"With no sadness, no tears, a Merry Christmas to all of us, fighting women!" declared Rosa Paula in a loud voice as she raised her glass of wine and toasted with her niece and Raquel.

Raquel wiped away the tears from her eyes.

"Cheers!" Her gaze met Francisca's.

The niece got up and fetched small presents that were underneath the twinkling little Christmas tree.

"Auntie, the dinner was spectacular, thank you!" Francisca said in a voice that was already tinged with wine.

She placed the presents on the table illuminated by candles and a red tablecloth.

"For my aunt!" She threw a light package to her.

Rosa Paula revealed her most genuine smile.

"Oh, girl, come to your senses, I didn't want presents!" She laughed, "But what a beautiful scarf, thank you so much, Chica!"

Francisca took a smaller box in her hands and handed it to Raquel.

"For you, if you don't like it, I don't know what to do!" She nervously laughed.

Raquel couldn't hide the joy on her face as she unwrapped a delicate intertwined gold bracelet.

"It was my mother's, it suits you more than it does me!" She sighed.

"I love it, come here and give me a hug, I have nothing for you!" She said uncertainly and approached her lover to give her a hug that was more than just a hug, as if a kiss was suspended in the air.

"Your friendship is enough!" Francisca said with a twinkle in her eye.

Rosa Paula got up and fetched a present for Francisca.

"So you won't say that the baby Jesus didn't remember you!" Rosa said.

Francisca opened the present, a black beret that made her very happy, and hugged her aunt. Throughout the night, the three women told stories, laughed, and experienced a warm Christmas without tears, no matter how difficult it was.

That Christmas was a feeling of security, warmth, family, and anchor, where three women with painful pasts and presents merged in love, in a feminine home of freedom where Rosa Paula anchored Francisca and Raquel.