Chapter 70. Esmeralda

He pulled her into his arms, softly, as though any more pressure would break her. He heard her sniff.

“It’s okay,” he soothed. “I’m not mad at all.” He was surprised to find that it was the truth. “You were right, you know? I didn’t know my mother. I wish I had, that’s for sure, but I didn’t, and I did want to separate the past I couldn’t have from the future I could, so you weren’t wrong there. I would’ve preferred you told me, but I don’t think it would’ve made too much difference.”

“I do want you to know her, though,” Ashley said, her voice muffled by his shirt. “She was a wonderful woman. Ugh, how am I the one being comforted?”

“It’s my duty to make sure you’re not distressed,” Carlos said, wiping her face when she extracted herself from his arms.

“If you want to learn more about her,” Ashley told him. “I didn’t know her that much, but I can tell you what little I do if you’d like to know.”

Carlos’ mouth tightened slightly, but he chose not to tell