**A Millionaire Comes Home Early… and Can’t Believe What He Sees**
Alejandro Hernández was used to arriving home after 9 p.m., when everyone was already asleep. However, today the meeting with investors in Mexico City had ended earlier than expected, and he decided to go straight home without telling anyone. Upon opening the front door of his mansion in the Las Lomas neighborhood, Alejandro stopped, unable to process what he was seeing. In the middle of the living room, Lupita, the 28-year-old housekeeper, was kneeling on the wet floor with a rag in hand. But that was not what left him paralyzed.
It was the scene next to her. His son, Mateo, just four years old, was standing with his little purple crutches, holding a kitchen towel and trying to help the young woman clean the floor.
“Aunt Lupita, I can clean this part here,” the blonde boy said, stretching out his little arm with difficulty.
“Don’t worry, Mateo, you’ve already helped me a lot today. How about you sit on the sofa while I finish?” Lupita replied with a sweet voice that Alejandro had never heard before.
“But I want to help.” “You always say we are a team,” insisted the boy, trying to balance better on his crutches.
Alejandro stood there, unseen, observing the scene. There was something in that interaction that moved him in a way he couldn’t explain. Mateo was smiling, something he rarely saw at home.
“Alright, my little helper, but just a little more,” said Lupita, accepting the boy’s help.
It was then that Mateo saw his father in the doorway. His little face lit up, but there was a mix of surprise and fear in his blue eyes.
“Dad, you came home early!” exclaimed the boy, trying to turn quickly and almost losing his balance.
Lupita jumped up, startled, dropping the rag on the floor. She quickly dried her hands on her apron and lowered her head. “Good evening, Mr. Alejandro. I didn’t know you were home.”
“I was finishing cleaning,” she stammered, clearly nervous.
Alejandro was still processing the scene. He looked at his son, who was still holding the rag, and then at Lupita, who seemed to want to disappear.
“Mateo, what are you doing?” asked Alejandro, trying to keep calm in his voice.
“I’m helping Aunt Lupita, Dad. Look!” Mateo took a few wobbly steps toward his father, proud. “Today I could stand alone for almost five minutes!”
Alejandro looked at Lupita, searching for an explanation. The housekeeper kept her head down and twisted her hands nervously.
“Five minutes,” Alejandro repeated, surprised. “How is that?”
“Aunt Lupita teaches me exercises every day. She says that if I practice a lot, one day I’ll be able to run like the other kids,” Mateo explained enthusiastically.
Silence filled the room. Alejandro felt a mix of emotions he couldn’t identify: anger, gratitude, confusion. He looked at Lupita again. “Exercises?” he questioned.
Lupita finally looked up, her brown eyes filled with fear. “Mr. Alejandro, I was just playing with Mateo. I didn’t mean to do anything wrong. If you want, I can leave.”
“Aunt Lupita is the best!” Mateo interrupted, quickly moving to stand between the two adults. “Dad, Aunt Lupita is the best. She doesn’t give up on me when I cry because it hurts. She says I’m strong like a warrior.”
Alejandro felt something tighten in his chest. When was the last time he had seen his son so excited? When was the last time he had talked to him for more than five minutes?
“Mateo, go to your room. I need to talk to Lupita,” Alejandro said, trying to sound firm but gentle.
“But Dad…” “Now, Mateo.”
The boy looked at Lupita, who gave him an encouraging smile and a signal that everything was alright. Mateo walked away, limping with his crutches, but before disappearing up the stairs, he shouted, “Aunt Lupita is the best person in the world!”
Alejandro and Lupita were left alone in the living room. The businessman approached, noticing for the first time that the blue pants of the housekeeper were stained with moisture on the knees and her hands were red from scrubbing the floor.
“Since when does this happen?” he asked. “The exercises. Since when have you been doing exercises with Mateo?”
Lupita hesitated before answering. “Since I started working here, sir, about six months ago. But I swear I’ve never stopped doing my job for that. I do the exercises with him during my lunch hour or after I finish everything.”
