Page 61 of Through You
We talk for a while, just enough for me to understand why Ares has fallen in love with this girl. She’s charming, an open book. Her expressions give away how she feels and her gestures reveal what she thinks. We get along beautifully.
The younger Hidalgo men finally emerge from the room.
The mood turns awkward as soon as Artemis’s eyes meet mine. He presses his lips tightly together then makes a turn and heads down the hall. I look at Apolo, who greets Raquel with a smile but does his damnedest to avoid my gaze.
“We’re going to get a coffee. Grandpa asked about you, Claudia. You should go in as soon as my parents come out.” Apolo shares this update without looking at me. He follows Artemis down the hall.
The cold shoulder, again, eh? Well, Hidalgo boys, I can play thesame game.
Ares doesn’t look at me either; he’s focused on Raquel and grabs her hand instead. “Come along, witch.”
I’m not exactly sure why I feel the need to apologize. Though it wasn’t my intention, I somehow feel responsible for causing an unpleasant scene and not handling it in the best possible way.
“I’m sorry.”
Ares looks up.
“It wasn’t your fault.” Ares never lies and I know he’s being sincere. “You should never blame yourself for his impulsiveness, Claudia.”
It’s obvious he’s referring to Artemis, who’s always been the most impulsive and volatile of the three brothers. I watch them leave, then Mr. and Mrs. Hidalgo come out of the room. Sofia’s uptight expression lacks a hint of genuine emotion. I would say this lady’s audacity still shocks me, but all these years have conditioned me to expect the unexpected when it comes to Sofia Hidalgo. Juan points me to the door.
“He’s been asking about you since he woke up.”
There’s a trace of jealousy in his tone. I can’t believe it. He doesn’t get to be jealous of his father’s affection. He lost that right the day he let Grandfather be committed to a nursing home. Juan gives me a friendly smile and leaves with his wife.
I find Grandfather lying on his bed. My heart squeezes tight in my chest. I run to his side and give him a hug.
“Stubborn old man!” Tears stream down my face, and he gently pats my back.
“I’m fine, I’m fine.”
I pull back from him with lips trembling, trying to contain the urge to cry. He grabs my face with his hands and plants a kiss on my forehead.
“You stubborn old man. I love you very much.”
He puts his hands on mine. I’m caught by surprise the moment I withdraw from our hug and we look into each other’s eyes—he’s not someone who cries easily, but his eyes are watery.
“And I too love you very much, daughter.”
Daughter.
He takes note of the shock written all over my face.
“You are way more important to me than all these vultures, my so-called children. If it wasn’t for you and Apolo, I couldn’t have coped with the loneliness in that place.” His hands caress my face. “Thank you, daughter.”
“Old man . . .” My voice breaks.
“How about calling me grandpa? I think dad would be weird.
Or is that too much? I understand if this makes you uncomfortable. I know you’re grown woman now and . . .”
I place my hand over my heart. “It would be an immense honor to call you grandpa.”
He smiles and all his wrinkles become noticeable. We talk until it’s almost time for me to catch the last bus.
It was decided that Grandpa would finish his recuperation at the Hidalgo house, and I couldn’t be happier. I can look after him and stop worrying about him being alone at the nursing home.
I hug him tightly before I leave. Outside, Sofia Hidalgo is in the hall by herself. She looks at me from head to toe.
