Sober, he would regard his wife with amor-the kind of amor the oldest sisters, Margarita and Isabel, knew took place at the end of the evening, when they were all supposed to be asleep and not listening for bedroom noises, agitated springs, gasping, rocking movements, moans of pleasure, or any other such unparental sounds, drifting down the halls, as if they were wall-less and not a single cicada nor a rushing wind existed in all the world.
The narrative describes a moment when a sober husband gazes at his wife with a deep sense of love, a kind of amor that evokes tender memories for the older sisters, Margarita and Isabel. They understand this form of affection as something that occurs when the household is quiet, the children supposedly asleep while the adults share intimate moments. This atmosphere is filled with sounds often hidden from innocent ears, emphasizing a world of private emotions and relationships that exists beyond the walls of familial expectations.
Such intimate moments contrast sharply with the external environment, where no cicadas or wind can intrude upon their closeness. The imagery speaks to the clandestine nature of adult relationships and the unspoken understanding among the sisters about love's complexity. In this scene, Hijuelos captures the nuanced dynamic of family life and the secret desires that linger beneath the surface, offering a glimpse into the intertwining of love, intimacy, and a shared yet unacknowledged reality.
