Page 13 of The Guardian

He caught me and held me upright, caressing the back of my neck to keep me close. “What happened, amore?” he asked.

“He died,” I breathed the words out before looking up at him with teary eyes. “He didn’t tell me anything.”

Alberto caressed my cheek with his fingers. “I’m sorry,” he said. “You deserved answers.”

Present day…

I sat there stunned at Gabriela’s story. After all the lies those two women told about Gabriela not wanting her own children. The cruelty of their brother, Santiago, reflected the same way of life his sisters lived. Greedy, cruel liars, black hearted until they died.

Just then, the twins came back into the kitchen.

I was glad they never heard any of what Gabriela just shared with us. My gaze met Gabriela’s and she gave me a nod as if to say she too, did not wish for them to know how terrible Santiago really was. Who would wish to hear that the devil was their grandfather.

We all left the kitchen to head to the twin’s rooms.

Gabriela led us to the stairway. It too was grand as they call it. Extra wide and with a swirl design that made it not as steep of a climb.

We all proceeded to step up.

Gabriela waved us away. “No, we shall take this…” She pointed to the far wall.

Looking over, we saw elevator doors.

“You have an elevator?” Alex exclaimed in total shock.

“In your house?” Hope added with the same shock as her brother.

Chuckling at their stunned expressions, Gabriela nodded. “It is new though. Alberto had it put in when we found out I was going to have a baby. He didn’t want me going up and down the stairs.”

One thing Gabriela was unaware of was that the kids had never seen an elevator before in their lives until we were at the hotel in Mexico City after they were rescued. After we had been in our rooms, Henry and I took them up and down several times just for the fun of it…Their fun of it. They’d acted like they were on a rollercoaster amusement ride.

We all went over to it and Henry pressed the button. The doors instantly opened.

The twins looked so excited.

“Yay!” Alex stepped forward to get into the lift.

Henry held his arm out and said, “Ladies first, ok Alex?”

He paused then nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“Do not be,” Henry replied. “You just need to learn a little more and you will be a perfect gentleman.”

Alex smiled at him.

Hope, me and Gabriela stepped in. Henry and Alex then stepped in last.

I really believed Henry was a good teacher. He kept his voice calm and warm. He showed patience uncommon for a male. He just always remained super polite as far as I’d seen. With those qualities, he would have made an excellent teacher.

Yes, that was what I had planned to be and what I’d gone to school for. Then my life got derailed. I’d just got my first placement in a mid-school and I had been all ready to teach. My specialty was languages, but I also taught piano. I remember the shopping I did for supplies while feeling so excited. Then my first day and the faces of the kids. They were excited to learn a new language. I was there a month when I got the news and I was forced to leave the job.

The elevator doors opened and Gabriela stepped out.

Hope followed her.

Henry bowed at the waist bit and motioned for me and Hope to step out.

We all followed Gabriela down a very wide plush carpeted hallway.