Chapter 5 begins with Lucia, Essy, and Manny arriving at the home of Manny’s family in a small rural village in Ecuador. Essy and Fredy become friends quickly as Lucia is shown around the house by Mami, Manny’s mother. That weekend, Manny’s parents host a welcome party for Manny, Lucia, and Essy. They invite a large number of family members and neighbors. Mami and Papi surprise Lucia and Manny the next morning with a small “casita,” a home built with dirt floors and a tin roof. Lucia suddenly realizes the permanency of her situation, and she becomes uncomfortable. Nevertheless, she is grateful to Manny’s parents for their gift and thanks them. She notices that there is no outhouse, and Manny assures her that he will build one later. After Manny’s parents leave, Manny promises that this home is temporary, and he will build them a good house later.

In the morning, Lucia makes breakfast with Mami and some of her sisters. They discuss Fredy and his condition. Tía Camila asks Lucia when she will be having another child; Mami tells her that she’s running out of time. Lucia diverts the conversation to the topic of dinner. In the following weeks, Lucia quickly falls into a routine of housekeeping and childrearing.