“You don’t get paid extra for that,” Alejandro observed.
“No, sir, and I don’t ask for anything. I like playing with Mateo. He’s a special boy.”
“Special? How?” Lupita seemed surprised by the question. “What do you mean, sir?” “You said he’s special. Special how?”
Lupita smiled for the first time since Alejandro arrived. “He’s determined, sir. Even though the exercises are hard and he wants to cry, he doesn’t give up. And he has a huge heart. He’s always worried about whether I’m tired or sad. He’s a very loving boy.”
Alejandro felt that pressure in his chest again. When was the last time he had stopped to notice those qualities in his own son?
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“And the exercises, how do you know what to do?” Alejandro continued.
Lupita lowered her head again. “I have experience in that, sir.” “What kind of experience?”
There was a long pause. Lupita seemed to be struggling with what to say. “My younger brother, Carlos, was born with leg problems. I spent my entire childhood taking him to physical therapy, learning exercises and helping him walk. When I saw Mateo, I couldn’t just stand by and watch him be sad.”
“Sad?”
“Sir, with all due respect, little Mateo is very lonely. Mrs. Gabriela is always busy with her friends, and you, well, you work a lot. So I thought that maybe… maybe I could help,” she finished.
“Yes, sir, but if you don’t want me to, I’ll stop immediately. I just wanted to…” “What did you want, Lupita?”
She looked up, and for the first time, Alejandro saw determination in her eyes. “I wanted him to smile more, sir. A child should smile every day.”
Alejandro was silent for a moment. He thought about how many times he had seen Mateo smile in the past few weeks. He couldn’t remember any.
“Where is Gabriela?” he asked. “Mrs. Gabriela went out to dinner with her friends. She said she would be back late.” “And you stayed here with Mateo?” “Yes, sir. He had dinner, took a bath, we did the exercises, and I was finishing cleaning because he spilled juice in the living room. He wanted to help me clean.”
Alejandro looked around the living room, noticing for the first time how everything was spotless. The furniture shone, there wasn’t a speck of dust, and even the plants seemed livelier.
“Lupita, can I ask you a personal question?” “Of course, sir.” “Why do you work as a housekeeper? You clearly have knowledge of physical therapy. You’re good with children, you’re dedicated. Why don’t you work in healthcare?”
The question took Lupita by surprise. She smiled sadly. “Because I don’t have a diploma, sir. I learned everything by taking care of my brother, but that doesn’t count for anything official. And I need to work to support my family.”
“Your family?” “My mom and my brother, Carlos. He’s sixteen now. He studies in the morning and works in a small store in the afternoon. My mom cleans offices at night. We get by as best we can.”
Alejandro felt a strange mix of admiration and shame. Here was a twenty-eight-year-old woman working hard to support her family and still finding the time and energy to care for his son with love and dedication.
“And you never thought about studying, taking a physical therapy course?” Lupita laughed, but there was no joy in the sound. “With what money, sir? With what time? I leave home at six a.m., take two buses to get here by seven-thirty, work until six p.m., and take two buses back.”
“I get home at eight, help my brother with his homework, make dinner, and by the time I go to sleep, it’s almost midnight. On weekends, I clean other houses to earn extra money.”
Alejandro was silent, absorbing the information. He had no idea about his housekeeper’s life beyond the eight hours she spent in his home.
“Lupita, can I see the exercises you do with Mateo now?” “Yes, sir. If you want,” Lupita hesitated. “He’s already in pajamas, sir. And we usually do the exercises in the morning before his online classes.”
“In the morning?” “Yes, sir. I arrive at seven-thirty, prepare Mateo’s breakfast, and while you all are still sleeping, we have a session of exercises in the garden. After that, he bathes, has breakfast, and is ready for his classes.”
Alejandro realized he didn’t know anything about his own son’s routine. He left home at seven in the morning and always returned after nine at night. On weekends, he usually worked in his home office or attended business meetings.
