Soy Alícia Sierra

21. Uphill

Dear readers, I am finally back, it took me longer than expected, I was caught up in the emotional turmoil the new episodes brought with them :D I hope you are still there! This chapter is a little shorter, but I didn't want to leave you with nothing much longer. Enjoy!

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Madrid, 2017

"Todo bien?" Germán asked confused as his wife stormed in, barely giving him time to step aside and let her pass.

Her lack of response was the answer he needed to know.

Alícia hung her coat and left the suitcase containing clothes for her as well as for Germán on a corner before acknowledging his presence for the first time. The redhead sighed in defeat as she took in his bewildered expression and rethought her attitude, even leaning in for a kiss. "How is he?" She wanted to know but was afraid she wouldn't like what her husband had to say.

To her surprise his eyes lightened up and he managed a smile. "According to the doctors, better than expected." Alícia looked up at him, relieved. "Last time I checked he was sleeping."

"Oh, he is already home?" Finally some good news. She didn't even wait for his confirmation to dash towards where her father-in-law probably was. At the top of the stairs she met Célia, who looked tired but serene, almost relieved, as if they had already been through the worst of the storm. She had just closed the door of the master bedroom behind her.

"Alícia, hija!" She was glad but equally surprised to see her daughter-in-law there. Apparently Germán had not mentioned anything. "How are you?" The woman went on before Alícia could say anything. "What is happening down there in Madrid? Why haven't they caught their leader yet?"

The redhead made an effort not to sound impatient or impolite. The least she wanted was to talk about the assault. Not then, not later. In fact she didn't want to have anything to do with it at all anymore. At this point the only person she could care about in all this was Raquel, and she was no longer able to do anything about their situation anyway. Besides, other matters were way more pressing at the moment; she was now much more needed somewhere else.

"They didn't tell me much," the redhead explained truthfully. Indeed she wasn't lying; most of what she knew she had found out by herself in just one morning. "I know what you know." While this was not entirely true, it was the only answer that would prevent the other woman from asking further. "Can I see Augusto?"

To her relief, Célia didn't insist on the subject. "Claro. He even asked about you a while ago. Be gentle on him, he is still somewhat disoriented about what happened."

Alícia couldn't think of anything that she could do that would upset her father-in-law. On the contrary; they had always had a special bond and he would most likely be very glad to see her. Still she nodded and gave Célia a reassuring smile as she proceeded to knocking on the door gently, observing the older woman go while she waited for any reply.

"Si?" A faint voice came from the other side, but loud enough for Alícia to hear. She opened the door carefully and peeked inside. "Soy yo."

The man beamed with delight at the sight of her. "Mi pelirroja favorita," he said while making a visible effort to sit straight in the bed.

"No, Augusto, please," she run up to him. "They will kill me if they find out I am disturbing you," she winked and both laughed. He moved slightly aside to make room for her.

"I want to see you properly. Como estás, hija?" That was her father-in-law. Other people's wellbeing was always more important than his own. No wonder Germán was no different. How could have she deserved to be part of such a good family?