Senor shook his head, his expression sad. "It is not pride. You are all I have left of her."
Alex looked befuddled. Evidently it wasn't at all the response he expected and his planned route was foiled. Carmen might be the only one in the room who was not surprised by his answer. She smiled at Senor Medena.
"Then you're saying that you would welcome your grandchild simply because it is part of the daughter you love?"
He looked comically trapped. It wasn't fair. They hadn't given him the opportunity to adjust to the idea before they were bombarding him with life altering decisions. Senor Medena was a proud man, but unless she missed her guess, he loved his children.
Alex recovered quickly and looked at Carmen, a glint of humor and approval in his eyes.
Senor turned his attention to Alex. "It is a sad thing to lose a friend of so many years." He shifted his attention to Alondra. "You have lost a love. Perhaps I was wrong to make such decisions for you only because you live in my house. I wanted much more for you." He shook his head and looked down. "And now this."
Alondra finally found her voice. Her hand gripped Carmen's as she faced him.
"I did not mean to bring shame on you papa. I will go away so no one will know."
Senor Medena jerked his head up and stared at her as if he couldn't believe what she was saying.
"You did not bring shame upon me. It is you who will bear this shame. You will not do so far away where I will never see my grandchild."
Alondra looked down at the table and her hand released Carmen's.
"Yes papa," she said in a meek voice.
Senor Medena frowned. "Perhaps I am the cause of this. Love makes us do things …" He glanced at Alex and shrugged.
Finally he pointed a finger at Carmen.
"This is a sad time to see you. Next time my son visits, I would like to see you also."
Things were going well until he said that. Carmen looked at Alex, who suddenly found the wood grain on the table interesting. Papa was fixing to be disappointed in his little prince.
Senor Medena stood. "There is one more thing. Alfonso has told me he wants to stay with me. It will be so."
Alex looked up at him and Senor gave him a stern look.
"You would do best to take care of your own problem now."