“They were supposed to be with their mother. She told me they were going somewhere with no cell service all weekend, and that I shouldn’t bother her. My son called me today. He said the little girl wouldn’t wake up and that they hadn’t eaten in days. That’s all I know.
” “And where is their mother right now?”
” “I have no idea. Her cell phone has been off since Friday.”
One of the social workers began writing everything down.
“Do you have joint custody?
” “Yes, it’s in the legal agreement. We alternate weeks. This week was her turn.”
“We’re going to have to file a report for abandonment, Mr. Gutiérrez.”
“Do what you have to do. I just want to know how my daughter is.”
The doctor returned shortly afterward.
“The girl is stable. She has a mild intestinal infection caused by dehydration and not eating. We’re going to keep her under observation. The good thing is that you arrived in time; one more day and the story would have been very different.”
Tomás finally released the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Santiago squeezed his hand.
“Can I see her?
“In a little while. She’s asleep right now, but she’s fine.
” “Yes.” Santiago nodded. “And my mom?”
Tomás didn’t know how to answer. He bent down and placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder.
“I don’t know yet, but we’ll find out.”
A few hours later, a nurse approached Tomás.
“Mr. Gutiérrez, we just received a report from the police. Your ex-partner was admitted to the general hospital early Saturday morning after a car accident. She was with a man who fled the scene. She was admitted as an unknown patient because she didn’t have any identification, but they’ve identified her now.
” “Is she alive?
” “Yes. Stable, but she’s sedated. She has fractures and a head injury. She’s recovering.”
Tomás closed his eyes for a moment. He felt the urge to scream or break something, but Santiago was standing right beside him.
“Can I see her?”
“You’ll have to wait until she wakes up. She can’t talk yet.”
Tomás stood up, pulled out his phone, and called his lawyer.
“Carlos, I need to start the custody proceedings. It’s urgent. I won’t let this happen again.”
“Send me the information, and we’ll file the paperwork first thing tomorrow.”
Tomás ended the call and looked at his son.
“We’re going to stay here, okay? Right near your sister.
” “Can I stay with you forever?”
Tomás looked straight at him.
“From today on, I’m not letting you go.”
Tomás spent the entire night sitting in a chair beside the hospital bed where Alma slept, connected to an IV drip. Santiago, already extremely exhausted, had fallen asleep in an armchair under a blanket a nurse had given him. Dawn was just breaking outside when the social worker returned.
“Mr. Gutiérrez, we need to ask you a few more questions. It’s part of the protocol.”
Tomás nodded without getting up.
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