“And does he like these exercises?” “He loves them, sir. At first, it was difficult because he felt pain, but now he asks to do them himself. Yesterday, he managed to stand without his crutches for almost three minutes straight.”
“Three minutes!” Alejandro’s eyes widened. “But the physical therapist said that would still take months to happen.”
Lupita blushed. “Maybe Mateo is more motivated now, sir.” “Motivated? Because he wants to impress you?” She hesitated. “He wants to impress you too. He always talks about you, Mr. Alejandro. He says that when he can walk well, he’ll be able to work with you when he grows up. He says he wants to be like his dad.”
Tears filled Alejandro’s eyes. He had no idea Mateo thought of him that way. At that moment, they heard footsteps on the stairs. It was Mateo, slowly coming down with his crutches.
“Dad, are you still here?” he said, relieved. “Mateo, you should be sleeping,” Alejandro said, but without a scolding tone.
“I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking, you’re not going to fire Aunt Lupita, right?” The question took Alejandro by surprise. “Why do you think I would fire her?”
“Because you were serious when you told me to go upstairs. And mom always gets mad when the employees do things she didn’t tell them to do.”
Alejandro looked at Lupita, who had once again lowered her gaze. “Mateo, come here,” Alejandro said, kneeling down to his son’s level. The boy approached, leaning on his crutches.
“Do you love Lupita a lot?” “She’s my best friend.” “Why is she your best friend, Mateo?”
He thought for a moment. “Because she plays with me, listens to me when I talk, and never rushes me when I take a long time to do things. And she believes I can walk like the other kids.”
“And am I your friend too?” Alejandro asked, with a heartache.
Mateo hesitated, and Alejandro saw a sadness on his son’s face that cut him like a knife. “You’re my dad, not my friend,” Mateo said softly. “Dads are important, but friends are the ones who are with you.”
Alejandro felt as if he had been punched in the stomach. He looked at Lupita, who was also visibly emotional. “Mateo, I would love to be your friend. Will you teach me how?”
Mateo’s eyes lit up. “Really, Dad? For real, for real?” “Yes, for real, for real.” “Then you have to play with me, listen to my stories, and come see my exercises with Aunt Lupita.”
Alejandro smiled, feeling an emotion he hadn’t experienced in years. “It’s a deal. Tomorrow morning, I want to see those exercises.”
“Really?” Mateo jumped for joy, almost losing his balance. “Aunt Lupita, did you hear? Dad is going to see our exercises!”
Lupita smiled, but Alejandro noticed a look of concern in her eyes. “Mr. Alejandro, you usually aren’t home in the mornings.” “Tomorrow I will be here,” Alejandro said firmly. “In fact, I think I need to reconsider some priorities.”
Mateo hugged his father, still leaning on his crutches. “Dad, now I have two best friends: you and Aunt Lupita.”
Alejandro hugged his son, feeling a love so strong it almost suffocated him. How had he allowed this wonderful boy to slip away from his life? “Now go to sleep, champ. Tomorrow will be a special day.”
After Mateo went upstairs, Alejandro turned to Lupita. “Thank you,” he said simply. “Why, sir?” “For taking care of my son when I didn’t know how to do it.”
Lupita smiled shyly. “He’s a special boy, sir. Anyone would fall in love with him.” “But not everyone would dedicate their free time to help him, and not everyone would have the patience and knowledge that you have.”
“Mr. Alejandro, can I ask you a question?” “Of course.” “Are you really going to be here tomorrow morning?”
Alejandro paused to think. He had three meetings scheduled before nine in the morning. He had a video call with investors from the United States at eight. He had a report to finish before noon. “Yes,” he said, surprising himself. “I will be here.”
That night, Alejandro went up to his room, thinking about the conversation. Gabriela still hadn’t arrived, so he took the opportunity to enter Mateo’s room. The boy was sleeping, but his crutches were carefully placed on the nightstand, ready for the next day.
