in his.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” he said softly. “I know you wanted to keep it secret. I know you had your reasons. But maybe… maybe some secrets aren’t meant to be kept forever.”
Lucía looked up from her book and smiled at her husband—a smile that was sad and happy and complicated all at once.“I’m not angry,” she told Daniel. “I understand why you kept the promise. I understand what your father was trying to do. He was trying to give me freedom, trying to protect me from feeling obligated. That’s… that’s probably the most loving thing anyone has ever done for me, actually.”
