Chapter 3 BELLA CONFESSES HER GREATEST FEAR TO MARIA

ALEXANDER

Today Bella is turning 9 I asked her what she wanted for her birthday and she told me she wanted a day only with me, because I never have time for her. This hurts me because I know it is true, I never give attention to my little princess, it is so hard even after 9 years I miss Leticia so much and every time I look at her I remember her mother, Belinda is every day more like her mother. But I know she is not to blame. Most of the time she is at boarding school, well not exactly she can come home and go to school every day, but she almost always stays there, because I lead this bohemian life every day with a woman, I would never allow them to get close to my daughter. Today I decided to take the day off to celebrate the birthday with my princess even though I am sad because it is the anniversary of the death of my Leticia, I will make the effort to pick her up from school to have lunch and have a very special day - phone rings - please call me back.

Xx - Please is this Mr. Mesquita's house?

Alex - Is that really him, who am I speaking to?

XX - How nice Mr. Mesquita, this is Sister Fabiana from Santa Clara College, could you please come over?

Alex - Did something happen, Sister?

Sister Fabiana - It's just that your daughter is not feeling very well, she fainted in the middle of class, but rest assured it is nothing serious, the doctor has already seen her. But she is asking to see you and the doctor also needs to talk to you.

Alex - I'm coming right now sister," he takes the car keys and goes towards the school.

AUTHOR

At the school infirmary, Maria enters to see Bella.

Sister Cecilia - Could I stay with this princess for a while?

Sister Cecilia - But your students?

Maria - Sister Fabiana is there with them, I asked her to bring the singing class forward.

Sister Cecilia - There, my little saint, Fabiana and those children alone are going to set fire to this school, I am going there with them.

Maria - Don't exaggerate little sister - Sister Cecilia goes towards Maria's room - My princess, how are you feeling?

Bella - I am better now, Aunt Mah, but I want my daddy.

Bella - He will be here soon, they have already called him to come

Bella - I doubt it auntie, he never has time for me, I hardly ever see him

Maria - Oh princess don't talk like that, your father must be a very busy man, he must work a lot.

Bella - No auntie, he does not like me

Dulce - Don't talk like that Bella, he is your father of course he likes you - Alex arrives and listens to the conversation.

Belinda - No auntie he does not like me because I killed my mother

Maria - Don't talk nonsense princess, I am sure that your father loves you very much, he just works hard and you did not kill your mother, I have told you several times, what happened to your mother was an accident, it is not your fault, many mothers go to heaven when they have their little children.

Bella - Aunty did you know that today is my birthday?

Maria - Yes, I know, yours and Dani's, isn't it great that you and your best friend have the same birthday?

Bella - Yes, it is, very nice, it is as if we were twins, born on the same day, ne tia. Auntie, I wish I could spend my birthday with my dad, with you and Dani. Dani has been so sad since her mommy started getting sick

Alex - Daughter! How are you, Daddy's little princess?

Bella - Dad - gets up and runs to hug her father

Maria - I think there has been a miracle cure around here - laughs - pleasure my name is Maria, Bella's teacher

Alex - It is my pleasure, Alexander Mesquita, so you are Auntie Mah that my daughter talks so much about? Dani's aunt, her little friend?

Maria - Guilty - laughs - well, now that you have arrived I will leave you alone. Princess, your aunt is going back to the room, then I will deliver your gift together with Dani, we were going to deliver it at lunch, but since you are going with your father, then Dani and I will deliver it

Alex - Don't you and your niece want to have lunch with us? I don't want to hear my daughter saying that she would like to spend the day with you and that today is Dani's birthday too.

Maria - You don't need to call me ma'am, you can call me Mah, but I don't know, today is Dani's birthday, my sister is hospitalized but she will want to see her daughter.

Bella - Please auntie, shall we go? We will go to the hospital to see Aunt Annie, I know Dani can't stay there for long because she is a child, let's make her day a little bit happier, she is so sad.

Alex - Yeah let's go, I will take you to the hospital later, we can go wherever you girls want, today I have the whole day off to do whatever my princess wants.

Bella - Really? She jumps on her father's lap

Alex - Yes daughter, isn't this the gift you asked me for? I want you to know that I love you very much and that you are not to blame for what happened to your mother, I am sorry if sometimes I stay away from you, but your auntie over there is right, daddy works hard to give you everything.

Bella - And all those girlfriends in the magazines