Alejandro sat on the edge of the bed and watched his son sleep. How had this boy grown so much without him realizing? When had Mateo become this brave and determined person? He took out his cell phone and canceled the three meetings scheduled for the next morning. Then he wrote an email explaining that the video call would have to be rescheduled. For the first time in his career, Alejandro was putting family first.
When Gabriela came home around 11 p.m., Alejandro was waiting for her in the living room. “You got home early today,” she said, taking off her shoes. “What happened?”
“Gabriela, we need to talk.” She sat on the sofa next to him. “About Mateo, about our family, about what’s happening in this house.”
Gabriela sighed. “Alejandro, if this is about more doctors for Mateo, I already told you…” “It’s not about doctors. It’s about Lupita, the housekeeper.” “What about her?” “Did you know she does therapy exercises with Mateo every day?”
Gabriela looked away. “I knew.” “And why didn’t you tell me?” “Because you worry about responsibilities, demands, all those things that always concern you.” “Gabriela, she is helping our son walk better.”
“I know, Alejandro!” Gabriela burst out. “Do you think I’m blind? Do you think I don’t see that Mateo is happier? Do you think I don’t notice his progress?” “Then why didn’t you tell me?”
Gabriela got up and started walking around the room. “Because you’re never here, Alejandro. Because when you are, you want to know if Mateo took his medicine, if he went to therapy, if he did his homework. You never ask if he smiled today, if he had fun, if he was happy.”
Alejandro fell silent, absorbing his wife’s words. “And Lupita,” Gabriela continued, “Lupita makes Mateo smile. She makes him believe he can achieve anything. So I let her continue because my son needs that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you felt this way?” Gabriela stopped walking and looked at her husband. “Alejandro, when was the last time we talked about something that wasn’t work or Mateo’s doctors?”
Alejandro tried to remember, but he couldn’t. “I don’t remember.” “Neither do I. And do you know why? Because you’re not here. Physically, maybe, but mentally you’re always at the office, on the phone, on the computer. I raised Mateo alone, Alejandro, and now Lupita is helping me do it.”
Alejandro felt guilt expand in his chest. “I didn’t know you felt that way.” “Because you never ask.”
They were silent for a few minutes. Alejandro processed everything that had happened that day. First, the revelation about Lupita and Mateo. Now, the revelation about his own negligence as a father and husband.
“Gabriela, I want to change that.” “Change what?” “Everything. I want to be present in Mateo’s life. In your life. I want us to be a real family.”
Gabriela looked at him skeptically. “Alejandro, you’ve said that before. Do you remember when Mateo was born? When he was diagnosed? You always say you’re going to change, but work always comes first.”
“This time is different.” “Why?” “Because today I saw my son for the first time. I really saw him, and I realized that if I don’t do something now, I’m going to miss the most important years of his life.”
Gabriela sighed. “Alejandro, I want to believe you, but I need actions, not words.” “Then tomorrow morning, come and see. I’m going to watch the exercises Lupita does with Mateo.” “Did you cancel your meetings?” “I canceled them.”
Gabriela’s eyes widened. In fifteen years of marriage, she had never seen Alejandro cancel meetings for family reasons. “Maybe… maybe this really is different this time,” she murmured. “It will be, I promise you.”
The next morning, Alejandro woke up at 6:30, took a shower, put on casual clothes—something he rarely did on a weekday—and went down to the kitchen. Lupita was already there preparing breakfast.
“Good morning, Lupita,” he said, surprising the housekeeper. “Good morning, Mr. Alejandro. You woke up early today.” “Yes. Where is Mateo?” “He’s still sleeping, sir. He usually wakes up at 7:30.” “And what time do you do the exercises?” “At 8:00, sir. After he has breakfast.”
Alejandro looked at the clock. 7:15. “Can I help with something?” Lupita seemed surprised. “Sir, breakfast? Can I help prepare it?” “Oh, of course, sir. Mateo likes pancakes on Mondays.” “Pancakes? I didn’t know that.”
