Lucía nodded.
“Of course.”
As Esperanza passed, Mother Caridad touched her arm.
“We will speak again soon.”
Esperanza gave a tired smile.
“Please do not decide everything without me.”
“I will not.”
It was a promise, and Mother Caridad intended to keep it.
Once they were alone, she led Doctor Paloma to her office.
The strip of medical tape still lay on the handkerchief.
Paloma examined it more closely.
“There is something beneath the adhesive.”
She angled it toward the light.
A tiny blue thread clung to one corner.
Mother Caridad stared at it.
“The infirmary blankets are blue.”
“So are the old curtains in the guest rooms.”
“The guest rooms are locked.”
“Who has the keys?”
“I do. Sister Beatriz has a second set.”
“Anyone else?”
Mother Caridad thought.
“Mother Inés kept a private ring of keys. After her death, they were never found.”
Paloma sat down.
“There is something more.”
Mother Caridad did not respond. She had expected as much.
“The night before Esperanza told you she was pregnant with Tomás, she was brought to my clinic.”
Mother Caridad’s expression changed.
