Chapter 49

GABRIELA

At this moment I'm going to Marcos' house since I promised Ana I would to put her in bed. I still didn't quite understand how Alex had said that to my siblings, much less he didn't tell me they wanted to mess with them, luckily for me, he was there to help them and that made me happy.

As soon as I was going to knock at the door for them to open it, Ana ran out to hug me, which I happily returned. Every day I adored this little girl who had stolen my heart a little more, especially when she called me mommy, which I honestly didn't expect at all.

"Mommy, I thought you wouldn't come anymore." She said with a big smile on her face "I promised you I would come put you to bed right? I had to do it, it's my obligation." I assured "So you will come and say good night to me every day?" She asked and I shrugged, because that wouldn't be so easy. "I'll try to be here every night, but if I can't, I promise I'll call you, what do you think?"

"I would like you to come." She murmured, "Ana, she also has a house and a family, they would like to spend time with her." I hadn't realized Carlos was at the door, but he seemed a little more relaxed than when I left, which made me happy. "They will understand and you know it." I answered honestly, "But it's not necessary."

"It wouldn't bother me and I would be happy to do it." I stated, "See, she's nicer than mom." Ana protested and Carlos nodded. "I know little one." He assured, "Well, let's go inside because you have class tomorrow. Have you had dinner yet, princess?" I asked and she nodded. "Then let's go to your room so you can sleep."

"Will you read me a story?" the little girl asked and I nodded "Of course, go pick one and put on the pajamas." Once again, she nodded again, kissed me on the cheek, and ran up the stairs to her room. "Will you be able to talk as soon as Ana falls asleep?" I asked Carlos, because if there was anything I want right now, it was what's happening.

"Yes, I'll wait for you." With that, I went upstairs and as soon as I entered, I could see Ana lying down and with a book, which made me laugh. I started reading the book to her and it didn't take long for her to fall asleep. I kissed her on the forehead and left the room.

When I got to the living room, I could see Carlos sitting on the couch looking for something interesting on TV. "What's happening with your parents Carlos?" I asked, "I honestly don't have the slightest idea." He whispered, "So what Ana said is true."

"It was what they said." he responded, shrugging his shoulders. "And they didn't give you a reason why they wouldn't come back?" I asked, surprised. "What they told me doesn't make any sense at all." He muttered "Why?" I asked, frowning. "Because my mother said she couldn't see Marcos any longer."

"Why?" He started looking around, which I assumed was because he didn't want Marcos to find out, so it had to be something considerably bad for him to not want his brother to find out what's happening. "If you want, I'll make sure he's sleeping."

"No need, I'll go." He got up and went upstairs. It didn't take long for him to sit back down on the couch next to me, turn off the television, and turn around to face me. "Apparently my father had an affair with another woman and she became pregnant. I don't know what happened to that woman, I think she got sick and that child was taken care of by my mother, making her find out about my father's affair."

"So Marcos…" I started, but stopping short without knowing what to say "Marcos is not my brother, at least not at all." I'm paralyzed by what he just said. That seemed weird, because there's a certain resemblance between Carlos and Marcos, the normal thing between brothers. In my life I would have thought what Carlos had just said is true, now I understood why he didn't want Marcos to hear that, I don't think he's going to react well to this and he's going to need a lot of support when Carlos tells him, because I don't think his parents were going to tell him.

"When are you going to tell Marcos?" I asked, "I don't know, I just don't have the slightest idea how to tell him, it's something that will change his life considerably." He admitted and I nodded, because I already knew that "I don't think he'll take it too well, he loves your mother, but why did he decide that would be the case now? Why doesn't she want to see him?

"Because she can't stand knowing Marcos isn't his son like me and Ana are." Carlos murmured "But she took care of him as if he were hers, technically he is her son." I tried to find the logic "I know, and I told her, but she doesn't want to understand, according to her, she needs time."

"And she leaves you and Ana who are her children?" I asked, surprised, and it was at that moment I remembered what Ana had told me about her mother. "Wait, then what Ana told me about your mother not paying too much attention to her, is that also true?" I questioned "Yes, and I don't have the slightest idea why she did it. We can say in a way you're more of a mother to her than my mother is, I think that's the reason why she asked you if you could be her mother."

"She actually told me, but if you want me to be with you when you go to tell Marcos…" I began "It would be great, he's going to need support, I don't think mine and Ana's will be enough." Carlos stated "It's difficult to assimilate that after twenty-two years someone tells you your mother is someone else, even I find it difficult to believe it at this moment."

"I didn't understand it when mom told me, but when do you think it's best to tell him?" He asked, "The sooner the better." I whispered, stuck in my mind more than anything else. "So we can tell him tomorrow if you can?" He asked, "Better not tomorrow, I have to solve something before we tell him."

"It's something bad?" My best friend asked with a trace of concern. "No, it's something that can help him assimilate sooner and it's someone important to him." I assured, "The girl you told me about." He stated and I nodded. "That's the same, but I promise you tomorrow it will be ready."

"You can take as much time as you need." He replied "I can't afford it, we will tell him on Saturday." I said after a few seconds of silence "As you wish, will you be here?" Carlos asked, "Of course, we also have to explain it to Ana."

"This isn't fair." He whispered, and I took his hand to give it a little squeeze. "It's not, but you know I will always be there to support you." I assured him and he nodded "I know." the guy confirmed "When do you start working?" I asked, changing the subject. "Tomorrow and I won't be able to go pick up Ana."

"Don't worry, I'll go get her." I assured, because in the end, I didn't have much to do. "Thank you, Gabriela." Carlos thanked me and I denied, "It's nothing, besides, if she wants me to be like her mother, I'll have to behave like one, right?" I asked with a smile on my face. "You already do, even if you don't realize it."

"I don't think so, but go to sleep, you have to be one hundred percent tomorrow." I said, getting up from the couch. "What are you going to do?" He asked, doing the same. "Nothing, I might just draw for a while." I said, shrugging my shoulders. "Are you going to tell me you're not sleepy?" He asked and I denied "No, besides I have to think about a lot of things. Go to sleep and don't worry."

"Ok, if you need, call me or go get it." He said and I nodded "I know, you always tell me the same thing." I stated, "So you know what to do, sometimes it doesn't seem that way." He laughed "Well yes, I know. Go to sleep." I insisted "Ok mom." I grabbed a cushion and threw it at Carlos, of course he was amused, but at least he went to sleep which was what I wanted.