Lupita smiled. “He says he needs extra energy to start the week with the exercises.” Alejandro watched Lupita prepare the pancake batter, noticing the care with which she did everything. She wasn’t just preparing food; she was preparing something special for Mateo.
“Lupita, can I ask you a question?” “Sure, sir.” “Why do you care so much about Mateo?”
Lupita stopped stirring the batter and thought for a moment. “Mr. Alejandro, when I was a child, I saw my brother Carlos being rejected by other kids due to his difficulties. I saw the sadness in his eyes when he wanted to play but couldn’t keep up. When I look at Mateo, I see the same look that Carlos had when he was little.”
“And what did you do for your brother?” “I was his best friend. I invented games he could participate in. I encouraged him to try new things. I celebrated each of his small victories as if they were the greatest achievements in the world.”
“And did it work?” Lupita smiled, and Alejandro saw pride in her eyes. “It worked. Today, Carlos is in his second year of high school. He works, helps support the family, and is one of the most determined people I know. He still has limitations, but he never lets that stop him from living.”
“And do you want the same for Mateo?” “I want him to be happy, Mr. Alejandro. I want him to believe he can achieve anything. Because with this privileged family he has, with all the love and support you can give him, he can go much further than my brother ever dreamed.”
Alejandro felt that strange mix of admiration and shame again. Lupita was right. Mateo had all the advantages in the world, and yet he was sad and lonely because he lacked the most important thing: the attention and love of his parents.
At that moment, Mateo appeared in the kitchen, still in his pajamas and with his crutches. “Dad!” he shouted, surprised. “Aren’t you going to work?”
“Good morning, champ. Today I’m staying here to see your exercises, remember?” Mateo smiled from ear to ear. “Really? You’re going to see how strong I am!” “Of course, but first, let’s have breakfast. Lupita made you special pancakes.”
During breakfast, Alejandro observed the interaction between Mateo and Lupita. They talked like old friends, laughing at inside jokes and planning the day’s exercises. Mateo was radiant, talking non-stop about the things he wanted to show his father.
“Dad, did you know I can already climb three steps without my crutches?” “Three steps? That’s amazing!” “And I can do stretches like a big kid.” “What kind of stretches?” “Aunt Lupita taught me. She says it’s important to warm up the muscles before exercising.”
Alejandro looked at Lupita, impressed. She really knew what she was doing. At eight o’clock, they went out to the garden. Gabriela had also come down and was watching from the kitchen window. Alejandro noticed she looked curious to see how he would react to the exercises.
“Alright, Mateo,” said Lupita, laying a mat on the grass. “Let’s start with stretches.” “Yes! Dad, sit here next to me to watch.”
Alejandro sat on the grass, something he hadn’t done in years. Mateo lay down on the mat and began to do stretching movements that surprised Alejandro with their precision and seriousness.
“Alright, Mateo. Now we’re going to work on balance,” said Lupita. She helped Mateo stand and placed his crutches beside him. “Remember what we practiced. You’re going to try to stand without crutches for thirty seconds. If you succeed, tomorrow we’ll try for forty-five.”
“Can I try for a whole minute?” “Let’s take it slow. Thirty seconds is very good.”
Mateo let go of his crutches and stood up by himself. Alejandro held his breath. The boy wobbled a bit, clearly straining to maintain his balance, but he was managing.
“Fifteen seconds,” Lupita counted. “You’re doing very well.” “Dad, are you watching?” Mateo asked, not taking his eyes off a fixed point in front of him. “I’m watching, son. You’re incredible.” “Twenty-five seconds,” Lupita continued. “We’re almost there. Thirty!”
Mateo shouted, and at that moment, he lost his balance and started to fall. Lupita quickly caught him, preventing the fall.
“I did it! I reached thirty seconds!” Mateo was radiant. Alejandro was excited. He got up and went to hug his son. “Mateo, that was fantastic. I’m so proud of you.” “Now you understand why I love exercising with Aunt Lupita!” “I understand perfectly.”
