The rich don't Cry

Chapter 11

Shopping took longer than necessary. Elisa planned to arrive at home early and prepare dinner in advance. Dinner was made to celebrate Juan's birthday, and they had invited some close friends to spend a quiet evening. When she got home, she noticed that Juan already had some details quite ahead. He wasn't there so she could thank him, so she went into the kitchen near the stove.

Elisa heard the door opening and closing. After a few seconds, Juan entered the kitchen and greeted her with a kiss. Secretly, he tried to chop down everything he could before being discovered by Elisa, who reprimanded him for his possible lack of appetite at dinner.

"You're the boss, but I think it would help you to know if it's good."

"Nice try, but no," said Elisa. "Was anyone home?"

"Yes, Barbara. Your parents weren't there. So, she received Maria. We'll have the house for ourselves."

The guest group was small, easy to handle. Juan didn't have many friends. This was why it was always easy to invite them without forgetting someone. In the middle of the conversation and laughter, Elisa rose and went to the kitchen for more entrées and the doorbell rang. Juan, who had risen to help her, offered to open the door. Elisa thought they were all there, so, surprised, she asked her husband who it was.

"Must be Veronica and Alex."

The initial surprise paralyzed Elisa. Luckily, she regained her attention fast enough to prevent some utensils from falling on the floor. Juan went to the entrance and invited the new guests to take their place among the others. Elisa brought in the new entrées and greeted her sister with the best smile she could offer at that moment. Immediately after, she looked at her brother-in-law and welcomed him.

Dinner went on normally, Alex barely uttered a word, although he supported all the comments of his wife. Many of those times, he could barely understand the subject in question. Veronica was completely devoted to the night and, as usual, managed to catch the attention of all those present. Juan, who was the most delighted person in the family with the change in Veronica's attitude, joyously enjoyed her anecdotes.

Taking advantage of the slight break after dinner, Elisa proposed to pass to dessert. Juan and Veronica offered to help with the distribution, and although Alex tried to avoid it, his wife's insistence in calling him from the kitchen forced him to go after them and offer his help.

"Alex!" exclaimed Veronica, as he reached the kitchen.

"No, Veronica," Elisa tried to intervene.

"Allow me," said Juan. "You see, Alex, Elisa didn't want to, but I just let it slip in front of your wife... Elisa tried to hide it from me, but he was starting to notice it and... we're going to be parents!"

"Wow!" said Alex, as he set his eyes on Elisa.

In the background, Alex was still listening to Juan tell the incredible news. The excitement of giving Mary a little sister or brother was a great blessing to him. The eight weeks of pregnancy mentioned by Juan were enough for Alex to guess the reason for the tense attitude he noticed in Elisa. He knew she was thinking the same thing, and it might be the reason she didn't look at him again all night long.

When the guests left, Juan approached his sister-in-law and asked for a moment of her time.

"You must be very happy," Veronica said, as she kept some leftovers on the kitchen counter.

"Yes, see, I am going on a work trip for two weeks. I wanted to ask you to take care of Elisa. Now that..." Juan thought of adding "...you get along well," but he changed his mind and said, "Now that she's pregnant."