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The Gonzalezs were at the dining table, having their breakfast. Everyone was present except Alejandra. She hadn't come down for breakfast yet. Nicolas and Ivan were dressed to leave. It took Patricia ten minutes to notice Alejandra's absence.
"Isn't Alejandra coming down for breakfast?" Patricia asked eagerly.
"I don't think so." Nicolas replied dryly, using his knife to cut into his pancakes.
"Is she sick?" Patricia asked.
"Probably." Nicolas muttered.
Patricia didn't ask any further questions and continued eating. Nicolas checked the time on his wristwatch and shook his head disappointingly.
"Even at this time, she hasn't woken up." He said inwardly.
Nicolas picked up the glass of juice beside his plate. He drank it. He kept the glass and continued eating. He had satisfied his hunger and was cleaning his mouth with a serviette when Alejandra arrived. He heard footsteps behind him and didn't make eye contact with her. He had his gaze at the end of the table.
"Look who decided to wake up." Nicolas said ironically, keeping the serviette on the table.
Alejandra was dressed for work and had worn her handbag on her shoulder. She stood beside Nicolas' chair. She wasn't too close–in the middle of the next chair on the right.
"Ah! Alejandra you're awake!" Patricia said happily.
"Good morning!" Alejandra greeted with a smile.
"Someone's alarm finally went off." Nicolas said sarcastically.
"How was your night? Did you sleep well?" Patricia asked.
Alejandra replied in a nod and wore her hair behind her ear. She had worn an off-shoulder yellow top which was long sleeved and a pair of black straight trousers. She wore a pair of black trainers as well. The makeup she wore was light.
Ivan glanced at her and maintained eye contact with his food. Though he wasn't done eating, he lost his appetite when he saw Alejandra. His hatred for her began when he heard that she was going to replace Agnes and become his step-mother. He dragged his chair backwards loudly. The noise caught Alejandra's attention. She looked at Ivan. He stood up from the chair and left the dining room.
Alejandra had her eyes on him until he left the room. She felt bad she had to lie to him.
"Come and sit. Have breakfast with me." Patricia offered.
"Thank you, Mrs Patricia! But I'm already late for work. Plus I'm not that hungry." Alejandra declined as she glanced at Nicolas, who too, was leaving the dining room.
"You want to leave on an empty stomach. Won't you have at least a little bite?" Patricia persuaded.
"No, Mrs Patricia. I'll have something to eat at the coffee shop." Alejandra said.
"Okay. You better go otherwise they might leave without you." Patricia hinted.
Alejandra smiled at her warmly and left the dining room. She walked through the archway to the door. She opened it and left the house. She couldn't see Nicolas' car from where she stood.
"Did they really leave?" She thought.
Alejandra walked further away from the house and noticed the fountain wasn't running. She stood in front of it and heard a familiar car horn behind her. She turned to the side and saw Nicolas' car. He parked it beside the entrance of the garden. She walked to the car and got in.
Alejandra fastened her seatbelt. Nicolas turned on the ignition and drove out of the compound. The car had its usual silence. Neither father or son were talking to each other. The only sound that could be heard was the usual–the scrunching of the tyres on the gravel.
Alejandra got tired of the silence and decided to do something out of the box.
"Neither of them talks to each other. Wow, I heard people love silence but not this much. I'll have to do something." She thought as she glanced at Ivan, who had his gaze at the backseat window.
"Starting a conversation with them won't hurt."
"So..." Alejandra said out loud, trying to get attention,
"How long before we get to Ivan's school?"
"We would've been there ten minutes ago if someone hadn't delayed us." Nicolas replied sternly.
"My alarm didn't go off." Alejandra explained.
Nicolas didn't reply and continued driving.
"Okay. Wrong subject!" She muttered.
"Ivan,"
Alejandra paused and looked at him. She couldn't tell whether he was happy or sad.
"... your grandmother tells me you like drawing."
Ivan wasn't paying attention to what she was saying. When he saw a familiar landmark, he knew he was close to school.
"I was thinking you could show me some of your drawings when we get home. I would be..."
Before Alejandra could complete her sentence, Ivan got out of the car as soon as Nicolas pulled over at his school. He slammed the door and walked on the pathway.
"...glad to see them."
Alejandra watched Ivan enter the building. She only wanted to be friends but he clearly doesn't want to be close to her.
"What were you trying to do?" Nicolas asked as he stepped on the accelerator pedal and drove away from the premises.
"I was only trying to talk to him. That's all." She replied calmly.
"It's best if you leave things the way they are." He said airily.
"Then how am I supposed to be a good daughter-in-law and mother to Ivan?" Alejandra blurted.
"That's because you're not his mother." Nicolas said bluntly,
"I don't think you'll ever be. I don't want to get his hopes up once this is over."
Alejandra felt hurt. She didn't know why his words affected her badly. She only wanted to help but ended up being hurt instead. She managed to keep her cool and hid her emotions from Nicolas. She heaved sadly.
The car became silent again. Nicolas pulled over the shop front. He waited for her to get out. Alejandra got out. She held the door open, ready to close it.
"Can you go home by yourself?" Nicolas asked, looking at her.
Alejandra shook her head and closed the door.
"Stop by the office when the shop closes. We'll go home together. Don't be late." He said sternly.
Alejandra heard what he said and walked to the shop. She was about to open the door when someone did it before she could.
"Hey!" Irene said and saw the sad look on her face.
"Hi!" Alejandra replied airily, hiding her sadness.
Irene sensed something wasn't right with her.
"Are you-?"
"Don't ask!" Alejandra replied sharply, cutting her off.