"PAPA, please," Joaquin begged when he saw the sadness in his father's eyes when he looked back at him.
"You know you're the only one I have, but why do you have to do this to me?" filled with his resentful question as if Joaquin Sr. didn't hear his plea.
His father looked back at him and then spoke again. But this time, Joaquin was hurt even more because of his broken voice.
"I-I love you so much, son. But I never once thought that you would be able to hurt me like this," he said quickly wiping away tears while his voice signaled the end of that conversation.
Joaquin froze as he knew his father would not listen to anything else he wanted to say. So even though it is against his will he was forced to get out of the car.
But before he closed the car door, he looked at him. He saw his father's tears flow again. He was hurt more because of that.
Even if his father didn't say it, he knew that he wanted him to choose between him and Lara.
He doesn't know and doesn’t understand why everything must be so difficult. After all, he is the one who suggested this. He just followed.
Even he would not accidentally fall for Lara in such a quick time. And he knew that it wasn't in his plan to fall in love with her, but he couldn't do anything because he couldn't stop himself.
He didn't dictate his heart because he knew in himself that Lara was the type of woman that was hard to avoid.
He felt like he had known her for a long time. And even if he said that over and over again, he wouldn't get tired because it was the truth.
"Bring Papa home. Be careful while driving," he calmly instructed the driver who answered him politely.
Joaquin drew in and let out a heavy sigh again. While he was taking a look at the now departing car in which his father was riding.
"I'm sorry, Papa. But I love her. I love them both, so much," he whispered without taking his eyes off the car until it completely disappeared from his sight.
"Daddy."
Along with that small voice was Callie's small hand holding his.
It's like he just woke up from a dream. He immediately acted. He bent and then lifted Callie.
"It's raining, let's get inside," he said to the little girl.
"Is he your dad?" asked the child.
That's when he stared at Callie and then sat down on the long sofa in the living room and held the child in his arms.
"Yes," was his weak answer.
"I knew it. You look exactly just like him," said Callie who giggled.
Joaquin's thick eyebrows rose. And even if he didn't admit it, he knew that in an instant, Callie was able to ease the pain in his chest.
"And you look exactly like my mother," he couldn't stop saying.
Joaquin saw the astonishment on the child's innocent face. His smile widened because of that.
"Maybe someday your dad will like me too. Because I also want him to be my grandfather," she said.
“Really?” Joaquin asked in disbelief.
"Yes," was the girl's nonchalant answer.
Joaquin couldn't be sure if it was because of Callie's answer. Or suddenly it eased his feelings so he couldn't stop himself from hugging her tightly.
*****
JOAQUIN tried to somehow restore his enthusiasm to work but he failed.
That's why in the end he chose to entertain himself by watching TV with Lara and Callie.
He knew Lara wanted to ask. She just didn't do that because of her hesitation.
He and Lara rested early that night.
The same goes for Callie who has school the next day.
"You've been quiet for a while," Lara said to him when she sat next to him on the bed.
He only responded with a small smile and then returned his gaze to the TV.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Lara asked him again.
He knows that his wife feels the pressure on his soul. So, she begs the question. The truth is that he also wants to get this bad feeling out of his system.
"You can tell me a story. It would be better if you take it out now. Because maybe you might not be able to work properly tomorrow if you try to hide it," Lara said calmly again.
He looked at his wife again. Then he smiled.
He was not satisfied with that.
That's why in the end he turned to Lara and kissed her on the forehead.
"I haven't told you yet," he began.
"Yes?"
"That I love my father very much," he said truthfully.
Lara didn't say a word and instead just kept staring at him. Because of that, he opened his mouth again to speak.
"The last time I saw Papa cry, was when my Mama died. I don't even see the fear in his eyes unless I'm sick. But you know, I saw all that in him earlier. And I can't accept in my heart that I am the reason why he is like that," he said full of resentment.
He felt Lara's warm palm touch his hand.
"I'm sorry," she said almost in a whisper.
He shook his head one after another. "You know I don't want to tell you? I don't want to talk about it because I don't want you to think it's all your fault?”
Lara shrugged her shoulders and then bowed her head. "Maybe your Papa doesn't really want me for you. I can't blame him, that's exactly how other people see single mothers like me, think," she said with a bitter smile afterward.
"But I love you. I love you and Callie. And now that I've experienced living with you, I don't know if I'll be able to bring back what it was like when I was alone," he insisted, wanting to erase the sadness on the beautiful face of the woman he loved the most.
"Do not mind me. I'm not the one you should feel sorry for. I should be the one who sympathizes with you," Lara said laughing softly afterward.
That's when Joaquin bowed to his wife again and kissed her on the lips. "There is only one thing I want you to do," he said.
Hearing that, Lara immediately released herself from him.
"Tell me, I'll do anything. Maybe that way I can prove to your father that I deserve your love," she said to him.
Joaquin feels Lara's overflowing love for him. And that caused what seemed to be a warm hand that caressed his heart.
"Do not leave me. No matter what happens, no matter what you discover for example. Always think of the love we have for each other. Our family, the two of us with our daughter, Callie," Joaquin begged then held Lara's both hands tightly then kissed them.
He looked her straight in the eyes. And he saw nothing in them but love that eventually mixed with fear.
For which the latter is no longer important. They can handle anything as long as they are together. And that's what he believes.