The warm evening breeze stirred the whispers of the treetops and caressed Isabel's pale skin. The young woman rocked slowly in the chair on the porch, trying to maintain a steady rhythm that would soothe little Manuel.
Isabel began to hum and then sing an old lullaby that Clara, Leónidas' mother, used to calm her cousins. Despite the lifetime that had passed since those days, the lyrics came to her mind with complete clarity. It seemed as though Clara had returned and was whispering the words in her ear."Rest, child, rest.It's time to sleep.My child, sun and hope,I am here for you.The moon lights up your dreamsAnd rocks you with its light.It soothes you, gives you comfort,In the sky so blue.Stars, tell him the storyThat one day I told you.The one of warriors and abysses,Princesses and their love.The story will surround you,You will be the hero.Enter that world.Rest, you will see.Dream, my brave child.Dream of who you will be.Fight dragonsAnd rescue a lady."Isabel stopped, embarrassed, when she noticed her husband standing in the doorway."You sing beautifully. Don't stop," Roberto asked, approaching her carefully so as not to wake the baby."He's already asleep," she excused herself."I'll soon have to travel to the city and plan to take Esteban with me," he said in a low voice."Who will you leave in charge of the estate?" she asked, rocking the baby."I was hoping you would take charge, but if you don't want to, I could ask one of your cousins," Roberto added."No, I'll do it. When my father was away, I used to take care of his plantations," she admitted."Then I'm sure you'll do well. Maybe when I return, you can keep helping me with the fields. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with so much work," he said."I'd love to help," Isabel said sincerely."Thank you so much, dear! You're like an angel God sent to take care of me. Don't stay out too late; it will soon get cold," Roberto exclaimed and kissed his wife's forehead.Isabel watched him until he disappeared inside the house. Perhaps for someone else, that offer wouldn't have meant much, but she was filled with happiness. Not long ago, she had believed that getting married was the end of her dreams, but she was starting to think she had been wrong. Without knowing it, her husband had made her the happiest woman in the world.That night during dinner, Roberto told his brother that soon they would both leave for the city and that Isabel would stay in charge of the estate. Esteban agreed eagerly, looking forward to reuniting with his lifelong friends. Isabel tried to conceal her joy by focusing on the food, but it was almost impossible to hide the smile that kept trying to appear on her face. She didn't want Roberto and his brother to think that being in charge meant everything to her. She believed that for some reason, men always tended to crush women's dreams. It was better for her husband to think she was just doing him a favor.When the candles were extinguished in the house, Roberto approached her in bed, seeking her affection. It was the first time since Manuelito's conception that he sought her that way, and she had no intention of rejecting him. Part of her was beginning to long for his caresses and kisses. The mere contact with his skin made her feel cherished, as if she really mattered to him."I love you. I couldn't live without you," he whispered in her ear.Isabel was starting to think he might be sincere, and she didn't resist when he began to undress her."Kiss me," Roberto asked, and she timidly approached his lips.He deepened the kiss and wrapped her in an embrace, making her feel safe. He let Isabel guide that magical encounter, following her pace and rhythm.A first ray of sun chased away the shadows in the room and found them sleeping embraced. When Isabel woke up, she realized her head was resting on Roberto's chest, and she couldn't help but blush, remembering the passionate encounter of the previous night. She sat up and looked at her husband, who gazed at her with half-closed eyes."Good morning, dear," he said, yawning and stretching.He was unkempt and unshaven, yet he still retained his elegance."How did you sleep?" she asked, covering her breasts with the sheets."Never in my life have I slept so well," he admitted, and she gave him a shy smile.He sat up in bed and kissed her shoulder tenderly. Until that moment, Isabel had thought love only existed in the books her younger sister used to read, but Roberto turned out to be much better than she had imagined. She could feel how, little by little, this man was winning her heart. Perhaps the older women were right, and love was something that was built over time.That day, Roberto introduced her to the field workers not just as his wife but as the new overseer of the estate. Isabel hoped that her being a woman wouldn't be a problem for the workers to obey and respect her orders. She was determined to give her best to make Águila Calva, her estate, as prosperous as La Rosa. She wondered how her uncle Óscar would react when he learned about her new responsibilities as the lady of the place.