They continued with the exercises for another thirty minutes. Lupita guided Mateo through different activities: walking with his crutches, leg strengthening exercises, and balance practices. Alejandro was impressed with her knowledge and infinite patience. When they finished, Mateo was tired but happy.
“Aunt Lupita, can I try forty-five seconds without crutches tomorrow?” “Of course, but now we’re going to bathe you and get you ready for online classes.” “Dad, are you going to be here tomorrow too?”
Alejandro looked at Lupita and then at his son. “Yes, I will be here. In fact, I was thinking, what if I stay here every morning to see your exercises?” Mateo hugged his dad so tightly he almost knocked him over. “Really? Every day?” “Every day.”
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That afternoon, after Mateo finished his online classes, Alejandro called Lupita for a private conversation in his office. “Lupita, I want to make you a proposal.”
“What kind of proposal, sir?” “I want you to become Mateo’s official therapeutic companion.” Lupita’s eyes widened. “Sir, I… I don’t have a diploma.” “You have knowledge of physical therapy. You have a special connection with my son, and he trusts you completely. I would like to formalize this.” “But, sir…” “We’ll figure that out. Would you like to take a physical therapy course?”
Lupita began to cry. “Mr. Alejandro, I don’t know what to say.” “Say yes. Mateo needs you, and you deserve the opportunity to study what you’re passionate about.” “But what about the housework, the other tasks?” “We’ll hire someone else for the domestic work. Your focus would be exclusively on Mateo.” Lupita couldn’t stop crying. “Why are you doing this?” “Because last night I realized I almost lost the chance to know my own son, and this morning I saw that you were giving him something I didn’t know how to give: hope and confidence. I want you to keep doing that, but officially and recognized.”
“And what if I don’t pass the course?” “You will. I’m sure of it.” Lupita dried her tears and looked at Alejandro with determination. “Then I accept, Mr. Alejandro. I will study hard and do the best job possible with Mateo.” “I know you will.”
In the following days, the routine of the house changed completely. Alejandro began to leave home later, participating in Mateo’s morning exercises. He canceled several meetings to be present for his son’s important moments.
Mateo was radiant with his dad’s presence. His progress in the exercises accelerated, motivated by the attention he was receiving. In one week, he managed to stand for a full minute without crutches. In two weeks, he managed to take five steps in a row without support.
Gabriela watched these changes with a mix of joy and caution. She was happy to see her husband more present, but still feared it was temporary. One morning, during the exercises, Mateo achieved something no one expected. He let go of his crutches and walked eight steps to reach his dad.
“Dad, I walked! I walked by myself!” Mateo shouted, throwing himself into Alejandro’s arms. Alejandro was crying with emotion. “You did it, champ. You really did it!” Lupita was also crying, proud of Mateo’s progress. “Aunt Lupita, did you see? I walked!” “Yes, I saw, my warrior. You’re incredible.” Gabriela had rushed out of the house upon hearing the shouts and arrived just in time to see Mateo take a few more steps without support. “Oh my God, Mateo!” she cried, hugging her son.
That night, after Mateo fell asleep, Alejandro and Gabriela talked about the changes happening. “Alejandro, I need to confess something,” Gabriela said.
“What?” “I was thinking of leaving you.” Alejandro felt his world collapse. “What?” “I felt alone, Alejandro. I felt like I was raising Mateo alone while you lived for your work. I couldn’t stand it anymore. And now, I see a different man. I see the father I always wanted you to be, the husband I married. But I need to know if this will last.”
Alejandro took his wife’s hand. “Gabriela, I almost lost the two most important people in my life for work. That’s not going to happen again, I promise.” “How can you be sure?” “Because I discovered that nothing is worth more than seeing my son walk toward me, smiling. No business, no money, nothing is worth that.”
A few weeks later, Alejandro made another discovery about Lupita. He came home early and found her crying in the garden. “Lupita, what happened?” “Nothing, Mr. Alejandro. Everything is fine.” “Clearly, it’s not. What happened?”
