"When you left, she told us Rosa was poor because she didn't know how to obey. That if we loved her too much, you'd kick her out. That if we cried, she'd say we were spoiled brats."
Martina added through tears:
"And she locked me in the laundry room once because I spilled juice."
Emiliano felt his knees buckle.
"When?"
Rosa closed her eyes.
Daniela replied:
"The day you went to Monterrey. Rosa let her out."
Patricia shouted:
"They're just kids! They're making things up!"
Then Rosa spoke, for the first time without looking down.
"They're not making things up. I have pictures of Martina's bruises from when she fell trying to get out. I didn't say anything because Miss Patricia threatened to report me for theft and because you were never around, sir."
That sentence was worse than any insult.
You were never there.
Emiliano looked at his daughters.
