‘I can understand that. So, you and Mateo were on the same page eventually then?’
‘Yes. And we always have been ever since. People see him as hard and unyielding, but with me, he is different. Soft even,’ she said with a smile and a tear in her eye.
‘I definitely understand that,’ I laughed.
‘Hmm,’ she gave me knowing smile. ‘I’m sure you do. I see the way my Alejandro looks at you, Alana. You have put a fire in his eyes that I have never seen before. I used to worry about all of those women he dated who had no personality. I wondered if he had closed off his heart to anything coming close to real love, but then he met you. And I have never seen him so happy … so fulfilled as he has been these past few months.’
I felt my heart almost burst out of my chest with happiness and gratitude at her words. ‘Thank you, Maria,’ I said as I blinked a tear away.
‘You are most welcome my cariño,’ she patted my hand. ‘Now, tell me about this young lady who is staying at your house with you now. Mateo tells me she is from Chicago?’
‘Ah, Lucia?’ I said, her name bringing a smile to my face and then I told Maria all about our new houseguest and how she was managing to work her way into Alejandro’s affections too.