“They were incomplete.”
“In what way?”
“The consent forms were photocopies. The signatures looked authentic, but the dates had been altered.”
Esperanza’s hand moved toward the pocket holding Tomás’s stone.
“Was my signature used?”
“Yes.”
She closed her fingers around the stone.
“From six years ago?”
“That is my belief.”
Mother Caridad’s voice became firm.
“How could repeated procedures occur based on an old signature?”
Serrano looked ashamed.
“They should not have.”
“But they did.”
“Yes.”
“Who submitted the documents?”
“A representative claiming to act on behalf of the convent.”
Mother Caridad sat straighter.
“Name.”
“Father Esteban.”
The room became still.
Esperanza looked at Elena.
“Did you speak to him?”
“Once.”
“When?”
“After Miguel was born.”
“What did he say?”
Elena’s eyes moved toward the window.
“He said you had made a private choice and that honoring it required silence.”
Esperanza’s face tightened.
“And you believed him?”
