Maite takes place in San Sebastián in the summer of 1997, during the days surrounding the kidnapping and murder of Miguel Ángel Blanco by ETA. The novel follows Maite, a middle-aged woman who works as a translator, is married to Andoni, and lives a relatively quiet, orderly life shaped by routine, family ties, and a strong sense of civic responsibility. From the outset, Maite is portrayed as observant, introspective, and morally alert, someone who reacts intensely to what she sees around her and who cannot easily detach herself from the suffering or injustice of others.
At the beginning of the novel, Maite’s daily life is interrupted by the arrival of her sister Elene, who lives in the United States with her husband Johnny and their children. Elene has come to San Sebastián supposedly on a short visit, but from the first moment her presence feels strange and slightly unsettling. She appears physically unwell, emotionally distant, and evasive when asked about her life abroad. Their mother, Manoli, is also present, elderly and increasingly fragile, still marked by the memory of her deceased husband. The reunion of the three women is affectionate on the surface, but beneath it run tensions, unspoken resentments, and a sense that Elene is hiding something important.
As the sisters spend time together, Maite notices worrying signs. Elene suffers from sudden dizzy spells, abdominal pain, exhaustion, and unexplained bruises on her body. She attributes these symptoms to minor accidents or health problems, but her explanations are vague and inconsistent. Maite, who is attentive and deeply concerned, begins to suspect that Elene’s life in the United States is far from the stable, happy existence she claims. Johnny, Elene’s husband, remains an absent figure, mentioned often but never directly present, and his absence only increases Maite’s unease.
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