didn’t do.”
“Yes.”
“I let my mother humiliate you.”
“Yes.”
“I posted things I shouldn’t have.”
“Yes.”
“I cheated.”
“Yes.”
He swallowed.
“And I abandoned you when you were pregnant.”
My voice softened, but only slightly.
“Yes.”
He looked at the twins.
“I lost everything.”
I shook my head.
“No, Diego.”
He looked at me.
“You didn’t lose everything.”
I pointed toward the stroller.
“You still have two children who deserve a father capable of becoming better than the husband you were.”
His eyes filled.
“And you?”
“You lost me.”
He looked down.
There was nothing more to say.
PART 10 — TWO YEARS LATER
Mateo and Elena turned two on a sunny Saturday.
Our backyard was filled with balloons.
Mateo spent most of the party trying to steal strawberries from the cake.
Elena discovered that wrapping paper was more interesting than presents.
My mother chased both of them around the
