They both burst out laughing. Just then, Alma arrived with her sheet of paper.
“Do you want to see it?”
She had drawn two little houses, one next to the other, with a rainbow above them and little paths connecting them.
“This is where my mom and dad live. In different houses, but we’re close. Do you understand?”
Tomás and Leticia exchanged glances. The simplicity of that little drawing resonated with them more than any conversation they’d had.
“Of course we understand, honey,” Tomás told her.
“Can we put it on your fridge, Mommy?
” “Of course, sweetheart!”
Alma ran off happily. Tomás turned to Leticia.
“I think we’re doing alright.”
“No, but we can’t let up even a little bit.”
The following weekend they kept their promise of a sleepover at Leticia’s house. There were movies, popcorn, and pillows scattered all over the living room. Santiago chose an action movie.
Alma pulled out her lucky blanket. Tomás ordered some pizzas. Leticia made herself some hot chocolates. Seeing them laughing hysterically, sharing the same blanket, arguing over who would get the last slice of pizza… they were just little things, but they were worth their weight in gold because they were so close to losing them forever.
That night, after the kids had fallen asleep, Tomás started putting on his sneakers.
“Are you leaving already?” Leticia asked from the kitchen.
“Yeah, it’s getting late.
” “You can stay on the couch if you want. You know how Alma gets in the middle of the night if she wakes up and doesn’t see you.”
Tomás thought about it for a moment. Then he tossed his sneakers aside.
“Okay, fine. But just for today.
” “Just for today,” she repeated.
They both sat down on the sofa, each with their cup of hot chocolate. The TV was still on, but muted. Outside, the city’s hustle and bustle continued, but inside, everything was peaceful, and that was more than enough for them.
Early Monday morning, Tomás was awakened by the sound of little footsteps crossing the living room. He opened his eyes and saw Alma standing in front of the sofa, hugging her doll.
“Daddy, did you stay the night?
” “Yes, my darling. Your mommy let me stay in case you woke up during the night.
” “That’s great! I thought you’d already left.”
She climbed onto the sofa and curled up next to him. Tomás gave her a big hug without saying a word. The house was still very quiet. Santiago was still fast asleep, and Leticia hadn’t left her room.
A little while later, Leticia appeared in her pajamas, coffee in hand.
“Good morning.
” “Good morning,” Tomás replied without moving a muscle. “How did you sleep?”
“Much better than I thought. Your couch is pretty sturdy.”
Leticia chuckled softly.
Alma stretched.
“Can we have pancakes for breakfast?
” “What do you think?” Leticia replied. “Of course, absolutely!”
Alma rushed out to help her brother up. Tomás stood up and helped her set the table. There was a really strange vibe between them, but it was cool. They weren’t officially dating, but they weren’t exactly strangers either; it was something in between, built on mutual respect, tending to each other’s scrapes, and fitting into their daily routine.
As they were deep into breakfast, Santiago spoke through a mouthful of food.
“Hey, what if we do this every Monday?
” “You know, having breakfast together?” Leticia asked.
“Sure! All four of us, before we head off to school.”
Tomás and Leticia exchanged glances.
“We can give it a try,” he said.
“Oh, but only if you help us clean up afterward,” she added.
The kids clapped excitedly.
Later, already in the car, Tomás was taking the kids to school and Leticia was in the passenger seat.
“I have to tell you something,” she said, looking out the window.
“Go ahead.
” “The psychologist told me I can start planning outings with the kids on my own now. Picking them up, taking them to the park… without them checking up on us.
” “Awesome!”
“Yeah, but I swear I’m terrified. Not for them, but for me. That I might mess up again.”
Tomás slowed down when they reached the stop sign.
“We’ll always be scared, Leticia. The good thing is that now you know how to ask people for help, you don’t go it alone anymore.
” “It’s just that I don’t want to lose them again.”
“Well, keep at it like you have been, one step at a time.”
Leticia nodded. The light turned green and they took off.
That same afternoon, Tomás received a call from school. It was Santiago’s teacher.
“Mr. Gutiérrez, I wanted to tell you something. Today we did a little project where the children had to draw their families. Santiago finished in no time.
” “Everything alright, teacher?”
“Yes, great. He drew two houses and put little arrows going from one to the other. Mrs. Leticia already put you in each house, and he and his little sister in the middle. When I asked him what he thought of his drawing, he said, ‘This is how we live: in two houses, but all together, because my parents aren’t fighting anymore.’”
A big smile spread across Tomás’s face.
“Thanks for letting me know, teacher.
” “I just wanted you to know. I thought it was a really nice thing to do.”
When he hung up, Tomás remained silent for a moment, taking in the shock. Then he started looking on his phone for a recent photo: it showed the four of them in the park, laughing hysterically, having a snow cone.
She looked at him and thought, “Well, maybe they’re not my dream family, but they’re the family I decided to take on .” And honestly, at the end of the day, that was all that mattered.
A year later, things were very different. There was no longer that anxiety at goodbyes, nor that bad feeling when the children were handed over. Santiago and Alma went from one place to another between their parents’ houses as if nothing had changed. They had two beds, two pairs of pajamas, two pens… but only one family.
Leticia remained committed to her job at the stationery store; that schedule allowed her to be fully present for her children. She continued with therapy, going once a month purely for pleasure; it was no longer just for show, but to continue finding inner peace. She had recovered something she swore she had lost: the trust of her kids and her own.
Tomás was still the boss of his business, but he no longer stayed glued to the office until late at night. He learned to let go of work, to shut down his computer at a reasonable hour, and to be truly present. Weekends were no longer just for recovering from the grind of work; now they were real time with the kids: they’d have movie marathons, go for walks in the parks, do homework, and create chaos out of nowhere. He realized that true peace of mind wasn’t about trying to control everything by force, but about having the strength to endure what truly mattered when everything else was coming crashing down on him.
Thursdays had become a tradition for them to have breakfast together. They alternated: one week at Leticia’s house, the next at Tomás’s. Toast, fruit, and scribbled leaves scattered across the table. No one ever missed a meeting, and no one was ever late.
At school, the kids were doing great. Their grades improved, they were more energetic, and more self-confident. Santiago spoke openly and without shame about his “family with two houses.” Alma boasted to everyone that she had a mom who knew all the songs and a dad who was a whiz in the kitchen.
One Sunday, after a long bike ride, the four of them lay down on the grass in the park, relaxing, with no plans and no rush.
“Hey, do you remember when things were really bad?” Santiago asked, looking at the clouds.
“Yeah,” Leticia replied, “but I also remember when things started to get better.”
“Like when you stayed over at our house, Dad?” Alma chimed in, hugging her battered doll tightly.
Tomás turned to look at his kids, and then at Leticia. They didn’t have to say a word. They weren’t the kind of family you see in commercials, but they were a real family. The kind that has its share of hardships, that carries its history with it, that remembers where it comes from, and that, every single day, gives it its all to do things as best it can.
Because, after all the hard knocks they took, they finally realized that loving someone properly isn’t always easy… but honestly, it’s always, always worth it.
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