Lupita hesitated before responding. “It’s just that a friend of Mrs. Gabriela came this morning. She wasn’t very nice to me.” “What do you mean?” “She said I was taking advantage of your kindness, that I was trying to insert myself where I didn’t belong. She said that an employee should know her place.”
Alejandro felt rage boiling inside him. “Who was it?” “It’s not necessary, sir.” “Lupita. Who was it?” “Mrs. Sofía, a friend of Mrs. Gabriela.”
Alejandro knew Sofía, an arrogant and prejudiced woman who always tried to show her social superiority. “What else did she say?” “She said I was confusing things, that Mateo wasn’t my son and that I should stop acting like his mother. She said that people like me should know our place.”
Alejandro was seething with anger. “Lupita, you know that’s not true, right?” “Yes, sir, but it hurt to hear it. And the worst part is that Mateo was nearby and heard everything. He got very upset and defended me. It was embarrassing.” “Mateo defended you?” “He told Mrs. Sofía that I was the best person in the world and that she couldn’t be mean to me. He got very upset.” Alejandro smiled despite his anger. “He was right, and I’m going to resolve this situation.” “Mr. Alejandro, please don’t make a problem out of this. I don’t want to cause problems between Mrs. Gabriela and her friends.” “Lupita, you’re not causing any problem. The problem is the lack of education of people who think they’re superior to others.”
That night, Alejandro spoke with Gabriela about the incident. “Gabriela, Sofía was here today.” “Yes? Why?” “She was disrespectful to Lupita.” “What do you mean?” Alejandro told her what had happened. Gabriela was visibly upset. “I didn’t know that. If I had known, I would have thrown her out of the house immediately.” “Mateo heard everything and felt very bad.” “Oh God, poor Mateo. He adores Lupita.” “Gabriela, I don’t want this kind of people in our house. If your friends can’t treat our employees with respect, they are not welcome here.” “I completely agree. I’ll talk to Sofía tomorrow and make it very clear that this behavior is unacceptable.”
The next day, something unexpected happened. Alejandro was in his office when he received a call from a contact, Enrique Gutiérrez, the owner of a rival company.
“Alejandro, I heard you have an exceptional housekeeper there.” “Why do you want to know that, Enrique?” “Sofía told me she’s very good with children with special needs. Coincidentally, my grandson has cerebral palsy, and we’re looking for someone qualified to care for him. I’d like to make her an offer.”
Alejandro felt a knot in his stomach. “What kind of offer?” “Double what you pay her plus benefits. A car at her disposal. Full medical insurance for her and her family. What do you think, Alejandro?” “Lupita is not for sale.” “Alejandro, be reasonable. Everyone has a price, and from what I heard, she’s just a housekeeper there. For me, she would be an official therapeutic companion.” “She’s already our official therapeutic companion.” “Oh, really? Sofía didn’t mention that. Well, still, my offer stands. Can you give me her number?” “No, Enrique.” “Alejandro…” “The answer is no. Lupita is part of our family.” “If you change your mind, call me.”
Alejandro hung up the phone, worried. He knew Enrique wouldn’t give up easily, and he also knew the offer was really tempting for someone in Lupita’s financial situation. He decided not to mention the call, but he was attentive in the following days.
His concern was justified when, three days later, Lupita asked to speak with him. “Mr. Alejandro, I received a job offer.”
Alejandro’s heart raced. “What kind of offer?” “To work as a therapeutic companion for the Gutiérrez family. They offered… well, they offered much more than I earn here.” “Do you want to accept it?”
Lupita was silent for a long moment. “Mr. Alejandro, I don’t know what to do. The money would make a big difference for my family. My mom could stop working at night. My brother could focus solely on his studies. But I can’t imagine leaving Mateo. He has become… he has become very important to me.”
