And in the middle of this environment was a little boy who noticed far more than either parent realized.
Chapter 3: The Eight-Year-Old Who Noticed Everything
Mateo did not understand the family's financial situation in the way an adult would.
He knew nothing about interest rates, household budgets, or the difficulty of balancing wages against rising expenses.
He did not know exactly how much his father earned.
He did not understand why certain bills made his parents exchange worried glances.
But he understood feelings.
He knew when his father was tired.
He recognized the difference between his mother's genuine smile and the small, reassuring expression she sometimes used when she was worried.
He noticed when conversations stopped as soon as he entered the room.
And he noticed something else.
His parents did not laugh together very often anymore.
Mateo remembered a different kind of household.
He remembered his father pretending to be a monster and chasing him around the living room.
