“Finally, Carmen,” Elena said. “Finally.”
They spent the morning together handling the practical side of things. Bills were settled. Documents were organized into a clear folder. A notebook was prepared with account numbers, certificates, and contact information.
Carmen was not vanishing. She was leaving the way a grown woman leaves — with everything in order and her affairs her own.
She also called a licensed pet boarding facility near the city. There was availability. She reserved two places for one month, under her son’s name, and arranged for the confirmation to be sent directly to his email address.
When Daniel called that afternoon to tell her how exhausted they were and how much they needed the vacation, she listened quietly until he mentioned leaving her a feeding schedule and a list of instructions for the dogs.
Not once did he ask whether she was available. Not once did he ask whether she had plans of her own.
She ended the call with a noncommittal reply that he did not bother to examine.
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