“And you have become very important to him too.” “I know, and that’s what tears me apart. I have obligations to my family, but I also feel responsible for Mateo.” Alejandro thought carefully before responding. “Lupita, I’m not going to try to influence your decision, but can I ask you some questions?” “Of course.” “Are you happy working here?” “Very happy.” “Do you feel you have opportunities to grow here, with the physical therapy course I’m paying for?” “Yes.” “And Mateo, how do you think he would react if you left?” Lupita sighed. “He would be devastated. Just yesterday, he was talking about the plans we have for when he can run without crutches.” “Then what is your real doubt?” “The money, Mr. Alejandro. My family needs it a lot.”
Alejandro nodded. “I understand. How much did they offer you?” Lupita said the amount, and Alejandro was surprised. It was a truly significant sum. “Lupita, can I make you a counteroffer?” “What do you mean?” “I can match the salary they offered you, plus keep the benefits we already have. The physical therapy course, health insurance, and I can include health insurance for your mom and brother too.”
Lupita’s eyes widened. “Mr. Alejandro, you don’t have to do that.” “Yes, I have to do that. Mateo needs you, and you deserve to be valued for the exceptional work you do.” “But that’s a lot of money.” “Lupita, you saved my marriage and helped me reconnect with my son. How much is that worth?”
Lupita started to cry. “Mr. Alejandro, I don’t know what to say.” “Say you’re going to stay.” “I’m going to stay. Of course, I’m going to stay.”
That afternoon, Mateo was playing in the garden when he saw Lupita packing her things. He ran toward her, worried. “Aunt Lupita, are you leaving?” “No, my love. I’m staying here with you.” “For good?” “For a long, long time.”
Mateo hugged Lupita tightly. “Good, because I still have many things to learn from you. And when I can run, I’m going to run to you every day.” “And I will be here waiting, my warrior.”
A few weeks later, something no one expected happened. Mateo was doing his morning exercises when he achieved something extraordinary. He ran. It wasn’t many meters, but it was a few consecutive steps at a faster speed than walking.
“Dad! Aunt Lupita! I ran!” Mateo shouted, radiant with joy. Alejandro and Lupita ran toward him, excited. “Mateo, that was incredible!” said Alejandro, hugging his son. “My warrior has become an athlete,” said Lupita, hugging him too. “It hurt, but now I can play with the other kids equally!” “Yes, you can, my love. You can do anything you set your mind to.”
That night, Alejandro reflected on everything that had happened in recent months. He had been on the verge of losing his family for work, but a dedicated housekeeper had saved not only his son but the entire family dynamic.
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A few months later, the day of Mateo’s preschool graduation arrived. It was a special event where the children would showcase their skills and talents. Alejandro had canceled all his commitments to be present.
“Dad, are you sure you can come?” Mateo asked the morning of graduation. “I’m absolutely sure, champ. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” “And is Aunt Lupita going to be there too?” “Of course. We are your official cheerleading team.”
At school, Mateo was nervous. He had prepared a special presentation to show how he had overcome his motor difficulties. “Aunt Lupita, what if I fall in front of everyone?” he asked as he prepared.
“Mateo, you’ve fallen many times during our training, and you’ve always gotten back up. If you fall today, you’ll get back up too. But I bet you won’t fall.” “Why are you so sure?” “Because you’re the most determined child I know, and because you trained a lot for this moment.”
When it was Mateo’s turn to present, he walked to the center of the stage without his crutches. The audience fell silent, realizing this was something special.
“My name is Mateo Hernández,” he began firmly. “When I was younger, I couldn’t walk well. I needed crutches, and I was scared to try new things.” Alejandro and Gabriela were excited in the audience. Lupita was by their side, equally moved.
“But then I met someone very special,” Mateo continued. “Aunt Lupita taught me that when you train and don’t give up, you can achieve anything. She taught me to be strong, to be brave, and to believe in myself.”
Mateo then did something that surprised everyone. He ran from one end of the stage to the other, without tripping, without hesitation, with perfect balance.
“I want to dedicate this run to three people,” Mateo said, out of breath but smiling. “To my dad, who learned to be my best friend
