Abel saw her try to smile without reaction, but he didn’t miss the way her eyes widened. He’d get his mom in and out ASAP because now that he knew Nellie didn’t object to moving in with him, he could really talk to her about his other plans.

~*~

Of course, Abel had been right. It was his mom and she came bearing gifts. Freshly made sopa de fideo was the first. She said it was easy on the stomach in case her appetite wasn’t one-hundred percent yet and she used the pasta shaped as letters. “It was Abel and Hector’s favorite when they were kids.” She smiled as she set the tray with the bowl of sopa in front of Nellie. “But even now Hector still asks for his sopa all the time. Charlee even asked me to show her how to make it. It’s very easy.” She lifted her brows at Nellie.

Nellie smiled knowingly. “It was one of my favorites growing up, too, Mrs. Ayala. My mom taught me and my siblings early on how to make it.”

Mrs. Ayala waved her hand in front of her. “Oh, no, I told you already. It’s Carolina, but you can call me Caro.”

Smiling, Nellie nodded and glanced up at Abel, who was leaning against the doorway watching them with a cautious smile. Caro sat down on the bed next to Nellie and touched her forehead. “How are you feeling? You look a lot better.”

“I feel a lot better.” Nellie nodded.

“Mijo,” Caro looked around then up at Abel, “I meant to bring a box I had for Nellie, but I must’ve left it on the kitchen counter when I grabbed the sopa. If it’s not there, then maybe it’s in my room on my dresser. Go get it and bring it to me, por favor.”

Abel started off, and Caro seemed to wait until she heard the front door close. She reached into the front pocket of her apron and pulled out a small box. “He’s not gonna find it, but I wanted a moment alone with you.” Caro smiled and looked down at the box in her hand. “My late husband had only one brother. Like my sons, they were very close. My husband was the older of the two and also the first to fall in love. My mother-in-law, who’s also passed now, sat me down one day after I’d been dating her son for some time and told me she knew I owned her son’s heart. She’d waited until she was sure and gave me this.”

Caro tugged at the heart-shaped stone pendant hanging around her neck. “It’s Fire Agate. I personally don’t believe that gemstones have healing powers or promote well-being, but she was one of those people who did, and she said this particular stone was supposed to deflect ill wishing and harm.” Caro waved her hand in front of her with a smirk. “But she also said it represented her son’s heart. She’d waited until she was certain I owned his completely and wanted me to have it. She said her mother-in-law had done the same with her. She later gave one to my sister-in-law when my brother-in-law fell in love. I really liked the gesture and always said I would do the same one day.”

Caro opened the small box with two heart-shaped stone pendants much like hers on chains. She pulled one out and smiled. “I bought these years ago, one for each of my boy’s hearts.” As their eyes met, Nellie forced herself to hold in the emotion she’d begun to feel. “The only reason I haven’t given Charlee hers is because Hector is still so young.” She shook her head and laughed. “But I can see now that I’ve been in denial all this time. That güerita owns his heart completely. She has for some time. And you . . .” She smiled, touching Nellie’s face. “I’ll admit I had my reservations in the beginning.” She shrugged. “Noah and Roni are living proof that age has no bearing on true love. And how can I not be pleased that my Abel has found someone who makes him so incredibly happy? It almost scares me how hard he’s fallen.” She patted then squeezed Nellie’s knee over the blankets. “Please, promise me you’ll never hurt him.”

“Never,” Nellie whispered, barely able to speak because she was so choked up.

Shaking her head, Caro exhaled before continuing. “And please take care of yourself. My God, when you were in the hospital, for the first time in my life, I had no idea how to console my son. I’d never seen him so desperate.”

With her heart once again aching for what she’d put Abel through, Nellie nodded and inhaled deeply before speaking. “I promise. My asthma hasn’t gotten that bad in a long time. For the most part, I know how to keep it under control. The circumstances this time were just . . .”

“I know.” His mom agreed quickly. “I know.” She then handed Nellie the pendant. “Take this, Mija. His heart is yours forever. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.” She laughed, looking down at the box with the other pendant. “Well, that, and who owns this one too.”

Nellie smiled, taking the pendant. And she had to agree that, as young as Hector and Charlee were, those two were definitely as hopelessly in love as Nellie now felt. She pulled the chain over her neck, feeling the sudden need to wear it. “Thank you, Caro. This means so much to me.” She knew now with complete certainty exactly what Charlee had been talking about. “I promise you. Your son owns my heart completely too.”

She hadn’t even heard the front door open, but Abel walked in just as Nellie and Caro were hugging. “I couldn’t find—” He stopped as he walked in, his expression somewhat concerned. “What did I miss here? Everything okay?”

“Everything is perfect,” Nellie said as Caro stood from the bed.