Claire's answer came out in a rush, months of accumulated exhaustion and fear apparently breaking through whatever careful composure she'd maintained during my absence. "She said it was tradition," Claire whispered. "That daughters-in-law in this family have always shown respect this way, that I needed to earn my place here properly before the baby comes. She's been making me do this every morning for the past three weeks, David. I didn't want to tell you over the phone, I didn't want you worrying while you were so far away and unable to do anything about it—"

"There is no such tradition," I said, feeling something cold and absolute settle over me, cutting through my exhaustion with sudden, complete clarity. "I have never once, in my entire life, witnessed my mother require anyone to wash her feet. This isn't tradition, Mom. This is something else entirely."

Chapter 2 - What Rosa Knew

I helped Claire to the nearest chair, checking carefully for any sign of physical distress given her advanced pregnancy, my mind racing through the implications of what I'd just witnessed while my mother remained seated, watching the scene unfold with an expression I couldn't fully read.