When my wife, Lucía, and I found out we were going to have our first child, our home steadily changed. She went into pregnancy with her typical mix of care and organization. She set up $7,000 to cover her maternity leave, the baby’s early demands, and any unforeseen bills. I respected her discipline more than she knew.
Things stayed tranquil until the night my sister Carolina called me crying. She was almost done with her pregnancy, going through a hard breakup, and having a lot of money problems. I felt like I had to take care of her since I was her bigger brother. I offered to help her locate the money she needed right away without really thinking it through.
I asked Lucía a question the next night as she was making dinner that would reveal a lot more than I thought it would.
“Sweetheart… Could you give Carolina $7,000?
Lucía halted in the middle of her movement. I could tell that her face had changed; she looked hurt and shocked.
She said softly, “That money is for our baby.” “We’re just a few weeks away from being parents.” How can we give that away now?
I told my sister that she was family and that she needed us. The talk got out of hand quickly, and I still feel awful about how harsh I sounded. Lucía wasn’t being rude. She was terrified, stressed, and trying to keep everything together. I didn’t see it then.
Finally, she put down the knife and told me to sit. She had blazing eyes, yet she seemed calm, which scared me more than fury would have.
“I can’t give that money away for a reason,” she replied. “And I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know how you would react.”
My heart raced. I was ready for anything, but not what she said next.
“That money… it’s not simply savings. Someone else helped make it—”someone who wanted to help you.”
I swallowed hard. “Who?”
Her response struck me as if it were a cold wave.
“Your mom.”
I couldn’t believe what I saw. Earlier this year, my mother passed away. I knew she was always kind, but I didn’t realize she had made plans for us.
Lucía kept going softly.
“She wanted you to take some time off after the baby was born.” She knew that your business didn’t give paid time off. She didn’t want you to miss those first few weeks, which were the same weeks she always wished she could have been there for. She asked me to keep the money quiet for that one reason.
There was always an underlying sadness between my mother and me. When I heard that she had done something to give me what she had missed, it felt like a weight descending on my chest.
Lucía held my hand tightly. “She asked me to keep that money safe for our family.” She said it was her way of making sure you could be the father she wanted to be for you.
I felt guilty. I almost got Lucía to go against one of my mother’s last wishes.
But there was more.
Lucía got up, proceeded to the bedroom, and came back with an envelope that was sealed. She said, “Your mother gave me this too.” “She told me to give it to you when the time was right.”
I opened the envelope with shaky hands. The page was full of my mother’s handwriting.
The letter started with, “Son, you have always tried to do everything by yourself.” “But that’s not how life is supposed to be lived. Be there when your child is born. Don’t let the moments that can’t come back pass you by. Take care of the individuals you want to live with.” Trust Lucía; she sees things you don’t always see.”
Her clarity and gentleness moved me so much that I had to stop numerous times. It felt as though she had written the letter specifically for this moment.
Lucía sat next to me when I was done reading. She said quietly, “There’s something else.” “I didn’t tell you because I would rather not scare you.”
She said that her pregnancy had some possible problems, but nothing that needed to be done right away. Her doctor asked for more tests, though. She said she had been worried, saving money not just for her maternity leave but also for her peace of mind and the baby’s health.
At that moment, everything inside me changed. I was so focused on assisting my sister that I forgot about the one who needed me the most: my wife, who was pregnant with our child.
I contacted Carolina that night. I told her everything in a calm, honest way and promised to help in other ways, like locating resources, getting her in touch with support services, and getting family members to help. She understood, even though it was challenging, which is beneficial.
Lucía and I decided that my mother’s present would stay in the same place she wanted it to. For us. This decision was made for our child’s future. This is the beginning of our family.
Sometimes life shows us the truth at unexpected times, not to punish us, but to remind us where our hearts really belong.
And if I learned anything from that day, it’s that the people who are making a life with you should always be your major focus. Everything else can wait.
