21
Salvador offered his mother his arm on the way down to the basement.
“How far along are you?” he asked. Prenatal care was a big part of his practice.
“Six months.” Lucia’s tone was crisp. “And before you ask, it’s going well. No problems at all.”
“It’s different this time,” he finished as they reached the basement landing. “Where have I heard that before?”
Stopping, she rounded on him, but she didn’t speak. She didn’t have to. Lucia could say everything with her eyes.
“Mother, I know we don’t agree on a great many things, but this was supposed to be one we did see eye to eye on.” He lowered his voice. “I just don’t want you to go through something terrible again.”
Lucia looked down at her stomach, vulnerability creeping into her expression. “It is different this time,” she whispe
