Four Years Later
"Sof!" Alfonso wailed dramatically.
The next second, he had Sofía lifted in a crushing bear hug.
She couldn't hold it in tears spilled freely down her cheeks. It had been years. Years since they had stood face to face like this. Phone calls were never the same. Laughter through a screen could never replace warmth.
She had told him about Fernando four years into her marriage and not even willingly. She hadn't been ready. But Fernando had walked in on her call with Alfonso, plucked the phone from her hand, and coolly introduced himself.
As her husband.
Alfonso had gone completely silent.
Then Fernando had casually informed him about their two children.
Alfonso had scolded Sofía thoroughly afterward for hiding something so huge but he hadn't been shocked. Not truly. Years ago, Fernando had once answered her phone and introduced himself as her boyfriend. Alfonso had suspected since then. He recognized the voice.
Fernando Ruiz.
Her former teacher.
