From the outside of the nursing home, she could already see the big changes, but she didn’t expect that the changes inside were even bigger.
The last time Albina came, it looked like it was in ruins. The courtyard was large, but there were almost no flowers or plants. Flammable items were placed on the ground, and any carelessness could cause a fire.
But this time, it was noticeable that the house had been repaired and equipped with fire alarm devices, fire extinguishers and some other safety facilities.
The biggest change was the elderly, before, they sat numbly in the yard doing manual labor to earn some subsistence. Most of them were thin and looked like dying people who gave pity to anyone who saw them.
But this time, all the old people had put on weight and were sitting under the eaves doing simple jobs, but unlike last time, they were chatting with each other and looked happy.
It seemed that their lives had improved quite a bit in the last few months.
Umberto had warned the headmistress of his visit before coming, so as soon as the two entered, the headmistress greeted them from afar with a big smile.
She seemed very nice and friendly, all the sorrows she had had before had been taken away.
-Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Santangel.
Umberto returned her greeting and then asked her about the latest news from the asylum.
-Thanks to the help of the Santangel Group, now the elderly can eat and live well, I no longer need to worry about how I am going to maintain this asylum,” said the director in an affable tone as she looked at the elderly.
When she found Umberto looking at the cardboard boxes in the hands of the elderly, she explained:
-They are no longer working hard every day, they are just earning some petty cash when they feel like it, they are not compulsory jobs.
Umberto nodded, he had researched that director and knew she was a good person and had never abused the elderly, so he let the Santangel Group provide him with some funding.
-And where is Mrs. Espina?
After a while of conversation, Umberto asked about her.
The director looked at Albina, smiled and showed them the way, and when she reached a room, she said:
-Lady Espina is inside, I have already told her that you would come to see her, so she is aware of your visit.
Umberto nodded, and the director withdrew to attend to her work.
Umberto shook Albina’s hand, asking her opinion.
Albina took a deep breath and nodded.
-Let’s go in.
As they were about to knock, the door opened from the inside.
Mrs. Thorn came out looking well presented, wearing a dress that was a bit old, but very clean, and her hair was neatly combed.
If it had been before, she would have noticed only Umberto, but now she only looked at Albina and rubbed her fingers nervously.
-Good to see you here, please come in.
At once, he moved to let them in. After a long time, she pulled out a box of cookies and two milks from the cupboard.
She couldn’t find anything better, and Mrs. Thorn felt embarrassed:
-You must be tired coming here, please help yourselves to some of this, it’s the only thing I can find…..
Seeing the two of them standing in her dark and damp room, she could not go on with what she was going to say.
Umberto besides being an elite, was tall and very handsome, he looked like a prince of nobility.
Albina had very beautiful features and white skin, she wore a dress of simple design, she looked like a fantasy goddess.
Both of them had indifferent expressions that left Lady Thorn with a distant feeling.
At this moment, Mrs. Espina gave a sigh of regret, now she understood that if she had been good to Juan before and stopped Ramon and Alex’s misbehavior, maybe Juan would not have died so young.
With such an obedient and skillful son, she would surely be envied by many people.
But it was too late now, and she must suffer the consequence of what she did.
Albina and Umberto were also observing the room since they entered, it was old, dark and almost no sunlight came in, but it was clean and there was no bad smell. Mrs. Espina was also a person who took cleanliness very seriously.
Albina was confused to see that Mrs. Thorn seemed nervous and shy.
She remembered that her grandmother never treated her or her family well, she was always rude and greedy. Although she looked very different now, she couldn’t call her grandmother.
The impression she had left on him was lousy since childhood, plus she was also his father’s indirect murderer. He could not forgive her, but seeing her looking pitiful, he did not hate her as much as before.
Albina did not greet her and said directly:
-We are here to hand you the invitation of our engagement.
Saying this, she handed her the letter.
Lady Thorn was a little surprised to see the refined letter, she unconsciously took it, looked at the two of them and then asked in a low voice:
-Are they going to get engaged?
Albina nodded.
-Yes, that will be in a fortnight.
Mrs. Espina nodded her head several times.
-How nice, I congratulate them!
“It seems that the Santangel family already admitted Albina, otherwise they would not have accepted her engagement. When the whole family humiliated Albina, Umberto always defended her firmly, surely he can give Albina enough security and take care of her for the rest of her life.”
Mrs. Espina looked up and indeed, she saw Umberto was looking sideways at Albina with much love and tenderness.
Even though Madame Espina was already old, she could note that.
Mrs. Thorn smiled at Albina and carefully touched the invitation with her dry fingers. When she touched the silk-textured part, she stopped herself from scratching the invitation across her rough skin.
-I am glad you are marrying him, he will make a good husband.
Her voice was old and husky. Having said that, she stopped and looked at Albina shaking her head.
-I won’t go, I’m too old to be on that occasion, if you want you can send us some sweets and they will be enough for all the old people in the asylum.
Mrs. Thorn felt ashamed for having done so many wrongs to Albina, she really recognized that she didn’t deserve to attend her engagement party, besides, she didn’t want her image to affect Albina’s reputation.
Albina frowned.
-I understand your concern, I’ll have someone come pick you up when the time comes, and you don’t need to socialize with the others, just sit down and eat.
She knew what Mrs. Thorn was worried about, and she didn’t want her to feel pressured.
But Mrs. Thorn refused again.
Seeing her firm attitude, Albina pursed her lips and stopped insisting.
Although the two apparently got along well, they could never reconcile over bad memories anyway. If she went to her banquet, they would both feel uncomfortable.
For a moment no one spoke anymore and there was silence in the room.
Just then, Umberto’s phone rang, connected and Sergio’s voice came out.
-Umberto, where have you and Albina gone? The food is ready, come back for lunch.
The nursing home was a bit far from the Santangel family, and it would take more than an hour to get there. Umberto told him briefly where the two of them were and said to Sergio:
– Help yourselves, we’re not going to make it in time and I’ll take Albina out for a drink.
After hanging up the phone, Mrs. Espina said to them:
-It’s almost lunch time, go to town for lunch.
The letter was already delivered and Albina had nothing more to say to Mrs. Espina, so she looked at Umberto to leave.
As she walked towards the door, Albina paused and looked back, hesitated for a moment and asked quietly:
-Do you really not want to come?
Madame Espina did not expect him to ask again, and after a moment’s silence, she shook her head. -No, thank you.
Albina lowered her head and left with Umberto without saying anything.