Chapter 8 - The Bougainvillea Wall
The mountain air of Tepoztlán was cool, sweet, and smelled of wild pine and damp earth.
Nestled at the foot of the ancient Tepozteco cliffs, the Santillán family farm sat surrounded by lush green valley views. The house was built in traditional Mexican colonial style—thick whitewashed adobe walls, dark wooden beams, terracotta roof tiles, and a massive central courtyard centered around an ancient stone fountain.
It was a Saturday afternoon.
In the courtyard, a long wooden table was set with colorful Talavera plates, clay jugs of fresh agua de horchata, and massive platters of homemade carnitas, fresh salsa, and warm tortillas.
Doña Rosa sat at the head of the table, wearing her best embroidered dress, laughing heartily as she chatted with Jonas—who had officially retired from corporate security to become the farm's head manager—and three of Valeria’s cousins from Iztapalapa.
Over by the stone fountain, Sofia—now two years old, wearing a tiny embroidered Mexican dress with ribbons in her dark curls—was chasing a golden retriever puppy across the grass, her happy screams echoing through the valley.
Valeria stood on the broad veranda, leaning against a wooden pillar, watching her family with a cup of warm chocolate in her hands.
Mateo walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Happy?" he whispered into her ear.
"If I were any happier, I think my heart would burst," Valeria smiled, leaning back against his chest. "Look at her, Mateo. Look how free she is."
They watched as Sofia tumbled onto the soft grass, giggling hysterically as the puppy licked her cheeks, while Doña Rosa hurried over to pick her up, smothering her in kisses.
"No mansions," Mateo murmured, kissing Valeria’s neck softly. "No press. No society galas. Just the mountains, the garden, and us."
"You know," Valeria said, turning around inside his arms, looking up into his dark eyes with a playful smirk. "The doctor said something interesting during my checkup yesterday."
Mateo blinked, his heart instantly leaping into his throat. "What? Is everything okay? Are you sick?!"
Valeria took his hand, slowly moving it down to rest over her belly.
"He said Sofia is going to need a bigger swing set in about seven months," she whispered, her eyes shining with tears of absolute joy.
Mateo stared at her, his jaw dropping, his mouth opening and closing like a fish for three full seconds.
"You're... you're pregnant?" he choked out.
"A boy this time," Valeria beamed, nodding happily. "We're having a son, Mateo."
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Mateo let out a roar of joy that echoed across the entire valley. He lifted Valeria completely off her feet, spinning her around in a circle on the veranda as she laughed hysterically, clutching his shoulders.
Doña Rosa and the family at the table looked up, bursting into applause and cheers as they realized what had just been announced.
