The woman still did not speak, only stared at him with astonishment. There he stood, with a big sports bag in his right hand, looking hesitant and perhaps a little broken, yet with a strange, lively glitter in his eyes. The usual baseball cap was pulled deep over his eyes, which made his appearance seem boyish. This playful look was contrasted by his growing, two-day stubble.
At that moment, two other heads appeared at the door. Alex at once recognised Juana’s two older sons, then Juana herself, who peeked inside, over the boys’ broad shoulders.
“¿Está bien, Alex?” spoke one of them, stepping forward, pushing his chest forward combatively while jabbing towards Nathaniel with a frown.
She smoothed her forehead with embarrassment and tried to force a smile on her face. She cleared her thr
