Despite the seeming rapprochement, the tension between them lingered for weeks. Joshua alternated between being contrite…he knew that he had betrayed Rosa…and being annoyed…he was a man and she was his wife and that’s all that should have mattered. But he held his tongue and kept his patience…even to the point of not forcing the issue when she would shy away from his touch in their bed at night…hoping and praying that Rosa would forgive him and things could be the way they were before.
Rosa, for her part, understood the ways of men…her father had dallied with other women and her mother had seemed to accept that as the way things were…but it didn’t lessen her sense of betrayal and loss. She hardened her heart against him but found that she could not sustain that feeling...she loved him too much. She found forgiveness in her heart though a tiny part of her trust in him was forever lost.
Even the children were out of sorts still not sure what to make of Emma’s sudden disappearance from their lives.
One rainy night, Joshua reached for his wife fully expecting to be rebuffed again but astonished to find her receptive to his touch. He kissed her and she responded in kind…he touched her and she shuddered in response. He joined with her and she gave silent thanks to God for the fact that her love and passion for him remained so powerful despite his betrayal of their vows.
Joshua and Rosa slowly but surely repaired their bond, allowing Emma’s memory to fade…almost but not completely…into the shadows as he worked hard at his business and she worked hard raising their children and keeping their house. After some weeks of heated discussion, Rosa finally acceded to Joshua’s decision to hire a new housekeeper to help with the chores and the children.
Rosa was left to make the decision about who would get the job and she selected Mrs. Lopez, a 50-year-old widow who had lived close to Rosa’s hometown. Senora Lopez was a plump woman with high cheekbones, rich brown skin tanned by the sun, and dark brown eyes. Mrs. Lopez had long black hair highlighted by random strands of silver. Mrs. Lopez’ husband had died a mysterious death while prospecting in California and her four sons had gone off to find their own fortunes in the mountains out west. Mrs. Lopez and her only daughter were going back to Mexico when they stopped in the town near Joshua and Rosa’s home. Mrs. Lopez’ daughter ran off with a man who was passing through town on his way south and Mrs. Lopez, heartbroken and alone, had reluctantly stayed put taking on housekeeping jobs and living in the boarding house on the outskirts of town.
Rosa had met Mrs. Lopez one afternoon while shopping and the two of them delighted in being able to converse in their native tongue. It took little persuasion to get Mrs. Lopez to accept the position when Rosa offered it. The children took to her right away and even Joshua seemed comfortable having Mrs. Lopez in the house.
Rosa and Joshua were both enormously relieved and pleased a couple of months after Mary’s first birthday as Rosa realized that she was again with child. The doctor confirmed her intuitive feeling and Rosa was delighted. Her joy was short-lived though as some weeks later she began having terrible pain. Mrs. Lopez, recognizing to her horror what might be happening, took charge of the situation dispatching Joshua to track down the doctor.
Rosa knew what was happening too…it had happened to her mother…but she railed against it, not willing to concede defeat in this most important of things. But the doctor, whom Joshua had half dragged back from the next town over, confirmed what both women knew already: Rosa had lost the child.
Rosa withdrew into herself after that, leaving the care of the children and the house in the steady hands of Mrs. Lopez. For weeks she barely spoke, barely acknowledged anyone.
Joshua, dealing with heartache of his own over their lost child, stayed as strong as he could…working hard while giving Rosa the space she needed to recover.
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