CHAPTER 22

__ Arguing again? __ Matilda takes a look at the sky leaving an elbow in Carmen's side, she takes her cleaning tools and runs off with the mockery printed on it.

Esteffan gives the fugitive a murderous look, declaring that everything is her fault. Yep, he caught me mopping the floor next to them a few days ago, that didn't make the penguin funny. With the work it took to convince her to at least let me pass the brush to six steps and he comes and ruins everything.

Nosy penguin!

__ It's just that you can't, there's no way he understands __ he huffs frustrated almost that, grabbing his hair, I have no doubt that one of these days he will pull them off.

__ Leave her alone, you should put yourself in her place __. Matilda raises the sharp knife with which she cuts the meat, pointing it at him, squints her eyes and purses her lips in reprimand.

__ Why should I do such a foolish thing?

__ Imagine this __. She turns, wiping her hands on her apron and then bringing them to her plump __ hips. Think what it would be like for you to live in this house, without being allowed to lift a single finger to do anything and having to spend the day lying around __. Esteffan opens his mouth ready to refute, but is silenced on the spot __. When you broke your leg they forced you to bed, you couldn't hold out for a day.

__ Do you even remind me __ he complains with melodrama crossing himself just in case.

__ See, that's how it is for her.

__ Yes, but I can't do anything about it, if they don't want Mr. Mikael to rip my head off ... literally __ he adds before I can object to their arguments.

No way, apparently I'll have to settle. I drop into one of the chairs next to the island in the center of the kitchen, support my elbows holding my head in my hands resigned to leisure. And it is then that a board with a knife next to a bowl of potatoes appears in front of me, followed by a plump face with a big smile.

__ What do you think you're doing Matilda. Do not you dare __. Esteffan goes from looking at the utensils to her and then to me shocked.

__ If you don't feel sorry for this girl, then I will __. He pulls things closer to me and stands in the middle when he tries to get closer.

__ Do not you dare __. He looks at me at the height of his position with his eyes half closed and the body of the cook in the middle, preventing him from approaching me.

I smile heartily stretching my hands towards the promising work that will occupy my body for a long time.

__ No __ threatening reload.

But a hat is good for me. I wrap my fingers around the mango and with my free hand I take the first potato.

Esteffan opens her eyes almost to the point that her green sockets announce an imminent departure from my act __. I don't ...

And there are his words when I make the first cut and raise my eyebrows smugly.

__ God, I'm dead __. He takes his hands to his neck, where according to his imagination he has marked him, he will be cut off from the rest of his limbs.

__ Stop showing off, they're just potatoes __. Matilda tosses the cloth on her shoulder at her face and turns to go about her business.

__ Well __. The penguin brushes the cloth away before looking at me indifferently and at her threateningly __. But if the Lord sees you, I will say that I never agreed on this.

__ Perfect __ rebate.

__ We'll see if that's the case when you have him in front of you __ he mocks polishing the cutlery that he will bring to the table for breakfast.

__ Ha, Mikael will be the boss of ... __ A throat clearing interrupts him, leaving the sentence in the middle and the slicing of meat unfinished. The salivary gulp so abrupt that it forces itself down __ does not pass me by. The boss __. In vain does he rectify, because I already realized that something else goes after that, which is important enough to provoke such a reaction, despite the fact that it is quickly rebuilt.

__ He ​​is the boss, but in my eyes he is still that naughty boy who made me run the whole house to make him change his diaper.

Esteffan snorts looking up at the sky, as if that were an argument that is involved in their day-to-day conversations. I continue to peel the potatoes and try not to make noise so that they forget I'm here, or at least think I'm not paying attention to their conversation, whichever comes first.

__ He ​​is no longer a child, now he pays your monthly payment __. Place the stack of polished silverware on a tray and start with another.

