Chapter 10 - MARIA REFUSED TO LET MOM CALL HER A SERVANTAfter the story spread through extended family, one cousin said something that angered Mom.
“Thank God the maid was there.”
Mom corrected her.
“Maria.”
The cousin blinked.
“I know.”
“No.”
Mom leaned forward.
“Use her name.”
That became a small family story.
Maria hated attention.
Mom enjoyed embarrassing people who underestimated her.
They became closer after the incident.
Maria eventually stopped working full-time for us.
Instead, Mom hired her directly as household manager during recovery.
Maria protested the title.
Mom insisted.
“You manage me.”
“I do not.”
“You tell me when to take medicine.”
“That’s because you forget.”
“Exactly.”
They laughed.
Watching Mom laugh again made me realize how much fear had changed her.
May you like
Healing wasn’t only medical.
It was getting sarcasm back.
