"Come rest here on the bed. I'll go buy you some clothes," Gabriele Guevara said.
He looked at the lady and thought to himself, "I can't even keep her in another room—people will start suspecting things."
He left for shopping and met his mother on the ground floor.
"Oh, going shopping for the kids too?"
Rafaella said.
"Go on, my son. Good job!"
Gabriele gave her a faint smile and walked away.
At the store, the seller showed him several dresses, but he rejected each one.
"This one doesn't have sleeves," Gabriele said.
"How about this?" the seller asked.
"Too short."
"Then maybe this one?"
"The neckline is too deep."
"Then, sir, you should probably check that section," the seller said.
It was the section for women's abaya (burqa for modesty).
Gabriele straightened his collar, feeling embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, that's not what I meant," he said.
"Actually, she takes skincare very seriously, so she avoids the sun… that's why I said that."
"Oh, I see," the seller replied.
"Then here, sir—this dress has a proper neckline, long sleeves, not too tight, and it's not short either."
"Perfect," Gabriele said.
He returned home and went straight to the room.
"Hey, I got you a dress," Gabriele said, gesturing as he spoke, assuming she was deaf and mute.
The lady opened the bag, looked at the dress, and threw it angrily. She kept tapping her chest repeatedly in sign language.
Gabriele went near her and moved her hands away.
"What are you doing?" he said.
"If someone sees this, what will they think? I went through all that trouble to get you a decent dress—and you wanted a bikini instead?"
He spoke dramatically, pretending to cry.
They started arguing when suddenly—
"Hey! What's going on here?" William asked.
"Oh no, I'm doomed," Gabriele said.
"She won't even speak now. I'm finished. God bless me."
"What are you mumbling about?" William asked.
"Nothing… you'll find out soon enough."
"Son, I brought this dress for her," William said.
"Make sure she wears it to the family function."
Gabriele walked to the window, closed his eyes, and muttered,
"Maybe I should just jump out so no one can ask me any more questions."
Just then—
"Thank you so much, Dad," the lady said.
Gabriele froze in shock and rushed toward her.
"Wait… you can talk? You can hear too?!"
"What's wrong with you, son?" William asked.
"Why are you acting so weird in front of my darling girl?"
"Dad, I just didn't like the dress Gabriele bought me," the lady said.
"I only liked yours."
William smiled warmly, patted her head, and left.