__ But for me it will always be, I changed those boys' diapers and gave them their bottles __. A nostalgic smile escapes him, as if he could see those times passing in his mind __. I cleaned and bandaged her wounds, especially Gabrielita when she lost her mother. It was so small.

Matilda lets out a loud sigh, to which Esteffan approaches her, passing her hand over the woman's back as a comfort __. It's been a long time, woman.

__ For me, it's like it was yesterday.

Esteffan turns to me in slow denial before taking a seat in one of the seats opposite and continuing with her work. She looks just as dejected, now knowing part of the story, just by mentioning it, even I feel heartbroken. With all the more reason they, who, apparently, lived it in the first row.

__ I was his nanny, you know? __ She looks at me with a nostalgic smile recomposed on her lips __. I have been at the service of the family for many years, I have been a spectator of the best and worst moments __. She turns and continues with her work without stopping talking, I just listen to her cutting the potatoes that are already stacked on one side of the board.

__ I'm an orphan, I grew up in a foster home and when I turned eighteen I had to find my way. I left with what I was wearing and two changes of change, in my pocket, just a few coins that, when well administered, gave me a month's worth of food and lodging. That was all the nuns could do for us when it was time to leave. I have always been a woman of faith, every Sunday I went to masses. The priest knew about my situation and that I was in a hurry to get a job. He knew the family for the good donations they made to the church, so one day he came and told me that he had gotten the gentlemen to hire me as the nanny of his first-born.

__ And fence that work fell from the sky __. He looks at me out of the corner of his eye with a half smile on the corner of his lip __. Because by then I didn't even have enough for an old bread.

I couldn't help but laugh, lack of money is the life story shared by millions. The sorrow of the poor, who even in their greatest misery, does not take away their hope or smile when they remember those days. Some say that it is the survival instinct, which makes your brain generate a drop of joy, which is enough to fight madness and not fall into the wrong steps of despair. I call it, love of life, sometimes it is cold, cruel and lonely, but life at the end of the day and as long as that is, there is hope and despite the desolation you know it and it is that little decoction that makes you smile with faith, hoping for a better future. And when you remember those days, your soul smiles with pride.

Only in death there is no hope and even when it looms, it is when we cling the most to not giving up.

__ The gentlemen were very happy and then more when the girl Gabriella arrived. The house was always full of laughter and running around. The gentlemen loved each other very much and treated us all like family, but that cost them dearly __. A sharp blow hits the plateau by crashing the handle of the knife into it __. That bastard Rufus, even his name is a dog. I hope he's rotting in hell for almost taking my girl's life __. He spits on the ground, letting out hatred and disgust in equal measure.

__ Creeping bug __. Esteffan's upper lip trembles with equal revulsion, but the man gathers himself by stretching his jacket and straightening his back superiorly.

I find it hard to believe that he is just a simple clerk, his manners are too refined, too perfect and fluent like a man trained in the best education rather than a simple butler. Esteffan possesses the most absolute perfection in his walk, an undeniable culture in every aspect of his language and a stately air in his manner.

__ Well, after that, they grew up and the old cook retired. Clotilde was already too old for all the fuss from here to there. So I took his place, where my children go I also __. It was not an affirmation, it is an absolute sentence and I do not think that there will be a good fate for those who want to prevent it.

That reminds me of Caili, I haven't heard from them for so long. I miss hearing their fights or their complaints about my attitude. I keep thinking about my sisters at night and what will become of their luck. Just imagining it compresses my heart, I hope Ali has not done something crazy, if something happened to them I would go crazy. They are my family no matter how far away.

__ Are you okay? __ Esteffan looks at me inquisitively leaning over the island.

I just nod avoiding saying words that will make her cry. He returns to his seat, but still appraising me suspiciously, I know he cares about me, all of them and that makes being here a little more tolerable. I have reached out to everyone in this short time and the day I manage to escape, because I will, I will miss each of them.

__ And what about you? __ I look at him between my lashes enjoying the view when I catch him off guard.